Oncology (Cancer) Rehab 

Claudia McLellan

Senior Physiotherapist, Lead Oncology Physiotherapist

Claudia is originally from Auckland, NZ where she completed her Physiotherapy studies in 2018 at AUT University. She has worked within a private practice clinic, orthopaedic hospital and cancer centre in the last five years within the areas of Musculoskeletal and Oncology (Cancer) Physiotherapy. 

Claudia enjoys treating a range of musculoskeletal injuries but has a special interest in dance injuries, lower limb injuries and lower back pain. She has experience teaching Pilates and Yoga and incorporates exercise rehabilitation in all her treatments. Claudia recognises the importance of educating clients about their injury and helping them to stay active during recovery. 

Claudia is also a certified Cancer Rehabilitation Physio, working with people during and/or after their cancer journey to get back to the activities they value and enjoy most in life. 

 Claudia is a strong advocate for an active lifestyle and believes in its benefits for both physical and mental health. She enjoys movement of all types, particularly running, ballet, pilates, yoga, indoor netball and of course walking her golden retriever, Cooper.

Qualifications:
BHSc (Physiotherapy) PINC & STEEL cancer rehabilitation certified  

Services

At Revive, we offer multiple services within Cancer Rehab. These include:

Oncology Physiotherapy

Oncology Exercise Physiology

Oncology Pilates

Our Clinicians use a variety of skills, ensuring the best individualised treatment pathway is developed for you.
These include:

• Scar management
• Fatigue management
• Clinical Pilates: 1:1 or within individualised therapy classes
• Rehabilitation
• Hands on treatment
• Functional strength and conditioning
• Integration back to work, exercise and social activities
• Breathing techniques and education
• Management of acute or persistent side-effects
• Education and guidance for upcoming or ongoing treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy
• Assistance for activities of daily living
• Mobility assessments
• Running assessments
• Symptom Control and Palliative Care
• Women’s and Men’s Health Pelvic Floor programming
• Programming to maintain and/or increase physical activity levels

Put simply we want to:

• Teach people what they can do to help themselves to feel strong again
• Help people understand why their bodies are reacting to the surgeries or treatments in certain ways
• Provide information to help them feel more in control of their bodies and their lives again
• Assist people in getting back into the things they love, whether this is pottering around the house, travel or competitive sport

TYPES OF CANCER REHAB

Our Oncology Therapists work within all tumour groups, with patients beyond their adolescent years.

 
Cancer rehab can be used for:

• Preventative Rehab
• Early after the cancer diagnosis is made, where there is no significant physical impairment, but therapy is started to prevent functional loss
• Restorative Rehabilitation
• Comprehensive restoration of maximum function for patients who have physical impairment and disability
• Supportive rehabilitation
• Attempts to increase self-supporting skills, mobility and exercises to prevent effects of immobilisation
• Palliative rehabilitation
• Aims to increase or maintain the comfort and function of patients with terminal cancer

Restoring health is much more than just removing disease

Cancer is a particularly unkind disease – treatment is scheduled quickly and people often have no time to prepare a defence or strategy for their recovery.  The medical tests, surgery and other treatments that follow the diagnosis, can intensify feelings of ‘a loss of control’.

Medical treatment focuses on accurate diagnosis and elimination of cancer cells.

Their focus isn’t on rehabilitation. This is where we step in.

ASSESSMENT

An oncology therapist is a cancer therapist who has the necessary skill set and knowledge to help those with the physical side effects of cancer or its treatment.

It is important to note that every person’s experience is unique and people will present with varying physical side-effects, emotional responses and goals/hopes of treatment. Assessments are therefore tailored to ensure the needs of each patients are met.

Research shows that Oncology physiotherapy is effective in alleviating some of the distressing symptoms associated with cancer or its treatment. Whilst there are some common side effects that are seen within most tumour groups, there are also side-effects more specific to individual tumour groups:

Common Side-Effects:

• Cancer related fatigue (CFR)
• General weakness
• Reduced balance
• Scar restrictions associated with biopsies or surgeries etc
• Radiotherapy induced tightness
• Reduced joint range of motion
• Reduced mobility
• Loss of muscle strength & fitness
• Arthralgia (joint pain)
• Breathlessness
• Osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)
• Weight changes (loss or gain)
• Urinary and bowel changes
• Lymphoedema
• Peripheral neuropathy (tingling in hands and feet)
• Reduced ability to perform everyday activities

HOW IT WORKS

No referral is needed, you can simply phone up or jump online to book an appointment.

Initial appointments are 60 minutes with our Lead Oncology Physiotherapist, where important information is gathered. This includes details around diagnosis, treatment to date or planned treatment, side-effects and goals/hopes of treatment and the future. To make this easier and to save time, we ask that you bring a treatment summary from your lead Consultant to your first appointment. From here, we can develop a treatment pathway and determine the most appropriate clinician/s to assist you going forward.

We appreciate that the information shared can be sensitive, so all our initial appointments are completed within a private room, ensuring people have the space to tell their story and have their concerns listened to. We recommend coming in clothing that you feel comfortable moving in and to bring any other items or documents that you might feel might be important to your assessment; i.e. post-operative bra, post-operative exercise booklet given to you by the hospital.

It is important to link in as soon as possible, ideally prior to treatment starting. This allows us to collect baseline measures and understand your goals whilst empowering you with important information which will ensure a recovery with reduced timeframes and reduced side-effects.

For example, following a Breast Cancer diagnosis, we recommend linking into Physiotherapy for an initial assessment at least 6 weeks prior to starting chemotherapy or 2 weeks prior to upcoming surgery.

• Pre-chemotherapy: Develop a movement based program to ensure you maintain your physical activity levels during chemotherapy (see below with the benefits of physical activity)
• Pre-Surgery:
• Collect measurements for range of motion through your shoulder, upper back and neck, ensuring we assist you in returning back to these following surgery
• Explaining the physical implications of your surgery – do’s and don’ts etc
• Prescribing your tailored home exercise following completion of surgery. It’s important to practice these beforehand to ensure you are comfortable with the technique during a time where you are going to feel a little more uncomfortable.
• Guidance on post-operative garments

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Unfortunately, physical activity levels tend to significantly decrease for people during and after their cancer treatment. This can lead to further exacerbations of physical symptoms such as cancer related fatigue, loss of muscle strength and fitness, and reduced mobility. This can impact on the things you enjoy doing most.

Studies continue to show that physical activity can help reduce these effects.

Being physically active does not mean sweating it out in the gym or pounding the pavement in your joggers, it could be brisk walking with your friends, gardening or even playing with your children or grandchildren.

Benefits of increasing your physical activity levels

• Studies have shown really exciting results supporting physical activity pre, during or post cancer diagnosis and treatment. These include:
• Significant improvements in general fitness and muscle strength during or post chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal therapy 
• Keeping you mobile and agile allowing you to maintain your independence
• Significantly lower levels or fatigue after completing treatment. Interestingly, studies continue to show no further exacerbation of fatigue with physical activity during treatment.
• Improve your mood and significantly improve your sense of well being; lowering anxiety and depression levels
• Gain a sense of control when you feel you have so little
• Improve sleep patterns, memory and concentration
• Maintain a healthy weight (along with a healthy diet)
• Help reduce the risk of developing another chronic health condition, such as diabetes or heart disease.
• Participating in physical activity alone can decrease the risk of developing another condition by 20-50% and can help manage chronic conditions
• 49% of cancer survivors have at least one other chronic condition, such as diabetes
• Reduce your risk of falls
• In some cancers, including breast, colorectal and prostate, being more active can help decrease the risk of recurrence and increase survival

"We will meet you where you are"