St. Joseph's Hospital - Breese Services Rehabilitation Oncology Wellness Program
St Joseph Breese Rehab Oncology Wellness Program

Oncology Wellness Program

at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese HealthPlex

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinton County YMCA offer an Oncology Wellness Program for patients undergoing cancer treatments at all stages, providing care to maximize quality of life with customized treatments. Studies have shown that exercise during and after cancer treatment is safe and results in improvements in physical function, energy level and ability to perform daily activities. Services offered include Pre-treatment Rehabilitation, Outpatient Rehabilitation, and Survivor Support and Wellness.

Pre-treatment Rehabilitation “Prehab”

 

Prehab can begin as soon as you are diagnosed with cancer. Prehab will help you to be in the best possible condition before beginning cancer treatment, to help speed your recovery and possibly decrease treatment side effects. Prehab will include:

  • Comprehensive assessment by caring and highly skilled licensed professionals

  • Education regarding exercise, skin care, nutrition, adaptive equipment, community resources, spiritual and financial resources

  • Development of  personalized home exercise programs to maximize your strength, endurance and mobility prior to cancer treatment

Outpatient Rehabilitation

 

Rehabilitation can begin as soon as your care provider/physician feels that you are ready to start on the road to recovery. Oncology Wellness offers the following services conveniently located in the HealthPlex:
 

  • Physical Therapy: Exercise, strength training, range of motion, pain management techniques along with personalized home programs

  • Occupational Therapy: Range of motion, stretching, activities of daily living, energy conservation techniques, lymphedema treatment & bandaging, preparation for return to vocational activities, and recommendations for adaptive equipment-along with personalized home programs

  • Speech Therapy: Treatment of communication, cognition, voice and swallowing disorders (including electronic stimulation therapy for swallowing)-along with personalized home programs

  • Aquatic Therapy: One on one low-impact treatment by Physical Therapy staff in our private handicap-accessible therapy pool

Survivor Support and Wellness

 

The Healthplex offers several resources for patients undergoing cancer treatments:
 

  • The Healthplex houses the Cancer Care Closet and St. Clare Share resources, which are overseen by the St. Joseph’s Rehab Services department staff  

    • The Cancer Care Closet is stocked with a wide and numerous variety of wigs, hats and scarves that have been donated from the community and are carefully cleaned, organized and displayed

    • The St. Clare Share program is funded by an anonymous benefactor who provides gas cards to help defray travel expenses for those currently undergoing cancer treatments

  • The Healthplex is also home to the Clinton County YMCA which offers the nationally recognized “LIVESTRONG” program. Even those who are newly diagnosed with cancer can begin the program with clearance from their physician. The LIVESTRONG program is a free 12 week program lead by YMCA staff that has been specially trained to work with cancer survivors. The program meets twice a week for supervised exercise, focusing on building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, improving confidence and self-esteem and reducing stress.

  • The specially trained YMCA staff is also available for short term and/or long term one-on-one personal training. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA has helped thousands of cancer survivors move beyond cancer in spirit, mind and body.

More Benefits of The Oncology Wellness Program

The program can help ease the following symptoms:


  • Pain

  • Weakness

  • Fatigue (tiredness)

  • Neck and shoulder problems

  • Balance and walking difficulty

  • Swelling (lymphedema) management, including bandaging

  • Range of motion and mobility

  • Scar tenderness/tightness

  • Chemo induced neuropathy

  • Post-mastectomy pain syndrome

  • Pelvic pain

  • Bladder/bowel incontinence

  • Memory and concentration problems

  • Swallowing problems

  • Difficulty with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming)

  • Adaptive and durable medical equipment recommendations

  • Hearing problems (pre-cancer treatment and post-cancer treatment evaluation of hearing is available in our Audiology department located in the main hospital building) Other services available include hearing aid sales and service, along with assistive listening devices and instrumental evaluation of balance issues

Questions and Referrals

 

In order to have Oncology Wellness services, a physician’s referral is required, typically from your family practitioner, oncologist or surgeon. St. Joseph’s Breese accepts most insurance plans. Your insurance benefits will be checked by our knowledgeable staff before your evaluation, for your convenience.

For questions or more information about how you may benefit from our Oncology Wellness Program, please contact the Rehab Services department at 618-526-5436.

For questions or more information about the LIVESTRONG program offered by the Clinton County YMCA, please call 618-526-5628, fax at 618-526-1430 or visit www.gwrymca.org/clintoncounty

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