PT school teaches us a lot, but not really how to be safe when working with people after a cancer diagnosis. When our patients are a walking red flag, we need concrete info on how to actually help them.
In this episode, we’re discussing 5 key factors of being a safe OncoPT. Are you paying attention to these in your practice?
I’ve included several of my go-to resources below, including my affiliate link for Survivorship Solutions Core Competencies in Interdisciplinary Cancer Rehabilitation course (use code ONCOPT to save!).
Treatment side effects
- What treatment is the person undergoing
- What treatment DID the person receive?
- What structures were affected/potentially affected by the treatment?
Lab values
Hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells, platelets, absolute neutrophil count, just to name a few.
Vitals
- General rules still apply here for people with cancer or a history of cancer
- With that said, RPE may be better indicator.
Metastases
- Bone
- Soft tissue/other structures
Oncologic emergencies
- Structural or mechanically included: spinal cord compression, malignant pericardial effusion, superior vena cava syndrome
- Metabolic oncologic emergencies: hypercalcemia, tumor lysis syndrome
- Hematologic emergencies: neutropenic fever, venothrombolic events
More Resources:
Survivorship Solutions course – use code ONCOPT to save! (this is my affiliate link – I earn a commission on each sale at no extra cost to you)