TheOncoPT Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Side effects are sometimes glossed over as buzzwords, and we tend to ignore that fact. As a result, we may actually be harming our patients and underestimating the effects on their independence and mobility. Cancer related fatigue is probably the most common impairment cancer survivors experience. An estimated 80% of survivors suffer from cancer-related fatigue! As defined by the...

Send us Fan Mail While PTs get worked up about the oncology specialist exam, they actually tend to forget the biggest hurdle to taking the exam: submitting their application. In this workshop replay, I covered the basics of the ABPTS application &  took students through several exercises that helped them identify the best patient for them to write a case report on. Here's what I recommend...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are joined by Dr. Susan Maltser, DO. She has written one of my favorite articles, A Focused Review of Safety Considerations in Cancer Rehabilitation , which you'll definitely want to save & reference frequently.  This article is the Bible of Basics when it comes to being safe with people who have or who have had cancer. We are focusing on what safety conside...

Send us Fan Mail The ABPTS (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties) oncology exam is an amazing opportunity to deepen your knowledge of oncologic physical therapy, but it's not for everybody. In fact, there's some very important reasons why you shouldn't take the exam. Today, we're exploring why you should or should not take the ABPTS Exam, plus the steps you need to ap...

Send us Fan Mail It's kind of crazy to look back on the small decisions that ultimately led us to where we are today.  For Dr. Jen Bernstein, PT, she credits one major choice for eventually leading her to the world of pediatric oncology.   Jen talks about how she navigated those first months of pediatric oncology & how she continues to challenge herself (& her patients).  If you'...

Send us Fan Mail Communication is an essential skill for every researcher & PT.  Many people think that they can share information in a formal manner, like a lecture, but they neglect the fact that informal conversations can actually provide a better understanding of the research. In fact, today's guest Jimmy McKay believes that it's our duty to do so. Researchers and clinicians alik...

Send us Fan Mail Cancer survivors are often overwhelmed when their support teams disappear after they ring the bell. Yet the long-term side effects, fears, and lifestyle care still need to be addressed. On today's show, I had the honor of bringing a registered dietician, Dr. Stacy Roberts, to the show to share with us what she has learned from working with the cancer community & what we n...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Mary Lou Galantino, PT and Dr. David Kietrys, PT are joining me today to discuss lessons they have learned from the HIV pandemic, the long-term COVID-19 pandemic and oncology physical therapy.  Due to the many similarities between the current COVID-19 pandemic and the HIV pandemic, this conversation could not have taken place at a better time.  If you want a structured way to...

Send us Fan Mail The last couple of years have taught us that the old model of physical therapy is not effective. By begging physicians for referrals, battling with insurance companies to have our sessions covered, only to have patients slip through the cracks, we aren't helping anyone. It certainly isn't helping our profession. In order to actually assist patients, a different approach...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Kalie Heftka, PT of Dr. Reams Concierge PT joins me to talk about opening her own cash-based oncology & lymphedema practice. People don't talk about the early stages of opening a private practice or the challenges of building a business from scratch. We're having a real raw conversation about what it's been like for Dr. Heftka to open her own practice. Grab...

Send us Fan Mail One of the most disappointing things in DPT curriculum is the lack of oncology physical therapy content. As 1 in 2 men & 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime, the likelihood that a physical therapist will encounter a patient with cancer is very high. Fortunately, Dr. Shana Harrington, PT & Dr. Lisa VanHoose, PT are on a focus group that is developing standard...

Send us Fan Mail APTA CSM 2022 did not let me down.  I got to finally meet so many people that I had been chatting with online.  But instead of listening to me go on & on about how amazing this conference was, I have five amazing PTs that are going to tell you all about CSM 2022. It was a great honor to meet so many people whose lives have been touched by my work through this podcast. I look f...

Send us Fan Mail Starting with the oncology evaluation is a great way to establish a positive first impression with your patients. By creating a process for this interaction, you will be well prepared to begin your relationship with your patients. You have the opportunity to build that relationship so you can guide them to live their best life despite a devastating diagnosis.  Grab your free eval...

Send us Fan Mail CSM 2022 is quickly approaching & whether you will attend in person or not, there are some very important things to consider before you begin your CSM experience. This is a semi-hybrid conference. There are many interesting sessions, and I want to ensure that you are well prepared. The in-person event will take place in San Antonio, Texas starting February 2nd. Approximately o...

Send us Fan Mail The average person doesn't have time to read the 100s of articles coming out each year about cancer rehab.  So how are we supposed to keep up with the latest info? Lauren Miller, Cynthia Barbie and Steve Morris, join TheOncoPT podcast today to provide a rundown of what happened last year in cancer rehab oncology research.  We discussed both the exciting and disappointing find...

Send us Fan Mail So you want to work in OncoPT...but don't know how (or where) to start?  This episode is just for you! Welcome to this week's Ask Me Anything, with Dr. Karen Rivera Yepiz.  She had a lot of AMAZING questions about finding a job, additional certifications, & so much more.  I know every new grad has these questions, which is why I'm so glad Karen agreed to ask her...

Send us Fan Mail Just because we're PTs doesn't mean we're good patient educators. Did that make you cringe a little bit? Because I sure did. But that doesn't mean we can't become better patient educators. Drs. Karla Wente & Alex Hill, PT are serving up some "Oncology Knowledgy" & how best practice patient education helps our treatment plans from start to...

Send us Fan Mail Since it's a new year, it's the perfect time to reintroduce what we do here at TheOncoPT & what's coming up for 2022! After going in the wrong direction for months, I finally figured out the plan I needed to prepare effectively for the Oncology Specialist Certification exam.  So now, I'm sharing that plan with you, & our students are already loving it!...

Send us Fan Mail Happy 3rd Birthday to TheOncoPT Podcast! The idea for this podcast came to me just after I had landed my dream job. As I walked into my first day, I felt confident & on track. On my way home from my first day, I broke down & cried. I realized that my dream job left me feeling like I was flying by the seat of my pants.  I realized as I drove home that others must be feeling...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we'll hear from Dr. Aubrene Fiore about the importance of wound care in oncology. Many oncology physical therapists lack wound care training, but wounds are very common during cancer treatment. During this episode, Dr. Fiore will walk us through basic wound care, sharing tools, resources, and her expertise.  Supporting wound care is important. Physical therapy is o...

Send us Fan Mail Those treating people with cancer can feel overwhelmed & confused by nutrition for cancer treatment. Many healthcare providers are not trained in nutrition, but nutrition is vital to the health of their patients. It allows them to maintain the strength and function of their bodies. Our guest today is Dr. Krystle Zuniga, a registered and licensed cancer dietitian who discusses...

Send us Fan Mail Our discussion continues on the importance of strength-building for patients with cancer with Dr. Andrew Chongaway, PT, and Dr. Shai Swell, PT. Providing exercise programs that support strength-building at every stage of their journey is essential. Being sedentary can slow healing and recovery. Because of this, it is critical to develop a program that is tailored to the needs of e...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever struggle with dosing exercise for your oncology patients? I sure do. I spoke with Dr. Andrew Chongaway, PT and Dr. Shai Sewell, PT about using exercise for your patients in their cancer journey and the importance of understanding how to dose exercise.  If exercise is medicine, then we must be dosing it as such: specifically, to target specific patient needs. When it co...

Send us Fan Mail Black Friday is a great time to grab deals for you, your practice, and your patients. It might be worth checking out many tools to help you improve your practice and assist your clients. Since many companies are offering specials during this time of year, it is a great time to sign up for CEUs to keep your license or expand your practice with the Oncology Specialist Certification...

Send us Fan Mail Our guest today is Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, FACSM.  Yep, that Kathryn Schmitz! Dr. Schmitz's work has paved the way for exercise oncology throughout her illustrious career, & her new book, Moving Through Cancer , empowers patients with the needed tools to start & stay moving through their cancer treatment.   In our interview, Kathryn discusses the barriers we are cu...