What Is Cancer Rehabilitation?
Cancer rehabilitation is physiotherapy specifically planned around the after-effects of cancer surgery — not a generic exercise programme, but a course of care matched to the surgical site, the tissue removed, and the functional deficit that particular surgery typically leaves behind. The same surgery can leave very different problems in different patients, so rehabilitation at VPARC starts with a functional assessment before any treatment plan is set.
Physiotherapy Before, During and After Cancer Treatment
Before surgery (prehabilitation) — breathing training, general conditioning and teaching the exercises you will need afterwards, so you start recovery from a stronger position.
During chemotherapy or radiotherapy — supervised, low-to-moderate intensity exercise to limit treatment-related fatigue, muscle loss and deconditioning, with balance and sensory work for chemotherapy-related nerve symptoms (numbness or tingling in hands and feet). Sessions are adjusted or deferred around blood counts, fever, pain and your oncologist's advice.
After treatment (survivorship) — rebuilding strength, stamina and shoulder, neck or limb function, and a safe long-term exercise routine for cancer survivors.
Lymphedema Physiotherapy
Swelling of the arm, leg, face or neck can appear weeks or years after lymph node surgery or radiotherapy. We assess the swelling, teach skin care and self-management, guide compression, and prescribe graded exercise. Any sign of infection (redness, heat, fever) needs your doctor first, before physiotherapy.
Types of Cancer Surgery Where Physiotherapy Has a Role
Breast cancer (mastectomy, lumpectomy, axillary lymph node dissection) — shoulder stiffness prevention, scar tissue mobilisation, and lymphedema management of the arm.
Head & neck cancer (neck dissection, laryngectomy, oral cancer surgery) — shoulder dysfunction from accessory nerve involvement, cervical range of motion, facial/neck lymphedema, and jaw stiffness (trismus).
Lung cancer (thoracotomy, lobectomy, pneumonectomy, VATS) — pulmonary rehabilitation, breathing retraining, secretion clearance, and chest wall/shoulder mobility.
Gynaecological cancers (hysterectomy, pelvic exenteration, vulvectomy) — pelvic floor rehabilitation, lower-limb lymphedema management, and core/abdominal wall recovery.
Prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy) — pelvic floor muscle training for continence, and graded return to functional activity.
Colorectal cancer (colectomy, abdominoperineal resection, stoma surgery) — abdominal wall strengthening, stoma-adapted exercise progression, and early mobility.
Bladder cancer (radical cystectomy with urinary diversion) — pelvic floor and core rehabilitation adapted around the stoma, plus general mobility.
Bone and soft-tissue sarcoma (limb-sparing surgery, amputation) — gait and prosthetic training, strength rebuilding, and functional restoration of the affected limb.
Brain tumour surgery (craniotomy) — neurological rehabilitation covering balance, gait, coordination, and motor retraining.
Testicular cancer (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection) — abdominal core rehabilitation and graded mobility.
Skin cancer / melanoma with lymph node dissection — limb-specific lymphedema management.
Gastric and oesophageal cancer surgery — pulmonary rehabilitation, postural and core recovery, and early mobilisation protocols.
Core Physiotherapy Interventions We Use
- Lymphedema management — manual techniques, compression guidance, and exercise progression for arm or leg swelling
- Joint range of motion and scar mobilisation — preventing frozen shoulder and stiffness at the surgical site
- Pulmonary rehabilitation — breathing exercises and secretion clearance after chest surgery
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation — continence training after prostate, bladder, and gynaecological surgery
- Gait and prosthetic training — functional mobility after limb-sparing surgery or amputation
- Neurological rehabilitation — balance, coordination, and motor retraining after brain tumour surgery
- General reconditioning — rebuilding strength and stamina lost to surgery and cancer treatment
Why Early, Coordinated Physiotherapy Matters
Left unaddressed, post-surgical stiffness, lymphedema, and deconditioning tend to compound over time and become harder to reverse. Physiotherapy planned around your surgeon's clearance and treatment schedule — including chemotherapy or radiotherapy timing — helps recovery stay on track rather than losing ground between hospital visits.
Who Should Book This Assessment
This is for anyone who is scheduled for, undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment — surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy — and wants a structured recovery plan — whether the concern is arm or leg swelling, shoulder stiffness, breathlessness, continence, or simply regaining strength and independence.