When you’re battling cancer, it’s important to keep your body as healthy and strong as possible. That means taking care of your physical and mental health through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. We’re here to help, with health support services to meet your exact needs.

Lymphedema Clinic

If you have had cancer surgery or radiation treatment, you may experience lymphedema, a swelling in your arms, legs or other parts of your body. This swelling is caused by damage to the lymph nodes or vessels that produce and carry lymph fluid, which helps fight infection and filters toxins and waste throughout the body. 

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s Lymphedema Clinic offers the specialized therapy that can help relieve symptoms of lymphedema, including aching, swelling, limited mobility and infection. Our occupational and physical therapists will work with you and your cancer care team to coordinate a plan that works for your exact needs. Treatment may include:

• Manual lymphatic drainage to soften the edema (swelling) and move the fluid along lymphatic passageways
• Bandages and compression garments to maintain a reduction in limb size and promote lymphatic drainage between treatments
• Exercises to help the muscles pump the lymphatic fluid
• Sensitive skin care

Nutritional Guidance

When you have cancer, your nutrition is more important than ever – to keep you strong and help you heal. But managing good nutrition can be difficult if you have lost your appetite, have dietary restrictions or have other side effects that make eating a problem.

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s nutrition services for cancer patients is led by registered, licensed dietitians who provide the welcome care and support necessary to help during the cancer treatment journey. Those services can include:

• Advice and support prior to treatment
• Inpatient and outpatient nutrition evaluations and screenings
• Counseling and recommendations personalized to your treatment and nutritional needs
• Education for you and your family members about your nutritional needs after your treatment, including cancer prevention
• Support for treatment-related side effects that affect eating
  
  

Fitness Support

Regular physical exercise is important for everyone, but especially so for cancer patients. Exercise helps maintain strength and energy. It also helps patients better manage treatment and side effects. But cancer patients also have special needs, which may include exercise modifications or guidance in workout routines best suited to their abilities through treatment and recovery.

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s fitness centers offer cancer patients specialized support in achieving their wellness goals. Our fitness center in Corbin offers group and specialty classes and staff who provide support and insight into fitness for recovery and healthy living. 

Physical and Occupational Therapy

Physical and occupational oncology rehabilitation are important parts of a comprehensive cancer treatment plan. Physical and occupational therapy help cancer patients improve their overall health, well-being and functional capacity and can effectively address common cancer-related problems.

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s physical and occupational therapists work with cancer patients before, during and after cancer treatment. Prior to treatment, we can help you build strength and maintain energy. During treatment, we can help with exercises and techniques to alleviate side effects and minimize fatigue. After treatment, we can help maximize recovery and regain function including strength, coordination, balance and skills for independent living.

Speech-Language Therapy

Those treated for head or neck cancer often experience changes in speech and swallowing, which can affect overall health as well as quality of life. Cognition changes can also occur. But preventive therapy and post-treatment therapy can be effective in helping patients regain function.

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s speech-language therapists help cancer patients address problems associated with treatments for head or neck cancer, which can include dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of voice and cognitive changes. We offer advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions related to the effects of cancer treatments and design personalized therapy approaches for our patients.

Palliative Care

Cancer symptoms and treatment side effects can affect cancer patients in different ways. While maintaining physical and emotional strength is important to recovery, that can be an overwhelming goal for a person who is struggling with the physical, emotional and mental burden of a cancer diagnosis.

We’re Here to Help
Baptist Health’s palliative care program is provided in conjunction with curative treatment and is designed to help patients as early as possible in their cancer treatment better manage symptoms and side effects and improve quality of life. Inpatient and outpatient services can include:

• Pain management
• Help with fatigue, anxiety and depression
• Decision-making guidance on course of treatment
• Coordination of care