Why choose Ascension Illinois for cancer rehabilitation

Getting the right care is important to help you recover and feel more like yourself again. When you choose cancer rehabilitation services at Ascension Illinois in Chicago, you get an experienced team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Every appointment with your care team starts with a compassionate conversation. We answer your questions and get to know you. So, you get a personalized cancer rehabilitation care plan. And with a plan, comes hope.

Helping you manage your recovery after cancer treatment is our priority. Your doctor and care team start by listening to understand you and your health concerns. Our care teams at Ascension Illinois Rehabilitation Services help you focus on healthy lifestyle choices. We’re here to support you throughout your recovery from treatment and beyond.

Personalized assessment and cancer rehabilitation

Our goal is to help you get back to your daily self sooner. You’ll have a personalized physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy assessment to help our specialists create a care plan that’s right for you. Rehabilitation specialists work together with your cancer care team including your nurse navigator, palliative care nurse and social worker to help support you every step of the way.

Our care teams provide rehabilitation for many types of cancers, including:

• Brain and spine cancer
• Breast cancer
• Blood cancers and blood disorders
• Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colon, liver and pancreas
• Gynecologic cancers, including ovarian and cervical
• Head and neck cancers, including mouth, sinuses, nose, throat and thyroid
• Lung and esophageal cancer, and other thoracic cancers, mesothelioma, and tracheal cancer
• Prostate and male genital cancer, including kidney and bladder cancer
• Skin cancer, including basal cell, melanoma and squamous cell
• Urologic cancers, including bladder, kidney and urethral cancers

Rehabilitation specialists focus on recovery after cancer surgery

Your care team specializes in cancer care rehab techniques, including lymphedema therapy for swelling and circulation problems.

Your personalized care plan may include:

• Home health care: Home-based services that help you stay on track with your post-acute recovery plan — from skilled-nursing checkups and therapies, to home health aids and more.
• Lymphedema therapy: Physical therapy and lymphedema care specialists deliver specialized therapies to help manage fluid buildup and swelling that can limit body movement. Your physical therapist helps relieve discomfort with gentle exercises, lymphatic massage and medical compression bandages.
• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists create strategies to help restore your independence, maintain your quality of life and modify daily routines.
• Pain management: Pain management includes medication and non-medication therapies for pain from tumor pressure, cancer treatment, or surgery.
• Palliative care: A palliative specialist provides comfort and support to address the emotional, physical, practical and spiritual effects of cancer.
• Short- and long-term physical therapy: Physical therapists help improve physical strength and mobility, due to muscle loss, long-term bed rest, difficulty balancing, and limitations to specific body parts.
• Speech therapy: A speech therapist specializes in communication and swallowing disorders, helping improve vocal and oral motor skills, memory and organization.
• Wound care: Wound care specialists treat many types of wounds including venous and arterial leg ulcers, surgical wounds, and hard-to-heal-wounds. Our advanced healing treatments help prevent infection and irritation.

 FIND A CANCER REHAB SPECIALIST

Other rehabilitation services

Care teams at Ascension Illinois provide comprehensive rehabilitation services — from evaluating your symptoms to delivering personalized therapies and treatments. We provide care for many conditions, such as:

• Balance disorders
• Bone and muscle conditions
• Brain and spine disorders
• Hand and wrist injuries
• Hearing loss (audiology)
• Joint injuries of knee, hip, shoulder and ankle
• Joint arthritis
• Lymphedema
• Speech disorders
• Swallowing disorders
• Stroke-related conditions
• Work injuries

Talk with your doctor about a referral for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology or an audiology evaluation.

Learn more about our cancer care services.