Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.
For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).
Cancer Rehabilitation Services
Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.
For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).
After cancer treatment, it may be difficult to perform daily tasks, such as bathing, eating, and even getting in and out of your home. Cancer rehabilitation improves the way you feel and your ability to move through life. You will receive care from an experienced team of therapists who work collaboratively as part of the Cancer Institute care team. Our services include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Cancer rehabilitation at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute
Our cancer specialists use a team approach to help you receive the personalized care and support you deserve. Doctors, nurses and therapists meet on a regular basis to determine the treatments and services that best fit your needs, including cancer rehabilitation.
If cancer rehabilitation is right for you, we coordinate all the details. Our team explains how rehabilitation services can help you and also makes your first appointment. When you arrive for your first appointment, you can expect to spend time with a therapist creating an individualized treatment approach unique to you.
Our cancer rehabilitation team
We understand the challenges you are facing during and after cancer treatment. And our team of caring therapists stands ready to help you overcome them.
Our cancer rehabilitation team includes experts in:
Physical therapy
Our team of physical therapists will help you overcome issues with pain, fatigue, balance, weakness and stiffness through an individualized treatment plan focusing on exercise. Find out more about physical therapy.
Occupational therapy
In occupational therapy, we teach you techniques for making daily activities easier. Your care may include special devices to help you with eating, dressing or even rising from a seated position. We also can work with you to address any cognitive issues related to your cancer treatment. Read more about occupational therapy.
Speech therapy
Our speech therapists help you communicate with loved ones and overcome swallowing problems. Get more information about speech therapy.
How cancer rehabilitation services can help you
Our cancer rehabilitation services help you manage issues related to cancer treatment, which may include:
Tiredness and weakness
Cancer related fatigue can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Our physical therapy team can help you get your energy back through guided and supervised exercise. We also will provide an exercise program that you can work on at home to help you get stronger, faster.
Balance problems
Losing weight and changes in sensation during cancer treatment can make it difficult to be steady on your feet. We improve balance through exercises that strengthen the brain-eye connection. We may also show you how to use devices that lower your risk of falling.
Difficulty communicating
Cancer may affect your ability to talk or understand the words other people are saying. Our speech therapists help you overcome these challenges so you can express your wishes and feel heard by others.
Pain or muscle tightness
Side effects from cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy or surgery, can make physical activity difficult. We help you ease back into your routine with relaxation, exercise, stretches and manual (hands on) techniques.
Abnormal swelling
Some cancer treatments cause buildups of fluid called lymph (lymphedema). This condition causes discomfort and can change your appearance. Our certified lymphedema therapists help you get relief. You also have the opportunity to share information with fellow patients through our lymphedema support group.
Lymphedema treatment
Many people recovering from cancer experience lymphedema, a buildup of fluid inside your lymphatic system caused by damage to your lymph nodes. Lymphedema causes unpleasant symptoms like:
- Severe swelling
- Trouble moving
- Itching and burning sensations
- Thickening of your skin
We understand how difficult it can be to live with lymphedema. That’s why our lymphedema specialists design a treatment plan based on your unique needs. We teach you how to do things like:
- Reduce swelling
- Care for your skin
- Stay as healthy as you can while recovering from cancer
We’ll help you regain as much function as possible and effectively manage your symptoms so you can live your life without discomfort.
Breast cancer rehabilitation
Women with breast cancer often undergo surgery to remove part of all of a breast. More so than other procedures, breast cancer surgery can affect your ability to perform even basic daily activities, like showering or dressing.
Our oncology rehabilitation specialists help women recovering from breast cancer learn to manage pain and regain as much function and movement as possible. We’ll help you with a cancer rehabilitation program that’s created just for you.
Managing cancer-related fatigue
Many people with cancer experience extreme fatigue, either as a result of their illness or from the treatments they receive. As part of our oncology rehab services, we’ll help you learn how to fight fatigue to return to those activities that are important to you.
