About service
Its main goal is reduced to the development and implementation of an individually tailored program for the restoration of normal functioning of organs and body systems, as well as the speedy return of patients to a normal life.
Components of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation in post-oncological processes can be carried out in several ways depending on the localization and severity of organ damage.
The procedures can be:
• Restorative. Prescribed after therapy for early stages of cancer for patients who have undergone radiation or chemotherapy and have preserved the organ. Patients manage to fully restore physical and social activity and return to their usual life.
• Supportive. Indicated in more severe stages of the disease, usually after surgery with the loss of an organ or its functions. Rehabilitation measures are aimed at minimizing the side effects of treatment and the disease itself and maximizing the patient's adaptation to life.
• Palliative. Necessary in case of disease progression, to prevent serious complications that worsen the course of the disease and significantly reduce the quality of life of the patient and their loved ones.
Goals of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of oncological patients has several goals aimed at restoring the functionality and quality of life of the patient after the completion of cancer treatment. Here are some of the main goals:
• Restoration of physical fitness and endurance. Oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, can negatively affect the patient's physical condition and strength. The goal of rehabilitation is to restore physical activity and strengthen muscles.
• Improvement of psychological well-being. Cancer and its treatment are often accompanied by psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Rehabilitation is aimed at helping patients cope with the emotional and psychological consequences of cancer.
• Restoration of self-care skills. Some patients may lose the ability to perform basic daily tasks, such as independent feeding, dressing, and hygiene. The goal of rehabilitation is to teach and restore these skills so that patients can manage independently.
• Management of treatment side effects. Oncology treatment is often accompanied by negative side effects, such as pain, nausea, and fatigue. Rehabilitation includes methods and techniques to mitigate these effects and improve the patient's quality of life.
• Support for social adaptation. Cancer and its treatment can have a significant impact on the patient's social life. Rehabilitation includes support and guidance for the patient in acquiring new social skills and continuing a normal life after the illness.
The goals of rehabilitation for oncological patients are individual and are established taking into account the specific needs and characteristics of each patient. They may change depending on the stage of the disease, the type of treatment, and the patient's general state of health. Rehabilitation is carried out with the help of medical specialists such as physiotherapists, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers.
Stages and Duration of Rehabilitation
Satisfactory results can only be achieved with a comprehensive approach to the body and regular execution of the rehabilitation plan. It goes through several stages:
1. Restoration of blood leukocytes (White Blood Cells). Cancer tumors can penetrate the circulatory system and occupy the blood, leading to a decrease in the number of leukocytes. This makes the body more vulnerable to infections and complicates the fight against diseases. The oncological process also suppresses the body's immune system, leading to a decrease in leukocyte function. Leukocytes function as the body's "police," which detects and destroys pathogens and abnormal cells. Weakening of leukocyte activity can lead to a reduction in the body's immune function and faster progression of cancer. The leukocyte level can be restored with the help of special medications. They are selected by the attending physician strictly individually.
2. Normalization of detox phase function. The kidneys and liver are the main detox organs and part of the filtering and excretory systems. The oncological process and chemotherapy inflict great damage on these organs. If their condition is not improved in time, renal or hepatic insufficiency may develop, and metabolism may worsen, and hormone balance may be disrupted. Specialized medicinal and vitamin complexes are used to normalize kidney and liver function. They may contain B vitamins, bio-chlorella, NAC (N-acetylcysteine).
3. Diet. This includes an increased content of vegetables, fruits, greens, fiber, fish, seafood, complex carbohydrates, chicken, turkey. Daily consumption of nuts is welcomed. At the same time, it is important to exclude trans fats, smoked, fried food, simple carbohydrates, and sweets from the diet.
4. Restoration of physical fitness. The sooner a person starts engaging in physical activity, the better. This does not mean cardio or strength training, but therapeutic exercise (physiotherapy), morning exercises, Nordic walking. As recovery progresses, the load should be increased (taking into account age and capabilities). Physical activity is necessary for our body to force the organs to work at full capacity. A person who performs some exercises daily feels more active, charged, and energetic. In addition, sports activities contribute to the production of endorphin and serotonin – neurotransmitters that suffer greatly during chemotherapy. It is recommended to conduct classes under the guidance of a therapeutic exercise (physical therapy) instructor.
5. Psychological rehabilitation. The restoration of psycho-emotional health is no less important than physical rehabilitation. People with a strong spirit and a positive attitude recover much faster. But many patients fall into depression as a result of heavy treatment. They absolutely need the help of a psychologist and often a psychotherapist. It is necessary to teach the person to live a full emotional life again and not to fear a possible relapse. The main principle of psychotherapy after cancer is to find the type of activity that will bring the person genuine pleasure. This often includes long-held desires to engage in something (drawing, swimming, dancing) for which there was not enough time. If such dreams exist, the time after treatment is the perfect time to realize them. The joy of sport or creativity is the most powerful tool for restoring psycho-emotional balance. Another effective technique for psychological rehabilitation is attending meetings with people with a similar problem. During communication, participants do not hesitate to share their fears, anxieties, and can help each other with advice from their own experience. Being in a collective of understanding people also contributes to the acceleration of rehabilitation.
6. Sanatorium-Resort Treatment (Spa/Health Resort Treatment). This is one of the best types of rehabilitation. Under the guidance of a whole team of specialists, it will proceed much faster. They will select an individual complex of procedures and evaluate the results, adjusting the rehabilitation measures throughout the process. The restorative complex usually includes: terrenkurs (graded walking therapy) of various difficulty, mud therapy, mineral baths, helio- and climatotherapy, swimming, diet therapy, and a complex of apparatus physiotherapeutic procedures.
Strict adherence to the specialists' recommendations at each stage of rehabilitation will help the person overcome the difficulties of the recovery period and return to a full, emotionally rich life.
In addition, it is important to understand that chemotherapy greatly weakens and depletes the body. Therefore, from a medical point of view, patients require correction of: oxidative stress, glycation, levels of vitamins and minerals, function of the thyroid gland, liver, heart, kidneys, and levels of neurotransmitters.
How Procedures are Performed
The rehabilitation process for oncological patients may include the following procedures:
• Kinesiotherapy. This is a variant of therapeutic physical therapy that uses exercises and movement to restore strength, flexibility, and coordination. It can help patients restore muscles and joints, improve breathing and blood circulation, and increase overall physical activity. Kinesiotherapy includes a complex of therapeutic exercises in a dynamic regime, training on exercise equipment, applied sports exercises, games, and breathing exercises.
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). This is a massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to remove excess fluid and toxins from the body. It is especially useful for patients with edema (swelling), which can be a consequence of the oncological process or its treatment.
• Occupational Therapy (Ergotherapy). This is a form of rehabilitation that helps patients return to daily activities and tasks such as feeding and self-care. Occupational therapists help patients develop skills and use adaptive devices or techniques to facilitate the performance of these tasks.
• Speech Therapy (Logopedics). This is specialized assistance in the restoration of speech functions after oncological diseases. Speech therapists help patients develop communication skills, improve pronunciation, and develop strategies for correcting possible speech problems.
Each of these methods can help patients restore body functions, improve the quality of life, and return to normal activities.
Components of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation in post-oncological processes can be carried out in several ways depending on the localization and severity of organ damage.
The procedures can be:
• Restorative. Prescribed after therapy for early stages of cancer for patients who have undergone radiation or chemotherapy and have preserved the organ. Patients manage to fully restore physical and social activity and return to their usual life.
• Supportive. Indicated in more severe stages of the disease, usually after surgery with the loss of an organ or its functions. Rehabilitation measures are aimed at minimizing the side effects of treatment and the disease itself and maximizing the patient's adaptation to life.
• Palliative. Necessary in case of disease progression, to prevent serious complications that worsen the course of the disease and significantly reduce the quality of life of the patient and their loved ones.
Goals of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of oncological patients has several goals aimed at restoring the functionality and quality of life of the patient after the completion of cancer treatment. Here are some of the main goals:
• Restoration of physical fitness and endurance. Oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, can negatively affect the patient's physical condition and strength. The goal of rehabilitation is to restore physical activity and strengthen muscles.
• Improvement of psychological well-being. Cancer and its treatment are often accompanied by psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Rehabilitation is aimed at helping patients cope with the emotional and psychological consequences of cancer.
• Restoration of self-care skills. Some patients may lose the ability to perform basic daily tasks, such as independent feeding, dressing, and hygiene. The goal of rehabilitation is to teach and restore these skills so that patients can manage independently.
• Management of treatment side effects. Oncology treatment is often accompanied by negative side effects, such as pain, nausea, and fatigue. Rehabilitation includes methods and techniques to mitigate these effects and improve the patient's quality of life.
• Support for social adaptation. Cancer and its treatment can have a significant impact on the patient's social life. Rehabilitation includes support and guidance for the patient in acquiring new social skills and continuing a normal life after the illness.
The goals of rehabilitation for oncological patients are individual and are established taking into account the specific needs and characteristics of each patient. They may change depending on the stage of the disease, the type of treatment, and the patient's general state of health. Rehabilitation is carried out with the help of medical specialists such as physiotherapists, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers.
Stages and Duration of Rehabilitation
Satisfactory results can only be achieved with a comprehensive approach to the body and regular execution of the rehabilitation plan. It goes through several stages:
1. Restoration of blood leukocytes (White Blood Cells). Cancer tumors can penetrate the circulatory system and occupy the blood, leading to a decrease in the number of leukocytes. This makes the body more vulnerable to infections and complicates the fight against diseases. The oncological process also suppresses the body's immune system, leading to a decrease in leukocyte function. Leukocytes function as the body's "police," which detects and destroys pathogens and abnormal cells. Weakening of leukocyte activity can lead to a reduction in the body's immune function and faster progression of cancer. The leukocyte level can be restored with the help of special medications. They are selected by the attending physician strictly individually.
2. Normalization of detox phase function. The kidneys and liver are the main detox organs and part of the filtering and excretory systems. The oncological process and chemotherapy inflict great damage on these organs. If their condition is not improved in time, renal or hepatic insufficiency may develop, and metabolism may worsen, and hormone balance may be disrupted. Specialized medicinal and vitamin complexes are used to normalize kidney and liver function. They may contain B vitamins, bio-chlorella, NAC (N-acetylcysteine).
3. Diet. This includes an increased content of vegetables, fruits, greens, fiber, fish, seafood, complex carbohydrates, chicken, turkey. Daily consumption of nuts is welcomed. At the same time, it is important to exclude trans fats, smoked, fried food, simple carbohydrates, and sweets from the diet.
4. Restoration of physical fitness. The sooner a person starts engaging in physical activity, the better. This does not mean cardio or strength training, but therapeutic exercise (physiotherapy), morning exercises, Nordic walking. As recovery progresses, the load should be increased (taking into account age and capabilities). Physical activity is necessary for our body to force the organs to work at full capacity. A person who performs some exercises daily feels more active, charged, and energetic. In addition, sports activities contribute to the production of endorphin and serotonin – neurotransmitters that suffer greatly during chemotherapy. It is recommended to conduct classes under the guidance of a therapeutic exercise (physical therapy) instructor.
5. Psychological rehabilitation. The restoration of psycho-emotional health is no less important than physical rehabilitation. People with a strong spirit and a positive attitude recover much faster. But many patients fall into depression as a result of heavy treatment. They absolutely need the help of a psychologist and often a psychotherapist. It is necessary to teach the person to live a full emotional life again and not to fear a possible relapse. The main principle of psychotherapy after cancer is to find the type of activity that will bring the person genuine pleasure. This often includes long-held desires to engage in something (drawing, swimming, dancing) for which there was not enough time. If such dreams exist, the time after treatment is the perfect time to realize them. The joy of sport or creativity is the most powerful tool for restoring psycho-emotional balance. Another effective technique for psychological rehabilitation is attending meetings with people with a similar problem. During communication, participants do not hesitate to share their fears, anxieties, and can help each other with advice from their own experience. Being in a collective of understanding people also contributes to the acceleration of rehabilitation.
6. Sanatorium-Resort Treatment (Spa/Health Resort Treatment). This is one of the best types of rehabilitation. Under the guidance of a whole team of specialists, it will proceed much faster. They will select an individual complex of procedures and evaluate the results, adjusting the rehabilitation measures throughout the process. The restorative complex usually includes: terrenkurs (graded walking therapy) of various difficulty, mud therapy, mineral baths, helio- and climatotherapy, swimming, diet therapy, and a complex of apparatus physiotherapeutic procedures.
Strict adherence to the specialists' recommendations at each stage of rehabilitation will help the person overcome the difficulties of the recovery period and return to a full, emotionally rich life.
In addition, it is important to understand that chemotherapy greatly weakens and depletes the body. Therefore, from a medical point of view, patients require correction of: oxidative stress, glycation, levels of vitamins and minerals, function of the thyroid gland, liver, heart, kidneys, and levels of neurotransmitters.
How Procedures are Performed
The rehabilitation process for oncological patients may include the following procedures:
• Kinesiotherapy. This is a variant of therapeutic physical therapy that uses exercises and movement to restore strength, flexibility, and coordination. It can help patients restore muscles and joints, improve breathing and blood circulation, and increase overall physical activity. Kinesiotherapy includes a complex of therapeutic exercises in a dynamic regime, training on exercise equipment, applied sports exercises, games, and breathing exercises.
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). This is a massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to remove excess fluid and toxins from the body. It is especially useful for patients with edema (swelling), which can be a consequence of the oncological process or its treatment.
• Occupational Therapy (Ergotherapy). This is a form of rehabilitation that helps patients return to daily activities and tasks such as feeding and self-care. Occupational therapists help patients develop skills and use adaptive devices or techniques to facilitate the performance of these tasks.
• Speech Therapy (Logopedics). This is specialized assistance in the restoration of speech functions after oncological diseases. Speech therapists help patients develop communication skills, improve pronunciation, and develop strategies for correcting possible speech problems.
Each of these methods can help patients restore body functions, improve the quality of life, and return to normal activities.