8 Bringing healthcare news to your home A cancer journey isn’t easy — the disease and its treatments can take a toll. Many people feel like they’ve run out of energy, or they struggle with pain, memory lapses or other lingering side effects that make daily tasks difficult even after treatment ends. “Many people may think, ‘This is just life now,’” noted Doug Janssen, PT, DPT, director of Rehabilitative Services at Columbus Community Hospital. “We want you to know that you don’t have to live with those impairments and the loss of function. There are interventions that can help you thrive again.” How cancer rehab can help Thrive Cancer Rehabilitation Care includes an array of physical, occupational and speech therapy services designed to help you navigate challenges at any point in your cancer journey. Some of the many cancer-related issues rehab can address are: ● Fatigue unrelieved by rest. ● Pain. ● Balance problems. ● Loss of strength or range of motion, which makes it hard to complete functional tasks. ● Swelling (lymphedema). ● Memory changes or “brain fog.” ● Difficulty swallowing. It’s never too early or too late to seek this care. “When we tell people that we can improve their fatigue and endurance or decrease some of these side effects, often we hear, ‘I wish I would have known about this sooner,’” said program coordinator Michell Ruskamp, MS, CCC-SLP. The journey begins with a free consultation, called a Thrive intake interview. THRIVE CANCER REHABILITATION CARE Therapy and support can ease your cancer journey Physical therapist Kelly Brester (far left) and Jordie Nekl, a Columbus Family YMCA personal trainer (bottom right), work with Thrive Cancer Rehabilitation Care patients at CCH.
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