Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy treatment offered by cancer diagnosis>

People of any age who are diagnosed with cancer can maximize strength and function during and after cancer treatment.  Patients undergoing cancer treatment may experience one or more of the following side effects:

• Decreased muscle strength
• Decreased bone density
• Peripheral neuropathy related to chemotherapy
• Fatigue
• Lymphedema risk
• Difficulty walking

Our physical therapist, Andréa Leiserowitz, MPT, can help address each of these issues through education and exercise.  Some patients may already have strength loss due to other concurrent disease such as diabetes or heart disease.  Maintaining strength during cancer treatments helps to prevent or decrease the risk of complications as well as to enhance quality of life.  Physical therapy helps patients and their caregivers regain a sense of hope and control over their health by teaching proper and safe exercise to rebuild function, endurance, and muscle and bone strength. 

Andréa works with both pediatric and adult patients with all types of cancer diagnoses.  She works closely with the General Oncology and the Transplant medical teams to provide rehabilitation service to increase function and independence, during and after cancer treatment.  Andréa is licensed by the State of Washington, is a member of both the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Oncology Section of the APTA.

In the News

Andréa Leiserowitz, MPT, and Dr. Julie Gralow, MD, are featured in the premiere issue of Beyond: Live & Thrive After Breast Cancer, a new semi-annual publication from Meredith Special Interest Media, part of the Meredith Corporation. The magazine, which helps breast cancer survivors nurture their physical and emotional health, hits newsstands September 19, 2006. For more information on Beyond, click here.

Physical Therapy offered through the Cancer Prevention Clinic was recently featured on KUOW radio. To listen to the story, click here.

SCCA Physical Therapy Services:

We provide individualized physical assessment and treatment plans for the following:

• Weakness secondary to disease or cancer treatment or muscle atrophy
• Fatigue/decreased endurance
• Impaired balance
• Peripheral neuropathy - numbness/tingling/decreased balance or walking
• Osteoporosis/Osteopenia
• Scar tissue management after surgery
• Lymphedema risk reduction /management
• Limited flexibility/range of motion
• Pain management
• Rehabilitation equipment/assistive device needs (cane, walker, etc.)

To schedule physical therapy, SCCA patients must be referred by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

SCCA Physical Therapy Services Location and Hours:

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Physical Therapy Department
825 Eastlake Avenue East
G2-209
PO Box 19023
Seattle, Washington 98109-1023

Office Location: 2nd floor, Room G2-308
Office hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (PST)
Monday – Friday
Phone: (206) 288-6373
Fax: (206) 288-2203

 

October 2006