tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-298595042011-04-21T21:30:00.578-05:00Serving Professionals and Patients in Cancer RehabilitationHoward Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-88664563876603915522008-07-22T08:54:00.002-05:002008-12-17T13:58:45.859-06:00

The aerobic component is a vital element of one's rehabilitation. In general, you should try to include a 20 to 30 minute aerobic activity into your daily activities. If to0 difficult, break a walk, for example, into two 10 minute phases, one in the morning and one at night. In addition to a stand alone aerobic component, an aerobic activity serves as a warmup to a more complete exercise

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-55623177647159271752008-07-20T15:35:00.002-05:002008-12-18T15:51:27.900-06:00

The warmup prepares the body for the exercise that follows and is composed of both general and specific components. The general warmup incorporates a 1o-15 minute cardiorespiratory activity such as treadmill, cycling, elliptical trainer, followed by general stretching of major muscle groups of the body, particularly those of the shoulder, back and abdominal areas. The is followed by a warmup

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-49156663387782629642008-07-17T08:19:00.000-05:002008-12-17T08:50:33.726-06:00

The following exercise prescription is a menu of options specific to the needs of breast cancer. The exercises will be broken down into three general phases: the aerobic phase, flexibility, strength building or maintenance. These will be followed by a cool down. Exercise at your own level of tolerance. That means the length of time, how hard you do it and the number of times per week. That said,

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-20183433895967113152008-07-05T14:00:00.000-05:002008-12-16T10:53:27.485-06:00

NeutropeniaNeutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell (WBC) and plays an important role in the defense against bacterial infections. (There are several kinds of white blood cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.) Neutropenia is a decrease in neutrophil cell counts in the blood and is a common side effect of chemotherapy for many forms of

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-82287360055982595522008-07-04T09:00:00.000-05:002008-12-16T10:52:58.896-06:00

With physician approval regarding an adequate recovery from surgery, possible complications from any metastasis and your blood counts there are few precautions to take when exercising. However, the following may be helpful to those who may be concerned about the possibility of lymphedema and to those who have had breast reconstruction.Lymphedema Lymphedema is a swelling of the affected arm due to

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-9847523715222899452008-07-03T14:57:00.000-05:002008-12-16T10:52:31.081-06:00

3. Correct Postural ImbalanceJust as many favor one arm to the detriment of the affected arm, many patients carry one's shoulder forward or carry the involved arm close to the body resulting in postural imbalance. This, in turn, further limits shoulder flexibility. Similarly the loss of a breast without reconstruction or prosthesis often results postural imbalance.4. Weight Management Weight

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-76867289071680197602008-07-02T16:04:00.001-05:002008-12-16T11:12:23.000-06:00

In general, primary exercise goals for breast cancer rehabilitation include maintaining one's range of motion or flexibility in the shoulder area, maintaining or regaining one's strength and weight management.1. FlexibilityA primary goal is to maintain or increase the range of motion around the shoulder joint. Tumor removal, axillary dissection and radiation often result in skin tightness,

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-61801064769154014992008-07-01T14:09:00.000-05:002008-12-16T10:51:20.057-06:00

Breast cancer is the leading cancer for women but one with a high survival rate. It is also the cancer type that lends itself most directly to therapeutic exercise. Depending upon the diagnosis, treatment may involve a lumpectomy, a simple or modified radical mastectomy or on occasion a radical mastectomy. In these later cases many younger women may opt for breast reconstruction. During initial

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-33775053547823740542008-06-22T07:00:00.000-05:002008-12-19T13:56:57.292-06:00

Several factors need to be taken into account when prescribing exercise such as type of cancer, it's stage, grade and treatment strategy. For example, many breast cancers are diagnosed early with few limitations to exercise. Lung cancer, by contrast, is often diagnosed late with metastasis to the bones which limit the ability to exercise. It is also the prime organ for ventilation which

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-81729960187206262162008-06-16T16:00:00.000-05:002008-12-16T11:01:50.108-06:00

Cancer rehabilitation refers to the prescriptive use of exercise to: 1. prevent the loss of physical function due to cancer or its treatment, 2. rehabilitate any loss of function that may have occurred due to cancer or its treatment 3. the maintenance of function due to cancer or its treatment, and 4. to minimize any loss of it due to cancer or its treatment. Underlying these goals is the

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-75278464555958437682008-05-31T09:00:00.000-05:002008-05-31T09:00:01.679-05:00

ComplianceRelated to the above is treatment compliance. Some people just "give up", refuse treatment for their cancers, or do not alter there behavior. These people are entered into the database of patients and if they die earlier than patients that agree to therapy, they are still counted in the population prediction of survival. By refusing a treatment option such a chemotherapy an individual

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-79006159923026022162008-05-30T09:00:00.002-05:002008-05-29T11:18:18.112-05:00

Several factors need to be considered when discussing statistical averages versus possible outcomes for an individual. These include: comparing like cancers, variability in treatment, limitations of the 5 year time frame, compliance and future research.Comparing Apples to ApplesWhen comparing outcomes you must compare cancers to "like" cancers and staging is disease specific. For example a

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-8461427614550364412008-05-29T09:47:00.003-05:002008-05-29T10:28:55.577-05:00

Following the pathology report and diagnosis, an individual may fall into a statistical category that may have a limited bearing on the prognosis at the individual level. For example, the report may indicate that the survival rate for an individual to live for 5 years is less than 10 percent. However, such cancer survival statistics, should be interpreted with caution. The following postings

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-35736864291923334102008-05-28T15:01:00.001-05:002008-06-06T13:39:21.191-05:00

Much of the foregoing information is contained in the pathology report. Reports will vary according upon one's cancer, but generally contain demographic information, tissue removed and date. The description of the tissue removed for analysis will be either a "gross or macroscopic description" of the tissue or specimen visible to the naked eye and pertains to color, weight and size of tissue.

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-28553794723094948382008-05-16T09:00:00.000-05:002008-12-16T10:01:06.379-06:00

Distinct from the grading scale that estimates a cancer's aggressiveness, staging estimates how much and where the cancer is located. Several classifications exist but most common is TNM. For most cancers, the stage is based on 3 main factors called the TNM method.T-refers to the original (primary) tumor's size and whether or not the tumor has grown into other nearby areas.N - refers to whether

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-63121132851521689472008-05-15T09:00:00.002-05:002008-12-16T09:59:23.347-06:00

Tumor grading, together with the stage of the tumor, assists doctors in planning treatment strategies. Tumor grading is an estimate of the tumor's malignancy and aggressiveness based on how the tumor cells appear under a microscope and the number of malignant characteristics they possess. Cancer cells are often undifferentiated and are termed primitive or anaplastic as they do not appear

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-61881147199148209502008-05-14T13:50:00.000-05:002008-12-16T09:30:20.407-06:00

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. In multiple myeloma, abnormal myeloma cells divide repeatedly making more and more abnormal cells. These cells collect in multiple sites in the bone marrow and outer parts of the bones crowding out normal blood cells. This causes extensive destruction within the skeleton involving bones in the spine with consequent bone pain and fractures.

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-38649324706323265682008-05-13T11:47:00.000-05:002008-12-12T13:33:44.566-06:00

Sarcomas are a rare group of cancers that occur more commonly in children and rarely in adults. It is a cancer of the connective tissue or cells whose primary function is to hold or connect the body together. These sarcomas can be broken down into soft tissue sarcomas or tissues that connect, surround or support tissues or organs of the body including the nerves, fat, muscles tendons and blood

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-8114567856559179422008-05-13T11:15:00.001-05:002008-12-16T12:18:21.649-06:00

Leukemia is a cancer of the organs that make blood: the bone marrow and the lymph system. The overabundance of white blood cells crowd the bone marrow and prevent it from producing enough red, white blood cells and clotting platelets. The body then loses its ability to fight infection, as well as increased possibility of anemia, easy bruising and bone pain. Leukemia may be acute which involves

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-1806076120226449622008-05-11T10:39:00.000-05:002008-12-16T09:00:35.017-06:00

As stated in previous post, cancer is not a monolithic disease but rather several hundred (albeit with often common pathways.) For our purposes they can be generally broken down into three major categories and further into hundreds of subtypes. The first two categories, carcinomas and sarcomas are solid tumors and leukemias and lymphomas are dispersed cells that may form a solid tumor.  The most

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-14932139161873719062008-05-10T14:44:00.000-05:002008-12-16T09:20:44.565-06:00

It is said that age is the single biggest risk factor for cancer and while one can get cancer at any age, the highest rate occurs in decades 6-8. This fits with the view that cancer is a multistep process  with genetic mutations or alterations in our DNA which involves going from a less malignant to a more malignant and invasive disease. The longer our exposure to carcinogens the longer we live,

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-88849843803561297272008-05-09T16:25:00.004-05:002008-05-11T14:34:16.224-05:00

Cancer is not a single or monolithic disease but rather a group of 200 plus diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells resulting in malignant tumors. Distinct from a benign or encapsulated tumor, malignant tumors possess the ability to penetrate tissues or organs, and move or metastasize to other sites. Depending on its stage, grade and site of origin, cancers have the

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-17143264263505397792008-04-03T08:54:00.007-05:002008-12-16T12:28:15.361-06:00

We can't avoid the caution "Ask your doctor about" associated with the daily barrage of pharmaceutical ads. Commercial interests aside, it is one caution that should absolutely be adhered to first when considering exercise as part of a recovery program. It is your oncologist who is aware of any contraindications to exercise relative to your type of cancer, its stage or side effects of one's

Howard Stidwill, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10653808606304420012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29859504.post-66654420057322071382008-04-02T20:15:00.005-05:002008-12-16T10:43:32.729-06:00

The Cancer Rehabilitation blog will address the role of therapeutic exercise in the rehabilitation of the cancer patient. We will begin with a brief overview of cancer, categories of cancer, as well as treatment strategies. More extensive treatment of these topics can be found in other sources including the websites of many cancer organizations.  I will, however, address what is not found in

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