Cancer Rehabilitation Matters

Physiotherapy can help you through your cancer treatment and recovery

Cancer impacts individuals, their families, friends and the greater community. Recent advancements in medical research and new treatment methods for many different types of cancer, means that many people are now surviving a cancer diagnosis - which is fantastic. However, along with survival, there can be ongoing debilitating side effects related to surgeries and treatments that reduce the individuals quality of life significantly.

Some of the many ongoing side effects following cancer treatments can include

Chronic fatigue
Cognitive impairment and memory loss (also known as chemo brain)
Chronic Pain
Peripheral neuropathy
The development of Lymphoedema
Reduced endurance and exercise tolerance
Poor balance and increase in falls risk
Functional Limitations and impairments to joint mobility
At a lifetime risk of developing other chronic health conditions and comorbidities
Changes to bone health

What is the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Program?

The PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation program is a specialised rehabilitation program dedicated to improving the strength, quality of life and sense of well being of all individuals diagnosed with cancer. It is an individualised exercise-based cancer rehabilitation program, which explicitly addresses barriers to long term engagement in physical activity for cancer survivors. The program is delivered by certified PINC and STEEL Cancer Rehab physiotherapists across the country and provides a full range of services designed to care, support and guide individuals through every stage of their treatment and recovery.

Each patient is individually assessed for physical impairments and the effects of their treatments. Each patient can then be worked with to specifically create a rehabilitation program to suit their particular needs and stage of recovery. The sessions may include a combination of services including: manual physiotherapy, graduated resistance training, individualised movement therapy, fatigue and pain management and exercise prescription.

The PINC & STEEL rehabilitation program is suitable after any type of cancer surgery or treatment and accommodates all ages, fitness levels and mobility.

Each session is designed to suit the needs of each patient on that day

Our focus is on individual needs and creating a safe and caring environment for our clients

The first session is for an hour and involves a thorough assessment

The following sessions are for half an hour (or hour if necessary)

The PINC & STEEL program is chronologically formatted into three phases.

Post operative
Recovery
Fitness

Timing of each phase is dependent upon the patient's physical condition, the length of the healing process, the type of surgery involved, and the courses of adjuvant treatments. Many variables may exist that will affect particular service and exercise choices at any given times.

Overall aims of the PINC & STEEL Program is to help patients

Optimise physical and functional recovery
Ease pain and muscular tension
Help regain strength and mobility
Increase energy levels and improve breathing
Strengthen core muscles and improve posture
Improve physical functioning and maintain independence
Regain body confidence and control
Reduce treatment related side effects
Shift focus from Illness to wellness

PINC & STEEL Services may include

Manual Physiotherapy
Musculoskeletal and Functional assessments
Scar management
Joint mobilisation
Pelvic Floor retraining
Strength and conditioning training
Breathing techniques and education
Individualised exercise programs
Fatigue management
Exercise prescription
Integration into group exercise classes, gym sport

A referral is not necessary to make an appointment with our certified PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation physiotherapist Rachel Sullivan. Simply phone the practice on (03) 6334 4766 to organise an initial consultation, because survivorship matters, and so do you!