Cancers of the head and neck account for approximately 4% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. While survival rates have improved over the past few decades due to improvements in medical management, many individuals must deal with persistent negative effects associated with head and neck cancer and its treatment. Fortunately, many of the negative effects are amendable to rehabilitation. However, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach is often needed due to the high frequency, severity and complexity of needs experienced by persons diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and language pathologists are rehabilitation professionals with the unique skill sets needed to assist persons diagnosed with head and neck cancer. This one day educational session will include lecture and lab activities focusing on 1) the medical management of head and neck cancer and the impact on body structure and function; 2) screening and evaluation of common side effects of head and neck cancer and its treatment; and 3) management of side effects that are amendable to rehabilitation (shoulder and neck dysfunction, TMJ dysfunction/trismus, radiation fibrosis, lymphedema, and cancer related fatigue). Best available evidence for the rehabilitation of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer will be provided.

Location

Baptist Heart Hospital
2nd Floor Wolfson Wellness Center
800 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville FL 32207

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, a participant should be able to:

• Describe the common medical management strategies for patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

• Describe head and neck cancer and treatment-related impairments amendable to rehabilitation.

• Discuss rehabilitation strategies aimed to prevent or minimize impact of impairments and functional limitations in persons diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

• Apply evaluative and treatment techniques for management of shoulder and neck impairments, TMJ dysfunction and lymphedema through small lab experiences.

• Recognize the need for a multiple disciplinary approach for addressing the unique rehabilitation needs of persons diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

Note: Participants will receive a certificate of participation for 0.8 CEUS at the conclusion of the course

COURSE SCHEDULE

8:00 am – 6:00 pm

• 7:30 am: Registration
• 8:00 am – 12:00 pm: Session
• 12:00 –1:00 pm: Lunch (on your own)
• 1:00 – 6:00 pm: Session/Q&A

Instructor

Bryan A. Spinelli PT, PhD, OCS, CLT-LANA

Biography:

Bryan A. Spinelli is an Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University in the Department of Physical Therapy. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (2000) and a Master of Science (2001) from Northeastern University. He received his Doctorate of Philosophy (2016) at Drexel University. Bryan is an American Physical Therapy Association Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist and Lymphology Association of North America Certified Lymphedema Therapist. He has experience assisting persons diagnosed with cancer manage neuro-musculoskeletal disorders, lymphedema, fatigue, weakness, deconditioning, and balance deficits. He has lectured, published and/or presented at conferences in the areas of cancer rehabilitation, lymphedema, shoulder biomechanics, and shoulder pain and dysfunction in cancer survivors.

Hotels

• Double Tree by Hilton
• Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
• Hilton Garden inn Jacksonville
• Hampton Inn Jacksonville
• Omni Jacksonville
• Additional Options

Children who are treated for cancer are at risk for decreased functional status both during and after their treatment.  Decreased physical function due to treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoma, solid tumors, and CNS tumors may lead to decreased overall activity levels and an increased risk of obesity, decreased bone mineral density, and later in life cardiovascular disease. Now that the vast majority of children survive cancer treatment, we must understand the physical deficits that this treatment brings and intervene in order to maintain normal motor development and improve their quality of life during and after treatment.

Treatment for childhood cancer can be quite intense and often is prolonged over months and years.  In addition to the potential impact of surgery and radiation therapy, chemotherapeutic agents that are known to be toxic to the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal system are commonly used in childhood cancer. More specifically, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can affect children and adolescents during and after cancer treatment and is likely related to functional outcomes.  Physical therapists must understand cancer-related impairments and choose appropriate outcome measurements in order to design a successful plan of care. In our presentation we will: 1) Describe the disease process, epidemiology, and typical treatment regimen for childhood leukemias, lymphomas, and solid tumors including CNS tumors 2) discuss the current literature and our ongoing research on CIPN, physical impairments and motor performance deficits in children, adolescents, and survivors of these childhood cancers; 3) describe possible outcome measurements appropriate to these populations; 4) discuss the evidence base for and practical application of intervention techniques to address common physical impairments and function; 5) provide lab time to practice assessment and intervention techniques with volunteer patients and 6) present case studies that portray the clinical relevance of the course material.

• Participants will receive a certificate of participation for 1.4 CEUS (14 contact hours) at the conclusion of the course
• Snacks will be provided and lunch is on your own. Please dress comfortably.

Course Schedule

8:00 am – 4:00 pm Both Days

• 7:30 am: Registration
• 8:00 am – 12:00 pm: Session
• 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch (on your own)
• 1:00 – 4:00 pm: Session/Q&A

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, a participant should be able to:

• Describe the typical treatment regimen for children with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors including CNS tumors.
• Describe the current literature on CIPN in children and adolescents with non-CNS cancer.
• Describe the current literature on physical impairments, motor performance deficits in children with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors.
• Discuss the pros and cons of different outcome measurements to use in these populations.
• Describe and demonstrate assessment and intervention techniques to address common physical impairments and motor performance deficits in children with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors.

Speaker Information

Laura Gilchrist PT, PhD is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at St. Catherine University and a Clinical Research Scientist at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN.  Her research focuses on cancer-related impairments of the neuromuscular systems.  She is currently the PI of a study on the prevalence and persistence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children undergoing chemotherapy and a second study on motor performance deficits in children undergoing cancer therapy. She has presented at the APTA Combined Section Meetings, American Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing Association Conferences, and a Children’s Oncology Group meeting.

Lynn Tanner, PT is a Rehabilitation Clinical Specialist in Oncology at Children’s Minnesota. She received her BA in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1999 and her Master’s in Physical Therapy from the Mayo School of Health Related Sciences in 2001.  In her current role, she provides PT services to the oncology population in the oncology clinic, conducts research related to pediatric oncology, and serves as a resource for pediatric oncology rehabilitation.  She has presented at the APTA Combined Section Meetings, American Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing Association Conferences, Children’s Oncology Group meeting, and International Society of Pediatric Oncology meeting. She was awarded the Emerging Leader Award for 2010 from the APTA and served as the chair of the Pediatric Oncology Special Interest Group from 2010-2014.

This one-day course will allow for the outpatient clinician to evaluate and treat a patient with a history of cancer diagnosis or is currently undergoing cancer treatments.  The clinician will understand the various types of cancer treatments and how the side effects may present in their clinic.

Note: Participants will receive a certificate of participation for 0.8 CEUS at the conclusion of the course

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Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, a participant should be able to:

• Review pathophysiology of cancer, prevalence and important statistics.
• Explain techniques used to diagnose, surgically and medically treat cancer.
• Review appropriate exercise prescriptions when treating patients who have a past or current diagnosis of cancer.
• Learn precautions, contraindications and red flags to look for when working with cancer survivors.
• Review of oncologic emergencies, lab values and screening used to determine safety when treating a patient with a history of cancer.

Specific cancers to be covered in this class: prostate, breast, colorectal, pelvic, melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma and head and neck cancer.

Speaker Information

Frannie Westlake, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic and Oncologic Physical Therapy

Frannie Westlake, PT, DPT, NCS received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL in 2012. She went on to complete her Neurological residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA and received her NCS in 2014. Since 2015, Frannie has worked at Oncology Rehab in Denver, CO and is the clinical coordinator for neurological and exercise rehab program.  She treats a variety of oncology, vestibular and neurological diagnosis.  Her passion is working with patients who are currently undergoing chemotherapy and has complaints of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.  She is also actively working on a pre-op protocol for patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 13 month old son and black lab.  They enjoy going on hikes and spending time in the mountains of Colorado.

Frannie actively lectures at CSM with APTA and has published 2 journal articles in Rehabilitation Oncology.  She is the current education chair for the Oncology Section.