Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

In which ways would Physical Therapy, and Other Therapies, Provide

Aid to Cancer Patients on their Journey to Survival?
Tamia E. Powell
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

Introduction

I was introduced to cancer when I was about eleven years old. I had no idea what my
mother meant when she came home and told me she was sick. Looking back on that time of our
lives, I did not know the seriousness of this disease because my mother was the first person I
knew, personally, to develop the disease. She warned me of some of the side effects but I was not
ready for all the changes that occurred as the disease progressed. I vividly recall one instance that
I will never forget because it was one of the most emotional moments I have ever had with my
mother. She was sitting in her room crying because she was frustrated. Her hair had begun to fall
out that morning due to the breast cancer treatment,
and she could not figure out how to tie the scarf
around her naked head. I cannot stand the sight of
my mother crying at all, so I did everything in my
power to help her. Eventually, I figured out how to
tie the scarf on her head and I felt a different type
of connection with my mother that I had never felt
before. Not long after my mother survived breast cancer, my grandmother was also diagnosed
with breast cancer. Luckily, she is too a breast cancer survivor. Moreover, their experience struck
my everlasting interest in the oncology field.
My junior year in high school, I was fortunate enough to obtain my CNA License and
volunteer at a nursing home. While volunteering at the nursing home, I was introduced to the
physical therapy field. I was so amazed while observing the physical therapists and physical
therapy assistants while they worked with their patients. The patients and workers seemed as if
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Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

they enjoyed the time they spent in the physical therapy room, and I began to look into the career
more. Furthermore, I decided to study Pre-Kinesiology, in hopes of majoring in Exercise Science
to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.
But what about Oncology? I have an interest in both fields. So Ive asked myself, on
numerous occasions, how do the two fields overlap one another? I know that with almost all
diseases a patient has to see multiple doctors, not just one. When my mother had breast cancer
she had to meet with an oncologist, a surgeon, and a radiologist. These are the three main
physicians that most cancer patients must visit. However, everyones case is unique. There can
be cases where a patient may not have to see all three of those specific doctors and there may be
cases where a patient may have to see more than those three physicians. In my personal opinion,
which is supported by thorough research, more patients should be required to see a physical
therapist because it may be beneficial to their recovery.
Physical therapy is defined as the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical
methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery
(Google,2015). Physical therapy is a means of improving strength, function of a body part and
controlling ones weight. Physical therapists help patients make exercise plans to control each of
these factors. Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation. According to the Cancer Treatment
Centers of America, rehabilitation is a wide range of therapies designed to help one build
strength and endurance, regain independence, reduce stress, and maintain the energy one needs
to participate in daily activities that are important to that person (CTCA, 2015). These facts
alone support my thesis statement. A cancer patient requires much rehabilitation due to the
severity of the disease. First, they must undergo radiation and chemotherapy which takes a huge
toll on their bodies. Radiation therapy is the use of x-rays and gamma rays to shrink tumors and
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Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

kill cancer cells, and its used on nearly half of cancer patients (NCI, 2010). Most commonly,
fatigue is a side effect of radiation therapy. In fact, studies show that cancer patients who
exercise regularly had 40 to 50 percent less fatigue (NCCN, 2015). Cancer causes some patients
to lose much weight while others gain lots of weight. The gaining of the weight may be due to
the fatigue that the patient experiences. Extreme tiredness can prevent someone from getting up
to exercise, and that is understandable, but the long term effects of that decision is not beneficial.
This is where family members can possibly play a role in this aspect of the cancer patients
lifestyle. Encouragement to do all they can do to fight and end this disease overall is necessary.
Reoccurrence of cancer, more specifically breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer, has
many factors, one of the being weight (NCCN,
2015). Radiation is usually, soon after, followed
by chemotherapy, which is the use of drugs to
kill any remaining cancer cells. These drugs
prevent the cancer cells from growing, dividing,
and spreading. However, while these drugs do
kill the bad cells, they also kill some good cells
in the process. Killing all of these cells weakens
the body, its immune system, and much more. So, cancer and its treatment causes fatigue and
weakness while physical therapy repairs strength and controls fatigue. Are you still not
convinced? It seems as if physical therapy is the ultimate answer to cancer treatment and its side
effects.
This idea of more therapy for cancer patients is fairly new and does not have much
research behind it. Too, cancer is a tough disease to battle, therefore, many people do not think of
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Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

the small treatments that may benefit patients. However, I have ran across two specific physical
therapists who share my hypothesis exactly. Sharlynn Tuohy and Jean Kotkiewicz are both active
physical therapists that work in the oncology field. Tuohy says, Physical therapists are
underutilized, especially during the cancer journey, as we provide great value in a cost-effective
manner, (Bauer, 2014) and I could not agree more. The quality-of-life for cancer patients is put
to test because of the rigorous treatment but physical therapists are trained to build strength and
function, and minimize pain for any type of patient. Kotkiewicz goes further to say, I think it is
also important to note that physical therapists create a bridge in the lives of these patients; On
one side we have the physicians orders, medical treatments, and weight-bearing restrictions,
while the other side represents the patients daily life before, during, and after diagnosis. (Bauer,
2014). This basically means that physical therapists are doctors and they will prescribe correct
medications and treatment because that is their job, however, they personalize each patients
experience to their specific needs. Physical therapists are advocates for the betterment of their
patients. Treatment may be painful but in the long run, it will pay off. Even in the worst cases,
physical therapists can provide gentle but effective treatment (Bauer, 2014).
There was a study done at The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between
January 1, 2009 and August 31, 2012. In the study, terminally ill cancer patients were taken into
palliative care units. Terminally ill patients have major problems with functioning, energy and
tiredness. They performed physical therapy and also received relaxation therapy. Each patient
received specific care plans according to their individual characteristics and the phase that their
cancer is in. The studies proved that physical activity improved their activities of daily living,
and elongated their time on earth. According to the article and results, overall 74 % of all
terminally ill cancer patients treated in our palliative care inpatient ward were able to perform
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Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

PE/PT (Jensen, et al., 2013). Too, in some cases, terminally ill patients were able to perform
physical activities within their last week of living. Moreover, physical activity is beneficial for
all cancer patients and it improves quality and elongates a patients life span.
While doing research about how beneficial physical therapy can be for cancer patients, a
similar therapy treatment reoccurred; occupational therapy. For a very long time, it was hard for
me to distinguish the difference between physical and occupational therapy. Physical therapy is
more for the restoration of the function of body parts while occupational therapy is for reteaching patients how to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, brushing teeth, getting
dressed, and much more. In my opinion, having your
loved one participate in both therapies would be to their
advantage. Building their strength during physical
therapy would be a great foundation for re-learning how
to perform necessary daily duties for themselves instead
of having to rely on a care giver.
Along with the diagnosis of cancer also comes a lot
of depression, stress, fear, guilt, anxiety, questioning of religion and sadness. For example, my
mother went through a period of fear. She feared leaving my brother and I in this world alone
and this is absolutely normal. I say this to say, physical therapy or occupational therapy may not
be the only therapies that can be very beneficial to patients. Cancer is a personality and mood
changing disease. To a certain degree, one may not recognize their loved ones. Delores, a cancer
survivor highlighted on the American Cancer Societys website shares some great words of
advice to current cancer patients, Theres a fear that goes through you when you are told you
have cancer. Its so hard in the beginning to think about anything but your diagnosis. Its the first
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Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

thing you think about every morning. I want people diagnosed with cancer to know it does get
better. Talking about your cancer helps you deal with all of the new emotions you are feeling.
Remember, its normal to get upset (ACS, 2014). Offering your loved ones to see a
psychologist, or maybe even talking to other cancer patients and survivors could provide release
of built up emotion that can take a toll on cancer patients.
All in all, as the families of cancer patients, we are obligated to seek the best treatment
for our loved ones. Cancer is a hard disease to battle by oneself, therefore, if physical therapy
and any other therapy treatment might help them, in any form, we should promote the idea.
Physical therapys sole purpose is to reinstate the function
of ones body and maintaining weight while cancers sole
side effect is weakening the body and causing fatigue.
These effects almost contradict themselves completely.
Moreover, physical therapy cannot do anything but affect
cancer patients in a positive aspect. Henceforth, physical
therapy, along with any other therapies that may assist a
specific patient, should be recommended more often.

Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

References

American Cancer Society. (2014, June 26). Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life. Retrieved
from www.cancer.org:
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/copingwit
hcancerineverydaylife/a-message-of-hope-emotional-impact-of-cancer
American Cancer Society (ACS). (2014, March 24). Physical Activity and the Cancer Patient.
Retrieved from American Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorshipduringandaftertreatment/stayingactive/physi
cal-activity-and-the-cancer-patient
American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2005-2015). What is Chemotherapy? Retrieved from
Cancer.net website: http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancertreated/chemotherapy/what-chemotherapy
Bauer, A. (2014, September 23). www.Cancer.net Spotlight On: Physical Therapists in Oncology.
Retrieved from American Society of Clincal Oncology :
http://www.cancer.net/blog/2014-09/spotlight-physical-therapists-oncology
CTCA. (2015, February 9). Oncology Rehabilitation. Retrieved from Cancer Treatment Centers
of America: http://www.cancercenter.com/treatments/oncology-rehabilitation/
Hoffman, M. (2015). Exercise for Cancer Patients: Fitness After Treatment. Retrieved from
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/exercise-cancer-patients

Physical Therapys Effects on Cancer Treatment

Jensen, W., Bialy, L., Ketels, G., Baumann, F. T., Bokemeyer, C., & Oechsle, K. (2013). Physical
exercise and therapy in terminally ill cancer patients: a retrospective feasibility analysis.
Springer Link, 1.
Moffat, M. (2011). Physical Therapists at the Heart of the Global Battle against Cancer.
Movement for Health: Article about Physical Therapists, 5
http://www.whpa.org/news/WPTDay2011-B5-PTArticle.pdf
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). (2015, February 16). Exercising During
Cancer Treatment . Retrieved from National Comprehensive Cancer Network Patient and
Caregiver Resources:
http://www.nccn.org/patients/resources/life_with_cancer/exercise.aspx#
NCI. (2010, June 30). Radiation Therapy for Cancer. Retrieved from National Cancer Institution
at the National Institutes of Health:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types/radiation-therapy/radiation-fact-sheet