Cancer Rehabilitation Center

Cancer Rehab at Touro

Cancer Rehabilitation Center

The Cancer Rehabilitation program at Touro Infirmary is for patients who have undergone treatment for cancer. It is designed to improve function, decrease pain, and improve a person’s well-being as a cancer survivor through the involvement of our highly trained physical, occupational, and speech therapists. We know your cancer journey can be challenging, and your quality of life may be affected by physical, emotional, and social issues. Your rehab program will be designed based on the type of cancer and treatment you had, in order to meet your individual needs. The side effects and after-effects of cancer treatments can be difficult on the mind and body. We appreciate patients allowing us to be a part of this sensitive time and giving us the opportunity to travel this path alongside them.

Areas of need addressed in Cancer Rehabilitation:

• Pain management
• Nutritional status
• Swallowing needs
• Bowel and bladder function
• Physical conditioning
• Endurance
• Exercise performance
• Social, cognitive, emotional, and vocational status
• Reducing hospitalization
• Swelling and residual effects of surgery

Lymphedema services at Cancer Rehab

Touro’s Outpatient comprehensive lymphedema treatment program allows patients to work with an occupational or speech therapist in an outpatient setting to address minimal to severe swelling as a result of the normal drainage pattern in the body’s lymph nodes being disturbed or damaged. This swelling can be the result of surgery that involved the removal of lymph nodes or as a side effect of radiation therapy. Residual swelling may occur on or around the area where your surgery was performed, including the chest, breast, arm, throat, or face. Women are at a higher risk of lymphedema, which can even occur many years later.

Patients with a history of head, neck, or throat cancer would be seen in clinic by a speech therapist for treatment while a patient with a history of breast cancer would be treated by one of our occupational therapists, all of which are certified specialists. They are trained in the treatment, education, and garment fitting expertise needed when working with patients with lymphedema needs. A physician order would require a diagnosis of lymphedema in order to undergo this type of specialized treatment.

Anodyne services at Cancer Rehab

We are proud to be the only Louisiana hospital to offer anodyne therapy for Cancer Rehabilitation. Anodyne therapy uses a unique pattern of light that stimulates the body to increase local blood circulation, resulting in a good environment to promote healing. This treatment is effective at decreasing pain and numbness as well as providing relief from the “pins and needles” feeling that is a common result of chemo-induced neuropathy. Many patients who have undergone anodyne therapy report an improved quality of life as well as an increase in their activities of daily living.

Referral information

Patients are required to have a prescription or referral from a licensed physician, podiatrist, dentist, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant sent to Touro’s Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center for evaluation and treatment. Prescriptions and patient information can be faxed to case managers for processing.

If you have any questions, please reach out to one of the individual clinics at the numbers listed below.

Location and contact information