Physical therapy after cancer: reclaiming strength, confidence, and quality of life

Early detection, more accurate screening, and advancing treatments make cancer more survivable than ever—but not without a cost. This is where physical therapy becomes an essential part of recovery.

Cancer survival is only the first step

Even when cancer treatment is successful, quality of life can suffer. Loss of physical strength and activity can increase vulnerability to new health issues and falls. Many survivors also face financial strain from early retirement, along with the emotional impact of disrupted routines and lost social connections. In many cases, “beating cancer” still takes a lasting toll.

Physical therapy helps close the gap between survival and full recovery. It supports strength, mobility, balance, and endurance—key components of returning to daily life with greater confidence and independence.

Cancer patients can also feel as though the process is out of their control, dependent entirely on medical appointments, tests, and treatment schedules. Physical therapy offers a very different experience. It’s collaborative and empowering, giving patients an active role in their own healing. Progress is visible, effort is rewarded, and the incentives are encouraging. That’s one of the reasons I love physical therapy: we help people move from feeling helpless to feeling capable again.

Research continues to reinforce the value of this approach. Studies show that starting physical therapy as early as possible—during and after cancer treatment—can improve both quality of life and life expectancy.

The power of movement

“Exercise can play many roles for the cancer survivor. It has been shown to ameliorate physical and psychosocial side effects, improve cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune function, help restore proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory homeostasis, reduce health-care costs, and improve quality of life. There is also strong epidemiologic evidence that physical activity can improve survival, which has been eloquently shown in breast cancer (Holmes, Chen, Feskanich, Kroenke, & Colditz, 2005) and colorectal cancer (Meyerhardt et al., 2006)

This excerpt comes from “The Role of Exercise and Rehabilitation in the Cancer Care Plan,” published by the National Library of Medicine and covering the work of Angelo Rizzo, MS, PT, CLT. Rizzo is President and Founder of Therapeutic Solutions, Inc., an Oncology Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Clinic in Conyers, Georgia.

Empowerment and recovery

As cancer treatment continues to advance and early detection improves, survivors are living longer. That longevity naturally expands the role physical therapy plays in the overall healing process. Recovery is no longer just about eliminating disease—it’s about restoring function, independence, and quality of life.

For people under 65, cancer survivors are three times less likely to remain in their jobs. The resulting financial pressure can complicate healing, while leaving the workforce often means losing daily structure and social connection. Physical therapy helps people rebuild strength and stamina, regain confidence in their bodies, and work toward meaningful goals—whether that’s returning to work, enjoying daily activities, or simply moving without fear.

This brings us back to empowerment. Physical therapy allows individuals to take an active role in healing, guided by professional expertise and evidence-based care. That sense of ownership can be motivating and deeply reassuring.

“Commonly in medical treatments, patients are often passive recipients of care and unclear about their role in their disease management,” said Rizzo. “In physical therapy, they become proactive participants in care and are educated about their valuable role in maintaining optimal health and healthy lifestyle behaviors. This helps with patient responsibility and accountability, and that in turn increases compliance in their medical treatments.”

I’ll always say this: you can’t start physical therapy too soon. If you or someone you love is living with a cancer diagnosis, talk with your care team about how physical therapy can help support strength, movement, and day-to-day well-being during treatment and beyond. Having a plan for movement and recovery can help you feel more confident, more capable, and more like yourself as you heal.