TheOncoPT Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Most PTs don't fail their specialization exam because the oncology content is too hard — most of the time, it's because they treat a 6-to-12-month endurance event like a weekend cram session.  This episode gives you the exact study framework to build a sustainable plan, prioritize high-yield content, and arrive on exam day sharp, rested, and ready. Specialization prep is...

Send us Fan Mail Oncology specialization is not the right path for everyone. So how do you actually decide if it's right for you? This episode is for OncoPTs who are weighing whether ABPTS oncology board certification is worth your time, energy, and commitment... and want an honest framework for making that call. In this episode, we cover: · Why going into specialization for the wrong reasons...

Send us Fan Mail Do you remember your early oncology evals? How long they took, how much you were scrambling, how you were lucky to get to treatment before the session was over? That was most of us. And it stayed that way... until specialization changed everything. In this episode I'm getting real about what actually shifted in my clinical practice when I went through the ABPTS oncology speci...

Send us Fan Mail Even after understanding the financial reality of specialization, many oncology PTs still feel stuck trying to decide whether specialization is worth it. In this episode, we go deeper into the internal conflict behind this decision...and why you may still feel torn between continuing to “figure it out as they go” versus choosing a more structured path. In this episode, we cover:  ...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been asking yourself whether oncology specialization is actually worth it, you are not alone.  But most physical therapists are evaluating this decision using the wrong criteria. In this episode, we unpack the real question behind “is specialization worth it?” and why the answer has less to do with salary -- and more to do with how you practice. In this episode, we cover...

Send us Fan Mail If your case report already feels harder than expected, it’s probably not the writing... ...it's the case you chose. In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity. In this episode, we cover:  - What actually makes a case report feel difficult...

Send us Fan Mail If you have a few case report options but don’t feel confident choosing, this is the stage where most people get stuck. In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity. In this episode, we cover:  - Why having multiple case report ideas can create he...

Send us Fan Mail Just because a case is interesting doesn't mean it's strong...and that's where a lot of PTs go wrong. In this episode, you'll hear what ABPTS graders are actually evaluating your case report for (* hint: it's not how interesting your case is *) - and how to pick a case that will meet grader expectations from the start . In this episode, we cover:  Why inte...

Send us Fan Mail If your case report already feels harder than expected, it’s probably not the writing... ...it's the case you chose. In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity. In this episode, we cover:  - What actually makes a case report feel difficult...

Send us Fan Mail Frameworks are helpful when you first start in OncoPT... but real-life oncology rehab isn't so black and white. In this episode, we unpack the nuances that don’t always fit neatly into structured case walkthroughs: the dynamic nature of working with oncology patients, having to recalibrate when things don't go as planned, and the invisible cognitive load of complex decis...

Send us Fan Mail There’s a version of “playing it safe” in OncoPT that has nothing to do with protecting your patient... and everything to do with protecting *yourself*. In this episode, we examine how fear evolves over time, how reputation anxiety can influence your progression decisions, and how to distinguish true clinical caution from professional self-protection. This is a firm but necessary...

Send us Fan Mail Holding treatment in OncoPT can feel deeply uncomfortable... ...not because you don’t understand safety, but because your professional identity is tied to helping. In this episode, we explore why deciding not to treat can feel like failure, how your clinical judgment matures over time, and why early-career OncoPTs often measure value by how much they do in a session. We discuss th...

Send us Fan Mail Treating patients with bone metastases carries a unique mental weight in OncoPT. In this episode, we unpack why these decisions often linger long after your patient session ends - and why second-guessing doesn’t necessarily mean you lack competence. We explore the psychological load of fracture risk, the discomfort of uncertainty, and why comfort with uncertainty is a learned skil...

Send us Fan Mail The final weeks before the ABPTS Oncology Exam can feel emotionally intense, even when preparation has been solid. Anxiety often increases, and it’s tempting to change everything at the last minute. In this episode, we talk about how to approach the final stretch with focus and restraint, why last-minute overhauls increase stress, and how confidence comes from execution — not cram...

Send us Fan Mail At this point in exam prep, many oncology physical therapists find themselves asking, “Is it too late?” And this LOADED question often comes with fear, pressure, and self-doubt. In this episode, we talk through how to think about this question honestly and calmly, how fear distorts decision-making, and why discernment is a critical professional skill. We cover: • Why this question...

Send us Fan Mail Studying for the ABPTS Oncology Exam while working full-time can make it feel like you’re never doing enough. When time is limited, HOW you study matters more than how long you study. You'll hear why busy clinicians often default to passive studying, how time pressure increases second-guessing, and what actually helps when your schedule is full. In this episode, we cover: • W...

Send us Fan Mail Many oncology physical therapists default to studying EVERYTHING when preparing for the ABPTS Oncology Exam. It feels responsible...but this often leads to overstudying, decision fatigue, and unnecessary stress. You'll hear why overstudying is so common, how it undermines your confidence, and why prioritization is a skill that matters more than volume. In this episode, we cov...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re preparing for the ABPTS Oncology Specialty Exam and feeling overwhelmed or unsure whether you’re studying the right things, you’re not alone. This stage of exam prep often brings more anxiety — not because you’re failing, but because clarity matters more than effort. You'll hear why overwhelm is so common at this point, what actually increases stress during studying...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we know exercise improves outcomes for cancer survivors… but most patients still can’t access it?  In this episode, I sit down with the guest speakers behind the upcoming APTA CSM session “Mind the Gaps: Advancing Equitable Implementation of Evidence-Based Exercise Programs for Survivors of Cancer” to unpack the real-world barriers between evidence and practice i...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve probably heard that “the soft skills are actually the hardest skills.” But what happens when your interpersonal skills are put to the test in the most chaotic and emotionally charged moments of patient care ? In this episode, we unpack why so-called “difficult” patients behave the way they do, how fear and loss of control drive conflict, and why oncology physical therapists...

Send us Fan Mail OncoPTs are part of a patient’s oncology team during the most vulnerable moments of life, including the end of life . However, many clinicians feel unprepared to hold conversations about death and dying and manage the emotional toll that comes with this work. In this APTA CSM Preview episode, I’m joined by Drs. Adam Matichak and Lori Boright for a grounded, compassionate conversat...

Send us Fan Mail Happy new year OncoPTs! APTA CSM 2026 is just around the corner, so we’re back with our annual CSM preview series 🎉 Immunotherapy has changed the cancer treatment landscape - and if you’ve ever felt like the terminology (and the pace of new developments) is moving faster than you can keep up, you’re not alone. In this APTA CSM 2026 Preview episode, I’m joined by Scott Capozza, PT...

Send us Fan Mail You listened and you LOVED this episode, which is exactly why this is THE NUMBER ONE EPISODE of TheOncoPT Podcast for 2025! In case you missed it , the most important cancer rehab research since the PAL trial debuted at ASCO 2025 . Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Scott Capozza, PT, who recently attended and presented at ASCO 2025. Scott breaks down what ASCO is, how it compare...

Send us Fan Mail TheOncoPT Podcast officially turned SEVEN, y'all!  And a beautiful part of being around this long means that it's time for some knowledge updates: Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and CAR T-cell therapy are evolving fast—are you keeping up?  In this episode of TheOncoPT Podcast , Dr. Adam Matichak returns to share the latest updates on these groundbreaking treatments and wha...

Send us Fan Mail Hey OncoPTs! We're back with our #3 episode of 2025, this time with Dr. Katie Schmitt on her incredible APTA CSM 2025 session, CIPN, Balance, and Breathing: An Interactive Workshop on Manual Therapy, Diaphragmatic Breathing, & Improving Balance. Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is more than just numbness and tingling.  With up to 83% of patients experienc...