Cancer

Why You Should Have a Physiatrist on Your Cancer Care Team

Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians play a key role in the care of cancer patients. Increasingly, the medical community is recognizing the importance of rehabilitation in the cancer care continuum. You deserve to know about your options. Our team is here to support you and to provide you with access to resources that can aid you in your treatment and recovery journey.

The American Cancer Society published a report stating that multi-disciplinary cancer rehabilitation has been shown to benefit cancer survivors in numerous ways, according to a number of studies. This multidisciplinary team may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, rehabilitation nurses, and physiatrists, or doctors of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).

According to this report, points of improvement for cancer survivors who received care from a multidisciplinary team included:

• Pain control
• Physical function
• Cognitive function
• Overall quality of life

Physiatry for Cancer Patients

PM&R physiatrists focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating a variety of disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. This includes conditions and disorders that affect the nerves, bones, muscles, and brain. Early intervention is key in avoiding long-term or permanent negative affects arising form these conditions. The close involvement of a physiatrist in the overall care and recovery of a cancer patient is therefore key in reaching quality of life and maintaining maximum functionality and mobility. Learn more about the role of physiatry in cancer care at Washington Township Medical Foundation in Fremont.