Full Course Description

2-Day Integrative Cancer Care: Strategies to Optimize Care for Cancer Prevention, Recovery, and Reduction of Recurrence

Program Information

Outline

Day 1: Hallmarks of cancer – how cancer forms, grows, and metastasizes

Hallmarks of cancer –
- Stats | Top cancers in men and women
- Genetics – account for only 5-10% cancers
- Angiogenesis
Biologic mechanisms for increased cancer risk – Karen (4 hr. ppt) & Cindi
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammation
- Obesity
- Metabolic hormone imbalance
- Hypomethylation
- Gut health
- Immunosenesence
  - Vaccines – Suzanne Humphries, MD (nephrologist)

Identification of ‘early signs’ of cancer/abnormal cell growth & testing
- Assessment methods
  - Blood testing
  - Whole body scan
  - Biopsies & lymph nodes
  - Colon - Karen
    - Cologuard vs Colonoscopy
      - Pill pockets vs parasites; prep
      - Polyps & preventive care
  - Breast – thermogram (less radiation) vs mammogram vs other
  - Prostate
    - PSA & sxs
  - Lung
    - Cough & toxins

Nutrition & Lifestyle tactics to reduce overall cancer & recurrence risk:

responsible for 90-95% cancers; Be KIND to your body!
Nutrition – Food as Medicine | What are you feeding??
- Assessing nutritional intake & status
  - Risk of malnutrition
- Quality matters
  - Food as medicine
  - Inverse relation between phytonutrients and cancer risk
  - Clean food – organics, cleaning solutions for produce
  - Clean water & hot to assess/filter
    - Distilled water
- Impact on immunity
- Detox support
  - Phase 1, 2, and 3 food supporters
- Angiogenic inhibitors
- Gut health/microbiome
- Fasting tactics for cancer prevention & reduced recurrence risk
- Pros/Cons of specific diet patterns (i.e. keto, etc)
- Nutrition & healing pre-op and post-op
- Supplements/Phyto cannabinoids
  - Natural Pharmacopeia
General + specific recommendations for most common cancers
- Breast
- Prostate
- Colorectal
  - Be KIND to your COLON!
- Lung
Exercise – sedentary vs overtraining
- How to exercises so there is less pain and more motion
Circadian rhythms
- Importance of & how to optimize
- Sunlight in the AM – deep infrared
- Proper sleep hygiene and environment
Emotional health & stress
- Looking at care through a biopsychosocial lens
- Why whole person health is a critical element in cancer prevention and care
- Techniques and strategies to help to manage daily stressors
- Self-regulation practices– empower patients to control their emotion
- Develop patient confidence with therapeutic alliance, trust, & social support
- Food and mood – How what you eat can affect behavior and motivation
Environmental toxins – which ones, how to assess & detox tactics
- EDC’s
- EMF’s & radiation
- How to protect yourself with EMF blocking materials
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
- Mold/mycotoxins
Side effects of chemo & how to manage
- History of chemotherapy initial development
- Paresthesia | neuropathy – How to treat, accommodate for pain and sensory loss
- GI related – nausea, diarrhea, constipation
- Fatigue
- Pain – How to treat pain, relationship to nutrition, hydration, and movement
- Fractures – The WHY of fractures, where to look, history and how to treat.
- Cachexia
- Liver toxicity & connective tissue dysfunction with meds – risks (phases of liver detox + GI health + supplements)
- Decreased nerve repair, cholesterol, & blood filtration
- Use of fasting tactics to minimize side effects & enhance chemo effectiveness

DAY 2: Practitioner approach and connection to patient – Experiential and practical applications

Education vs. Medication – Staying AHEAD on healthcare.
Teaching your patients with:
- Handouts – Online handouts & resources readily available to use in the clinic
- Menus – Easy to integrate Keto & Mediterranean diets with practical recipes
- Printable forms for caregivers to support your patient’s nutritional journey
- Hydration charts – understanding types of hydrations vs. liquids
- Dailly activity logs – Custom tailored to pain level and exercise tolerance
- Healthy cooking demo for low energy/mobility – easy to prep meals with therapeutic nutrients for cancer prevention and recurrence reduction
- Therapeutic exercise and activity - Daily motions, PROM and AAROM, manual therapy, rotational activities, post-op fascial interventions, self-lymph drainage techniques, equipment for home use, and more!
Easily Accessible Patient/Client Resources:
- Products
- Apps and innovative tech
- Best/safe websites for recipes
- Appliances for food prep ease
- Mail order options
- Safe exercise protocols
- Caregiver handouts
- And more!
Put your learnings into practice - What will you do differently?
References
Q&A

Objectives

Identify the biological mechanisms contributing to elevated cancer risk.
Utilize evidence-based assessments and targeted interventions to mitigate the side effects associated with cancer treatment.
Develop an evidence-based nutrition centric approach aimed at reducing cancer risk, mitigating associated symptoms, and preventing recurrence.
Develop a comprehensive and systematic lifestyle medicine approach to minimize cancer risk and recurrence.
Utilize the principles of 'food as medicine' in culinary practices to improve nutrition.
Develop an easily accessible and sustainable home exercise to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Create personalized exercise routines to enhance adherence and functional outcomes.
Determine preoperative and postoperative treatment protocols that incorporate gentle techniques to promote optimal recovery, healing, and QOL.
Create comprehensive home care programs that integrate knowledge of nutraceuticals, mindfulness practices, and optimal hydration strategies.
Evaluate scar tissue mobilization techniques through early post-op treatment to reduce fear avoidance behavior and pain.

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Massage Therapists, Chiropractors
Athletic Trainers
Dietitians
Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physician Assistants
Social Works/Case Managers
Lymphatic Drainage Therapists
Exercise Kinesiologists
Other rehab professionals.

Copyright : 09/19/2024

Prescribing Exercise for the Cancer Population

Over 18 million cancer survivors live in the United States, and 2 million new cases are diagnosed yearly. Along with new medical treatments, exercise is critical in managing cancer and treatment side effects. In this course, participants will explore the profound impact of physical activity on cancer prevention, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care. Many healthcare professionals may underestimate exercise's importance in cancer care, failing to recommend or prescribe specific exercise programs as part of treatment strategies. This course aims to change this by educating clinicians and providers on evidence-based interventions and clinical applications of exercise, providing them with the tools to effectively integrate physical activity into their patients' care plans. By bridging this knowledge gap, healthcare professionals can help their patients enhance treatment outcomes, reducing treatment-related side effects and enhancing overall quality of life before, during, and after cancer treatment.

Program Information

Objectives

Introduce oncology-related functional impairments and side effects that can be addressed in cancer rehabilitation
Understand how exercise and physical activity affects individuals living with and beyond cancer
Identify the current recommended exercise guidelines for cancer survivors

Outline

Introduction to Cancer and Effects

Understand the incidence and prevalence
Common side effects of cancer and cancer treatment

Cancer Rehabilitation and Exercise

Define Cancer Rehabilitation
Common impairments addressed in cancer rehab
Unmet needs with patient reported impairments and side effects
The Cancer Care Continuum – Where exercise plays a role

The Role of Exercise -Before Treatment (Prehab)

Define prehab

Goals of exercise to address pre-existing impairments, improve physical health, and establish baseline
The outcomes of supervised exercise in various cancer types (Garcia, 2016)(Singh, 2013)(van Rooijen, 2019)
High-intensity interval training and affects of VO2peak in prehab setting (Palma, 2021)
Exercise’s role in reducing surgical complications and recovery (Parker, 2019)
Address the limitations of research and potential risks

The Role of Exercise -During Cancer Treatment

Goals of exercise to address impairments, side effects and symptoms related to treatment
Exercise impacting side effects during cancer treatment (Stout, 2017)
Exercise benefits and risks during chemotherapy (Mijwel, 2018)
Current exercise recommandations and prescriptions (Stout, 2017)
Comparing outcomes of low-intensity vs mod/high-intensity exercise vs no exercise (van Waart, 2015)
Acknowledge potential risks and contraindications of exercise during treatment

The Role of Exercise - After Cancer Treatment

The goals of exercise after cancer treatment is completed
Physical activity’s impact of non-physical outcomes (Fuller, 2018)
Exercise role on risk of cancer mortality (Li, 2016)
Limitations of the research and potential risks in the survivorship phase

The Role of Exercise – Long-Term Survivorship

Discuss long-term clinical applications of exercise for cancer survivors
Cardiovascular disease risk and exercise role (Henry, 2018)
The role of exercise in androgen deprivation therapy (Newton, 2020)
Pediatric cancer survivorship and exercise role in chronic diseases (Brunet, 2018)
Cancer recurrence – does exercise lower the risk? (Morishita, 2020)

The Role of Exercise – Hospice/End of Life

Recognize the benefits of exercise in end-of-life care settings (Chen, 2020)
Adapting exercise to the needs of terminally ill cancer patients (Dittus, 2017)
Understand the limitations and potential risks in palliative exercise programs

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Explore how healthcare professionals can work together to promote exercise in cancer care
Discuss strategies for overcoming barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration

Course Conclusion and Future Directions

Summarize key takeaways from the course
Reflect on the evolving landscape of exercise in cancer care
Encourage continued learning and research in the field

Note: Throughout the course, we will emphasize the limitations of existing research and the potential risks associated with exercise interventions, ensuring a comprehensive and responsible approach to exercise across the cancer continuum

Target Audience

Massage Therapists (including Neuromuscular and Medical Massage Therapists)
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Exercise Physiologists
Athletic Trainers
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists

Copyright : 02/15/2024

Occupational Therapy in Oncology: Cancer Care and Considerations for End-of-Life Intervention

While courses across the spectrum of therapeutic care, including acute care and rehabilitation are common, it is often challenging to find a course with a specific focus on therapeutic intervention in oncology. This course enables clinicians to successfully evaluate and treat clients in oncology rehabilitation throughout the continuum of care.

Therapists will benefit from building their oncology rehabilitation expertise through current evidence, comprehensive intervention methods, case study and specific guidance for clients with various cancer diagnoses. A specialized focus on therapy’s role in end of life care will be provided.

Program Information

Objectives

Identify three benefits to the inclusion of occupational therapy (OT) services in end-of-life care.
Describe at least two practice guideline sources related to the provision of OT services in oncology.
Develop interventions to incorporate with palliative and end of life care.

Outline

Treatment Intervention:

Including alternative techniques to pain management, coping strategies and activity pacing
Family training and preparation for discharge home

Home Safety Assessment and Transition to Home:

Preparing for a safe transition home, including support of family and caregivers in realistic expectations
Home management, diagnosis progression within the home, and community engagement despite diagnosis

End-of-Life Care:

Discussion of fears, anxieties, and feelings with and amongst patients and families
Resources in the creation of an end-of-life plan
Communication and family involvement

Target Audience

Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Athletic Trainers
Chiropractors

Copyright : 12/20/2023

Is Bone Health a Missing Link In Oncology Rehab?

Patients undergoing cancer treatments experience a myriad of physical impairments affecting their quality of life. Oncological rehabilitation has become an integral part of ongoing therapies for these patients and has been the key to improving survivorship. However, accelerated bone loss, which survivors experience as a side-effect of cancer treatments, is mostly overlooked. Since continued loss of bone is a silent process, its first clinical implication is often a fracture. By this time, the window of preventive care has passed and the patient is left with additional impairments and sometimes, chronic pain leading to a further decline in quality of life. In addition to using therapeutic techniques to reverse physical impairments, strategies to improve bone health can greatly enhance the treatments and prevent debilitating fractures. This lecture will provide the clinicians with the knowledge of evidence based therapeutic exercises and nutrition for bone health, ready to be incorporated into onco-rehabilitation programs. The clinicians will learn this preventive program development based on FIIT principle and the use of applicable outcome measures to note progress.

Program Information

Objectives

Build a foundation of bone maturation & metabolism physiology.
Learn about the effects of cancer therapies on bone at cellular level.
Identify functional impairments related to low bone mass in a cancer patient.
Construct a rehabilitation program to improve bone health in a cancer patient.

Outline

How Bone Changes Across the Lifespan

Review of bone structure, bone cells, development of skeleton, peak bone mass from birth to maturity
Factors affecting bone metabolism
Physiology of bone maturation and metabolism

Cancer and bone density

Epidemiology of cancer related osteoporosis
American Society of Clinical Oncology BMD recommendations
Preventive care and fracture risk

How do cancer treatments affect bone density

Bone mineral density testing
Vertebral Fracture Assessment
Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)
Blood bone markers
Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS)

Constructing an Evaluation of Osteoporosis

Risk factor assessment
Demonstration of a posture evaluation
Functional assessment and osteoporosis
Outcome measures

Build Bone, Build Strength, Reduce Falls and Fractures: Constructing a Rehabilitation Program

Exercise program design based on FIIT principle
Progression of exercise intensity for a cancer patient
Body mechanics
Exercises Precautions
Contraindications

Role of Nutrition & Supplementation

Calcium and vit D RDA, estimation of intake, sources
Dairy = friend or foe? Plant-based sources of calcium
Supplements - type, how much, how to pick a supplement
Absorption of calcium supplements

Case Studies (optional): 

Case studies will be presented in accordance with HIPPA.

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapist Assistants
Athletic trainers
Personal trainers

Trismus Management Following Head and Neck Cancer

More common than you may realize - radiation associated dysphagia occurs in 30-50% of head and neck cancer patients! In this session, you'll learn how to assess and evaluate trismus alongside strategies for individualized exercise management. With a better understanding of how to work with/around pain coupled with exercise progressions and self-monitoring strategies, you will help patients enhance and regain function.

Program Information

Objectives

Assess components of a comprehensive trismus assessment.
Determine risk factors for osteoradionecrosis.
Determine which patients are at risk for trismus.

Outline

Trismus
- Assessment
- Evaluation
- Timing of trismus
Management of Trismus
- Exercise physiology principles
- Devices utilized in clinic
- Considerations for Specific Diagnoses
- Individualized exercise management
- Progressing exercises
- Long term self-patient monitoring
- Risk factors of osteoradionecrosis/ORN

Target Audience

Athletic Trainers
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants

Lymphatic Flow Yoga: The Benefits for Your Life and Lymph

Improving lymphatic health is a great way to improve your overall health and wellness. By encouraging lymph flow you can help to improve digestive, immune, cardiovascular and physical/mental health. Understanding the pathways and body map of our beautiful lymphatic rivers throughout our bodies allows us to encourage physical and mental relief and restoration. It’s time to learn how to better live with a lymphatic disorder. This training provides guidance for safe and appropriate lymphatic yoga practice with breathing exercises, physical postures, meditation and mindfulness techniques. Build awareness of the lymph pathways and the use of muscle pumps to assist lymph flow to cleanse and clear the mind and body. This training will include education for improved lymphatic health through engaging in a lymphatic flow yoga practice. Improving lymphatic health is beneficial for everyone, but especially important for individuals with a lymphatic disorder such as lymphedema or lipedema. Learning these techniques will help to improve your comfort and confidence to encourage healthy lymphatic flow in this patient population.

Program Information

Objectives

Examine the lymphatic system and ways in which the lymph fluid is encouraged to flow to improve lymphatic health
Give examples of how diaphragmatic breathing, manual lymph drainage, yoga poses and mindfulness can facilitate improved lymphatic flow throughout the body.
Justify how yoga practices impacts lymphatic fluid movement throughout the body to improve independent management of lymphedema/lipedema, improved functional outcomes, and participation in daily occupations.

Outline

What is the lymphatic system

Understanding the network
Understanding the pathways that the fluid moves
Essential components

How does lymph fluid move through the body

Manual lymph drainage
Muscle pump activation
Diaphragmatic breathing
Mind body connection

Concepts of lymphatic flow yoga

Improve lymphatic health through guided self-manual lymph drainage (MLD)
Emphasize mindful breathing practices and diaphragmatic training
Engage internal muscle pump activation
Analyze psychosocial benefits to enhance support and survivorship

What are the ways we can improve lymph flow

Integrating Yoga practices
Implementing deep diaphragmatic breathing strategies
Utilizing self-MLD techniques
Whole-person approach through mindfulness interventions
Parasympathetic activation to improve relaxation and restoration

Current research about lymphedema / lymphatic system & yoga

Review of resent studies and findings
Evidence based support for symptom management
Indications and contraindications of lymphatic flow yoga
Factors to consider for Implementation of yoga programs, and best approaches
Future considerations and outcomes

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Licensed Massage Therapists
Registered Nurses