Course Description

We understand with all the clinical trials and advancements in cancer care treating patients living with cancer can be difficult, and often overwhelming. Staying abreast of this ever-changing field is what we do best. Our courses are developed with the latest evidence to equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the best possible care for their patients. Our Introduction to Oncology – The Patient Experience covers the basics of cancer staging, grading, treatment types, side effects, and the role of the multidisciplinary team. If you are new to the field of oncology rehabilitation you may want to start there. For those looking  to advance their knowledge and skills you are in the right place.  Advanced Oncology Rehabilitation goes beyond the basics. In this course, we cover a wide range of topics and take a deep dive into  treatment side effects. 

  • chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
  • cancer-related fatigue 
  • pain
  • falls
  • oncological emergencies
  • distress management
  • palliation
  • cancer-related cognitive impairment


You’ll leave this course with a comprehensive understanding of these side effects and be able to develop a plan of care to provide optimal care to any patient living with cancer. 

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) - (printable material)

    • Course Instructions

    • Introduction: What is CRF? Statistics, definition, symptoms, possible causes, contributing factors, NCCN guidelines for treatment

    • Exercise as Treatment: benefits, current recommendations (ASCM guidelines-aerobic, resistance, contraindications, assessing performance)

    • Psycho-Behavioral Treatment: NCCN guidelines (Cognitive behavioral therapy, Education therapies, mindfulness based stress reduction, supportive therapies and sleep hygiene)

    • Treatment & Considerations: (modify-engage-adapt) steroid myopathy, bone integrity, vital signs, lab values, lymphedema

    • Evaluation: self-report measures, functional outcome measures, documentation guidelines, creating an individualized plan of care

    • Cancer-Related Fatigue Quiz
  2. 2

    • Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy - (CIPN) - (printable material) Acute/Chronic

    • CIPN - Agents & Presentation: statistics, diagnosis, common neurotoxic drugs, signs/symptoms and impact on function (impaired sensation, balance, fine motor coordination, pain, weakness, autonomic NS reactions, increased risk of falls & ADL/IADL deficits)

    • CIPN - Evidence -Based Outcome Measures, Evaluation & Treatment (multimodal exercise approach & precautions, hypo and hypersensitivity retraining, pain management, gait & balance training, education, and compensatory strategies)

    • CIPN Quiz
  3. 3

    • Oncologic Emergencies (Printable Material)

    • Oncologic Emergencies: definition, risk factors, signs & symptoms, clinical considerations

    • Hematological Emergencies: febrile neutropenia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, leukostasis, hyperviscosity

    • Hematological Emergencies Quiz

    • Cardiopulmonary Emergencies: superior vena cava syndrome, malignant pericardial effusion, malignant pleural effusion, airway obstruction

    • Cardiopulmonary Emergencies Quiz

    • Metabolic Emergencies: hypercalcemia, tumor lysis syndrome, hyponatremia

    • Metabolic Emergencies Quiz

    • Neurological Emergencies: increased intracranial pressure, metastatic spinal cord compression

    • Skeletal Emergencies: bone metastasis (osteoblastic, osteolytic, mixed) precautions

    • Neurological & Skeletal Emergency Quiz

    • Safety Considerations: labs, vitals, cognition, edema, infection

    • Safety Considerations Quiz
  4. 4

    • Falls in the Oncology Population (printable material)

    • Statistics, risk factors & risk management: contributing factors- medications, weakness, CRF, steroid myopathy, CIPN, immobilization, CRCI, pain

    • Fall risk identification: screenings and self-report questionnaires, mitigation (extrinsic and intrinsic factors), evaluating and treating beyond FOM:biomechanics, posture, gait, sensory, and cognition

    • Fall in Oncology Quiz
  5. 5

    • Distress, CRCI, Pain & Palliative Care (printable materials)

    • Distress: statistics, continuum, key points of vulnerability, use of NCCN Distress Thermometer, additional screenings, & interventions

    • Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI), Pain & Palliation: statistics, definition, diagnosing, symptoms, types/causes & interventions

    • Distress, CRCI, Pain & Palliative Care Quiz
  6. 6

    • CIPN, Distress & Pain Lab: compensatory strategies for ADL/IADL, and patient education

    • CIPN, Distress & Pain Lab: video instruction on manual lymphatic drainage and deep pressure massage tech for hand/foot for CIPN

    • CIPN, Distress & Pain Lab: videos on breathwork for pain and stress reduction

    • CIPN, Distress & Pain Lab: video- use of biofeedback for stress/pain reduction with stress thermometer, distraction techniques for pain reduction
  7. 7

    • Advanced Oncology Rehabilitation Case Study Review with Q&A

    • Post Live Session Assignment

    • Course Evaluation

Earn CEUs and become the therapist you'd trust to treat your loved ones!

  • Learning Materials

    Printable learning materials and course access, including labs for 90 days after enrollment. Take it, learn it, and apply it.

  • Interactive

    Interactive case studies with Q&A live, via Zoom. 2nd Tuesday of every month 8:00 to 9:30 pm EST.

  • Certificate & CEUs

    .9 CEUs (9.0 contact hours) with certificate of completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this course intended for?

    This course is an intermediate level course best suited for clinicians with prior oncology experience. It is designed for OT, OTA, PT, and PTA, but any healthcare provide would benefit.

  • Is there a pre-requisite for this course?

    This course is an intermediate level course. If you have no prior experience in oncology rehabilitation, we suggest you start with our Intro to Oncology - The Patient Experience.

  • What topics will be covered?

    We cover a wide range of topics, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related fatigue, pain, falls, oncological emergencies, distress managment, palliation, and cancer-related cognitive impairments. Upon completion you will have the skills to create a plan of care for a complex patient living with cancer.

  • How is the course structured?

    The course content is delivered though a combination of self-paced learning modules, quizzes, interactive case study review and discussion via Zoom.

  • What are the certification requirements?

    To earn a certificate of completion you must complete the self-paced curriculum, achieve 80% or better on all quizzes, participate in the Zoom session case study with discussion, and complete the course evaluation. After all requirements are completed your certificate will be emailed.

  • When are the Zoom sessions held?

    Zoom sessions are held to on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 8 to 9:30 pm EST

  • What if I cannot attend the Zoom session?

    You will have access to the course for 90 days after enrollment to attend at least one live session.

  • Is there an opportunity for interaction and discussion with other learners?

    Yes, You are required to participate in a Zoom session to discuss case studies and further your learning.

  • Is the content of this course applicable outside the scope of my license ?

    No, please note that the content is not intended for use outside your scope of practice, licensure and state regulations.

Instructor(s)

DPT, PhD, CLWT

Erin Helm

Erin acted as director of oncology rehabilitation for a large cancer center prior to joining SRI in 2021 to provide consulting and educational development. Erin also serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University, providing Oncology Rehabilitation education and continues to provide physical therapy services to individuals with cancer. She is primary author of four peer-reviewed articles and recently received the 2021 American Physical Therapy Association’s Oncology Stephen Gudas Award for Outstanding Publication in Rehabilitation Oncology.

OTR/L, CLT, CLWT

Lisa Marshall

With more than 33 years of healthcare experience, Lisa has focused primarily on oncology for the past 28 years. In 2002, she founded Specialty Rehabilitation Inc. (SRI), where she developed and provided oncology programs and services -- prehabilitation through palliation -- for all cancer types. Lisa's areas of expertise include the management of breast cancer, oncology lymphedema, cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related cognitive impairments, cancers of the head and neck, and oncology pelvic floor dysfunction. She is lymphedema certified, a national presenter, and a regular presenter at major healthcare institutions and universities. Today, SRI provides oncology education and consulting for; individual healthcare professionals, cancer centers, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home care agencies.

Course Objectives

  • The participant will create a comprehensive evidence-based plan of care utilizing a complex case study of an oncology patient.

  • The participant will identify one key component of evaluation necessary to discriminate progression to an oncologic emergency.

  • The participant will create a plan of care for an individual with history of falls, including management of steroid myopathy, and CIPN.

  • The participant will select 2 evidenced based functional outcome measures for evaluation of an individual with multiple co-occurring side effects from cancer treatment including steroid myopathy, CIPN, cancer-related fatigue and cancer- related cognitive impairment.

  • The participant will revise the patient’s plan of care with 2 appropriate exercise modifications for an individual with sensory, motor, or autonomic symptoms of CIPN.

  • The participant will select one treatment technique based on patients’ level of fatigue, and additional treatment related side effects including steroid myopathy and CIPN.

  • The participant will identify two contributing factors to cancer-related fatigue which require additional screening and referral.

  • The participant will identify symptoms of an oncologic emergency given a simulated case study with multiple comorbidities.

  • The participant will create a plan of care for a patient with active cancer undergoing palliative treatment, including management of cancer-related pain.

  • The participant will develop 3 short and 3 long term functional goals for a complex oncology patient utilizing objective measures.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Physical Therapists and PTA's

This course has been approved by the Maryland State and Texas State  Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for  .9 CEUs (9.0 Contact hours) 

Maryland approval #2022-432. Expires 04/22/2026.

Texas approval #76077TX. Expires  04/17/2024

The course content and objectives meet criteria for approval within the following states and/or the approving agency/board indicates it will accept continuing education courses approved by another state APTA chapter or regulatory board: Alaska, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington.

Individual state boards and/or organizations may change their practice act/rules and regulations at any time. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to confirm that the course meets criteria for contact hour approval.

Occupational Therapists and OTA's

This continuing education program has been approved by the Maryland Board of O.T. Practice  for .75 CEUs  (7.5 contact hours). Course approval #2023:0013. Expires 12/31/2023 - 

Our current policies and standards meet criteria for approval within the individual state and/or grants reciprocity with the following states: 

Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Individual state boards and/or organizations may change their practice act/rules and regulations at any time. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to confirm that the course meets criteria for contact hour approval.