Cancers and their aggressive treatments may have many side effects that can affect your quality of life. Symptoms may include:
- Pain
- Stiffness or lack of motion
- Fatigue, decreased strength
- Impaired balance
- Difficulty walking
- Numbness/tingling
- Swelling
- Difficulty doing the things that you need or want to do.
St. Peter’s rehabilitation therapists have specialized training, knowledge, and experience to help clients to reduce these side effects and return to activities they love.
How will I know if rehab can help me?
All cancer diagnosis can benefit from a rehabilitation program. Recent research has overwhelmingly supported exercise to treat and prevent the negative and physical and psychological side effects of cancer treatment.
Key Questions to ask yourself:
- Are you feeling generally weak or is your fatigue disproportionate to the activity you are doing?
- Are you struggling with depression caused by your cancer treatment?
- Do you have treatment-related pain?
- Has your cancer treatment left you with tingling, numbness, instability, difficulty with balance or walking?
- Has your quality of life been affected by your cancer treatment?
How do I start Rehab?
A physician referral is usually needed before therapies can begin. Talk with your physician about a referral. You can also call the Rehabilitation Department at 406-444-2340 if you have questions, or talk with your Oncology Nurse Navigator.