Rehabilitation of Cancer Survivors with Long-Term Toxicities

Abstract

The prognosis of cancer patients is constantly improving, which increases the importance of securing long-term quality of life. While therapy of treatment-related disability mostly succeeds a cancer-specific treatment, physicians' awareness of simultaneous supportive therapy is rising. Early interventions such as physical exercise during chemotherapy are effective in reducing conditions such as fatigue. Specific sensorimotor training is able to improve or even prevent impairment of balance caused by neurotoxic agents. Although targeted therapies reduce the risk of side effects, combinations with established drugs have to be monitored with regard to cardiotoxicity, which is already a concern in children's cancer therapy and is now also focused on in long-term adult survivors. Improvement in diagnosis und surgical procedures have reduced impairments such as lymphedema. Furthermore, management and quality of life of breast cancer patients benefit from evidence showing that physical exercise and resistance training do not increase the risk of developing lymphedema.