Cognitive Dysfunction
Therapy & Rehabilitation

Physical and occupational therapy can be of tremendous benefit for people who have developed weakness, generalized deconditioning, sensory neuropathy, or other nerve or musculoskeletal impairments from cancer and its treatment. Both of these treatment options can improve mobility and general physical stamina.

People with cancer who have developed impaired use of their upper extremities due to peripheral neuropathy, either from radiation to the area, lesions located in the spinal cord or brain, or chemotherapy or biologic therapy, may benefit from occupational therapy.. Difficulties with swallowing, articulation (speaking normally), or even primary language problems may be helped by speech therapy.

If given the appropriate type of support, many people with cancer who experience neurocognitive impairments can improve their function at home , work, and play, and enjoy an improved level of independence and quality of life. Since people with cancer generally have fairly mild, limited cognitive problems, they tend to respond very well to focused rehabilitation efforts.

Cognitive rehabilitation is designed to improve independence level, while vocational rehabilitation is designed to improve productivity, which may include volunteer work, performing household activities, going back to school, working at a modified job, or maintaining your current employment. A preliminary study found that brain tumor patients who underwent cognitive and vocational therapy required shorter length of treatment, needed fewer rehabilitation sessions, and had better overall outcome in terms of independence and productivity, as compared with patients who have traumatic brain injuries. ¹⁹