The fogginess. The forgetfulness. The feeling of cluelessness. That’s chemo brain, one of the most frustrating side effects of cancer treatment. There’s even an official name for it – bet you didn’t know that. It’s called “Post-Chemotherapy Cognitive Impairment.”

Of course, cancer patients probably have some more colorful ways to describe the condition, but it wouldn’t be polite to print those here.

One of the problems with chemo brain is that because it’s been given a familiar name, those...

Answer: In most cases, it takes about 3-10 months after the end of chemotherapy treatment for hair to grow back.

Radiation is a standard part of treatment for a large group of cancer types. Sometimes combined with chemotherapy, sometimes used on its own, and even sometimes with a mixture of other traditional treatments, surgery, and drugs. There are several hidden side effects that you may or may not be told to expect. Some of them show up quickly, but many wait years to show up. Some can be life threatening. 

You will find many people that say radiation was much easier to take than chemotherapy...

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer patients are twice as likely to experience insomnia, and almost half of cancer patients have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. Fears of the future and uncertainty about treatments are troubling ideas that would keep anyone awake. However, lack of sleep is highly detrimental to your body and is shown to determine how well your body can fight cancer and promote recovery and progression.

Benefits of Sleep

We all need sleep to help rejuvenate...

Understanding How These 4 Panic Attack Triggers Affect Cancer Patients

Panic attacks can further deteriorate the quality of life for those who have cancer. It may be difficult to assess the role of anxiety as it tends to be intertwined with other aspects of a cancer diagnosis, but patients may feel panic throughout initial screenings for cancer, as anticipatory anxiety can settle in when waiting for results. Panic attacks often have different symptoms for individual people, but they are...

A cancer diagnosis can cause a whirlwind of questions and emotions. Often the specifics of the road ahead are unknown. Many WhatNexters agree that it felt easier once they found out more, got familiar with treatment plans, and found ways to stay positive and cope in their everyday life.

“I took it one thing at a time. I keep thinking each procedure, each treatment, is one more step towards recovery and that keeps me moving forward.” -- Beannie, Breast Cancer, Stage I

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Chemotherapy is notorious for its side effects. But while hair loss, vomiting, and diarrhea get all the attention, there’s one lesser-known side effect that can be just as tough: acne.

It’s true: your chemo treatment might end up taking your face on a time trip back to those thrilling days of puberty. Who says chemo can’t make you feel young again?

It might seem minor, but the reemergence of facial acne during cancer treatment is an added source of low self-esteem for patients. You can get a...

There are many methods of pain management for cancer patients. Cancer pain is usually very treatable, with many patients finding relief using a combination of medications. Some medications offer general pain relief, and some higher-strength prescription medications target specific types of pain. 

A good plan of action can start with setting a pain management goal with your doctor. Discuss the type of pain relief medication that is needed to keep pain consistently in the tolerable...

It’s an unfortunate reality that chemotherapy and other drugs that fight cancer can often damage peripheral nerves. As a result, chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. This syndrome can result in feelings of numbness, burning sensation, pain, and tingling in the extremities, as well balance issues, and more.

On top of the other body blows that come with chemotherapy treatment, these after effects can just seem like insult to...

Dear Loved Ones,

To say that I’m tired would be an understatement. I’m drained. Empty. There’s nothing in the tank. Cancer-related fatigue is real. It could be the disease that’s doing this to me. Or it could be the cure – turns out that radiation and chemotherapy really are the butt-kickers everyone says they are.

So, yes: I’m listless. Out of it. And it’s putting a real dent in my quality of life. Napping helps, but not for long. Because this is a bone-tiredness that can’t be kept at bay...