Platinum Physio is committed to helping people with Cancer to recover better and live an active life. Our team, headed by expert Oncology Physiotherapist Gillian Buckley, offers qualified care in Cancer rehabilitation and Lymphoedema management.
We offer the most comprehensive range of Cancer rehabilitation services, including the PINC Rehab & Rehabilitation for Prostate Cancer survivors; which can be undertaken before, during and after treatment, with Pilates, hydrotherapy and gym options, to improve your quality of life.
Through Platinum Physio’s Cancer Rehabilitation – we help you by:
1) Assisting, treating and supporting you through every stage of your treatment and recovery
This may begin shortly after diagnosis where early screening for and treatment of impairments can make a big difference in your journey. Our care continuum includes pre-habilitation (interventions designed to increase function prior to surgery or treatment), rehabilitation for those who have finished their main cancer treatment and want to continue their road to recovery. Our tailored programs are appropriate for Cancer survivors one week or 10 years after their cancer treatment.
The thought of exercise can be overwhelming to people affected by cancer, but the right exercise, designed to meet your changing needs and guided by our Platinum Physios, will help you feel better physically and mentally, improve your health and well being and decrease the risk of further disease. Numerous studies show that being physically active improves survival and quality of life. Lack of exercise may increase your risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, functional decline and cancer recurrence. Well published research and all of our collective experience confirms that exercise helps to mitigate the side effects of cancer treatment and surgery.
2) Reducing and decelerating the impact of a range of symptoms
Platinum Physiotherapy rehabilitation services can help you:
- increase your strength, range of motion, functional status, and physical activity levels;
- manage your fatigue, and pain;
- restore bowel and bladder function,
- help you return to work, sport and the activities you love
- maintain your independence.
3) Restoring your movement and function
Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists are experts in restoring movement and function to people affected by cancer. However, it doesn’t stop there. There is also strong evidence supporting rehabilitation and exercise not only help people physically but also emotionally, vocationally and socially.
5) Helping you manage fatigue, during and after treatment
Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists are experienced in the management of fatigue during and after cancer treatment. It is very important to manage fatigue symptoms; to provide adequate support for people remaining at work as well as returning to work. There is also an abundance of evidence that regular moderate exercise can decrease feelings of tiredness, lack of energy and fatigue. During cancer treatment it is often possible to continue exercising if it is carefully prescribed by a Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapist.
6) Preventing further degeneration of health
If symptoms are not managed throughout treatment there is a greater risk of problems developing which make it harder to cope. The combined burden from treatments and lack of physical activity can cause de-conditioning, which can further exacerbate fatigue and lead to a longer road to recovery. Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists can help you overcome the significant physical and functional impairments suffered after cancer surgery and treatments that act as major barriers to resuming physical activity.
7) Preventing unnecessary disability
The number of people living longer and surviving cancer is growing, however Cancer survivors may be living with long-term side effects of the disease and treatment (both physical and emotional), which make them feel like they haven’t ‘beaten’ cancer at all. Side effects may be visible during or very soon after treatment, or they may take months and years to be seen. Many of these side effects can significantly affect quality of life. Our Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists can help minimise the risk of short and long-term side effects and help prevent unnecessary disability.
8) Providing support for all of you
The primary focus of oncology medical professionals is to eliminate or control disease by suppressing cancer cell growth (chemo, radiation) or directly removing the tumour (surgery). These treatments are increasingly successful but they also damage ‘normal’ tissue. While oncology specialists seek the best possible outcomes, i.e. the absence of any residual cancer – this does not mean genuine, meaningful recovery is complete. Our Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists’ focus is on supporting the whole person, not just addressing their cancer.
9) Assisting your psychological recovery
There is an emotional toll that cancer survivors face in addition to the physical one. A cancer diagnosis can cause depression, anger, anxiety, fear and stress. Proper breathing techniques, stretching, reassurance and education can help improve psychological recovery.
10) Supporting effective self-management strategies to maintain your health
Our Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists have a very important educational role during and after cancer treatments to help people understand how they can help themselves. Cancer treatments are tough but are more manageable when people know what to expect and are given good advice on all the things they can do to maximise their own recovery. Ongoing education throughout cancer treatment is also vital to heighten your awareness of the potential late effects from treatment and to promote a proactive approach to your diagnosis and treatment. In addition, our Platinum Cancer Rehabilitation Physiotherapists work to reinforce health-promoting behaviours such as exercise, weight control and physical activity and help you take positive steps for your future health and well being.
We understand that people diagnosed with Cancer endure a huge amount and their journey can be long and uncertain. We see it as a privilege to work with many inspiring people, observing their strength and uncommon wisdom.
If you or someone you know has a cancer diagnosis, talk to your Doctor about whether Cancer rehabilitation and Physio supervised exercise is appropriate for you and then contact us on (03) 8554 0111.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-reasons-why-more-physiotherapists-should-involved-helping-james
