Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine
Our Approach
Many patients benefit from supportive care before, during, and after cancer care. At the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute, our Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine program — led by a fellowship-trained rehabilitation physician — is one of only a few in the country specifically designed to help manage the side effects of cancer and its treatments.
Whether you need physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, or nutrition support, we are here to help you regain strength, improve your well-being, and stay connected to what matters most — throughout your treatment and survivorship.
Improving your quality of life through Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine
Cancer and its treatments can lead to physical and emotional challenges that make everyday life harder. You might face fatigue, pain, balance problems, muscle weakness, cognitive changes, or speech difficulties. That’s where cancer rehabilitation can help.
Our multidisciplinary Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine team, led by a fellowship-trained physician, creates a care plan tailored to your individual needs, focusing on helping you regain function and improve daily comfort.
The Benefits of Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer rehabilitation can help you:
- Reduce side effects such as fatigue, pain, or weakness
- Improve strength, balance, mobility, and coordination
- Address cognitive or speech challenges
- Support your emotional well-being
- Enhance your ability to return to daily activities and routines
- Improve treatment tolerance and long-term recovery
- Stay actively engaged in your care and recovery process
- Address physical limitations caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery — including range of motion or lymphedema
- Support medication management for side effects
- Offer medical acupuncture to help with dry mouth, hot flashes, and other symptoms
- Assist with survivorship care and life after treatment
What to Expect
Your rehabilitation begins with a detailed evaluation led by a fellowship-trained Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine physician (onco-physiatrist), a specialist trained to understand the complex effects of cancer and its treatments on daily life. During this consultation, we carefully review your symptoms, medical history, current abilities, and personal goals. Based on our conversation, we will develop a personalized care plan that may include:
- Physical therapy to restore strength, balance, and mobility
- Occupational therapy to support daily activities and adapt to new challenges
- Speech therapy to address communication or swallowing issues
- Counseling or psycho-oncology services to help manage emotional or psychological challenges
In some cases, your care may include prehabilitation — a proactive program that helps you build stamina, strength, and resilience before treatment begins.
Throughout your rehabilitation, you remain an active partner in your care. Together, we focus on helping you regain strength, manage side effects, and stay connected to the activities, roles, and relationships that matter most to you.
Note: Care and services vary by location. Please contact your clinic for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cancer rehabilitation is a specialized program designed to help you manage side effects, rebuild strength, and improve your ability to function in daily life. Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, pain, balance issues, weakness, or emotional challenges, our team works with you to create a custom plan that supports your recovery, well-being, and independence. We’ll adjust it as needed over time to help you reach your best possible outcomes.
Cancer rehabilitation is recommended for many people throughout and following cancer treatment. If you're experiencing pain, fatigue, weakness, or difficulty with everyday activities, a referral to cancer rehabilitation may help. Talk to your oncologist or care team about your symptoms. They can help determine if rehabilitation is right for you and connect you with Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine to get started.
You can benefit from rehabilitation at any stage of care. Some patients start during treatment to help manage side effects early, while others begin after treatment to regain strength and confidence. In some cases, your rehabilitation may start even before treatment begins, a proactive approach known as “prehabilitation.” Your care team will help you decide the best timing based on your needs and goals.
The length of your rehabilitation depends on your individual needs, goals, and progress. Some patients benefit from just a few targeted sessions, while others participate in ongoing care over several weeks or months. Your rehabilitation team will work closely with you to create a personalized plan, regularly assess your progress, and adjust the program as needed to help you reach your best possible outcomes.
Yes. Fatigue is one of the most common and challenging side effects of cancer and its treatments. Research shows that even gentle, tailored exercise and rehabilitation activities can help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and boost your overall quality of life.
We provide a full range of supportive care services to support you during and after your cancer treatment. Some of these services include:
- Art therapists
- Cancer rehabilitation (onco-physiatry)
- Care coordinators
- Genetic counseling (cancer geneticist)
- Health educators
- Medical massage (edema, lymphedema management)
- Music therapist
- Naturopaths
- Nutritionists
- Oncology nurses
- Social workers
- Speech and language pathology
We can also help with finances, food, transportation, and other challenges for eligible patients through our patient assistance fund.
See the full list of supportive care services.
Note: Some services are provided by local partners and vary based on location. Please contact your clinic for more information.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover cancer rehabilitation services when deemed medically necessary. Coverage may vary based on your specific plan and the type of therapy recommended.
We have financial counselors on staff to help you sort out any insurance issues. These counselors work with your insurance company to verify benefits and coordinate pre-certification or pre-authorization of care if necessary. Then, they coordinate all this information with the medical center’s billing services.
We also have oncology social workers who can help you with:
- Benefits advocacy, if you are eligible
- Financial counseling
- Medicaid applications
- Medicare and coordinating Medigap and prescription plans