Cancer; Pathophysiology and Stress Modulation (Cancer, Therapeutic Interventions)

The purpose of this review is to describe the myriad complications of cancer and its therapies to emphasize the pathophysiological need for prehabilitation. The information presented in this review is from applicable, peer-reviewed scientific articles. Cancer itself renders negative effects on the body, most notably unintentional weight loss and fatigue. Cancer treatments, especially surgical interventions, can cause detrimental short- and long-term impacts on patients, which translate to suboptimal treatment outcomes. Prehabilitation can be used to improve patient health prior to anticancer therapies to improve treatment tolerance and efficacy. Nurses play an important role in the treatment of patients with cancer throughout the cancer care continuum. Many nurses are already aiding their patients in cancer prehabilitation through education. By describing common impairments amenable to multimodal prehabilitation, nurses may better advocate for their patients and can become even more involved in this aspect of care.