INTOUCH - Baylor Health Care System

Physical MedicineBuilt AroundYour NeedsPatients recovering from cancer often need more thanadvanced medical treatments for healing. They alsoneed help rebuilding muscle, stamina and quality of life.The new Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Centerat Dallas offers specialized physical, occupational andspeech therapists who work with patients in a newdedicated wellness center in the Oncology OutpatientClinic. These rehabilitation specialists have long beenutilized in cancer treatment, but in the new BaylorSammons Cancer Center, the team is able to work in aspecialized gym making access to the services easier forpatients.With a physician referral and assistance from a patientnavigator, almost any cancer patient can benefit fromthis type of rehabilitation, according to Lucy Aguirre-Kelley, OTR, CLM, RM, supervisor of the physicalmedicine and rehabilitation oncology team. “Manycancer patients experience side effects and functionalproblems following their cancer treatments,” she says.“We are here to help increase their ability to performtheir life roles and activities of daily living (ADL).”The new physical medicine and wellness center featuresan extensive array of therapy equipment. There is aspace for group activities and “Healthy Steps,” an exerciseprogram using music and movement, which maybe incorporated into therapy.“Chemo and radiation therapy can cause extremefatigue,” says Aguirre-Kelley. “Often patients have verylow energy levels and may not be able to use exerciseequipment due to their disease and treatment sideeffects. We help them start moving and increase enduranceand muscle strength as their progress permits.This can be a natural progression to another supervisedexercise program called FitSteps ® , which utilizes exerciseequipment.”The staff is made up of licensed physical therapists,occupational therapists and speech therapists. All typesof cancer-related issues are addressed in the rehabilitationarea. “There are two rooms dedicated to one-ononetreatment for breast cancer patients dealing withlymphedema. Blood and marrow transplant patientswith graft-versus-host disease will receive specializededucation and rehabilitation care. A full-time speechtherapist is available to provide therapies for head andneck cancer patients to include those with prostheticdevices,” says Aguirre-Kelley. “We have two therapistsspecializing in women’s health issues and gynecologicalcancers. All therapists are trained in a variety of complementaryapproaches to medicine which are approvedby our physicians to be used with their patients on anindividual basis.”The convenient location and depth of services helppatients return to their lives, according to Aguirre-Kelley. “Our goal is to empower our patients and helpthem regain their basic activities of daily living and liferoles so they don’t feel helpless,” she says. “Offeringthese specialized therapies in the cancer center helpsthem heal physically and emotionally.”11