Cancer Rehabilitation

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Helping You Heal, Move, and Reconnect With Life Again

What If Healing After Cancer Is More Than Just Recovery?

Cancer Rehabilitation

Cancer changes your life, and so does the road to healing. Whether you’re in treatment, newly in remission, or years into survivorship, your body (and mind) may still be catching up. That’s where cancer rehabilitation comes in.

This isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about moving forward with care that actually understands the journey you’ve been on. At West Henday Physical Therapy, we believe every step post-treatment deserves support. Our Cancer Rehabilitation in Edmonton is built to meet you where you are, whether you’re in the middle of chemotherapy or navigating life after treatment.

What Does Cancer Rehabilitation Actually Mean?

Cancer rehabilitation in Edmonton is not a one-size-fits-all process. It’s a carefully planned blend of movement, recovery, and care focused on what your body and mind need after cancer treatment.

It’s about helping you:

  • Rebuild confidence in your body
  • Regain stamina and strength
  • Ease lingering discomfort
  • Improve balance and coordination
  • Support immune health and mobility

From scar tissue relief to fatigue management, we help restore function while respecting where you are in your journey.

Reclaiming Movement After Cancer Isn’t Just Physical

After cancer treatment, many people describe a disconnect, like their body is no longer theirs, or that it doesn’t move the way it used to. We understand that. And we don’t push you to “go harder” or “get back to normal.” Instead, we invite you back into your body gently, intentionally, and without judgment.

At West Henday Physical Therapy, movement becomes a form of communication, not just something to measure. It’s how we help you trust your body again and feel safe using it.

Here’s how we support that reconnection:

Gentle Mobility Exercises

Small, supported movements can make a big impact. We begin with guided exercises that reduce stiffness without overwhelming your system, helping your joints move more freely and comfortably.

Walking and Gait Retraining

Walking may feel different post-treatment. Whether it’s due to fatigue, balance loss, or surgical changes, we help bring ease back to your steps, supporting better posture, steadier coordination, and less effort with every move.

Strength and Conditioning (Your Way)

We don’t do bootcamp-style sessions. Instead, we focus on rebuilding strength gradually, using what your body is ready for. The goal? Restore everyday confidence, whether you’re lifting groceries or reaching overhead.

Balance Training

Balance can take a hit from chemotherapy, neuropathy, or inactivity. We guide you through safe, progressive balance exercises that reduce fall risk and help you feel more secure in your body.

Breath Work and Somatic Movement

We use breath to calm the nervous system and reconnect the mind to movement. Through simple somatic practices, you start to sense and respond to what your body needs, especially when words fall short.

Cardiorespiratory Endurance (On Your Terms)

Rebuilding endurance doesn’t mean pushing to exhaustion. We help you reintroduce heart-healthy movement in a way that supports, not drains your energy.

We’re not here to measure your “fitness level.” We’re here to help you feel like yourself again.

Fatigue Isn’t Laziness. And Rest Isn’t Always Enough.

Cancer-related fatigue is real, and it’s not something you can nap your way out of. It’s different from feeling “tired.” It lingers. It disrupts. It makes even simple tasks feel impossible.

That’s why our fatigue management approach goes beyond just telling you to rest.

Here’s how we help restore sustainable energy:

  • Nervous system regulation through breath work and calming movement
  • Targeted mobility routines that increase circulation without overexertion
  • Strength-building adapted for energy conservation
  • Gentle pacing strategies to avoid post-activity crashes
  • Somatic techniques to help your body feel safe, not constantly in defence mode

The result? You move through your day with more clarity, steadiness, and control.

What’s Going on Beneath the Surface?

There’s a lot your body has been through that others can’t see, but we can feel it with you.

Cancer rehab isn’t only about muscles and joints. It’s about the hidden layers:

Scar Tissue

Surgery or radiation can leave behind internal tightness that restricts movement. We work on gently releasing these areas so your tissues can soften and move naturally again.

Lymphatic Drainage

Post-treatment swelling or heaviness in limbs may point to lymphatic congestion. Our gentle techniques support fluid movement and reduce discomfort.

Post-Treatment Healing

Your body continues to heal long after chemo or surgery ends. We use soft tissue therapy and restorative exercises that respect your current state while encouraging healthy tissue recovery.

Pain Without Pills

We use movement, breath, and manual therapy to manage discomfort, reducing your reliance on medications.

Rebuilding Trust and Awareness

After illness, trauma, or long rest, many people lose their sense of where their body is in space. We guide you through body awareness techniques that retrain confidence and coordination.

Healing isn’t just about physical progress; it’s about emotional safety too.

Conditions We Commonly Support in Cancer Rehabilitation

Everybody responds to cancer differently, but here are just some of the challenges we regularly help with:

  • Cancer-related fatigue
  • Stiffness or limited range of motion after radiation
  • Lymphedema and fluid retention in the limbs
  • Neuropathy-related balance and walking concerns
  • Restricted movement after breast or abdominal surgery
  • Loss of cardiovascular and muscular endurance
  • Breathlessness with daily tasks
  • Tension or pain linked to emotional stress
  • Overall weakness or deconditioning

If you’ve been told “just give it more time,” but your body’s still struggling, it may be time to move with more intention.

A Clinic That Moves at Your Speed

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” here. Some days you’ll feel energized. Other days, just showing up feels like a victory. Both are valid.

At West Henday Physical Therapy, we adapt every session to how you’re showing up.

Depending on how you feel, we will use:

  • Manual therapy for restricted joints or scarred tissue
  • Low-impact strength routines using bodyweight or resistance bands
  • Balance retraining for those dealing with post-treatment instability
  • Customized mobility support based on how your tissues respond
  • Relaxation-based movement to ease stored tension
  • Light cardio support for when you’re ready to rebuild stamina

Healing doesn’t follow a straight line. We walk beside you on the zigzag path.

functional capacity evaluation

Our Cancer Wellness Programs: Where Purpose Meets Movement

Our cancer wellness programs are built to support your whole self physically, emotionally, and energetically.

With us, you’ll learn how to:

  • Move without fear of re-injury or setback
  • Build endurance without exhaustion
  • Restore strength without pressure or shame
  • Find calm and confidence in your body again
  • Reclaim the joy of doing what you love at your own pace

Whether your goal is to return to gardening, hike again, or simply carry laundry upstairs without stopping, that’s what we work toward. Your goals, your movement, your version of life.

Let’s Start Wherever You Are

Cancer Rehabilitation in Edmonton is about more than bouncing back; it’s about reconnecting with your body and trusting it again.

Ready to begin? Contact West Henday Physical Therapy today.
We’ll talk about your goals, your symptoms, and how we can help.
Conveniently located in Edmonton and welcoming new clients.

Healing starts with movement, and movement starts with one small step. Let’s take that next step together.