A variety of services available for patients as they receive treatments
The journey to becoming a cancer survivor can be difficult, but with the right experts, treatment, and rehabilitation services, there is bright hope for a patient’s future.
McLaren Rehabilitation Services offers a wide array of ways to help cancer survivors get back to doing what they love most and is ready to help throughout the treatment process with methods specifically tailored to those fighting cancer.
“Cancer survivors often have many physical symptoms and side effects related to the cancer itself or the treatment, which negatively impacts their quality of life,” said Elizabeth Race, Physical Therapist at the McLaren Greater Lansing Oncology Rehabilitation Clinic. “We have a multitude of factors to consider, such as their functional status, current and past medical treatment, short- and long-term side effects, and their busy schedule with other providers.”
To make the process easier, physical therapists work directly in the radiation clinic and have nurses who help screen patients for any therapy needs and help take care of the referral process. They then receive a detailed history and update a patient’s doctor on the patient’s status throughout treatment.
Common issues that can be helped through the physical and speech therapies offered by McLaren Rehabilitation Services include cancer-related fatigue, muscle loss and weakness, lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, impaired balance and gait, pain, radiation fibrosis, impaired range of motion and flexibility, and difficulty swallowing.
Those who have experienced physical impairments related to their cancer or their cancer treatment, or those who have upcoming treatment and want to get a head start on working on their functional abilities, can benefit most from these services.
“Cancer has impacted so many people in one way or another, including myself,” said Race. “I find it extremely rewarding to help these patients and their loved ones navigate their diagnosis and reach their functional goals.”
To learn more about McLaren Rehabilitation Services, click here.
About McLaren Greater Lansing
McLaren Greater Lansing and McLaren Orthopedic Hospital operate the region’s most distinguished cardiovascular and orthopedic surgery programs that — together with McLaren Greater Lansing’s oncology, women’s care, and wide-ranging diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services — consistently lead in clinical quality and efficiency. The hospitals are part of McLaren Health Care, Mid-Michigan’s largest health care system.