Multidisciplinary rehabilitation post treatment

Following a cancer diagnosis, patients often enter a protracted treatment period that can last many months.  During this time, they will be having regular appointments with medical specialists, nursing staff and allied health professionals.   Eventually their treatment cycle, a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery or other targeted therapies, will end. Suddenly they are out in the world again with only a follow up appointment in 3-6 months time.

Many of my CanMove clients have said that this is an incredibly tough time and that there is a lack of direct support from health professionals during this time.  The post treatment period often leaves patients with ongoing psychological and physical side effects that can last years.  Fatigue has been reported to last up to 5 years.    

Not every patient needs follow up care, but it has been reported that about 1 in 3 would benefit from, amongst others, physical, nutritional, or psychological support.   A study that evaluated a rehabilitation programme in Belgium concluded that multidisciplinary programme should become part of cancer patients total care plan.  These programmes should become standard care as they have been for cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation since the late 80s.