Photo credit: LMH Health
The photo of LMH Health, 325 Maine St., was taken in May 2021.
If you’re diagnosed with cancer, one of the first treatments that may come to mind is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a common type of cancer treatment that can have a variety of effects on the body, from fatigue and brain confusion to reduced strength and mobility. To help combat these effects, LMH Health offers physical therapy for cancer patients and survivors.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop cancer cells from growing and dividing and destroy them. Doctors may use these drugs alone or in combination with radiation therapy or surgery. Chemotherapy may be given if:
* Orally
* Through an intravenous or arterial drip
* Injection into a muscle or subcutaneously
Dr. Jodi Barr, an oncologist at LMH Health Cancer Center, says chemotherapy isn’t prescribed for everyone. Chemotherapy is effective in treating some cancers but not others. Also, chemotherapy has a variety of side effects, including:
* Anemia (low red blood cell count)
* Balance issues
* Brain fog or “chemo brain”
* Malaise
* Hair removal
* Limited strength and mobility
* Lymphedema (swelling due to fluid buildup)
* Nausea and vomiting
* Numbness or tingling (neuropathy)
* pain
“When using chemotherapy to treat cancer, our goal is to make sure we provide a treatment that patients can tolerate and that allows them to live a quality life,” Barr said.
Physical therapy offers benefits
When cancer brings unexpected events into your life, physical therapy can help ease the effects of chemotherapy before, during and after treatment. Barr said oncology patients who have multiple symptoms before starting chemotherapy benefit from pre-rehabilitation, which is physical therapy that begins before starting cancer treatment.
“Data shows that patients with comorbidities (having two or more medical conditions at the same time) benefit most from starting rehabilitation earlier,” she says. “They tolerate treatment better, have fewer delays in their treatment plans, and are less likely to be hospitalized.”
The team at LMH Health Cancer Center will work with patients to determine if physical therapy would benefit them. The team will use the Karnofsky Performance Status, a way to measure a patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Patients self-report this information and are asked to do so periodically throughout treatment. Scores range from 0 to 100. A higher score means that you are better able to perform daily activities.
“Some of my patients are two weeks into treatment before they start experiencing side effects from chemotherapy. They may not think twice about getting brain fog or not being able to stand at the stove for 30 minutes to make dinner,” Bahr says. “We talk to them about programs and that spending time in physical therapy or occupational therapy may help their stamina.”
Personalized care from licensed therapists
Having physical therapy as part of your treatment plan can help you maintain or regain your strength and quality of life. If you are referred to LMH Health Therapy Services, you will work with Jonathan Todd, who is certified in Chemotoxicity and Cancer Exercise Management by the Institute of Physiological Oncology and Rehabilitation.
“Historically, cancer patients have not received physical therapy, and oncologists have focused on helping patients recover,” Todd says. “As more people recover from their diagnosis, we’re finding that more patients are experiencing functional issues, including fatigue, weakness, neuropathy and balance issues. For me, it’s important to be able to care for this expanding patient population.”
Research from the American Cancer Society has shown that exercise is safe and beneficial for most people before and during cancer treatment. Exercise can also help you deal with side effects of treatment and may reduce your risk of future cancers.
“One of the biggest side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is fatigue, which is why physical therapy is so helpful,” says Barr. “Research shows that the more active we can get patients, even if it’s just getting up and walking for five minutes a day, the more effective it is in fighting cancer-related fatigue.”
During your first physical therapy visit, Todd will assess your current situation. He will talk with you to evaluate your past medical history, learn about your current symptoms, and determine how he can help.
“We do a series of tests that help us evaluate muscle weakness, balance, activity tolerance and overall frailty,” he said. “When patients leave after their initial consultation, I make sure they have some exercises they can start doing at home.”
Todd helps patients begin exercise programs and regularly works with them to evaluate their progress. He also works with occupational and speech therapists to address any needs patients have in those areas.
“People undergoing chemotherapy sometimes suffer from brain fog – forgetfulness, problems with concentration and attention,” he says. “We want to make sure we’re treating all of their concerns.”
While cancer patients may have a treatment roadmap, including the type of chemotherapy and number of cycles, there is no strict rule about how long physical therapy should last, Todd said.
“Treatment for trauma may take up to three months, but for cancer patients and cancer survivors, it’s a long-term process,” he said. “If the patient wants to continue to be seen monthly, we do that.”
Does that work?
“The feedback we’ve received from patients about working with their care team has been fantastic,” Mr Barr said. “Patients find it beneficial and are feeling better overall. We’ve seen increased appetite, increased daily activities and fewer delays in care and fewer hospital admissions.”
Looking to the future, LMH Health Therapy Services is expanding the programs it offers to patients with cancer and those completing cancer treatment, including treatment for breast, head and neck, pelvic and lower extremity cancers.
“This program benefits patients by giving them something they can work on and see their progress,” Todd said. “I’ve seen so many patients who were depressed and didn’t feel like they could improve, and this helps them both physically and mentally. I’m excited to watch this program grow. It’s rewarding work.”
—Autumn Bishop is marketing manager and content strategist for LMH Health, a sponsor of the Lawrence Journal World Health section.
