General

I’m returning with another symptom that patients frequently bring up but one that is still too often overlooked: sleep disturbance. Sleep problems are extremely common during the cancer journey and can trigger a cascade of effects, including worsening cognition, increased treatment side effects, fatigue, mood changes, and depression. Despite how impactful this can be, sleep […]

As an oncologist, I can tell you that constipation and diarrhea are some of the most common side effects patients experience during cancer treatment.Yet they’re also some of the least discussed—largely because they feel embarrassing or “too personal”. I want to reassure you: it’s absolutely okay to talk about it.Nothing is “too much information.”And most

A very common and important issue often overlooked and underreported. Why does therapy affect skin and nails? Chemotherapy and some targeted therapies work by attacking fast-growing cells — but that includes not only cancer cells, but also healthy ones in your skin, hair, and nails. As a result, you might notice your skin becoming dry,

One of the most feared side effects of chemotherapy is peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Unlike temporary side effects, neuropathy can sometimes cause lasting, life-altering changes that interfere with walking, writing, cooking, or even buttoning clothes. What causes it? Several chemotherapy drugs are known to cause nerve damage. The most common include: These medications can injure sensory

One of the questions I often hear from patients is: “Am I imagining this, or is my brain just not the same since I started cancer treatment?” The short answer: chemo brain is very real. In medical terms, we call this Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI). It can happen due to the cancer itself, treatments like

One of the most common questions I hear from patients is: “What should I eat during cancer treatment?” The truth is, there isn’t a single “cancer diet” that works for everyone. Your nutritional needs can vary depending on the type of cancer, the treatment you’re receiving, and how your body responds. That said, there are

Knowing what to drink and what to avoid during cancer treatment is one of the most common questions I get in my daily practice. Yet, it’s not something emphasized much in medical school or oncology training, so it sometimes gets overlooked. Still, it’s an essential part of supportive care. One patient told me she couldn’t

I often get asked in the Clinics on how to manage fatigue during and after cancer treatment. Fatigue is one of the most common and challenging side effects of cancer treatment. Studies show that 30–60% of people experience fatigue during chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery and for some, it can last months or even years after

When sitting down with patients and their families, I am asked countless times how to manage nausea during chemotherapy. Nausea is one of the most common and distressing side effects of chemotherapy. It can affect your appetite, mood, and overall quality of life. The good news is that there are effective ways to prevent and