Cancer Rehabilitation at St Joseph’s/Candler
Moving forward after cancer treatment can feel like a significant challenge, but with the right care, it can also be a time of renewal. At the Center for Rehabilitation at St. Joseph’s/Candler, we are here to guide you through every step of your recovery journey. A dedicated rehabilitation therapist will collaborate closely with you and your physician to create a customized plan designed to ease your transition back to your daily routine. This partnership ensures you have access to the right tools, techniques, and therapies to reclaim your quality of life at your own pace.
Comprehensive Care for Every Step of Recovery
Our rehabilitation services provide a seamless continuum of care for cancer patients, offering support from the initial diagnosis through survivorship. This includes:
- Preventive Services: Programs that focus on maintaining strength and managing potential side effects during treatment.
- In-Hospital Care: Specialized therapies integrated into your cancer treatment plan to promote recovery.
- Outpatient Services: Conveniently located centers throughout the region offer ongoing support and rehabilitation to help you continue your progress after leaving the hospital.
Each phase of care is designed to address the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of cancer recovery. Our experts are here to help you achieve your goals and embrace life beyond cancer
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services
The most common types of rehabilitation therapy our cancer patients experience include:
Physical Therapy for Improved Fitness
Physical therapy is an efficient method for patients to return to a more normal, active life as safely as possible. Our physical therapists at St. Joseph's/Candler are specially trained to evaluate physical problems and recommend the most appropriate treatment course. They also work with you to create a personalized fitness regimen.
Occupational Therapy for Increased Independence
Helps individuals achieve independence in their lives. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work with people of all ages who, because of physical, developmental, social or emotional problems, need specialized assistance to lead productive and satisfying lives. The term “occupational” refers to any actions that are meaningful to the individual within the environment in which he/she lives and functions.
Speech Therapy for Communication and Swallowing Treatment
Speech-language pathologists specialize in evaluating function and providing treatment for communication and swallowing. Our SLPs work strategically with individuals to improve expression and comprehension of language, voice, and resonance, cognitive-communication affecting memory and problem-solving, speech precision, and the ability to efficiently and safely swallow a variety of diets.
Lymphedema Management Program
Lymphedema, a common condition in cancer or former cancer patients, is identified by painful swelling in the arms or legs that occurs when lymphatic fluid accumulates in those limbs. Lymphedema most often causes a feeling of heaviness, slight discomfort or cosmetic deformity and can lead to infections, such as cellulitis.
During our lymphedema management program, a treatment plan is developed for each patient based on their individual needs and medical history. The most effective and least invasive approach is complete decongestive therapy (CDT), which is a combination of hygiene/topical skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging/compression and remedial exercises.
For additional information on the Lymphedema Management Program, please contact us at 912-819-6176.