TheOncoPT Podcast

Send us Fan Mail With over 240,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer every year, it’s no surprise that many patients seen in orthopedic clinics also have breast cancer somewhere in their medical history. Here’s the catch: breast cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and reconstruction don’t just treat cancer—they also create ripple effects across the entire body, leading to pr...

Send us Fan Mail The new year is officially here, which means we have begun the countdown to APTA-CSM 2025! 🎙️ "Watch Your Mouth: Improving Therapeutic Alliance Through Effective Communication" is not just another talk about communication—this session dives deep into the how of connecting with your patients on a meaningful level.  We’re talking about building trust, navigating those toug...

Send us Fan Mail Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this presentation reflect those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Neuropathy can be challenging to address, but it’s very common in cancer rehab.  And it’s not just chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) either.   In this replay episode, guest Dr. Kayl...

Send us Fan Mail Coming in as the #2 most popular episode of TheOncoPT Podcast, it's our interview with fan favorite, Dr. Katie Schmitt! As cancer survivorship improves, you WILL see more patients with chronic side effects & impairments. One of these side effects is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).  Unfortunately, CIPN can be challenging to treat, & much research sti...

Send us Fan Mail Prostate cancer survivors sometimes fall into the gap between pelvic floor PT & OncoPT - who should be treating the patient & when? The short answer is all hands on deck, but Dr. Matthew Johnston, PT, breaks down exactly how to prioritize your patient’s impairments & which team your patient should see first. In today’s year-end replay episode, we dive into the physical...

Send us Fan Mail In this replay episode, I sit down with Dr. Alyssa Carey, one of my Case Report Writing Workshop students, to talk about her journey in creating a compelling case report. We dive into the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned, and how the process transformed her as a clinician. This episode is more than a guide to case report writing —it’s an invitation to reflect on your...

Send us Fan Mail "There is a whole person, with a whole bunch of body systems that are all implicated or affected in all of this, but who also exists within this greater community. And we cannot discount any of those factors if we're really trying to make a difference in the function, in the independence, in the quality of life in our patient." In this celebratory recap episode, Dr....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Elise takes a look back at The Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2024, sharing key takeaways and highlights from the event.  Dive into the incredible sessions with the actual conference speakers, covering topics like: Using manual therapy to manage CIPN Safety in cancer rehab (from the safety queen herself, Dr. Susan Maltser!) Strategies to ensure cancer rehab has...

Send us Fan Mail The Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2024 delivered an inspiring weekend filled with learning, collaboration, and innovation.  Attendees gained actionable insights from experts, shared practical applications of the latest research, and celebrated the strides being made in oncology rehab.  Whether you missed it or want to revisit the key moments, this recap covers everything you n...

Send us Fan Mail Cancer rehab can be challenging to practice on your own.  Worst yet, too many therapists get the advice “You’ll just figure it out.” That’s why a COMMUNITY of support, inspiration, and innovation is so important to your journey as an OncoPT. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on The Cancer Rehab Community Conference, and how it’s transforming the global standard of on...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could transform your oncology specialty exam prep from overwhelmingly stressful to confidently strategic ? Well, that's exactly what we're diving into today!  I’m thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Candace Alexander, PT, who just passed her Oncology Specialty Certification Exam earlier this year . In today’s episode, we’re going behind the scenes on her special...

Send us Fan Mail Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training has been used for years to help patients make greater gains during strength training.  But does BFR belong in oncology rehab? Short answer: yes ! Dr. Kelly Martin, PT, is back on the podcast to discuss the benefits of BFR, plus important safety considerations for our oncology patients. Dr. Martin also shares her experiences using BFR in clinic...

Send us Fan Mail Oncology specialization can feel like Fight Club - because nooooobody talks about it until you’re in it. So in this episode we’re busting open the doors & diving into the process of specialization with Dr. Tori Crook. Dr. Crook is a board certified clinical specialist in oncologic physical therapy & acute care oncology physical therapist. She shares her effective study tec...

Send us Fan Mail With just a few weeks left until the September 30 deadline, it's officially crunch time for your ABPTS Oncology Case Report and Application! In this episode, we're going to break down how to strategically approach your writing and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can derail your progress.  Plus, I’ll share some tips on budgeting time for reviewers so you can make th...

Send us Fan Mail It's been 12 years since the Prospective Surveillance Model was first published.  This model saves our patients money, can prevent functional decline, & has changed our entire paradigm of how we treat people with cancer. So why is it still so rare to see it implemented? Buckle up, OncoPT, because there’s a lot to cover today.  But it’s soooooo needed. In this replay episo...

Send us Fan Mail If you ask any rehab professional what scares them the most about oncology patients, their answer 99.9% of the time will be bone metastases .   And this fear is keeping rehab professionals from actually helping their patients with cancer (even those without bone mets). The fact is patients with bone metastases benefit from rehab, from exercise, & from physical activity.  High-...

Send us Fan Mail ICYMI: Katie Ledecky is 🐐 And while she’s been crushing it at #Paris2024, she’s also been serving up some lessons that cancer rehab NEEDS TO LEARN. In short, you can’t practice in a silo & realistically expect to see improved patient care. What you need instead is COMMUNITY. Learn how sharing knowledge, providing support, leading by example, empowering peers, and creating gro...

Send us Fan Mail In this first edition of our special Research Round-Up series, we dive into groundbreaking research that examines a novel way to put adolescent & young adult (AYA) survivors BACK in the driver’s seat of their care. Dr. Kelly Martin, physical therapist & TheOncoPT team member, joins Elise to discuss the importance of education and bridging the gap in AYA cancer care by leve...

Send us Fan Mail Oncology physical therapy is a SIGNIFICANT departure from what most people know & expect from physical therapy. Think about it: cancer itself is a red flag condition you likely learned about & how you should refer the patient with cancer back to their referring provider. And that is totally antithetical to how you as an OncoPT approach your patient with cancer. Most PTs wo...

Send us Fan Mail In PT school, you may have heard that cancer is a disease of the old . But this is only half true. Cancer affects people of all ages, including those in their childbearing years, even during pregnancy .  And you’re likely going to be seeing more of these patients in your own practice. Dr. Rebeca Segraves, PT, & Dr. Alexandra Hill, PT, are back on the podcast to discuss this un...

Send us Fan Mail Need the essentials for evaluating & treating your next patient with prostate cancer? Then you’ve come to the right place.  In this interview with Dr. Matthew Johnston, PT, you’ll learn the essentials of educating, setting expectations, & prescribing interventions for prostate cancer survivors. You’ll also learn about the challenges of accessing pelvic floor PT, why OncoPT...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re listening to this in real time, we are just days away from finding out the results of the 2024 ABPTS Oncology Specialty Certification exam.  It can be so easy to hinge your future as an OncoPT on finding out these results. But your worth has absolutely nothing to do with this exam. Your value as an OncoPT isn’t tied to a certification, exam, or promotion.  This journey i...

Send us Fan Mail We are halfway through 2024: let’s check in. How are YOU (like for real)? How are things going? Where are you at, compared to where you want to be? No matter what your answers are, you're in the right place right now.  In today's episode, we're diving into reflecting on your 2024 progress so far, how to reassess your goals & priorities, & how to stay motivat...

Send us Fan Mail Keeping home exercise programs (HEPs) fresh and exciting is key to maintaining patient motivation & adherence.  BUT it’s easy for the HEP to take a back seat to all the other stuff you have to manage in patient care. That’s why we’re spicing up the HEP in this episode, with unique exercise & physical activity ideas. To inject some life into your worn out HEP handout from 1...

Send us Fan Mail Summer is here, which means it’s time to DIVE IN! Just like the water might be cold when you first get in, it’s crucial to embrace the discomfort & challenges that come with cancer rehab if you’re ever going to get better at treating oncology patients. So are you going to just dip your toes in? Or are you going all in on yourself & for your patients? LISTEN NOW TO DECIDE....