Radiation Therapy: What Every Rehab Professional Should Know
Presented by Elise K. Cantu
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Nearly 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022, with these numbers expected to rise over the next decade. These patients will be seen by rehabilitation professionals in every setting and discipline, not just in specialized oncology settings. Radiation therapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment, but rehab professionals are largely unfamiliar with radiation therapy and how it affects their patients’ functional mobility.
This course will discuss the use of radiation therapy in cancer treatment, common side effects, and how radiation therapy affects functional mobility. Clinicians will understand how radiation therapy affects their patients and how to incorporate this basic knowledge into their evaluations.
Meet your instructor
Elise K. Cantu
Dr. Elise K. Cantu has dedicated her career to helping others live better beyond a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Cantu is also the director of Fort Worth Cancer Care, a private oncology rehab clinic in Fort Worth, Texas. She is also the host of TheOncoPT Podcast, where she educates other physical therapists on how treat…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Radiation Therapy Basics
Many Americans receive radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment. Thus, rehab professionals must understand the basics of radiation therapy, how it works, and why it’s used in cancer treatment.
2. How Radiation Therapy Affects the Body
Radiation therapy causes many side effects, which tend to depend on the administration method and the target body parts. This chapter discusses various types of radiation therapy, plus common side effects.
3. How Radiation Therapy Affects Rehab
Radiation therapy causes significant side effects, some of which can last for months to years after treatment concludes. Due to these side effects, patients can experience significant challenges to their functional mobility, independence, and quality of life. Rehab professionals must understand how their patients’ functional mobility may be impacted by radiation therapy and be aware of potential rehab modifications to promote optimal outcomes.
