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Best Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Service in India

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OVERVIEWRehabilitation is a crucial aspect of cancer management as it addresses the temporary physical, psychological, and cognitive issues that patients often face during and after treatment. These issues can hinder patients from returning to their normal lives and, if left unaddressed, may have a lasting negative impact on their health.

Rehabilitation after cancer treatment helps patients:

  • Stay active and maintain their daily routines.
  • Reduce the severity of side effects and symptoms.
  • Regain independence with the help of professionals.
  • Improve their quality of life.

At HCG, we have a team of highly skilled rehabilitation specialists, including physiotherapists, speech and swallow therapists, onco-dieticians, psycho-oncologists, yoga therapists, and oncodermatologists. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that we address all aspects of our patients' recovery and well-being. By bringing experts from different fields together, we work towards a common goal, which is to positively impact treatment response, recovery, and quality of life among our patients.

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HCG’s Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Programme

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is essential for cancer patients as it helps overcome physical deficits, build strength, reduce pain, and combat fatigue. Physiotherapy plays a significant role in restoring and maintaining the highest possible level of function, independence, and quality of life among cancer patients and survivors.

At HCG, our physiotherapists work with patients to restore and maintain the highest possible level of function, independence, and quality of life through inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. The core focus of this department lies in providing preventive, promotive, and curative rehabilitation services in areas of (but not limited to):

Lymphedema management
Post-surgical oncology rehab
Post-chemo / radiation- associated musculoskeletal complications
Gynaec onco rehab
Haematological onco rehab
Management of swallowing disorders
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab, including pulmonary function assessment.
Inspiratory muscle training
Exercise capacity training and fitness programs
Pain management
Biofeedback training
Orthopaedic rehab
Neurological rehab
Paediatric and neuro-developmental rehab
Women’s health
Geriatric and fall prevention programs
Group and circuit training programs

All our physiotherapists have completed their specialised training in the field of cancer rehabilitation. The department manages to provide close to 700 physiotherapy sessions every month.

Speech and Swallow Therapy

Head and neck cancers and their treatments can cause speech and swallowing difficulties. At HCG, our speech-language pathologists provide evaluation and therapy for articulation, language, voice, cognition, and swallowing disorders. We customise our approach based on each patient's unique needs and work with other specialists to improve their overall quality of life.

The speech and swallow therapists often collaborate with nutritionists, physiotherapists, and home care specialists to address all possible challenges related to swallowing and improve the overall quality of life for patients.

Our speech and swallow therapy department provides services in areas of (but not limited to):

  • Language therapy / aphasia
  • Articulation therapy
  • Computer-aided speech or alternative non-vocal communication
  • Swallowing therapy / barium swallowing exam
  • Stuttering/ fluency
  • Cognitive retraining to improve memory, attention, and organisational skills
  • Voice improvement
Psycho-Oncology

One-third of cancer patients experience severe psychological distress upon diagnosis.
Psycho-oncology, a sub-discipline of oncology, deals with non-physical aspects of cancer, such as coping mechanisms, communication with caregivers, and social support, using techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to improve patient well-being. Psycho-oncology counselling benefits cancer patients by helping them cope with their diagnosis, manage stress, communicate with healthcare professionals and caregivers, plan for life after treatment, and improve family understanding and adjustment to new routines.

Yoga

Yoga improves physical health by enhancing oxygenated blood circulation, inducing tranquillity, and improving the ability to endure stress. At HCG, our research shows that yoga reduces stress and treatment-related symptoms and improves the overall quality of life. Our yoga therapists help patients learn techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, and modified postures individualised to their condition.

Onco-Dietetics

Onco-dieticians understand the nutritional needs of cancer patients and plan personalised interventions accordingly. Personalised nutritional support can positively impact treatment response, recovery rate, and quality of life. Treatment includes diet modification, counselling, supplements, tube feeding, or IV feeding.

Oncodermatology

Cancer treatments can cause various skin-related side effects, such as rashes, dry skin, and hair loss. Oncodermatology, a department at HCG, specialises in managing these side effects to improve treatment outcomes. They help with allergies and toxicity caused by chemotherapy, skin reactions due to radiation therapy, skin infections caused by immunosuppression, and graft-versus-host disease. They also offer screening services for skin cancer.

Dentistry

Head and neck cancer treatments cause dental problems such as tooth decay, oral mucositis, bleeding gums, and mouth infections. At HCG, our dentists address patient concerns by carefully reviewing their information and planning dental interventions accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of problems can be treated with cancer rehabilitation?

Cancer treatments cause physical and emotional distress, leading to pain, poor nutrition, reduced physical stamina, hampered bowel and bladder function, and reduced confidence. Rehabilitation programmes address these challenges and help patients achieve maximum functional independence.

Quality of life and psychological well-being are crucial during cancer treatment. Hobbies and spending time with family can help distract from the challenges. Professional psychological assistance from HCG's psycho-oncology division focuses on meeting the emotional needs of cancer patients and their caregivers and facilitating a seamless cancer journey for them.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle during and after cancer treatment, it's important to avoid processed and high-fat foods and focus on consuming foods rich in proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and micronutrients. Onco-dieticians can help create personalised diet plans for cancer patients.

A good number of studies have found that yoga can help patients combat fatigue and enhance strength among those who are undergoing or have finished cancer treatment.

Opting for yoga has been found to help with various side effects caused by cancer treatment, such as fatigue, stress, poor mobility, sleeplessness, etc.

The physiotherapy and yoga sessions may cause tiredness among a few patients; however, this exhaustion goes away if the patient rests properly.

Physiotherapists will always be there to help patients with their concerns and ensure that they complete their rehabilitation programme without any difficulties.

It is always better to have a detailed discussion with your physiotherapist before you start your programme; this will help you understand what to expect from these sessions and plan your other activities accordingly.