Reduce side effects of cancer treatment and improve quality of life with personalized cancer rehabilitation therapy. Our private outpatient services are designed to:
- Increase Strength & Energy
- Alleviate Pain
- Improve Daily Function & Well Being.
Don’t accept a “New Normal”
If you are one of the 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, there’s a good chance that you’ve been discharged from treatment without a referral for cancer rehabilitation. It is also likely that you’ve been told to accept a “new normal.” While accepting a “new normal” may sound like reasonable advice, it often undermines survivors’ efforts to heal and recover as well as possible.
Additional Information
Imagine someone who had a stroke being advised to accept a “new normal” without the benefit of rehabilitation medicine. That would not be very good medical practice, yet it’s exactly what many cancer survivors are told.
So, before you decide to accept a “new normal,” consider whether you are functioning as well as possible. Ask yourself whether cancer rehab services might help. If you aren’t sure, keep reading.
“At Progressive Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation we pride ourselves on providing compassionate and personalized care, based on proven scientific evidence,” said Kim Marshall, DPT, CLT. “Cancer rehabilitation is a relatively new field of medicine. Over the last few years, we have had great results with improving the lives of cancer survivors and changing the thinking about how to live successfully with cancer. We invite you to contact us to learn more about how this program can help you thrive.”
New STAR Certification program for cancer rehabilitation
As part of our continued commitment to provide the best possible care for our patients, Kim Marshall, PT, CLT in the Garden Grove office, has completed a comprehensive training course in oncology rehabilitation. She is one of the first physical therapists in California to have received the STAR Clinician Certification The STAR program is endorsed by the nation’s leading cancer centers.
The program focuses on the physical and emotional healing of cancer survivors. It was developed by Julie Silver, MD, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Silver developed STAR Certification after going through cancer treatment herself and realizing that she desperately needed rehabilitation in order to return to her former level of function. She now says, “Survivorship services, including oncology rehabilitation, are imperative to cancer care. Every cancer survivor should be offered the opportunity to heal as well as possible and function at an optimal level whether their cancer is cured, in remission or they live with cancer as a chronic disease.”
Fatigue the No. 1 complaint of cancer patients
Virtually all patients expect fatigue from cancer therapy. Up to 90% of patients treated with radiation and up to 80% of those treated with chemotherapy experience fatigue. CRF (cancer related fatigue) continues for months and even years following completion of treatment in approximately one third of the patients with cancer. –Hofman M, Ryan JL, Figueroa-Moseley CD, et al. Cancer-related fatigue: the scale of the problem. Oncologist 2007:12 Suppl 1:4-10.
The good news is that research and scientific evidence is showing how a supervised physical therapy program can lessen fatigue and improve quality of life.
Problems cancer rehabilitation can address
- Fatigue
- Pain and Weakness
- Lymphedema
- TMJ disorders
- Loss of limb mobility
- Scar tissue adhesions
- Shoulder problems
- Balance and gait problems
- Memory and concentration issues
- Post-mastectomy pain syndrome
- Radiation fibrosis syndrome
- Brachial plexopathy
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
- Difficulty with daily activities such as dressing, chores, and shopping
- Difficulty returning to work
- Difficulty returning to recreational or community activities
Will insurance cover cancer rehabilitation services?
Yes, medical insurance, including Medicare, usually covers rehabilitation medicine consultations and services so long as they are provided by rehabilitation healthcare professionals. As with all insurance issues, check with your carrier about deductibles and co-pays.
If you have experienced any of these side effects, you may benefit from a consultation in our Orange office to identify your ability to participate in an oncology based rehabilitative program. These programs are designed specifically for patients with all types of cancer diagnoses, in all phases of treatment.
What others say
“I went to my doctor for my checkup recently and she told me how wonderful I look. I said and I feel great too, and it’s all because I started physical therapy and rehab. My energy level is way up and I can do most everything I was able to do prior to my cancer diagnosis….. I just wish I started sooner.” — Candace S., 1-year survivor
“Not only is Kim an excellent physical therapist, she is also an expert in rehabilitating head and neck cancer patients. Post treatment rehabilitation is critical for patients to recover lost function due to radiation or surgery. Kim is one of the few therapists that treat this and I am extremely satisfied with what she did for me and my condition. I highly recommend her.” –Alex L., 17-year survivor
We Succeed Where Others Fail
What We Do...
Listen to our patients
Conduct comprehensive evaluations
Design customized treatment plans
Relieve pain, restore motion and function in quickest timeframe possible
How We Do It...
Patient education is stressed
Individualized home exercise programs
Continuity of care with the same therapist
Evidence-based treatments that are effective & safe
The Process...
Hands-on manual therapy
Stretching and strengthening
Postural control & muscle balance
Restore flexibility and movement
A Better Healthcare Experience...
Established 2004/Privately owned
Licensed physical therapists with advanced degrees
Functional outcomes rank in the top 94% nationally
Passion for excellence. Compassion for people.