Cancer Rehabilitation in the Regional Hospital for Cancer Treatment / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

Background & Purpose: For cancer patients and survivors, some rehabilitation seems to be required in order for them to function properly and to maintain their ADL and QOL. To improve outcomes, the subject of cancer rehabilitation in our hospital, one of Japan's regional centers for cancer treatment, was examined. Methods:Our section met 246 patients who were admitted to our hospital for cancer treatment from April, 2008 to March, 2010. We assessed their age, cancer origin, disability, the term between admission, operation and consultation, the period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, and the outcome. Results:Most patients had some deficits due to their cancer, which included neurological defects, bone and joint troubles, especially bone metastasis, or dysphasia. “Disuse syndrome” was found in 101 patients who had been lying in bed without these deficits. Owing to their treatment, 139 patients were discharged home with some functional inconvenience. Their length of stay in our hospital was suggested to be shortened by early consultation with our section (<i>R</i>=0.84). Despite their efforts, 90 patients died. They enrolled in some program for an average of 56.4±6.3 days, and continued their rehabilitation for 7.6±1.2 days on average before their deaths. Conclusion:Patients who are suffering from cancer need rehabilitation in all stages of their disease, which are preventive, restorative, supportive and palliative. Both in a hospital setting and in community-based medicine, a better rehabilitation system is required for most cancer patients, not only the survivors, especially those falling into “disuse syndrome” unnecessarily, but also terminally ill patients.