Exercise during and after cancer treatment can reduce side effects of treatment, help your body recover, and fight depression. Research from the American Society of Clinical Oncology has shown that physical activity and exercise can also lower the risk of cancer returning. Your physical therapist will work with you to determine goals for therapy and address the issues related to your physical function that are most important to you. Based on this information, you will learn how to use exercises and adaptive techniques to help you feel better during treatment and into survivorship.
Physical Therapy for Cancer Patients
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Cancer treatment can impact your physical wellness in many ways, causing muscle weakness, difficulty balancing, limited range of motion and more. Participating in physical therapy as part of your recovery can restore physical function and strength, helping you maintain or regain your quality of life. You and your physical therapist will work together as a team to set personalized goals that are important to you and determining a plan of care that aligns with your healing.
Our physical therapists can meet with you whether you are already a Duke patient or are coming from another health system. If you are interested in physical therapy, talk to your oncologist or primary care provider and ask for a referral.
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Physical Therapy Benefits for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Our Locations
Our physical therapists see patients at the same location you receive cancer treatment, which includes two locations in Durham and one in Raleigh.
Evaluating Your Needs
Your physical therapist will coordinate directly with your cancer care team, so we understand your medical history before you meet with us for the first time. This helps our physical therapists lead a focused conversation about your goals and concerns and how treatment may impact your daily life. A physical exam and functional tests will set benchmarks for your range of motion, strength, and balance. The exam may include activities like timed walks, sitting and standing without support, and balance challenges, if appropriate.
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Consistently Ranked Among the Nation’s Best Hospitals
Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why we are once again recognized as the best hospital in North Carolina, and nationally ranked in 11 adult and 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report for 2024–2025.
Additional Programs and Care for Cancer Patients
Making Planning Easy for Cancer and Physical Therapy Treatments
Our physical therapists work collaboratively with your medical providers to offer comprehensive care at the same location where you receive your cancer treatment. You can have physical therapy sessions in either Durham or Raleigh, including on the same day as your treatment.
Free Exercise Programs
Exercise physiologists at the Duke Health & Fitness Center create individualized plans that support your diagnosis, recovery, and quality of life. Free, weekly consultations are offered for patients who are receiving or have received care at Duke for a cancer diagnosis. Each session lasts 60 minutes and covers ways to manage your fitness. If you have a My Duke Health (previously Duke MyChart), staff at the Health & Fitness Center can communicate with your care team about your health and create recommendations that best support you and your goals.
Coordination with Occupational Therapy Needs
People who receive chemotherapy can sometimes suffer from “chemo brain,” a slang term to describe how treatment might impact the speed of brain function. If you’re set to receive chemotherapy, we may refer you to an occupational therapist to assess your cognitive ability with word or memory tests.
Integrative Care
Duke offers holistic treatment options outside of physical therapy through Duke Health & Well-Being, where experts focus on the full spectrum of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental factors that influence and can improve your health. Our integrative medicine teams offer massage, yoga, acupuncture, nutrition counseling, psychotherapy, and more to enhance how your physical body interacts with your emotional well-being.
This page was medically reviewed on 10/12/2023 by