This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Valerie Salmon about occupational therapy tailored to patients with cancer and cancer survivors. Dr. Salmon is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and a certified lymphedema therapist at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Occupational therapy, tailored to individuals with cancer and survivors, focuses on managing the physical and functional challenges associated with cancer, its treatment and side effects. Doctor Valerie Salmon is here to talk about the details. Doctor Salmon is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and a certified lymphedema therapist at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Doctor Salmon, what are some of the specific cancer side effects or treatment side effects that you might be dealing with as an occupational therapist.
Dr. Valerie Salmon: Some of the side effects that I see a lot are lymphedema. So that is swelling caused by buildup of the lymph. We see a lot of cancer related cognitive impairment, some cancer related fatigue and then those cancer related physical limitations. So, after a breast cancer surgery like a mastectomy, a lot of people have shoulder range of motion issues or pain. Sometimes head and neck surgeries can cause decreased range of motion in the neck and like tightness. And so, we can really kind of look at all of those things and come up with a treatment plan to hit everything.
Conner: Tell us about what might really go on in an occupational therapy session with a patient who has cancer or a survivor.
Dr. Valerie Salmon: So, it really depends on the symptom and what they're struggling with. But let's say they have kind of a physical limitation from a surgery and maybe some cancer related cognitive impairments. We will spend some time going into some manual therapy. So, kind of loosening up the muscles, opening up the joint. Then we'll go into some exercises. So, whether that's kind of your typical weighted exercise or range of motion and working on cognition with balancing. Another thing that we could work on would be those activities of daily living that patients could struggle with. And we're always talking kind of about what's going on in their life. So it feels like a really great way for them to be in a safe environment to talk about what they're going through while also getting stronger, building endurance and doing something for themselves.
Conner: How might this kind of therapy help with some of the emotional side effects that they might be experiencing?
Dr. Valerie Salmon: We really provide emotional support and coping strategies to manage that stress, anxiety, depression, and then other psychological challenges associated with cancer treatment. So, we can kind of give support for that chemo brain, that brain fog, any of that distress and help them kind of problem solve how they can manage.
Conner: Is occupational therapy routinely being recommended now for cancer survivors and for patients with cancer?
Dr. Valerie Salmon: At the moment, no, but we're definitely growing in that direction. I think rehab as a whole is growing in that direction, and hopefully soon it will be routinely recommended for cancer survivors. Research definitely shows that OT is very beneficial. There are plenty of papers out there. It just takes advocating and kind of getting the word out about OT.
Conner: And does insurance typically cover occupational therapy when needed for patients, but also for survivors?
Dr. Valerie Salmon: Insurance usually does cover OT for patients with cancer or survivors.
Conner: Doctor Salmon, thanks for this information about occupational therapy.
Dr. Valerie Salmon: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
