Cancer Rehabilitation in the Best Germany Hospitals

Cancer rehabilitation is an important part of the fight against cancer and its complications. Even if the treatment is successful, the patient's health often deteriorates. The patient's physical activity decreases, and he may lose his working capacity and even self-care skills. Following operations, a person faces many difficulties as the functions of breathing, nutrition, urination, etc. are affected. You can undergo rehabilitation to restore your self-care skills and return to your professional and social lives. As research shows, rehabilitation not only helps to improve the quality of life but also increases its expectancy.

Content

1. Features of rehabilitation in Germany
2. Why do patients need rehabilitation?
3. Is rehabilitation after cancer treatment proven to be effective?
4. Where to undergo rehabilitation?

Features of rehabilitation in Germany

Oncology rehabilitation in Germany is part of modern therapy and usually follows the main drug therapy or is used as an intermediate intervention. The costs of rehabilitation for German citizens are covered by insurance companies.

Different European countries use different approaches to patient rehabilitation. For example, in Northern Europe, treatment is carried out mainly on an outpatient basis, while cancer rehabilitation in Germany usually involves a person staying in a hospital for an average of 3 weeks. During this time, a person receives maintenance drug therapy, performs exercises, undergoes physiotherapy procedures, and has specialist consultations. The scope of rehabilitation procedures is determined individually depending on the patient's condition, existing functional disorders, and remaining rehabilitation potential.

It is unlikely that you can be fully rehabilitated from cancer in three weeks, but in fact, the result after undergoing rehabilitation continues to improve in the future, due to the acquisition of skills and knowledge by the patient because a significant part of rehabilitation in Germany is training. Rehabilitation begins in the hospital and continues at home. At home, a person can do exercises, take care of the stoma on their own, learn to control their bladder and breathing, etc. After operations on the gastrointestinal tract, a person is taught proper nutrition. A person can also permanently get rid of such disorders as insomnia, depression, or anxiety after receiving several consultations with a psycho-oncologist and learning relaxation techniques.

Why do patients need rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation is required to improve the quality and expectancy of human life. It allows patients to:

• feel better;
• get rid of anxiety and depression;
• restore a normal metabolism;
• acquire the skills necessary for future life in conditions of persistent functional defects;
• return to work or be able to take care of themselves on their own without help or with minimal help from relatives;
• return to social life;
• lower the risk of disease resulting from surgery, chemotherapy, and other cancer treatments.

Is rehabilitation after cancer treatment proven to be effective?

The effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation has been proven beyond doubt. This is high-quality evidence, such as a Cochrane review in which David Scott and colleagues analyzed data from 12 randomized trials. These showed improvements in both the physical and mental conditions the of patients.

The advantage of the German inpatient rehabilitation scheme compared to outpatient rehabilitation has also been scientifically proven. About 245 patients from Switzerland took part in the clinical trial, after which experts evaluated the results according to the following two questionnaires: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Those who completed rehabilitation on an inpatient basis received more benefits in terms of quality of life, physical functions, and psychological state.

Recent studies also show that rehabilitation can improve the survival rate of patients with certain cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate cancers. For example, in a study by Meyerhardt et al. with the participation of 573 women with breast cancer, impressive results were demonstrated: the mortality rate in those who underwent rehabilitation decreased by 50%. The best results were achieved in patients whose physical activity was more affected by the treatment.

The greatest contribution to reducing mortality is physical rehabilitation, which begins in a Rehabilitation Center but continues throughout life as patients are taught to perform exercises at home. In this case, training is important but not weight loss because other studies have shown that losing weight through diet does not affect the mortality rate of cancer patients.

Where to undergo rehabilitation?

If you have had your cancer care in Germany, you can stay at the same clinic for rehabilitation services. If you were treated elsewhere, you can go to one of the Rehabilitation Centers in Germany to undergo your rehabilitation. German cancer rehabilitation specialists are among the best in the world.

You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to undergo your diagnostics, cancer recovery in Germany, or rehabilitation. The top German clinics are presented here, the real cost of rehabilitation programs is indicated, and you can make an appointment for your rehabilitation after cancer for your preferred dates. When you use the Booking Health service, prices for you will be lower compared to direct contact with a medical center due to the absence of taxes for foreign patients. The Booking Health specialists will help you arrange your trip to Germany and provide you with support throughout your stay abroad.

Authors: 

The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

Sources:

Cochrane Rehabilitation

MedlinePlus

Healthline