Side-Effects Management

All cancer survivors have muscle/joint pain, but people receiving treatment for cancer may have excess muscle pain after treatment. Musculoskeletal aches and pains may take 2 months or more to completely resolve. Dr. Smith discusses available treatment options.

Read about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a program that took off after a few colleagues thought of shaving their heads as a way to raise money for children with cancer.

Dr. Evan C. Naylor offers a rundown of some of the most common side effects of cancer therapy and how to deal with them.

“My nurse navigator recommended acupuncture to treat the pain. The key is to find an acupuncturist who is skilled and trained in treating patients with cancer,” says Ginger Modiri, wife, mother, and grandmother.

“Up to 68% of patients with breast cancer experience shoulder pain and/or restricted motion of the shoulder during or after treatment,” says Dr. Eric Wisotzky.

Dr. McMichael, assistant professor at Ohio State University, gives a summary of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and offers tips for managing it.

Cognitive changes during cancer treatment, also known as “chemo brain” or “chemo fog,” are common. In fact, some studies suggest that up to 75% of patients receiving chemotherapy may face these issues.

Lymphedema is the response of the immune system to the blockage of fluids in traveling to lymph nodes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

Jack Aiello shares his experience on orals, and the significance of informing patients of the side effects and mitigating them.

Cancer-related fatigue is very common among survivors and among those undergoing cancer treatment; it can be caused by your treatment, or by other factors related to your physical health and/or emotional state, such as chemical imbalances, hormonal changes, stress and anxiety, or poor sleep.

A look at head and neck cancer by Dr. Nancy Hutchison.

How did a 21-year-old young man, in the peak of physical health, get cancer and die so quickly?

Some chemotherapies can cause problems with sensory and motor skills; these disorders are called “neuropathies.” Most neuropathy problems improve after chemotherapy is finished.

Fatigue and tiredness are not the same. Tiredness is what you feel when you don’t get enough sleep, when you overexert yourself, or when you skip a meal. A good night’s sleep, a nap, or a nutritious meal can be rejuvenating. Fatigue is different.

Dorothy won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Austria, read about her fight–off the ice–with breast cancer.

Postmastectomy pain syndrome is often described as “burning, tingling, pins and needles, stabbing, constricting, or a constant dull ache” in the breast, armpit, or both. The pain usually begins immediately after surgery but can also begin more than 6 months later.

After being poked and prodded for cancer treatment, testing, and surgery, it seems crazy that patients with cancer would ask for more needles, but that is exactly what’s happening when it comes to acupuncture.

Immunotherapy is all the rage today, but like any other treatment, it comes with side effects. Learn how to recognize and manage some of the common side effects.

A new survey of patients with breast or ovarian cancer showed that hair loss is among the most-dreaded side effects for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Andrea Brennan, a certified lymphedema therapist, sheds light on the challenges faced with lymphedema associated with breast cancer and debunks several myths about the disease.

Breast cancer survivor Lisa D’Ottavio describes the side effects of treatment that she experienced, from chemo hair loss, neuropathy, and lymphedema, to radiation effects and more.

The long-term side effects of treatment can be an overlooked part of cancer care. "We're learning as they're surviving, and we can't assume we know everything," says Pam Simon, MSN.

Patients who are receiving immunotherapy should consult with their doctor immediately if and when any side effects occur, because immune-related adverse events may occur during therapy or even after discontinuation of therapy.

Getting enough sleep is important for our health and brain function, especially for patients with cancer, who often have difficulty sleeping through the night. Read these tips on how to improve your sleep while dealing with cancer.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Care Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recently issued the first set of recommendations for the management of immunotherapy side-effects.

Fatigue is a common complaint of people facing cancer that can affect them during and after treatment. Registered Dietitian Julie Lanford provides tips on energy-boosting foods and simple nourishment ideas to help combat fatigue during cancer.

Hand-foot skin reactions are a type of side effect associated with targeted therapies, a newer type of cancer treatment. Oncology nurse navigator Cheryl Bellomo recommends strategies to ease the pain and skin sensitivity associated with these reactions.

Nurse navigator Deborah Gomer explains the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods of mucositis, an oral and digestive system condition interfering with eating, swallowing, and talking and affecting roughly 50% of patients who receive chemotherapy.

Oncology Nurse Navigator Cheryl Bellomo provides an overview of possible side effects as well as what can be done to prevent, lessen, or stop them.

Sexuality counselor Anne Katz offers her expertise and advice for male patients with cancer who have sexual issues and relationship challenges as a result of their diagnosis.

Many side effects of immunotherapy can be effectively managed with early detection and intervention. It is important that patients with cancer and their caregivers know what symptoms to look for.

Dental hygienist Kris Potts breaks down the side effects, such as dry mouth and oral ulcers associated with cancer treatments and lists treatments available to combat these problems.

Chest numbness is a side effect often ignored or not discussed in breast cancer, but losing physical sensation in nearly 10% of the body can have a profound impact on a woman’s physical and emotional life.