Course Description:

This course provides all rehabilitation professionals a foundational knowledge of cancer and cancer rehabilitation to evaluate and treat patients with a history of cancer in the rehabilitation setting. It provides a foundational understanding of cancer, including its prevalence and risk factors, how it is diagnosed and staged, and common treatment methods. It describes how cancer and its treatment impact body systems to prepare rehabilitation professionals for safe and effective evaluation and plans of care to minimize the effects of cancer and its treatment on a person's performance and participation in activities of daily living. The course will further develop clinicians’ ability to provide holistic care for people living with and beyond cancer using cancer rehabilitation models, including Dietz's classification of cancer rehabilitation and the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework. The psychosocial needs of the cancer population, such as palliative rehabilitation and caring for people at the end of life, will be outlined to equip clinicians with skills to partner with survivors. This will help optimize their quality of life and participation in life roles and occupations, including the workforce. The course will conclude with the application of cancer medical and rehabilitation principles and common treatment pathways at disease sites.