Facing forward: meeting the rehabilitation needs of cancer survivors.

Decreased physical functioning, either transient or enduring, is encountered by many individuals at various points in the cancer trajectory. Oncology nurses are well positioned to promote functional recovery, as they have intensive contact with cancer patients in multiple settings and throughout all phases of the disease continuum. This article reviews effective screening tools that nurses can use to identify the rehabilitation needs of individual patients and initiate appropriate interventions or referrals for additional rehabilitation services. It also outlines realistic rehabilitation protocols that can help oncology nurses to reduce and prevent impairments that may occur during cancer and its treatment. As will be discussed, patients' functional performance can also be directly improved by enhanced incorporation of rehabilitation principles into oncology nursing practice.