The After Cancer Blog

Weight gain during cancer treatment is more common than many expect. This article explains how ovarian, breast, and thyroid cancers can affect weight through fatigue, hormonal therapies, and metabolic changes. Understanding these causes helps reduce guilt and empowers patients with supportive strategies for managing their health.

Stress does not cause brain tumors, but research suggests it may influence the progression of aggressive types like glioblastoma. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system and increase inflammation. This article explores what science says about stress and brain tumors and offers practical, compassionate strategies to support well-being during the cancer journey.

Chronic stress may influence colorectal cancer progression by altering gut microbiota and promoting inflammation. This article examines the connection between stress, the gut microbiome, and colorectal cancer, offering strategies like dietary changes, exercise, and stress management to support health and well-being.

While stress doesn’t cause prostate cancer, ongoing psychological stress can impact immune response, inflammation, and treatment outcomes. This article explores how chronic stress affects the body, why emotional support is essential in cancer care, and how practices like mindfulness, therapy, movement, and connection can help strengthen both resilience and recovery. Taking care of emotional health is an important part of healing, not just mentally, but physically too.

Chronic stress doesn’t directly cause breast cancer, but it can weaken the immune system, fuel inflammation, and disrupt healthy routines. This article explores how psychological and oxidative stress may influence cancer progression, and offers practical, supportive ways to manage stress and promote emotional and physical well-being throughout treatment and recovery.

Prostate and rectal cancer pain can affect the pelvis, bowel, and even the bones, making daily life feel heavy, intimate, and exhausting. This article explains how this pain shows up, from sharp cramps to deep aches, and offers medical and supportive strategies to manage it with dignity, care, and real relief.

Lung and chest pain in cancer may result from tumor growth, pleural inflammation, fluid buildup, or metastasis to the ribs or spine. This article explains how the pain feels, what causes it, and how to manage it with medical care and supportive techniques like breathing exercises, posture changes, and guided relief.

Ovarian and uterine cancer can cause pelvic pain through tumor growth, hormonal changes, cysts, or treatment side effects. This article explores how to identify different types of pain, including menstrual and rupture-related, and offers practical, evidence-based strategies for managing discomfort with medical care, lifestyle changes, and emotional support.

Breast cancer pain can stem from the tumor, treatments like surgery or hormone therapy, or metastasis to the bones. This article explains common types of pain, what they may signal, and how to manage them. With practical strategies and compassionate support, we help patients better understand their pain and take steps toward relief and control throughout the cancer journey.

Hot flashes are a common side effect of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, affecting 75–80% of men. They result from reduced testosterone levels impacting the hypothalamus. Management strategies include antidepressants, clonidine, gabapentinoids, mindfulness, cooling devices, lifestyle modifications, acupuncture, and cautious use of herbal supplements. Consulting healthcare providers is essential to tailor an effective management plan.