How Cancer Rehab Therapists Can Help Cancer Survivors Experiencing Pelvic Health Concerns
Cancer survivors are more likely to experience a higher frequency of pelvic health conditions and more bothersome symptoms than those without a cancer history. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not routinely being addressed. This is why OncoPelvic PT has created a continuing education course, Pelvic Health Foundations for the Oncology Rehab Provider. This specially designed course will help cancer rehab therapists screen and provide initial interventions for common pelvic health conditions experienced by cancer survivors.
Cancer survivors are at an increased risk for developing pelvic floor dysfunction, making it a critical area of focus and attention when providing rehabilitation services. Pelvic health is an essential component of overall physical and emotional well-being, and cancer survivors may experience significant changes to their pelvic health that can lead to physical and psychological issues that need to be addressed. The question is: are you routinely screening your patients for pelvic health concerns?
Cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy, can significantly impact the pelvic floor and pelvic organs. For example, cancer survivors with a vagina receiving hormone therapy that reduces estrogen can develop Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. The reduction in estrogen can lead to tissue changes in the vagina and bladder, causing bladder urgency, leakage, and pain with intercourse. Some of the other common conditions that cancer survivors can experience include:
Bladder dysfunction: urinary leakage, urgency, difficulty emptying, and pain
Bowel dysfunction: constipation, bowel urgency, and pain
Sexual dysfunction: pain, decreased libido, climacturia (incontinence with climax)
Pelvic pain, scarring, and radiation fibrosis
Pelvic organ prolapse
Cancer rehab providers are in a unique position to be able to screen for these concerns, provide initial interventions, and help get the patient referred to the appropriate providers. Think you need to be a pelvic health therapist to help your patients in this area? Think again!
OncoPelvic PT has developed an on-demand continuing education course called Pelvic Health Foundations for the Oncology Rehab Provider to help you provide more comprehensive care for your patients. This specialized course is designed specifically for cancer rehab therapists. It offers tools to correctly identify, screen, and provide initial interventions, including education and exercises to address pelvic health issues in cancer survivors.
Pelvic Health Foundations For The Oncology Rehab Provider is an ideal resource for physical and occupational therapists looking to expand their knowledge in helping cancer survivors with pelvic health concerns. The course covers a range of topics, including anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor muscles, common pelvic health conditions you'll see in the clinic, outcome measures and how to externally assess the pelvic floor muscles, plus intervention strategies to implement and knowing who (and when!) to refer to a pelvic health rehab provider. If you're a PT or PTA, this course is approved for 5.5 CEUs in 41+ states!
If you're ready to level up your clinical skills to provide more comprehensive care for cancer survivors, sign up for the course today!
