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
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
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
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
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
If you’ve noticed changes in bladder control, pelvic pain, or discomfort during intimacy since starting cancer treatment, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone. Pelvic floor changes are one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment that nobody warns you about, and one of the most treatable. Whether you’re being treated for … Read more
If you’ve been through chemotherapy, radiation, or major cancer surgery, you already know a kind of tired that doesn’t match anything you dealt with before treatment. It’s not the tired that a good night’s sleep fixes. It can sit on you after a full night of rest, make a shower feel like a workout, or … Read more
If you’ve just been scheduled for cancer surgery, your calendar probably filled up fast. Pre-op appointments, imaging, maybe a meeting with a surgeon you’re still getting to know. Physical therapy may not be on that list at all. If no one has mentioned it yet, it’s worth asking about. Starting therapy before surgery, not just after, can … Read more
If you’ve had breast cancer surgery and noticed a tight, rope-like cord running from your armpit down your arm — sometimes all the way to your wrist or thumb — you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone. This is called cording, or axillary web syndrome (AWS), and it’s one of the most common things … Read more