If you’ve been told to start physical therapy during or after cancer treatment, one of the first questions on your mind is probably a practical one: will insurance actually cover this? It’s a fair question, and an important one, because cost shouldn’t be the reason you skip care that helps you move, function, and feel … Read more
Breast cancer treatment doesn’t end when active treatment does — for many survivors, the next chapter includes managing lymphedema, a swelling condition caused by damage to the lymphatic system from surgery or radiation. According to the Lymphedema Education & Research Network (LE&RN), up to 1 in 5 breast cancer survivors will develop it, sometimes months … Read more
If you’ve finished treatment for breast cancer, a gynecologic cancer, melanoma, or any cancer that involved removing or irradiating lymph nodes, you’ve probably heard the word “lymphedema” at some point along the way. Maybe your surgeon mentioned it before your operation, or a nurse handed you a pamphlet you tucked away and forgot about. It’s … Read more
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to recognize the strength of everyone who has faced this diagnosis and to shine a light on prevention, early detection, and support. In the U.S., about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. The … Read more
Thyroid cancer often goes unnoticed — no aches, no obvious symptoms — until a routine exam or scan finds a nodule. This year, an estimated 45,240 Americans will be diagnosed, and it’s nearly three times more common in women than men, according to the American Cancer Society. The encouraging news: when caught early, especially papillary … Read more
If your neck and shoulder feel tight, achy, or just “not right” months after finishing treatment for head and neck cancer, you’re describing something we hear from patients regularly. Stiffness and swelling in this area are two of the most common lingering effects of head and neck cancer treatment, and it can come from more … Read more
September marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month, honoring the many families touched by leukemia and lymphoma each year. Right now, more than half a million people across the U.S. are living with — and often thriving beyond — a leukemia diagnosis, per the National Cancer Institute. Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplant bring real … Read more
If you’re in the middle of chemotherapy, you’ve probably had this thought on more than one hard day: should I even be moving right now? Between fatigue, nausea, and the general feeling of your body being put through the wringer, exercise can sound like the last thing you should be doing. But for most people, … Read more
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the numbers are worth sitting with: about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer among men in the U.S. besides skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The encouraging part? When caught early, outcomes are … Read more
Cancer treatment changes your body in ways nobody can fully prepare you for. Some changes are expected and get plenty of attention — hair loss, nausea, fatigue. Others are quieter. You may not know whether something is just “part of treatment,” or a sign a physical therapist could help with. Maybe you’ve left an appointment … Read more