Course Description

Cancers of the CNS is designed as an advanced course to provide a comprehensive understanding of primary and secondary cancers of the central nervous system (CNS), including thier causes, diagnosis, and treatment. The course will cover medical management, treatments, and their side effects. 

The rehab role is unique because patient tolerance and side effects from treatment fluctuate. You will learn to set realistic goals and educate patients and caregivers about expected fluctuations in functional status and mood.

Take this course if you want to:

  • Work in inpatient (acute care & rehab), home care, SNF, and out-patients settings and treat patients with brain and spinal cord tumors.

  • Gain knowledge on the latest evidence of rehab benefits with primary and secondary brain, spinal cord, and high grade tumors with poor prognosis. 

  • Develop a deeper knowledge of cognitive impairment,  behavioral, and personality changes in this population.

  • Improve your self-confidence and comfort with this population.

  • Learn self-care and coping strategies for treating the emotional challenges therapists incur with this population. 

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Rehabilitations Role in Cancers of the CNS (Printable Materials)

    • Statistics, primary and secondary tumors, benign vs malignant, risk factors (environmental, genetic, diagnosis, grading, prognosis

    • Overview of CNS Cancers Quiz
  2. 2

    • Statistics and clinical presentation of: primary brain tumors - meningiomas, gliomas, pituitary, neuromas, medulloblastoma and spinal (intradural-intra and extramedullary, extradural-extramedullary), and secondary tumors (metastasis)

    • Primary & Secondary Tumors - Quiz
  3. 3

    • Medical management of primary and secondary tumors: surveillance, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy

    • Medical Management - Quiz
  4. 4

    • Disease and treatment-related side effect management of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, steroids, seizures, & cancer-related cognitive impairments.

    • Management of Disease & Treatment-Related Side Effect - Quiz
  5. 5

    • Rehabilitation’s role in: prehabilitation, restorative, supportive, and palliative care, - Impact of rehab in improving QOL/function role of the multidisciplinary team, rehab evaluation and goal setting

    • Rehabilitations Role - Quiz
  6. 6

    • (CRCI) cancer-related cognitive impairments of CNS- primary tumors and metastasis, personality/behavioral changes and interventions, contributing factors, and intervention strategies

    • Psycho-Oncology Quiz

    • Summary of Maria's Multidisciplinary Plan of Care

    • Psycho-Oncology Quiz - Part 2

    • Summary of George's Plan of Care

    • Course Evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is designed for practitioners working inpatient (acute care and rehab), home care, Skilled nursing facilities, and out-patient settings . OT, OTA, PT, PTA treating patients with brain and/or spinal cord tumors.

  • What are the certificate requirements?

    To earn a certificate of completion you must complete the self-paced curriculum, achieve 80% or better on all quizzes, and complete the course evaluation. After all requirements are completed you can download your certificate.

  • My state is not listed under approved CEUs, what should I do?

    Continuing Education requirements are complicated and often change. Please check our CEU section for specifics. If you do not see your state listed, please either check with your individual state for reciprocity or contact us directly: info@specialtyrehab.net

Course Objectives

  • The participant will estimate the general prognosis for a patient with a primary central nervous system tumor using an operative report.

  • The participant will identify 3 treatment-related side effects given an oncology consult report and past medical history of a patient with a primary central nervous system cancer.

  • The participant will identify signs/symptoms of status change and select the appropriate referral given a patient with an aggressive malignant primary brain tumor.

  • The participant will select the appropriate referral to a multidisciplinary care member for a patient with multiple side effects due to cancer treatment.

  • The participant will select 2 treatment strategies to address cognitive and behavioral changes experienced by a patient with an aggressive malignant primary brain tumor.

  • The participant will identify caregiver education on coping and management strategies for behavioral and personality changes due to brain tumor progression.

  • The participant will select treatment goals given a complex case of a patient with glioblastoma multiforme incorporating information of cancer stage, treatment progression and patient wishes.

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.

Continuing Education Approval

Physical Therapists and PTA's

This course has been approved by the Maryland State and Texas State Boards of Physical Therapy Examiners for 3.0 contact hours.

Maryland #2022-837 - Expires 09/06/2026

Texas #76509TX - Expires 09/01/2024

Our course content an 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:   Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 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, and Washington

Occupational Therapists and OTA's

This continuing education program has been approved by the Maryland  State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice for 3.0 contact hours.

Approval #2022:0076 - Expires 06/30/2023.

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.