Jessica Cheng, M.D.

Jessica Cheng, M.D., is among the nation’s few, and Orange County’s only, fellowship-trained experts in cancer rehabilitation medicine. This is a subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) also known as physiatry. From the time of diagnosis, a wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional challenges may arise throughout the cancer journey. She has expertise in optimizing function and independence for people with cancer throughout all stages of the journey, with a special focus on musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. She is driven to remove function- and symptom-related barriers to cancer treatment and to quality of life. Dr. Cheng partners with each person to help people prepare for cancer treatment and to get back to doing what’s important to them. Her goal is to help people live their best life at school, work or home, in the community or for recreation.

At City of Hope, Dr. Cheng creates comprehensive rehabilitation plans for each patient with a body-mind-spirit approach. Plans often include targeted rehabilitation therapy prescription, exercise prescription, non-opioid pain medication, procedures (joint, trigger point and spasticity injections), orthotics and prosthetics, and assistive devices. She collaborates closely with oncologic teams, medical specialties, and other supportive and integrative services to ensure care plans that are cohesive, feasible and meaningful.

After her medical degree at Boston University, Dr. Cheng completed an internal medicine internship and physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at Loma Linda University Health. She followed these with a fellowship in cancer rehabilitation at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is active in leading national cancer rehabilitation efforts in research and education.

Fluent in Spanish and Mandarin, Dr. Cheng enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring coffee shops and devising creative ways to stay physically active.

• Cheng JT, Leite VF, Tennison JM, Gutierres C, Kline-Quiroz C, Capozzi LC, Yu S, Krause KJ, Langelier D, Parke SC. Rehabilitation Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer-Associated Lymphedema: A Systematic Review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Jun 29. Doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2023.1473 PMID: 37382963

• Semeniuk G, Bahadini G, Ahn E, Zain J, Cheng JT, Govindarajan A, Rose J, Lee RT. Integrative Oncology and the Clinical Care Network: Challenges and Opportunities. J Clin Med. 2023 Jun 9. Doi:10.3390/jcm12123946 PMID: 37373639

• Parke SC, Langelier DM, Cheng JT, Kline-Quiroz C, Stubblefield MD. State of Rehabilitation Research in the Head and Neck Cancer Population: Functional Impact vs. Impairment-Focused Outcomes. Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Apr;24(4):517-532. Doi:10.1007/s11912-022-01227-x. Epub 2022 Feb 19. PMID: 35182293.

Educational Contributions

• Tse J., Gupta E. AAPM&R Case Study: Cancer Rehabilitation – Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Available on https://onlinelearning.aapmr.org/  Dec. 01,2020 to Dec. 31, 2023.
• Tse J., Gupta E. AAPM&R Case Study: Cancer Rehabilitation – Aromatase Inhibitor Induced Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Available on https://onlinelearning.aapmr.org/ Dec 01, 2020 to Dec 31, 2023.

Book Chapter

• Petzel MBQ, Ebrus CS, Cheng JT, Parker N, Ngo-Huang A. Physical activity and nutrition optimization in pancreatic cancer. In: Pancreatic Cancer – Current Therapeutics and Future Directions. Ed(s) Pant S. Springer Nature. In press. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38623-7.
• Lam N-Y, Tsao E, Tse J. Brain Tumors. In: Gonzalez-Fernandez M, Schaaf S, Zumsteg JM, Perret D, Kennedy DJ, (Eds.), Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (pp. 11-16).. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company

Media Appearances 1 Total

• Angels Radio AM 830 – Sports Lodge with Roger Lodge, August 17, 2023. Topic: What is cancer rehab and how does is benefit patients.