One in four South Africans are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Sunday February 4 is World Cancer Day, a global initiative aimed at raising cancer awareness and encouraging its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Most of us have a family member, friend, colleague or neighbour who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Most people are aware of chemotherapy, radiation, the pharmacological and surgical interventions that cancer patients experience.
As a physiotherapist in private practice, I want to highlight the very crucial, and yet often overlooked role physiotherapy plays for cancer patients.
Physiotherapists are part of a multidisciplinary team that can assist cancer patients in the following areas:
• Managing cancer treatment side effects: Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can lead to debilitating side effects such as fatigue, pain, reduced mobility, scar tissue buildup and lymphoedema. Physiotherapists are skilled in techniques that alleviate these symptoms, promote healing and improve physical function.
• Enhancing recovery post-surgery: Post-operative physiotherapy is crucial for patients who have undergone cancer surgeries. It focuses on getting the patient up and mobile, managing pain, and preventing complications such as scar tissue formation and reduced joint movement. I have personally seen the benefit of scar tissue treatment even years after surgery or radiation, as scarring can alter posture and reduce the range of movement drastically.
• Lymphoedema management: A common issue among cancer survivors, especially those who have undergone lymph node removal, is lymphoedema. This is when swelling occurs in the arms or legs as a result of the impaired function of the circulatory and lymphatic system. Physiotherapists specialised in lymphoedema can equip patients to manage this debilitating condition through manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy and specific exercises.
• Improving strength and endurance: Cancer and its treatments can lead to muscle weakness and fatigue. Physiotherapists can design a personalised exercise programme to build strength, enhance endurance and improve overall physical stamina.
• Emotional support and psychological well-being: Exercise has been shown to improve mental health in cancer patients, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhancing quality of life.
• Pain management: Chronic pain is a significant challenge for many cancer survivors. Physiotherapy employs various techniques – education, exercises, manual therapy and heat or cold therapy to alleviate pain.
If you or a loved one has experienced cancer and the side effects of cancer treatment, do not forget to seek help from a physiotherapist whose input can only improve your overall quality of life.
Salt Rock resident Tarryn Graham has a BSc in Physiotherapy from Stellenbosch University, and has a special interest in further training in women’s health physiotherapy. She has 14 years’ experience in women’s health and pelvic floor physiotherapy.
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