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Rehabilitation Consideration in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

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Handbook of Long Term Care of The Childhood Cancer Survivor

Part of the book series: Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology ((STPN))

Abstract

Although the need for rehabilitation services for cancer patients has been known for decades, many individuals with cancer still do not receive appropriate rehabilitation therapies during the course of their care. This has become particularly important for survivors of childhood cancer. As improvements have been made in treatment and mortality rates are decreasing, there are more survivors living with the long term or “late effects” of the cancer and its treatments. Late effects often impact the central nervous system and can impact skills such as mobility, activities of daily living, general physical activity, swallowing, speech production, and cognitive functioning. The focus of this chapter will be on introducing the need for rehabilitation services in this population, a review of some of the common issues that impact physical and speech-language functioning, and tips for when professionals may consider a referral for physical, occupational, or speech-language therapies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA

    Lauren S. Krivitzky Ph.D., A.B.P.P.-Cn.

  2. Department of Physical Medicine, Our Children’s House at Baylor, 1208 N. Hall Street, Dallas, TX, 75204, USA

    Megan M. Blaufuss M.S., O.T.R./L.

  3. Department of Speech-Language Therapy, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 2200 Research Blvd., #345, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA

    Sara VanDenHeuvel M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P.

Authors
  1. Lauren S. Krivitzky Ph.D., A.B.P.P.-Cn.
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  2. Megan M. Blaufuss M.S., O.T.R./L.
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  3. Sara VanDenHeuvel M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren S. Krivitzky Ph.D., A.B.P.P.-Cn. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Psychology, CHOC Children’s Hospital, Neuropsychology Services, Orange, Newport Beach, California, USA

    Grace A. Mucci

  2. Division of Oncology, CHOC After Cancer Treatment Survivorship Program, CHOC Children’s Hospital, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, Orange, California, USA

    Lilibeth R. Torno

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Krivitzky, L.S., Blaufuss, M.M., VanDenHeuvel, S. (2015). Rehabilitation Consideration in Pediatric Cancer Survivors. In: Mucci, G., Torno, L. (eds) Handbook of Long Term Care of The Childhood Cancer Survivor. Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7584-3_25

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