Current perspectives and emerging issues on cancer rehabilitation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Current perspectives and emerging issues on cancer rehabilitation

AU - Stubblefield, Michael D

AU - Hubbard, Gill

AU - Cheville, Andrea

AU - Koch-Gromus, Uwe

AU - Schmitz, Kathryn H

AU - Dalton, Susanne Oksbjerg

N1 - Copyright © 2013 American Cancer Society.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Cancer rehabilitation is a rapidly emerging and evolving medical field in both Europe and the United States, in large part because of increases in the number of cancer survivors. Although few argue with the need to restore function and quality of life to patients affected by cancer and its treatments, differences exist between European countries with regard to the funding, accessibility, and even the definition of cancer rehabilitation services. In the United States, there is tremendous variability in the provision of rehabilitation services resulting from a variety of factors, including a lack of highly trained cancer rehabilitation physicians and therapists as well as a lack of comprehensive cancer rehabilitation programs, even at the majority of top cancer centers. Although studies evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in the cancer setting, particularly exercise, have influenced clinical decision-making in both Europe and the United States for some time, this emerging evidence base also is now starting to influence guideline and policy making. Coordinated research efforts are essential to establish a robust framework to support future investigation and establish shared initiatives. Determining the best way forward for cancer survivors will require investment in large-scale prospective cohort studies that sufficiently describe their rehabilitation needs through the continuum of the survivorship experience.

AB - Cancer rehabilitation is a rapidly emerging and evolving medical field in both Europe and the United States, in large part because of increases in the number of cancer survivors. Although few argue with the need to restore function and quality of life to patients affected by cancer and its treatments, differences exist between European countries with regard to the funding, accessibility, and even the definition of cancer rehabilitation services. In the United States, there is tremendous variability in the provision of rehabilitation services resulting from a variety of factors, including a lack of highly trained cancer rehabilitation physicians and therapists as well as a lack of comprehensive cancer rehabilitation programs, even at the majority of top cancer centers. Although studies evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in the cancer setting, particularly exercise, have influenced clinical decision-making in both Europe and the United States for some time, this emerging evidence base also is now starting to influence guideline and policy making. Coordinated research efforts are essential to establish a robust framework to support future investigation and establish shared initiatives. Determining the best way forward for cancer survivors will require investment in large-scale prospective cohort studies that sufficiently describe their rehabilitation needs through the continuum of the survivorship experience.

KW - Europe

KW - Humans

KW - Neoplasms

KW - Rehabilitation

KW - Survivors

KW - United States

U2 - 10.1002/cncr.28059

DO - 10.1002/cncr.28059

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 23695929

VL - 119 Suppl 11

SP - 2170

EP - 2178

JO - CANCER-AM CANCER SOC

JF - CANCER-AM CANCER SOC

SN - 0008-543X

ER -