Cancer Rehabilitation

Cancer rehabilitation provides support at every stage—helping you maintain strength, reduce or prevent side effects, and stay engaged in the activities that make life meaningful.

Find a location In Utah: 801-357-1270

Cancer rehabilitation before, during, and after treatment

Many people don't realize cancer rehabilitation can help before treatment starts, during treatment, and throughout recovery. Early rehabilitation may help you maintain strength, manage side effects, stay active, and preserve your quality of life.

Our specialists create personalized plans to help you feel better, move more, and live well. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, pelvic health therapy, and lymphedema care—all designed to help you function at your best throughout your cancer journey.

Find a location

In Utah: 801-357-1270

Our cancer rehab services

Our oncology rehabilitation team offers evidence‑based therapies to prevent problems early, treat symptoms that arise, and improve your daily life throughout cancer care.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy helps you stay strong and active during and after cancer treatment. A PT can teach safe exercises to improve energy, reduce pain, and keep your balance—preventing deconditioning before it starts while also treating stiffness, weakness, or swelling. Working with your care team, they help you stay independent and improve your quality of life.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy helps you manage daily activities that may feel harder during or after treatment. Therapists teach energy‑saving techniques and safe ways to do tasks like dressing, cooking, and bathing. They can recommend adaptive tools and home adjustments to prevent strain and reduce fatigue, and offer coping strategies for changes in strength, coordination, or thinking skills.

Speech therapy

Speech therapy addresses changes to your speech, language, voice, swallowing, or cognition (“chemo‑brain”). A speech therapist teaches exercises to maintain and restore the muscles used for talking and eating, and offers strategies to make communication easier. Therapy also supports thinking and memory skills affected by treatment, helping you stay mentally engaged in daily life.

Pelvic therapy

Pelvic therapy helps with problems that can happen after cancer treatment, like pain, weakness, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. A therapist teaches gentle exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles and improve comfort. They can also guide you on posture, breathing, and relaxation techniques to reduce pressure and pain during activities of daily living, including intimacy.

Lymphedema therapy

Lymphedema therapy helps manage swelling that can happen after cancer treatment, like surgery or radiation. A therapist can teach gentle exercises and massage techniques to improve lymph flow and reduce discomfort. They may also recommend compression garments and show you how to care for your skin to prevent infection. These treatments can make daily activities easier and help you feel more comfortable.

Why choose Intermountain for cancer rehabilitation?

Our rehabilitation specialists work closely with your oncology team to help prevent, identify, and manage treatment-related side effects. This coordinated approach ensures you receive the right support at every stage of care.

Your rehabilitation plan is tailored to your diagnosis, symptoms, and goals. With expertise in cancer-related fatigue, weakness, lymphedema, cognitive changes, swallowing concerns, and more, our team helps you maintain independence and return to the activities that matter most. Multiple locations and virtual care options make it easier to access support when and where you need it.

Our locations

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After a year receiving cancer treatment, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. The entire experience was phenomenal.

— Verified patient

Common questions about cancer rehab

Get answers about oncology rehabilitation, what to expect, and how to start care.

What is cancer rehabilitation?

Cancer rehab provide is specialized therapy to stay ahead of and manage side effects—reducing fatigue, pain, stiffness, swelling, and deconditioning—while supporting you throughout treatment and recovery. Your plan may include PT, OT, speech, pelvic, or lymphedema therapy tailored to your goals.

When should I ask about cancer rehab?

You don’t need to wait for symptoms. Ask about cancer rehab as soon as you’re diagnosed or starting treatment—early rehab helps you stay stronger, tolerate treatment better, and prevent problems before they start.

When should I start—during treatment or after?

Cancer rehab can start during treatment to stay strong, manage side effects early, and prevent issues from building up. If you’ve already finished treatment, you can still start anytime to rebuild strength and function.

Who can benefit from cancer rehabilitation?

Cancer rehab can you prevent and manage:

Fatigue, low energy, and stamina changes
Pain, stiffness, or neuropathy (numbness/tingling)
Lymphedema or swelling
Balance, coordination, or general weakness
Mobility limitations or difficulty with daily activities
Speech or swallowing problems
Cognitive changes (“chemo brain”)
Pelvic pain or bowel/bladder/sexual health concerns
Safety at home, including tools or adjustments to make daily activities easier
Returning to work, hobbies, and routines

What should I expect from treatment?

Your therapist will assess your needs, create a personalized plan, and support you throughout treatment or recovery. Most people notice improvements in energy, comfort, strength, and daily activities within several sessions.

Do I need a referral?

Some insurances require a referral for cancer rehabilitation, while others allow self‑scheduling. We’ll help check your benefits and guide you, but please confirm your insurance requirements to avoid any surprises.

What does lymphedema therapy include?

Treatment often involves manual lymph drainage, compression bandaging/garments, exercise, and skin‑care education. Certified therapists teach self‑management and monitor progress to reduce swelling and infection risk.

How do I know if cancer rehabilitation is right for me?

If you’re experiencing pain, fatigue, swelling, difficulty with daily activities, or changes in speech or swallowing after cancer treatment, rehabilitation can help. Our team will assess your needs and recommend a personalized plan to support your recovery.

Do you offer virtual cancer rehabilitation services?

Yes, many of our cancer rehabilitation services can be provided virtually. However, the availability of virtual care depends on the specific service and your individual needs. We’ll work with you to determine the best approach—whether that’s virtual, in-person, or a combination—so you receive safe, effective, and personalized care.

Will my insurance cover cancer rehabilitation services?

Most insurance plans cover cancer rehabilitation. We’ll help verify your benefits, but it’s important to confirm your coverage directly with your insurance provider.