Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Cancer diagnosis often substantially affects patient's physical, psychological, and emotional status. Most patients with cancer experience declining of energy, activity levels, social-cultural participation, and relationships. In addition, cancer progression and adverse effects of aggressive cancer treatment often cause debilitating pain, fatigue, weakness, joint stiffness, depression, emotional instability, limited mobility, poor nutritional status, skin breakdown, bowel dysfunction, swallowing difficulty, and lymphedema leading into functional impairment and disability that can be addressed through rehabilitation care. Comprehensive care models by involving cancer rehabilitation have resulted in significant improvement of patient's quality of life. Although cancer rehabilitation has been implemented in many high-income countries, it is either not yet or suboptimally delivered in most low- and middle-income countries. In this review, we discussed gaps regarding cancer rehabilitation services and identified opportunities to improve quality of cancer care in developing countries. Future collaborations among international organizations and stakeholders of health care delivery systems are required to initiate and improve high-quality cancer rehabilitation in the developing countries.

Pathological profiles and clinical management challenges of breast cancer emerging in young women in Indonesia: a hospital-based study

“…In addition, advanced cancers also are associated with increasing cancer-related disability and poor functioning which require rehabilitation to improve quality of life. However, we previously reported that cancer rehabilitation is also either not available or sub-optimally delivered in developing countries [30, 31].…”

Risk factors of distant metastasis after surgery among different breast cancer subtypes: a hospital-based study in Indonesia

“…However, the proportion of case fatality rates in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) including in Indonesia is significantly higher than in high-income countries [2,3]. Several factors including demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare system factors are associated with the higher mortality rates in LMICs [2][3][4]. In the clinical course of cancer, mortality is primarily caused by distant metastasis [5,6].…”

Shared concern with current breast cancer rehabilitation services: a focus group study of survivors’ and professionals’ experiences and preferences for rehabilitation care delivery

“…Based on our findings, cancer treatment is still perceived to focus only on diagnosis, treatment and symptom alleviation, while rehabilitation of functional and physical problems are under-recognised and undertreated. 15 This is a paradox because physical disability including upper…”

“…Based on our findings, cancer treatment is still perceived to focus only on diagnosis, treatment and symptom alleviation, while rehabilitation of functional and physical problems are under-recognised and undertreated. 15 This is a paradox because physical disability including upper body issues is often a leading cause of distress among BCSs. 16 17 In our study, 20% of BCSs reported receiving no information on rehabilitation exercises, 34% had never seen an RP for treatment or education and only a minority had presurgery measurements taken of shoulder ROM and arm circumference.…”