Cancer Rehabilitation

Cancer rehabilitation specialists at Ascension St. Vincent’s deliver therapeutic care during and after your cancer treatment

Cancer rehabilitation in Jacksonville

Cancer rehabilitation specialists at Ascension St. Vincent’s deliver therapeutic care during and after your cancer treatment

  • CALL – 904-308-7741 – RIVERSIDE

Personalized assessment and 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 St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville, 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.

Cancer rehabilitation can begin at any stage of your cancer treatment. At St. Vincent’s, our goal is to help you get back to home, family and daily life sooner. Physical and occupational therapists certified in lymphedema therapy provide assessments and create personalized care plans that are right for you. Your rehabilitation care team may help you:

  • Build strength and endurance
  • Improve physical and emotional well-being
  • Increase shoulder range of motion and strength
  • Manage swelling
  • Reduce arm and chest pain
  • Regain functional independence

Rehabilitation specialists certified in lymphedema therapy

Physical therapy and lymphedema care specialists at Ascension St. Vincent’s deliver specialized therapies to help manage fluid buildup and swelling that can limit body movement. Using combined decongestive therapy (CDT), also called lymphedema therapy, your physical therapist helps relieve discomfort with gentle exercises, lymphatic massage and medical compression bandages. Your therapist can also teach you these exercises and techniques so you can continue to do them at home.

Treating swelling and fatigue from cancer treatments

Lymphedema is a condition that causes fluid buildup and chronic swelling, often in your arms or legs. When fluid in your lymph system doesn’t drain properly, the surrounding tissues swell and may cause discomfort. Lymphedema can be caused by a cancer tumor that blocks your lymphatic system or a specific cancer treatment. It can also be caused by arthritis, infection, inflammatory disease or a hereditary condition.

At Ascension St. Vincent's, our physical therapists are trained in combined decongestive therapy for lymphedema. You can schedule care with specialists in manual lymph drainage, exercise therapy and skin care. We use compression bandaging and compression garments to help you manage swelling between therapy sessions.

Feeling tired is a common side effect after having chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. When you want to start moving again and become more active, rehabilitation therapy can help. Our rehabilitation care team creates a personalized fitness plan that balances exercise and nutrition to help you manage stress and build endurance.

Multispecialty rehabilitation care team for oncology rehabilitation

Cancer treatments can affect other parts of your body too. Talk with your care team about your concerns. We listen to understand you, your needs and your personal goals. Then, we work with you to create a rehabilitation care plan that’s right for you. Depending on your needs, your cancer rehabilitation care plan may include other supportive services:

  • Audiologists and rehabilitation specialists, who evaluate ototoxicity, a hearing or balance problem that sometimes develops after cancer treatment
  • Occupational therapists, who address concerns about memory and concentration and how to do daily living activities
  • Physical therapists, who deliver therapies to help manage symptoms and restore strength and mobility
  • Speech therapists, who specialize in methods to improve swallowing disorders and speech delays

Meet our cancer rehabilitation team

Hearing the word “cancer” can come with a lot of thoughts and emotions, and we’re ready to support you. You'll meet with your doctor to discuss your diagnosis and your care options. At Ascension St. Vincent’s, your care team may include:

  • Physiatrists (physical medicine & rehabilitation physicians)
  • Physical therapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Lymphedema therapists
  • Rehabilitation nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians and social workers
  • Speech therapists

Together, we’ll decide on a rehabilitation plan. Your entire care team will stay connected throughout your care to discuss your treatment and progress.

This service requires a referral

Please call us at 904-308-7741 to learn how to get a referral. If you are a provider referring a patient, call 904-308-7741.

Featured Locations:
Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside Hospital
1 Shircliff Way
Jacksonville, FL 32204

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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