Recommendations for Men's Cancer Awareness Signal Need for Cancer Rehab Services

Cancer rehabilitation and pelvic health physiotherapy can help overcome the side effects of cancer treatment

Recommendations for Men's Cancer Health Awareness

Prostate Cancer Canada's recommendations urge men to have baseline PSA testing in their 40s rather than waiting until they are in their 50s. Risk factors include diet, age, race, lifestyle and family history. There are a number of nationwide events being held to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

The Role of Cancer Rehab in Prostate Cancer Treatment

Cancer rehab and physiotherapy can help prostate cancer patients manage the side effects of prostate cancer treatment. With approximately 25% of all new cancer cases diagnosed in Canada being for prostate cancer and an estimated 23,600 Canadian men diagnosed with the disease in 2013, there is a growing need for rehabilitation services for prostate cancer patients.

Exercise prescriptions are also an integral part of cancer rehabilitation. A study lead by the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California reported that exercise and diet can actually reduce prostate cancer risk, in addition to helping prostate cancer patients with pain and fatigue.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Helps Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate cancer can be treated by radiation, chemotherapy, hormone suppression therapy, and surgery to remove the prostate, among other therapies.  There are a number of issues following treatment that can be alleviated through cancer rehabilitation. Pelvic Health therapists have received additional training in pelvic floor rehabilitation to treat pelvic floor dysfunction such as:

• Post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence
• Bowel dysfunction including chronic constipation
• Sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction
• Pre and post-operative prostate surgery
• Chronic pelvic pain

Cancer rehabilitation and pelvic health physiotherapy  are relatively new and emerging areas of specialty for physiotherapists in Canada. They have a great deal to offer in terms of drug free alternatives to overcoming the side effects of cancer treatment. Many people, including physicians, are not yet aware of the many rehabilitation options that have been recently developed based on the latest scientific research. A specially trained physiotherapist may be able to help alleviate or improve your problems, allowing you to resume your previous lifestyle.

How to Get Cancer Rehabilitation

Please contact one of our 62 Cancer Rehab locations across Canada. Links will direct to a Cancer Rehab provider in your area.

Ontario
British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan & Manitoba

Nova Scotia

Join Us Online!

We post regularly on Twitter - follow us!

We love engaging with your posts on Facebook - like our page!

We also post regularly on LinkedIn - follow us!

If you are on Google+, it would be great to engage with you on that channel too!