Cancer Rehabilitation: Supportive, Whole-Person Care
Cancer treatment can take a toll on your body, mind, and everyday life. Even after treatment ends, many people face challenges like fatigue, pain, or trouble returning to activities they enjoy. Cancer rehabilitation offers support to help you feel stronger, move better, and regain control of your health.
Mitra McLarney, MD, a Mass General Brigham physiatrist and medical director of Cancer Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, works closely with the Lifestyle Medicine Program at Mass General Cancer Center. She explains the many benefits of a cancer rehabilitation program and shares how personalized rehab can ease symptoms, improve daily life, and support your long-term wellness.
What is cancer rehabilitation?
Cancer rehabilitation is a type of care that helps you recover during or after cancer treatment. It supports your ability to move, function, and feel better.
“Cancer rehabilitation is a medical specialty focused on helping you from diagnosis all the way through survivorship,” says Dr. McLarney. “We help you get back to the things that you enjoy and reduce the impact of cancer treatments on your life.”
Rehab can start any time — during treatment, right after, or even years later.
The goal is to help you regain strength and improve your quality of life. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Your care plan depends on your symptoms, goals, overall health, and cancer history.
Who provides cancer rehab?
Many types of health professionals may be part of your rehab team:
- Physiatrist: A doctor who leads the team and creates your personalized rehab plan
- Physical therapist: Helps with strength, balance, and safe movement
- Occupational therapist: Supports daily tasks like dressing, cooking, or bathing
- Speech-language pathologist: Helps with speech, swallowing, and cognitive issues
- Nutritionist: Guides healthy eating to support energy and healing
- Mental health professional: Supports emotional well-being and coping with stress
- Integrative health providers: May include massage therapists or acupuncturists for comfort and relaxation
These professionals work together as a team. They focus on lifestyle medicine and treating all aspects of your well-being — not just cancer.
Who is cancer rehabilitation for?
“Cancer rehab is really for anyone that's affected by cancer at any stage,” says Dr. McLarney. It’s for people who feel limited by pain, fatigue, weakness, or other side effects. Even if symptoms are mild, rehab can help improve how you feel and function.
You may benefit from cancer rehab if you:
- Are recovering from surgery or treatment side effects
- Feel too tired to do your usual activities
- Feel weak or unsteady
- Have pain, stiffness, or swelling that limits movement
- Have trouble with daily tasks like getting dressed or cooking
- Notice changes in memory or focus
- Want to safely return to work or physical activity
Cancer rehab also supports long-term survivors. If you had cancer years ago but still struggle with side effects, help is available.
What are the benefits of cancer rehabilitation?
One of the biggest benefits of cancer rehab is feeling more in control of your health. Rehab gives you tools to take care of your body again.
With cancer rehab, you may start to notice:
- A safe way to return to exercise or work
- A stronger sense of well-being
- Better strength, balance, and movement
- Greater independence with daily activities
- Improved sleep and mood
- Less fatigue and more energy
- More confidence in your body
- Reduced pain, stiffness, or other symptoms
Rehab also gives you a place to ask questions and be heard. Your care team designs your rehab plan for you, not just your cancer type. As Dr. McLarney notes, cancer rehab supports healing at every level. It treats the body while honoring your full experience.
What can you expect during cancer rehab?
The cancer rehab process is highly personalized. The goal is to help you safely improve your function and quality of life. The process of cancer rehabilitation typically involves:
- Initial referral: Your primary oncologist, radiation oncologist, primary care provider, or another provider may refer you. Your referral may be for specific services like physical therapy or to the cancer rehabilitation clinic.
- Comprehensive assessment: You’ll have a 45 to 60 minute initial visit, where your cancer rehab physiatrist reviews your medical history, does an exam, asks about your symptoms and goals, and creates a rehab plan.
- Personalized rehab program: Your team tailors your rehab to your specific needs and goals. You may need additional assessments or exams and see multiple providers for different types of therapy, services, and support.
When can you utilize a cancer rehabilitation program?
You can receive cancer rehab services at any point during the cancer journey:
- At diagnosis: Prepare for upcoming treatments, also called prehabilitation
- During active treatment: Get help managing side effects
- Immediately after treatment: Receive support and assistance with recovery and regaining function after treatment
- Years after completing treatment: Address long-term effects of cancer and treatments
“I’ve seen patients 15 years after completing treatment,” says Dr. McLarney. “For example, I'll see patients who may have had a head and neck cancer and are several years out of treatment and in complete remission. But they’re having ongoing tightness or discomfort in their neck from the radiation. We can help with that.”
Each provider in a cancer rehab program has specific expertise in oncology, so they understand the challenges you face with cancer. "We're here for you," says Dr. McLarney. "If you need any support, definitely have that conversation with your treatment team, and they can connect you."