Cancer Rehabilitation: Opportunities and Challenges
Each year, thousands of Canadians are told they have cancer. Most of us know someone—a friend, colleague, or family member—who has been diagnosed with the disease. The word “cancer” can provoke an emotional reaction that includes fear, anxiety and sadness. Today, however, the majority of cancer survivors can expect to pass the 5-year mark.1,2 To quote Lynn Gerber, MD, cancer has been transformed from “an acute lethal illness” to “a complex, chronic and common disorder.”3(p.xiv)

Physiotherapy Canada will be running a special series on oncology, including at least one article in each of the next few issues. The series will highlight the diversity in needs among cancer types, explore new treatment interventions and approaches, and provide both information on the state of the research evidence and insight into the availability of specialized services and programmes offered in Canada.