What is rehabilitation for cancer patients?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh - Rehabilitation Doctor - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. The doctor has 30 years of experience in the specialty of Rehabilitation.

Cancer is a disease that is becoming more and more common today, can occur at any age as well as in many organ systems in the human body. The process of cancer treatment lasts a long time as well as causes physical, mental and cognitive consequences of the patient, affecting the patient's quality of life after treatment. Therefore, rehabilitation for cancer patients is an extremely necessary thing, so more attention should be paid to help patients improve their health and mental status and reintegrate into society.

Cancer is gradually becoming common in all countries of the world and is known as a disease that occurs due to the abnormal production of malignant cells, which can cause cancer. dead. The treatment of cancer has so far achieved a lot of remarkable achievements and there are many cancers that have been successfully treated, causing the death rate from cancer to decrease significantly year by year. However, after finishing a cancer treatment regimen, many patients have to face the possibility of experiencing health problems related to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs such as body fatigue, system function, etc. neurological impairment, or even problems related to mental health such as anxiety, depression, mood swings...
Many cancer patients after treatment are often unable to participate in work , studying as before, the ability to reintegrate into the social community is increasingly reduced, causing the patient's quality of life to decrease significantly. Therefore, not only stopping at treating symptoms, doctors and medical staff also need to pay more attention to the rehabilitation of cancer patients through special therapies and techniques to help people with cancer. Patients can quickly recover health, improve mental health and improve quality of life.

Rehabilitation for cancer patients is a method implemented to help cancer patients manage many problems in their daily lives after cancer treatment is over. The main goal of rehabilitation for cancer patients is to help patients be able to function and live independently.
Some of the benefits that rehabilitation for cancer patients bring are:
Help patients maintain the highest active state to participate in family activities, increase integration ability with society and life. Relieves harmful side effects and symptoms caused by cancer drugs and cancer therapies. Help the patient to be able to do some daily activities and live independently. Improve the spiritual life, improve the quality of life of patients after cancer treatment. Rehabilitation for cancer patients will improve the patient's many aspects, including both physical and cognitive problems, activity and cognition of the patient:
Physical: the patient will be Treating and alleviating harmful health problems such as pain, swelling, weakness, loss of strength, limitation of movement as well as reduced flexibility when performing movements, reduced strength endurance, physical endurance, altered skin, loss of balance, easy falls, symptoms associated with neuropathy, persistent fatigue, sexual health impairment or disorder , dysphagia or difficulty chewing... Activities: rehabilitation can improve a patient's mobility difficulties, specifically certain movements such as getting up from the floor or from a chair, go up the stairs, get dressed, take a bath... Awareness: after cancer treatment, the patient's cognitive problems are also affected, so it is necessary to practice rehabilitation to improve some problems problems such as coordination of many activities, tasks at the same time, difficulty in thinking about a problem, psychosis, impaired memory...

When a patient comes to practice rehabilitation after cancer treatment, he will receive help and guidance from many specialized rehabilitation specialists for cancer patients, such as: The following:
Physiotherapist: guide the patient to restore their mobility, which in turn can help the patient reduce pain and move more flexibly Occupational therapist: help patients recover functions and activities of daily living such as walking, dressing, bathing... These activities are usually performed in homes, schools or a workplace to help patients can get used to these routine activities. Speech therapist: improve the patient's communication ability as well as treat swallowing and chewing disorders..., especially for patients after radiation and chemotherapy in head and facial cancer neck . In addition, speech therapists also help patients improve cognitive disorders such as organizational ability, memory ability. Physical therapists: help treat and improve problems related to neuromuscular diseases, helping patients reduce pain. Lymphedema therapists help patients reduce swelling and pain with therapeutic methods such as wearing tight clothing and using massage combined with some specialized exercises. Cognitive psychologist: correcting patient behaviors as well as problems related to brain dysfunction after cancer treatment with chemotherapy. Career counselors: guide patients to learn how to perform some small, simple tasks related to day-to-day work. Recreational therapist: helping patients have a good mental health, comfort to balance their emotions, reduce anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and depression in life with recreational activities. such as art, sports, fun activities, dance... Nutritionist: is an extremely important factor in rehabilitation for cancer patients because they can advise patients. be aware of the necessary foods for each certain type of cancer, which greatly contributes to the treatment, recovery and prevention of cancer recurrence later. Sports physiologist: helps patients improve a number of life functions such as cardiovascular function, internal metabolic system through sports activities to improve the patient's health.

Rehabilitation for cancer patients plays a great role in improving health and improving living functions for patients after finishing cancer treatment. This is a vast field and requires a great deal of cooperation from both patients, families and medical staff with expertise and long experience.
For safe and effective rehabilitative treatment for cancer patients, customers can contact the rehabilitation department of Vinmec International General Hospital to be assigned specific treatment by doctors. possible for each case. The Department of Rehabilitation is fully invested, with a complete and rich system of physical therapy equipment and machinery originating from the world's leading manufacturer of physical therapy equipment. like the Netherlands; Japan....
Spinal traction bed Neck spine stretching machine Large short wave machine Treatment ultrasound machine Pulsed electric machine Passive knee extension machine Programmable bicycle system Muscle exercise machine system, Joint training Strength training machine system with multi-function bed system BoBab exercise bed system... The technicians are formally trained, at the university and college level, having worked in various departments. Rehabilitation of large hospitals. In addition, from time to time, the Faculty also has an increase of foreign technicians working together and exchanging experiences. The care support team is available to assist the patient in safe mobility.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the nationwide health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.