Cancer Rehabilitation in Geriatric Patients

Abstract

The goal of cancer rehabilitation is to diagnose and treat patients’ physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments, throughout the oncology care continuum. Rehabilitation professionals aim to help patients restore function, reduce symptom burden, improve quality of life, and maximize independence. Geriatric cancer patients and survivors are prone to developing disabilities from cancer and its treatments, significantly impairing their functional independence. By forming dynamic and clinically appropriate goals with patients and their families, health-related outcomes can be improved. The stages of cancer rehabilitation include preventative, restorative, supportive, and palliative. Delivery settings include acute, subacute, home health, outpatient, and home exercise prescriptions. Precautions are discussed, as well as the impact of falls and pathologic fractures. Specific oncologic knowledge in regards to indications and contraindications is needed to prescribe various modalities. Cancer rehabilitation requires an understanding of several unique neurologic and musculoskeletal impairments related to cancer and its treatment. We discuss the role of rehabilitation in palliative care patients and barriers to referral across disease stages. We also discuss research and further work to standardize the efficiency and efficacy of various cancer rehabilitation treatments. Older adults with multiple comorbidities and fragility can result in greater functional decline, requiring special attention to developing patient- and family-centered rehabilitation plans for this population.