Send us a text Cancer rehab can be challenging to practice on your own. Worst yet, too many therapists get the advice “You’ll just figure it out.” That’s why a COMMUNITY of support, inspiration, and innovation is so important to your journey as an OncoPT. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on The Cancer Rehab Community Conference, and …

Send us a text What if you could transform your oncology specialty exam prep from overwhelmingly stressful to confidently strategic? Well, that's exactly what we're diving into today! I’m thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Candace Alexander, PT, who just passed her Oncology Specialty Certification Exam earlier this year. In today’s episode, we’re goi…

Send us a text Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training has been used for years to help patients make greater gains during strength training. But does BFR belong in oncology rehab? Short answer: yes! Dr. Kelly Martin, PT, is back on the podcast to discuss the benefits of BFR, plus important safety considerations for our oncology patients. Dr. Martin a…

Send us a text Oncology specialization can feel like Fight Club - because nooooobody talks about it until you’re in it. So in this episode we’re busting open the doors & diving into the process of specialization with Dr. Tori Crook. Dr. Crook is a board certified clinical specialist in oncologic physical therapy & acute care oncology physical thera…

Send us a text With just a few weeks left until the September 30 deadline, it's officially crunch time for your ABPTS Oncology Case Report and Application! In this episode, we're going to break down how to strategically approach your writing and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can derail your progress. Plus, I’ll share some tips on budgeting …

Send us a text It's been 12 years since the Prospective Surveillance Model was first published. This model saves our patients money, can prevent functional decline, & has changed our entire paradigm of how we treat people with cancer. So why is it still so rare to see it implemented? Buckle up, OncoPT, because there’s a lot to cover today. But it’s…

Send us a text If you ask any rehab professional what scares them the most about oncology patients, their answer 99.9% of the time will be bone metastases. And this fear is keeping rehab professionals from actually helping their patients with cancer (even those without bone mets). The fact is patients with bone metastases benefit from rehab, from e…

Send us a text ICYMI: Katie Ledecky is 🐐 And while she’s been crushing it at #Paris2024, she’s also been serving up some lessons that cancer rehab NEEDS TO LEARN. In short, you can’t practice in a silo & realistically expect to see improved patient care. What you need instead is COMMUNITY. Learn how sharing knowledge, providing support, leading by …

Send us a text In this first edition of our special Research Round-Up series, we dive into groundbreaking research that examines a novel way to put adolescent & young adult (AYA) survivors BACK in the driver’s seat of their care. Dr. Kelly Martin, physical therapist & TheOncoPT team member, joins Elise to discuss the importance of education and bri…

Send us a text Oncology physical therapy is a SIGNIFICANT departure from what most people know & expect from physical therapy. Think about it: cancer itself is a red flag condition you likely learned about & how you should refer the patient with cancer back to their referring provider. And that is totally antithetical to how you as an OncoPT approa…

Send us a text In PT school, you may have heard that cancer is a disease of the old. But this is only half true. Cancer affects people of all ages, including those in their childbearing years, even during pregnancy. And you’re likely going to be seeing more of these patients in your own practice. Dr. Rebeca Segraves, PT, & Dr. Alexandra Hill, PT, a…

Send us a text Need the essentials for evaluating & treating your next patient with prostate cancer? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this interview with Dr. Matthew Johnston, PT, you’ll learn the essentials of educating, setting expectations, & prescribing interventions for prostate cancer survivors. You’ll also learn about the challenges o…

Send us a text If you’re listening to this in real time, we are just days away from finding out the results of the 2024 ABPTS Oncology Specialty Certification exam. It can be so easy to hinge your future as an OncoPT on finding out these results. But your worth has absolutely nothing to do with this exam. Your value as an OncoPT isn’t tied to a cer…

Send us a text We are halfway through 2024: let’s check in. How are YOU (like for real)? How are things going? Where are you at, compared to where you want to be? No matter what your answers are, you're in the right place right now. In today's episode, we're diving into reflecting on your 2024 progress so far, how to reassess your goals & prioritie…

Send us a text Keeping home exercise programs (HEPs) fresh and exciting is key to maintaining patient motivation & adherence. BUT it’s easy for the HEP to take a back seat to all the other stuff you have to manage in patient care. That’s why we’re spicing up the HEP in this episode, with unique exercise & physical activity ideas. To inject some lif…

Send us a text Summer is here, which means it’s time to DIVE IN! Just like the water might be cold when you first get in, it’s crucial to embrace the discomfort & challenges that come with cancer rehab if you’re ever going to get better at treating oncology patients. So are you going to just dip your toes in? Or are you going all in on yourself & f…

Send us a text BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is a common vestibular issue that affects people of all ages. BUT DID YOU KNOW there is significant crossover between BPPV and oncology? Yep - cancer treatments & even certain conditions we see in cancer rehab can increase your patient’s likelihood of developing BPPV. In this conversation, …

Send us a text OncoPT is not always the first career path for physical therapists - today’s guest included! From starting her career at the USDA to now pioneering cancer rehab in her area, Dr. Alyssa Carey, PT, shares her journey to specializing in OncoPT, plus the major decisions that transformed her career into what it is today. Listen for all th…

Send us a text Prostate cancer survivors sometimes fall into the gap between pelvic floor PT & OncoPT - who should be treating the patient & when? The short answer is all hands on deck, but Dr. Matthew Johnston, PT, breaks down exactly how to prioritize your patient’s impairments & which team your patient should see first. In today’s episode, we di…

Send us a text Cancer rehab may not always be the first step on your PT journey - but that doesn’t mean you’re behind or you can’t become an expert clinician. Today’s guest is the PERFECT example of this: Melissa White began her PT career nowhere near oncology. But after she transitioned into pelvic floor therapy, she found herself treating more & …

Send us a text Trauma-informed care is super trendy to talk about in health care right now, but what does it actually mean & how do we implement it into practice? This conversation with Dr. Adam Matichak emphasizes the importance of creating a safe & welcoming environment, through trauma-informed care, for patients to be seen, heard, & understood. …

Send us a text ICYMI the American Cancer Society estimates that 2,001,140 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2024. While treatable & in some cases curable, cancer is becoming a bigger problem than we probably thought possible. Survivors are surviving longer, but at what cost…to their lives, their independence, their function, their mobility, …

Send us a text Holistic care is such a buzz phrase in health care, but is it actually possible in today’s cancer rehab? The answer is a resounding yes, & Dr. Katie O’Bright shares exactly how in today’s podcast episode. Dr. Katie O’Bright is a leading voice in primary care PT (yes, it’s a thing & not new at all), & she breaks down common misconcept…

Send us a text You’ve probably heard that oncology specialization is the best way to catapult your cancer rehab career - but what does this actually look like for a practicing clinician? Sheree King, a physical therapist specializing in oncology, shares her journey of opening a private practice and becoming a board-certified specialist in oncology.…

Send us a text Advocacy is inherently part of physical therapy (advocating for your patients, advocating with other health care professionals, etc.). We also need BIG ADVOCACY: advocating for your patients, for your profession, TO your elected officials. BUT - it doesn’t mean drop everything & hop on a flight to Washington D.C. Dr. Mercedes Aguirre…

Send us a text TW: This episode talks about grief, loss, depression, suicide, & mental health. If you’re not in the headspace to listen to this episode, no worries friend. I’ll see you next time. 💜💜💜 In this intimate & vulnerable episode with Dr. Jimmy McKay & Dr. Rebekah Griffith, we talk about our own experiences with loss & grief. We cry, we lau…

Send us a text As cancer survivorship improves, you WILL see more patients with chronic side effects & impairments. One of these side effects is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Unfortunately, CIPN can be challenging to treat, & much research still needs to be done to determine the best methods to treat CIPN. As today’s guest said…

Send us a text Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this presentation reflect those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Do you ever feel stuck treating neuropathy, like you’re hitting a brick wall? Same. Neuropathy can be challenging to address, but it’s very common in…

Send us a text If this podcast episode title got you fired up, GOOD. APTA CSM took place this weekend in Boston, & I have THOUGHTS. This was my favorite CSM thus far, but it also highlighted some major issues within our profession that need to be addressed. Let’s get into it. _______________ Writing your oncology specialty exam case report is a hug…

Send us a text APTA CSM is to PT like Christmas is to Santa Claus - this is OUR TIME. In this special pre-CSM episode, we’re counting down our favorite things about #APTACSM, what you don’t want to miss at the conference, AND how to get your hands on our brand new Oncology Rehab: A Pocket Guide. Listen now! _______________ Writing your oncology spe…

Send us a text We’re all about multidisciplinary care here at TheOncoPT. But sometimes the “how” of multidisciplinary care is challenging to implement. Should your patient see multiple disciplines at the same time? Should we stack appointments in one day? Or space them out? The cleanest answer is, it depends. But if you’re ready for a real answer, …

Send us a text Cardiotoxicities are rampant in oncology, affecting patients during active treatment AND for the rest of their life. Now consider that many of your patients are moms…who were pregnant…& experienced the cardiovascular effects that commonly accompany pregnancy. TALK ABOUT A DOUBLE WHAMMY that we are totally glossing over in OncoPT. In …

Send us a text Oncology & emergency departments share a core experience: we treat very complicated patients. Physically...psychologically...socially...our patients face a lot. But what I think emergency department PT has really figured out is how to approach a variety of patients, with varying complexities, & still keep it simple. Drs. Rebekah Grif…

Send us a text The countdown to #CSM2024 is on! This week, we’re highlighting a super important topic that often gets glossed over in cancer rehab: AYA Oncology. Speakers Scott Capozza, Dr. Eric Galvez, & Dr. Leanna Blanchard discuss the unique needs of the AYA population through their own perspectives as cancer survivors. Plus, you’ll better under…

Send us a text Tough conversations are a given in cancer rehab - there’s truly no way out of them. From the diagnosis of cancer to chronic impairments to financial toxicity, there’s a plethora of challenging topics that we MUST discuss with our patients. But why is it so hard??? In short, nobody likes delivering bad news. We got into health care to…

Send us a text While the New Year may seem like the completely wrong time to discuss burnout, it’s actually more important than ever. Why? Because 2024 is just going to be another 2023…unless you do something about it. In our fast-paced world of healthcare, the demand for exceptional patient care often comes at a cost – the risk of burnout among he…

Send us a text 2023 - what a year. To send this year out with a bang, we’re covering highlights (& lows) from 2023, predictions for the new year, & some special birthday wishes from YOU to celebrate TheOncoPT’s 5th birthday! Join the waitlist for The Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2024 at TheOncoPT.com/waitlist To join The Cancer Rehab Community…

Send us a text Health care is ever-evolving, whether you like it or not. And if you’re going to practice smarter in 2024, you’ve got to shift your perspective. The big shift in question? Transcending the boundaries of care (aka how we’ve always done things) & step into a holistic approach for both your patients & you. This recap episode dives into …

Send us a text More than EVER, I am convinced of this one thing: We need more specialists in oncology physical therapy. Not that we need more people taking that 7 hour exam - we need oncology patient care SPECIALISTS, because more patients than ever are diagnosed with cancer & require specialized care. Run of the mill PT simply will not cut it. PER…

Send us a text It’s almost 2024 baby! In this episode, we’re reflecting on the importance of collaboration in cancer rehab and highlighting some of the most impactful moments from the podcast this year. The theme of collaboration is explored through interviews with various professionals, including physical therapists, oncology acupuncturists, and e…

Send us a text The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) has some brand new updates that will go into effect in 2024. Here’s why they should matter to you: They’re all about exercise! Specifically, the updates clarify the requirements for pre-operative functional assessments & appropriate referrals to exercise programs & rehabil…

Send us a text On November 11, 2023, I hosted the first EVER Cancer Rehab Community Conference. It’s still sinking in that I put together a whole conference with 11 mind-blowing speakers for over 100 registrants! After taking a few days to recover & process what happened at #TCRCC2023, it’s time to recap the experience, share our biggest takeaways,…

Send us a text As you know, collaboration is the name of the game in cancer rehab. While PT, OT, & speech therapy instantly come to mind, there’s actually quite a few more disciplines we’re not including in this collaboration. Including oncology acupuncture ⬇️ Oncology acupuncture has been around for a while, & many of your patients already use acu…

Send us a text Rehab is NOT well-integrated into advanced cancer care. But these patients need rehab EVEN MORE than many patients with early-stage cancer. November is Hospice & Palliative Care Month, so this is the perfect time to talk about a patient population very near & dear to my heart. Listen now! _______________ Writing your oncology special…

Send us a text Health care is sick. Obviously, we’re no strangers to illness. But health care as an industry, as a profession, as a vocation is sick. & will continue to get worse unless we implement real solutions. We’ve already seen other industries implement these solutions, & they’re working. It’s time to make it happen for real in health care. …

Send us a text Two years ago, I attended a conference with a brand-new OncoPT, who was really excited for one session in particular. This session began with a speaker *LITERALLY* asking for feedback & ways to improve the section for members. But when my friend bravely raised her hand & vulnerably shared a challenge she was facing & asked for help, …

Send us a text Every once in a while, you're a part of a conversation that changes the entire trajectory of your career. This is one of them. Many of your patients are mothers, some even new mothers. So how does that affect your plan of care? Turns out, potentially A LOT. Pregnant & postpartum patients experience tremendous change to their bodies, …

Send us a text Every October, the pink wave of breast cancer awareness comes crashing in. Yet, this pink wave glosses over the fact that breast cancer kills more than 43,000 women every year. Meanwhile, metastatic breast cancer (the breast cancer that kills) receives so little attention, research focus, & funding. And this changes little, year to y…

Send us a text It’s official! We are ONE MONTH away from The First-Ever Cancer Rehab Community Conference! We’ve been busy planning this event for months, & now I’m finally taking you behind the scenes on why The Cancer Rehab Community Conference is going to be the best conference experience you’ve ever had. Listen now for all the deets. AND SAVE Y…

Send us a text If you’re like me, I thought I was finished with specialization stuff once I got my exam results. WRONG. Because that’s actually only the start. Maintaining your board certification is an ongoing process that demonstrates your commitment to continued learning & growth throughout your OncoPT career. Now that I’m actually going through…