ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation

What is cancer rehabilitation?
Living well beyond cancer.

Despite ongoing advancements, cancer and its treatments still often cause serious physical and mental problems. Pain, fatigue, and emotional distress are the most common challenges reported, but many people also experience weakness, swelling, stiffness, cognitive decline, and/or problems swallowing.^1-4

When the effects of cancer and/or its treatments begin to interfere with your recovery, ability to receive treatment, or performance of daily activities like sleeping, eating and walking, your doctor may recommend cancer rehabilitation. Cancer rehabilitation can help you with these hurdles and your return to your life: to family, your job, and everything else important to you.^5-8 That’s why many national and international cancer care organizations recommend rehabilitation as an important part of your overall cancer care plan.^9-17

Our cancer-trained therapists work hard to help you achieve comprehensive recovery from cancer and its treatments through physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Cancer is invasive — not just physically, but in all areas of your life. Studies show that improved strength and function can mean getting you back to work, back to your family and friendships, and back to your other life priorities put on hold by cancer. It has been shown that patients may also experience more specific benefits from targeted cancer rehabilitation care including reduced fatigue, pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and cognitive decline.

Importantly, cancer rehabilitation is not just for when you are receiving active treatment. Rehabilitation can have benefits before treatment begins by strengthening your body for chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.¹⁸ Following cancer treatment, rehabilitation can also help with cancer’s delayed and long-term side effects for years, even decades.¹⁹

Who might be on your cancer rehabilitation team?
Every patient’s needs are unique, but cancer-trained physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and cognitive rehabilitation experts often play key roles. These therapists know how to identify and mitigate cancer-related challenges that you might be experiencing.

Physical therapists, for instance, will help you recover physical strength and mobility. Occupational therapists can help with your home and work activities like driving, caring for children, and typing. Speech-language pathologists assist with speech, swallowing, and eating problems. Lastly, cognitive rehabilitation experts can help with mental challenges like trouble concentrating, remembering, and focusing.²¹

Each person affected by cancer is truly unique so no two cancer rehabilitation treatment plans are the same. If you think ReVital cancer rehabilitation is right for you, we encourage an initial evaluation session early in the treatment process where your current condition, cancer care plan, and personal goals are discussed.

As you continue in our care, you will schedule recurring appointments with your therapist(s). Together, you will work on targeted exercises to help you achieve your personalized goals. Your therapists will encourage you to continue your exercises at home to accelerate progress. Even when it is challenging, do your best to follow their instructions and attend your appointments.

During your care with ReVital, your therapist(s) will be in touch with your cancer doctor to share information and update them on your progress. They work as a team.

We are looking forward to being part of your cancer recovery plan — and your brighter, better future.

Developed by Select Medical, a leading provider of post-acute care, ReVital currently serves patients in more than 440 locations across nearly 20 states and continues to grow. If ReVital services are not yet available in your area, let us know.

References at end of profile.

Our Patient Spotlights
Sean … A Profile in Living Life Before, During and After Cancer
Radiation for stage 4 tonsil and throat cancer left Sean with muscle pain and weakness as well as nerve damage. A combination of physical therapy, ultrasound, and Botox got him back to life, family, and his favorite activity, surfing.
Kelly … A Profile in Fortitude
A roll-up-your-sleeves CEO with a young son, Kelly endured three punishing rounds of breast cancer that sidelined her. Cancer and its treatment resulted in crushing migraines, overwhelming fatigue and weakness, nausea. and substantial weight loss. Kelly’s resilience guided her to the right doctors and cancer rehabilitation. That combination was a salve for her issues and led her back to full-time work and motherhood.
Margo … A Profile in Self Discipline
Stage 4 tongue cancer sent Margo directly to surgery followed by rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. As a result, issues surfaced, including: lymphedema, breathing difficulty, pain and spasms and limited head and neck movement. But Margo was lucky. Her doctor directed her to cancer rehab therapy to address those debilitating challenges. Determined, she took full advantage of therapy in order to be present for a momentous occasion: her wedding.
Hilary … A Profile in Resiliency
Hilary’s cancer story began in the summer of 2017. She was leading a full life. After a successful career in banking, she was self-employed advising small businesses in the field of accounting. Hilary also enjoyed yoga, Zumba and gardening.
Julie … A Profile in Living Life Before, During and After Cancer
Just nine months after having her fourth child, mom and successful businesswoman Julie was diagnosed with a rare breast sarcoma. She was in awe, she says, at how quickly everything moved, following that initial diagnosis.
Jenna … A Profile in Taking Control
Jenna underwent several lengthy surgeries after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The only instruction she was given was to walk her fingers up the wall a few times a day. For years, Jenna was constantly achy at best, and full of pain at worst. A few weeks after being referred to ReVital cancer rehabilitation, she was heading to the gym. Her energy had doubled and she found herself back at the easel painting again..