A Closer Look at the Role of Physical Therapy and Childhood Cancer

The National Cancer Institute reports there are over 10 million cancer survivors in the United States. Over 270,000 of the survivors received their cancer diagnosis under the age of 21. Depending on the type of cancer and treatment, many of childhood cancer survivors experience health issues later in life that tie back to their original cancer treatment. How can physical therapy help in treating cancer?

A study by St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital also shows childhood cancer survivors are less physically active than their siblings. One of the authors of the study, Kirsten Ness, PT, PhD, Associate Member of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital faculty makes a case for incorporating exercise during and after pediatric cancer treatment.

The research revealed childhood brain tumor cancer survivors in their 20s have physical fitness measures closer to individuals in their 60s and 70s. The cause of this is largely due to the sedentary lifestyle most children experience while undergoing cancer treatment. The inactivity puts childhood cancer survivors at a greater risk for heart disease, obesity and diabetes later in life.

Ness stresses that cancer treatment often impacts an individual’s physical function and believes physical therapists are just the experts to help individuals overcome mobility, function and other issues that arise during cancer treatment. An additional study is planned to more closely examine the benefits of exercise during cancer treatment.

As evidence continues to grow supporting the benefits of exercise during and following cancer treatment, Ness sees the need for physical therapists in oncology growing. She stresses that physical therapists trained in oncology physical therapy need to be proactive in advising oncologists of their services.

Educational Resources

Specialization in oncology physical therapy is currently under development by the Oncology Section of the APTA. Some physical therapy education programs and general information can be found on the APTA Oncology Section website. General information about pediatric cancer can also be found on the website cureforkids.org or the National Cancer Institute.

To learn more about the role of physical therapy and pediatric cancer listen to a full podcast with Kirsten Ness, PT, PhD at PTTalker.com.

References

The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: An Overview http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/ccss

Late Effects of Childhood Cancer - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lateeffects/patient

National Cancer Institute Follow-up Care After Cancer Treatment Fact Sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/followup

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