Cancer Rehabilitation Certificate Series

Age is the single most significant risk factor for developing cancer, with 60% of all newly diagnosed malignant tumors and 70% of all cancer deaths occurring in persons 65 years or older (Korc-Grodzicki & Tew, 2017). Increased survival, along with a rise in new diagnoses of cancer among older adults, makes geriatric cancer patients the largest proportion of the population of cancer survivors in the United States (Extermann, 2020). Therefore, clinicians working with the older adult population are charged with understanding cancertreatment paired with the unique needs of the aging individual. This course will improve your understanding of these distinct rehabilitation needs of the older adult with cancer to enable you to provide effective treatment options to enhance overall quality of life in your daily practice.

• Immediately improve your understanding of the unique rehabilitation needs of the older adult with cancer
• Confidently provide safe, effective, and age-friendly treatment options for older adults receiving medical intervention for cancer

The estimated number of US cancer survivors is 16,920,370 people (American Cancer Society, 2019). Of these individuals, 20-50% are estimated to have pain (American Cancer Society, 2019). Therefore, we can estimate that from 3,384,074 to 8,460,185 people are experiencing cancer-related pain and could benefit from the distinct skills of an educated and prepared rehabilitation team.

This course will assist practitioners to understand the pathophysiology of cancer-related pain, expand one’s understanding of how pain may present with individuals with cancer, and increase or improve your ability to provideevidence-based, safe, and effective treatment options to decrease pain, increase comfort, and ultimately improve yourpatient’s quality of life.

• Solidify your understanding of the pathophysiology of cancer pain
• Expand your understanding of the various presentations of pain for individuals with cancer
• Improve your ability to provide safe and effective treatment options for individuals receiving medical intervention for cancer

This course covers emerging research in the interplay between nutrition and cancer, as well as offers into the role of nutrition in three common cancers: breast, colorectal, and prostate. The course stresses advancements in the understanding of carcinogenesis, individualization of nutrition and cancer treatment, and offers an updated take on the roleof nutrition during cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. This course will provide a review of the current relevant literature about cancer and nutrition, as well provide practitioners with an understanding of the central role of nutrition in health and healing. This course provides ascientific basis for the integration of nutrition into the conventional management of cancer, and opportunities toapply information from the literature to interactive clinical scenarios.

• Confidently speak with your cancer patients on nutritionand general nutritional recommendations set forth by the FDA
• Enhance your cancer patient’s treatment and recovery by adding a nutritional component to your overall plan of care

In the United States, the incidence of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer has increased by 225% since the late 1980s, putting the United States at the epicenter of this emerging epidemic. As a result, rehabilitation professionals are seeing an increase in clients with comorbidities stemming from medical interventions for head and neck cancers. Increased incidence paired with highly successful medical treatments is resulting in more individuals needing theservices of rehabilitation professionals. Our services are vital throughout the treatment trajectory in order to provideprevention of co-morbidities as well as treatment of side- effects. We are charged with providing these individuals with safe and effective client-driven treatment techniques to restore and improve quality of life.

This course will assist practitioners to understand the anatomy involved in head and neck cancers along with the advanced medical interventions individuals with head and neck cancer receive and the related side-effects. Participants will learn potential rehabilitation needs of individuals with head and neck cancer and various treatment options to improve their quality of life. An introduction tovarious outcome measures will also be discussed.

• Recognize acute and long-term side effects of medical treatments for head and neck cancers that may impact your client's quality of life
• Provide safe and effective treatment options for individuals receiving medical interventions for head and neck cancer

Estimates report that there are 15.5 million cancer survivors in the U.S. This is projected to increase by 31% to 20.3 million by 2026 and to 26.1 million by 2040, an increase of almost 11 million from 2016. In breast cancer alone, one study found that 92% of women had at least one physicalimpairment, however, less than 30% received rehabilitation. By incorporating a comprehensive rehabilitation program, many survivors may experience a decrease in cancer co- morbidities resulting in a potential decrease in overall healthcare expenditures, and an improvement in quality of life. Practitioners are charged with increasing their presence on oncology teams, participating in pre and post rehabilitation, and gathering evidence through the use of outcome measures to support therapeutic intervention.

This interactive and comprehensive oncology course provides an understanding into the current oncology healthcare model and supports the need for proactive care toimprove patient outcomes and cost utilization. This course provides practitioners with an understanding of the medical and psychosocial needs of individuals with cancer including lymphedema. Participants will learn to help practitioners who do not treat lymphedema know what to look for and how to make appropriate referrals and conversely, provide educationon lymphedema for those considering working in the area of oncology and lymphedema. Information is provided on theoretical models in support of rehabilitation with oncology patients. Examples of research articles to support rehab with individuals with cancer, outcome measures, rehabilitation protocols, and evaluation/re-evaluation/treatment note formsare provided. Participants will leave this course with a better understanding of best practices for oncology care and provide insights for those considering working in oncology care, developing a program, and/or becoming lymphedema certified.

• Learn everyday, practical strategies to develop, guide, and support a comprehensive cancer care rehabilitation program
• Incorporate over ten outcome measures to confidently assess oncology patients and immediately begin using in your daily practice
• Therapeutic exercise and activity prescription for cancer rehab and lymphedema prevention
• Learn the best practice of rehabilitation in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology's cancer survivorship recommendations and guidelines
• Case studies, hands-on labs and therapybased documentation