Course Description:

This course provides learners with evidence-informed approaches and strategies for the medical management and cancer rehabilitation of individuals living with and beyond (PLWB) central nervous system (CNS) cancers. While primary brain and spinal cord tumors account for a small percentage of primary cancers, around one million people living with cancer have metastatic disease in the brain. The majority of individuals with primary or secondary CNS cancers are diagnosed based on signs or symptoms of the disease, which may manifest as motor, sensory, and/or cognitive changes. These deficits can range from minimal functional impact to severe limitations, including hemiplegia, dysphagia, hearing loss, or vision impairment. The medical management of CNS cancers depends on factors such as the tumor's location, size, type, pathology, and functional impact. Treatment options may include neurosurgery, radiation, electrostimulation, and systemic and immunological treatments. Delivering these treatments can be challenging due to the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, even experienced cancer rehabilitation clinicians need to acquire new knowledge to provide safe and effective treatment for this population.

These changes in body structures and functions can directly impact individuals with CNS tumors acutely and throughout their lifetime. Adverse effects often affect the nervous system, and neurological function changes are common in cancer recurrences. Rehabilitation clinicians must comprehend both typical and atypical changes in function, as well as lesion size, to effectively communicate with the medical oncology team regarding any changes. To provide optimal care for individuals with CNS tumors, it is essential for clinicians to evaluate, assess, and manage various aspects of neurological function, including cancer-related cognitive decline, cancer-related fatigue, weakness, deconditioning, sensory changes, dyscoordination, and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. This course will provide clinicians with the foundational knowledge of the medical management of CNS cancer, potential adverse effects of cancer and its treatment, and rehabilitation considerations for this population from the time of diagnosis through prospective surveillance in survivorship.