How is physical therapy categorized in terms of cancer treatment support?

Physical therapy is categorized as a support service in the context of cancer treatment. This classification reflects the role that physical therapy plays in the overall comprehensive care of cancer patients. It is primarily aimed at aiding recovery, improving mobility, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals who may be experiencing physical limitations as a result of their cancer or its treatment.

Support services like physical therapy are designed to address the physical and emotional needs of patients, helping them to regain strength and function during and after their cancer treatment. These therapies complement the primary medical interventions, such as chemotherapy or surgery, by focusing specifically on rehabilitation and supportive care.

While alternative therapies are typically unproven treatments not widely accepted in the medical community and complementary therapies are used alongside conventional treatments to enhance well-being, physical therapy does not fit neatly into those categories. Similarly, neoadjuvant therapy refers to treatments administered before the main treatment (often surgery) to shrink tumors, which is not the primary role of physical therapy. Thus, categorizing physical therapy as a support service accurately aligns with its function in cancer care.