Today I spent the better part of the day in rehab. No, I have not suddenly developed a drinking or drug problem. I'm talking cancer rehab. I went in expecting another round of physical therapy and came out with a whole new perspective on cancer recovery.
I was referred to rehab and a new doctor by my oncologist, because of my fatigue issues and desire to regain the physical strength I've lost over the last five months. What I didn't understand before today, is that there is a whole specialty field in medicine to help cancer patients recovery - physically, emotionally and cognitively - from the damage done by cancer treatments.
Dr. Zucker, an onco-physiastrist, (not psychiatrist) explained that unlike other medical treatments, cancer treatments generally take someone who felt healthy and makes them very sick. It's a different impact than having an injury fixed, and this rehab is designed to return the patient to pre-cancer health.
The process included a long series of questions and tests to inventory my health level and physical health prior to cancer, and evaluate where I am now. As my oncologist told me, complete recovery will take me about a year from my original surgery. Rehab will help me plan, pace and manage that process. The goal is to build stamina and strength at a sustainable pace so that I don't create new problems or actually slow down recovery.
Dr Zucker was pleased with my overall fitness, my range of motion, and my commitment to walking. He was concerned about my current level of pain, my sleep issues, and my quick return to work from the latest surgery. He is a big fan of rest and pace, so the stress of returning to a full time job before I am completely healed from surgery did not get his approval. He thinks I should be taking 10-15 minute rest breaks at least every 2 hours. Very hard to do with heavy schedules at work.
Solving the pain and sleep issues was the top priority, so that will be the focus for the next two weeks. The doctor changed a couple of meds to help with both. His hypothesis is that I have some nerves that are still overreacting after surgery, rather than any real underlying physical problem. In addition, he gave me some stretches and simple exercises that may help.
Hopefully cancer rehab will help me get through both these short-term discomforts and also start me on the path to long term health - physically, mentally, emotionally. It was really good to have a doctor who looks at the whole process, and the whole person, for cancer recovery. Who knew?
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