gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Typically, a tumour board represents an institutional multidisciplinary treatment planning approach for a specific cancer entity in which physicians of different medical specialities (oncologists, surgeons, radiotherapists,…) present, review and discuss challenging medical cases, e.g. the individual medical treatment options of patients suffering from cancer. At the end of this process, there is a statement (tumour board review – a multidisciplinary opinion) where the individual treatment plan is defined.

Material/Methods: The first Tumour Board for Cancer Rehabilitation in an acute hospital is presented in a descriptive matter. This includes a description of the members and presented patients of this tumour board, and of the process of such a very special and untypically tumour board.

Results: Since his implementation in November 2010, the tumour board for cancer rehabilitation has been an untypical, but regular tumour board, such as the other existing tumour boards within the General Hospital of Vienna/Medical University of Vienna/Comprehensive Cancer Center.

It is guided by a physiatrist who has his expertise in the field of oncologic rehabilitation.

Referring specialists from different medical specialities – all involved in the rehabilitation process of cancer patients – such as PM&R, dietology and nutrition, oncology, radiology, radiation oncology, surgery, cardiology, orthopedics are invited to attend this tumour board.

Challenging and complex cases of cancer patients with the intention of outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation are presented and discussed with the goal to plan rehabilitation (but NOT to treat the cancer itself!). An individual rehabilitation concept depending on individual functional deficits, and on medical conditions of cancer patients is defined, which has to be executed in this form. Sometimes, in cases of contraindications or in cases of important medical issues, patients are told to consult their oncologist once more, before starting rehabilitation. Most functional deficits of the discussed cancer patients are (musculoskeletal or cancer) pain, decreased performance status (decrease in endurance capacity and muscular strength), weight loss (cachexia), but also weight gain, sensorimotor deficits and polyneuropathy, dyspnoea, lymphedema, cognitive deficits (“chemobrain”), incontinence, psychological distress and anxiety, neurological deficits such as movement disorders and walking disturbances with the risk of falls and fractures. The rehabilitation plans include medical exercise with the intention to increase endurance capacity and/or muscular strength, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (as an passive option to exercise), nutrition, lymph massage, breathing therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, breathing therapy, different forms of massage, electrotherapy, and other physical modalities, but also drug treatment for pain.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first worldwide existent tumour board for cancer rehabilitation in an acute hospital. It has been established to be a regular part of the rehabilitation process in challenging cases of cancer patients before and/or during their rehabilitation process. This tumour board has found good acceptance in its members and in patients as well, and it has become a very important interdisciplinary and multi-professional help to plan rehabilitation and supportive strategies in challenging cancer patients.