Cancer rehab may not always be the first step on your PT journey - but that doesn’t mean you’re behind or you can’t become an expert clinician. Today’s guest is the PERFECT example of this: Melissa White began her PT career nowhere near oncology. But after she transitioned into pelvic floor therapy, she found herself treating more & more cancer survivors. And soon, she was HOOKED. Fast forward, she’s now building cancer rehab programs in her area & specializes in onco-pelvic PT....

Trauma-informed care is super trendy to talk about in health care right now, but what does it actually mean & how do we implement it into practice? This conversation with Dr. Adam Matichak emphasizes the importance of creating a safe & welcoming environment, through trauma-informed care, for patients to be seen, heard, & understood.  Dr. Matichak challenges us to be intentional & fully present during sessions to build trust & repair relationships with patients (yes,...

ICYMI the American Cancer Society estimates that 2,001,140 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2024. While treatable & in some cases curable, cancer is becoming a bigger problem than we probably thought possible. Survivors are surviving longer, but at what cost…to their lives, their independence, their function, their mobility, their quality of life? PTs are perfectly primed & positioned to step up & care for this rapidly expanding patient population. But this requires...

Holistic care is such a buzz phrase in health care, but is it actually possible in today’s cancer rehab?   The answer is a resounding yes, & Dr. Katie O’Bright shares exactly how in today’s podcast episode. Dr. Katie O’Bright is a leading voice in primary care PT (yes, it’s a thing & not new at all), & she breaks down common misconceptions about primary care PT, how it actually works in physical therapy, plus how you’re probably ALREADY implementing primary care principles in...

You’ve probably heard that oncology specialization is the best way to catapult your cancer rehab career - but what does this actually look like for a practicing clinician? Sheree King, a physical therapist specializing in oncology, shares her journey of opening a private practice and becoming a board-certified specialist in oncology. Despite the challenges of starting a practice during COVID-19, Sheree has successfully expanded to multiple locations and is a go-to cancer rehab pro in her...

Advocacy is inherently part of physical therapy (advocating for your patients, advocating with other health care professionals, etc.). We also need BIG ADVOCACY: advocating for your patients, for your profession, TO your elected officials.  BUT - it doesn’t mean drop everything & hop on a flight to Washington D.C.  Dr. Mercedes Aguirre Valenzuela, PT, (@ThePTAdvocate) is on the pod today to discuss the importance of advocacy as physical therapists, how to get involved, & how to...

TW: This episode talks about grief, loss, depression, suicide, & mental health. If you’re not in the headspace to listen to this episode, no worries friend. I’ll see you next time. 💜💜💜  In this intimate & vulnerable episode with Dr. Jimmy McKay & Dr. Rebekah Griffith, we talk about our own experiences with loss & grief. We cry, we laugh, we cry some more. This was a beautiful & raw episode, & we are all still trying to pick up the pieces & figure it out.  As...

As cancer survivorship improves, you WILL see more patients with chronic side effects & impairments. One of these side effects is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).  Unfortunately, CIPN can be challenging to treat, & much research still needs to be done to determine the best methods to treat CIPN.  As today’s guest said, “we are really good at treating the cancer. We’re not good at treating the side effects.”  That statement is exactly why it’s so important for you...

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this presentation reflect those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Do you ever feel stuck treating neuropathy, like you’re hitting a brick wall?  Same.   Neuropathy can be challenging to address, but it’s very common in cancer rehab.  And it’s not just chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) either.   Guest Dr. Kayla Gomes, PT, breaks down her treatment...

If this podcast episode title got you fired up, GOOD.  APTA CSM took place this weekend in Boston, & I have THOUGHTS. This was my favorite CSM thus far, but it also highlighted some major issues within our profession that need to be addressed.  Let’s get into it. Follow TheOncoPT on Instagram. Follow TheOncoPT on TikTok. Follow TheOncoPT on Twitter.

APTA CSM is to PT like Christmas is to Santa Claus - this is OUR TIME.  In this special pre-CSM episode, we’re counting down our favorite things about #APTACSM, what you don’t want to miss at the conference, AND how to get your hands on our brand new Oncology Rehab: A Pocket Guide.   Listen now! Follow TheOncoPT on Instagram. Follow TheOncoPT on TikTok. Follow TheOncoPT on Twitter.

We’re all about multidisciplinary care here at TheOncoPT.  But sometimes the “how” of multidisciplinary care is challenging to implement.  Should your patient see multiple disciplines at the same time?  Should we stack appointments in one day?  Or space them out? The cleanest answer is, it depends.  But if you’re ready for a real answer, tune into today’s episode! Dr. Sharon Gorman, PT is leading two teams as they go head to head in an Oxford Debate to deliberate if acute care PTs should...

Cardiotoxicities are rampant in oncology, affecting patients during active treatment AND for the rest of their life.   Now consider that many of your patients are moms…who were pregnant…& experienced the cardiovascular effects that commonly accompany pregnancy. TALK ABOUT A DOUBLE WHAMMY that we are totally glossing over in OncoPT. In this week’s episode on TheOncoPT Podcast, we dive headfirst into the intersection of pregnancy, oncology, & physical therapy with Drs. Rebeca...

Oncology & emergency departments share a core experience: we treat very complicated patients. Physically...psychologically...socially...our patients face a lot. But what I think emergency department PT has really figured out is how to approach a variety of patients, with varying complexities, & still keep it simple. Drs. Rebekah Griffith, Jenna Segraves, & Mark Magdaleno stopped by TheOncoPT Podcast to discuss their upcoming CSM session, “Keep It Simple — Management of the...

The countdown to #CSM2024 is on!   This week, we’re highlighting a super important topic that often gets glossed over in cancer rehab: AYA Oncology.  Speakers Scott Capozza, Dr. Eric Galvez, & Dr. Leanna Blanchard discuss the unique needs of the AYA population through their own perspectives as cancer survivors. Plus, you’ll better understand the multifactorial needs of AYA survivors & how to connect patients with AYA oncology resources in your own community. Listen now! Follow...

Tough conversations are a given in cancer rehab - there’s truly no way out of them. From the diagnosis of cancer to chronic impairments to financial toxicity, there’s a plethora of challenging topics that we MUST discuss with our patients.  But why is it so hard??? In short, nobody likes delivering bad news.  We got into health care to HELP people, not make them feel bad. So why not just avoid tough conversations altogether?  Because it actually hurts our patients in the long run. We...

While the New Year may seem like the completely wrong time to discuss burnout, it’s actually more important than ever.  Why?  Because 2024 is just going to be another 2023…unless you do something about it. In our fast-paced world of healthcare, the demand for exceptional patient care often comes at a cost – the risk of burnout among healthcare professionals. In a recent enlightening episode on TheOncoPT Podcast, I had the privilege of discussing this critical issue with the insightful...

2023 - what a year.  To send this year out with a bang, we’re covering highlights (& lows) from 2023, predictions for the new year, & some special birthday wishes from YOU to celebrate TheOncoPT’s 5th birthday! Join the waitlist for The Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2024 at TheOncoPT.com/waitlist To join The Cancer Rehab Community (for FREE!), visit TheOncoPT.com/community Follow TheOncoPT on Instagram. Follow TheOncoPT on TikTok. Follow TheOncoPT on Twitter.

Health care is ever-evolving, whether you like it or not.  And if you’re going to practice smarter in 2024, you’ve got to shift your perspective. The big shift in question?  Transcending the boundaries of care (aka how we’ve always done things) & step into a holistic approach for both your patients & you.   This recap episode dives into insightful conversations with past guests Joe Sanok, Dr. Lori Boright, & Dr. Rebeca Segraves, each providing a unique lens on smarter...

More than EVER, I am convinced of this one thing: We need more specialists in oncology physical therapy.  Not that we need more people taking that 7 hour exam - we need oncology patient care SPECIALISTS, because more patients than ever are diagnosed with cancer & require specialized care.  Run of the mill PT simply will not cut it.  PERIOD. In this episode, we’re reflecting on the themes of the past year and the importance of specialization in oncology physical therapy. I’m sharing...

It’s almost 2024 baby!  In this episode, we’re reflecting on the importance of collaboration in cancer rehab and highlighting some of the most impactful moments from the podcast this year. The theme of collaboration is explored through interviews with various professionals, including physical therapists, oncology acupuncturists, and experts in pelvic health and emergency department care. These conversations emphasize the need for sustainable collaboration that benefits patients, improves job...

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) has some brand new updates that will go into effect in 2024.  Here’s why they should matter to you: They’re all about exercise! Specifically, the updates clarify the requirements for pre-operative functional assessments & appropriate referrals to exercise programs & rehabilitation. This is huge for so many reasons, but most especially to help expand patient access & pathways to appropriate exercise & rehab...

On November 11, 2023, I hosted the first EVER Cancer Rehab Community Conference.  It’s still sinking in that I put together a whole conference with 11 mind-blowing speakers for over 100 registrants! After taking a few days to recover & process what happened at #TCRCC2023, it’s time to recap the experience, share our biggest takeaways, & how this movement is already impacting cancer rehab as a whole. Listen now! Follow TheOncoPT on Instagram. Follow TheOncoPT on TikTok. Follow...

As you know, collaboration is the name of the game in cancer rehab. While PT, OT, & speech therapy instantly come to mind, there’s actually quite a few more disciplines we’re not including in this collaboration.   Including oncology acupuncture ⬇️ Oncology acupuncture has been around for a while, & many of your patients already use acupuncture to help with various treatment side effects. So you better get clear on what it does, who it’s for, & how it helps your...