Baptist's Cancer Rehab Program Helps Patients Regain Strength While Healing

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

Jackson, Miss. – January 4, 2005 - The Cancer Rehab Program offered by Baptist Cancer Services, a division of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., will help cancer patients regain independence and improve the quality of their lives while building a support system.

"We feel that cancer patients have rehabilitation needs often associated with fatigue after treatment. If the patients have had surgery they need to rebuild their strength," Baptist Oncology Director Bobbie Ware, RN said.

While attending the rehab program, patients are evaluated to assess cardiopulmonary capacity, overall endurance, balance, posture and areas of residual pain. Kim Daniels, Baptist Cardiovascular Rehabilitation nurse and Renee Neblett, Baptist cardiac rehab exercise physiologist, oversee the program. They assess exercise goals, areas of concentration and identify contraindications to specific exercise stations, routines and progressions. They work with cancer patients to enhance cardiovascular strength and endurance, immune system and bone density, increase overall strength and stamina, decrease fatigue, weight loss and improve digestion.

"Exercise has been associated with reducing the risk of acquiring many types of cancer and is beneficial as a second line of therapy after diagnosis," said Neblett. "We hope to help patients achieve increased functionality with every day household tasks."

Daniels noted that one of their breast cancer patients has muscle weakness in her upper body, decreased range of motion and fatigue. "We are focusing on those particular areas and have seen improvement," Daniels added.

Baptist's Cancer Rehab Program is offered Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:00 p.m. every week at no cost in the Activity Room of the Hederman Cancer Center. To register, call the Baptist Health Line at 948-6262.

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