When faced with a cancer diagnosis your first thought likely isn’t “how will my sexual health and intimacy be affected?”. Although this thought and consideration may not be a huge factor in your immediate steps through cancer treatment, it will almost certainly become a common focus later in treatment and even once your treatment is … Read More
Chemotherapy is a pharmaceutical treatment designed to kill cancer cells in the body. Over half of women diagnosed with breast cancer will receive chemotherapy as part of their treatment.1 Chemotherapy is usually given every 2 or 3 weeks for multiple cycles. There are many side effects that can occur during and after chemotherapy, including nausea, … Read More
Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer, with approximately 50% of breast cancer patients receiving radiation at some point during their treatment.1 It is commonly done 5 days per week for 5-25 treatments total. The side effects and healing from radiation can be split into two phases: the acute phase and the long-term … Read More
Most people diagnosed with breast cancer will have surgery, as it is considered the primary treatment. The type of surgery you may have depends on a variety of factors such as the size and location of the tumour, the stage of cancer, and the size of the breast. Surgery types can include lumpectomies, mastectomies, lymph … Read More
Receiving a cancer diagnosis has more impacts on a person other than just physical changes. The mental burden that such a condition can create is large and not to be overlooked. Psychotherapy is a tool that can help you navigate challenging emotions, build resilience during difficult times, and improve your overall quality of life. Psychotherapy … Read More
Your skin is your body’s first line of defence against infection. Taking care of your skin is always a key part of well-being, but it is particularly important when you are facing surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other cancer related procedures. In preparation for surgery, it is important to ensure the skin in the operation area … Read More
After undergoing breast cancer surgery, some women are left with pain in their chest, armpit, and/or arm that doesn’t seem to go away with time. It can be frightening and frustrating, leaving women with questions like is this normal, why is this happening, and will it get better? This condition is called post-mastectomy pain syndrome … Read More
Chemotherapy is a common treatment prescribed for many types of cancer. While advances in medicine have allowed chemotherapy to become more effective and have helped cancer patients to live longer, there are unfortunately still side effects that come with taking chemotherapy medications. One of the most common treatment-related side effects patients experience is chemotherapy-induced peripheral … Read More
Fitness is an important part of preparation for and recovery from surgery or other medical interventions. Fitness involves various aspects of your health, including mobility, strength, balance, heart and lung capacity, and energy. If you’ve just had surgery, or if you’re going through cancer treatment — particularly chemotherapy — exercise may be the last thing … Read More
Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatments and can impact both men and women. Dysfunction can occur immediately as a result of surgical intervention, or as a side effect of cancer treatments. It is important to understand how the pelvic floor functions before exploring PFD. The pelvic floor … Read More