The After. Cancer Podcast

ep 13 - Why Cancer Survivors Stay Exhausted Even When “Active.” Activity, Exercise and Cancer Rehab

What if being exhausted all day does not actually mean your body is getting stronger? In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in cancer survivorship and recovery: the difference between activity, exercise, and rehabilitation. Many cancer survivors spend their days physically and emotionally exhausted, yet still feel weak, deconditioned, stiff, or unable to fully return to life after treatment. Why? Because movement is not always the same thing as exercise — and exercise is not the same thing as rehabilitation. In this episode, Dr. Waltke explains how cancer treatment affects strength, endurance, balance, mobility, and overall function, while also helping listeners understand why intentional movement matters so much during and after cancer treatment. She discusses fatigue, deconditioning, fear of movement, rehabilitation needs, and the critical role of physical therapy and oncology rehabilitation in helping people regain confidence, independence, and participation in life. This conversation is both deeply practical and deeply human — rooted in medicine, spoken in human. Topics Covered • The difference between physical activity, exercise, and rehabilitation • Why cancer survivors often remain exhausted after treatment • Lifespan vs. health span • How cancer treatment affects muscles, endurance, balance, mobility, and confidence • Why exhaustion does not always equal conditioning • The role of rehabilitation after cancer treatment • Fear, deconditioning, and loss of trust in the body after cancer • Exercise during and after chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and hormonal therapy • Why movement is tied to identity, confidence, and participation in life • How rehabilitation can improve strength, endurance, balance, and function • Why individualized exercise prescription matters in cancer recovery Episode Chapters 00:00 – Episode Hook 02:18 – Podcast Intro 04:15 – Lifespan vs Health Span 07:28 – Activity vs Exercise 11:40 – Why Exercise Matters After Cancer 16:05 – What Rehabilitation Really Means 20:32 – Symptoms That May Need Rehab 24:10 – Fear, Deconditioning, and Loss of Confidence 28:42 – Why Movement Is Tied to Identity 32:15 – Exercise Does Not Need to Look Extreme 35:05 – Reflection Questions and Closing Thoughts Resources Mentioned • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors • Oncology rehabilitation and cancer physical therapy • Evidence-based exercise during and after cancer treatment • CURE – cancer education, support, and survivorship information For more information, visit CUREtoday.com. Related Episodes • Episode 9 – Cancer Explained: What Cancer Actually Is and How It Starts https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8 • Episode 10 – Cancer Surgery 101 https://youtu.be/ESWK-oB3muM • Episode 11 – Chemotherapy 101 https://youtu.be/jdJc3u7HMlU • Episode 12 – Radiation Therapy 101 https://youtu.be/N09j9ViFmm0 Community Shout Outs A special thank you to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis for the meaningful work they do connecting breast cancer survivors and mentors through free personalized support programs. To learn more about ABCD or become a mentor or mentee, visit abcdbreastcancersupport.org. About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, speaker, and advocate helping people live fully with and beyond cancer. She is the Founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy and host of The After. Cancer Podcast. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast is a space for the emotional, physical, and real-life challenges that often come after a cancer diagnosis. This podcast is for people living with and beyond cancer, the people who love them, and the clinicians who care for them. Each episode explores the real experiences of life after a cancer diagnosis — with honest conversations, survivor voices, and clear, compassionate guidance rooted in medicine and spoken in human. Work With Dr. Waltke Dr. Leslie Waltke is available for healthcare keynote speaking, conference presentations, hospital and cancer center consulting, continuing medical education (CME), continuing education unit (CEU) programming, oncology rehabilitation program development, and survivorship education through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. To learn more about educational opportunities, consulting, speaking engagements, or cancer rehabilitation training programs, visit WaltkeAcademy.com. Contact Information Website: WaltkeAcademy.com info@waltkeacademy.com Topics Cancer rehabilitation, oncology physical therapy, exercise after cancer, cancer survivorship, cancer fatigue, physical therapy after cancer, chemotherapy recovery, radiation recovery, cancer exercise, deconditioning, oncology rehab, cancer recovery, neuropathy, survivorship care, health span, quality of life after cancer

ep 12 - Radiation Therapy Explained: What It Really Does to the Body

Radiation therapy is one of the most common cancer treatments in the world, yet many people begin treatment without fully understanding what radiation actually does inside the body. In Episode 12 of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke explains radiation therapy in clear, compassionate language—breaking down how radiation works, why side effects occur, and how the body heals afterward. This episode explores: • How radiation damages cancer cells • Why healthy tissue can also be affected • Fatigue, skin changes, fibrosis, and tightness • Why radiation side effects can continue long after treatment ends • The importance of stretching, movement, and exercise • How rehabilitation helps people recover function and quality of life CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:14 What radiation therapy actually is 01:45 Why radiation sounds frightening 02:50 How radiation damages cancer cells 04:10 Why healthy tissue is affected too 05:15 Skin changes, fibrosis, and tightness 06:30 Fatigue during radiation therapy 07:20 Why radiation is highly precise 08:00 The radiation oncology team explained 09:00 Recovery, stretching, and rehabilitation 10:00 Exercise and long-term survivorship 10:30 Reflection + closing thoughts 11:05 ABCD shoutout + outro This is Part 4 of the 4-part Cancer 101 series. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with CURE. For more information, visit CUREtoday.com. Resources Mentioned in This Episode • ABCD – After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (free, virtual emotional support) https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org • ABCD Mentor Program https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor/ Episodes Mentioned / Related ACP Episodes Episode 9 – Cancer Cell 101 https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8 Episode 10 – Cancer Surgery 101 https://youtu.be/ESWK-oB3muM Episode 11 – Chemotherapy 101 https://youtu.be/jdJc3u7HMlU Episode 13 – Exercise During and After Cancer Treatment - coming soon! Community Shout Outs ABCD – After Breast Cancer Diagnosis https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor/ ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides free, personalized emotional support to anyone impacted by breast cancer, anywhere, at any stage. About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and advocate for evidence-based cancer survivorship care. About The After. Cancer Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast explores the real experience of living with and beyond cancer — the side effects, the fear, the identity shifts, and the path forward that few people talk about. Subscribe / Follow CTA • Follow on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform • Join the email list: https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer • Share The After. Cancer Podcast with someone who needs it Professional Education (Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy) Dr. Leslie Waltke is available for keynote speaking, CME and CEU education, consulting, and cancer rehabilitation program development through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. Learn more: https://www.waltkeacademy.com Contact Information info@WaltkeAcademy.com drlesliewaltke.com Topics radiation therapy explained, radiation side effects, fibrosis after radiation, cancer fatigue, oncology rehab, cancer rehabilitation, cancer survivorship, cancer education, After Cancer Podcast f you are navigating cancer, survivorship, treatment side effects, or the emotional realities of life after diagnosis, The After. Cancer Podcast is here for you!

ep 11 - Chemotherapy 101: What It Really Does Inside Your Body

Chemotherapy is one of the most recognized—and most feared—cancer treatments. But what actually is chemotherapy, and why does it affect so much more than cancer itself? In Episode 11 of The After. Cancer Podcast, oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke breaks down chemotherapy in plain language so people can better understand what is happening inside their bodies during treatment. This episode explores: • How chemotherapy works • Why chemotherapy affects healthy cells too • Why side effects vary dramatically between people • Fatigue, neuropathy, nausea, blood count changes, and immune suppression • The emotional and physical toll of treatment • Why rehabilitation and movement matter during and after chemotherapy CHAPTERS: 00:00 What chemotherapy really is 02:00 Why chemotherapy feels so feared 03:00 Welcome + partnership with CURE 03:45 How chemotherapy attacks cancer cells 05:30 Why healthy cells are affected too 07:10 Cancer fatigue explained 09:15 Hair loss and emotional impact 10:40 Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy 12:20 Why side effects vary so much 13:50 Exercise during chemotherapy 15:40 How chemotherapy reaches the whole body 16:50 Blood counts and immune suppression 17:45 Reflection + closing thoughts 18:05 ABCD shoutout + outro This is Part 3 of the 4-part Cancer 101 series. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with CURE. For more information, visit CUREtoday.com. Resources Mentioned in This Episode • ABCD – After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (free, virtual emotional support) https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org • ABCD Mentor Program https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor/ Episodes Mentioned / Related ACP Episodes Episode 3 - Cancer Comparing https://youtu.be/LDh4mGI9tWo?si=5ggmnul2s8H2YfkJ Episode 9 – Cancer Cell 101 https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8 Episode 10 – Cancer Surgery 101 https://youtu.be/ESWK-oB3muM Episode 12 – Radiation Therapy 101 (Coming soon!) Community Shout Outs ABCD – After Breast Cancer Diagnosis https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor/ ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides free, personalized emotional support to anyone impacted by breast cancer, anywhere, at any stage. As a complement to medical care, ABCD matches individuals with a trained volunteer Mentor who shares a similar lived experience, offering compassionate one-to-one connection based on diagnosis, treatment, age, and lifestyle. With a fully virtual platform, ABCD helps people worldwide, ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone. About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and advocate for evidence-based cancer survivorship care. She has spent more than three decades helping people regain strength, function, and confidence after cancer. 6. About The After. Cancer Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast explores the real experience of living with and beyond cancer — the side effects, the fear, the identity shifts, and the path forward that few people talk about. Please Subscribe! :) • Follow on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform • Join the email list to get episodes sent directly to your inbox: https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer • Share The After. Cancer Podcast with someone who needs it Professional Education (Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy) Dr. Leslie Waltke is available for keynote speaking, CME and CEU education, consulting, and cancer rehabilitation program development through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. Learn more: https://www.waltkeacademy.com Contact Information info@WaltkeAcademy.com drlesliewaltke.com Topics chemotherapy explained, chemotherapy side effects, chemo fatigue, neuropathy from chemotherapy, cancer treatment, oncology rehab, cancer survivorship, cancer education, After Cancer Podcast If you are navigating cancer, survivorship, treatment side effects, or the emotional realities of life after diagnosis, The After. Cancer Podcast is here for you!

ep 10 Cancer Surgery 101: Why “We Got It All” Isn’t the Same as “You’re Done”

For many people, cancer surgery feels like the moment everything will be “fixed.” The tumor is removed. The cancer is gone. Problem solved. But the reality is far more complex. In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke breaks down what cancer surgery actually involves—and why hearing “we got it all” is not the same as hearing “you’re done.” This episode walks you through: • What cancer surgery really is (and what it isn’t) • How surgeons decide what to remove—and what to preserve • What “margins” and “lymph nodes” actually mean • Why pathology results can change everything after surgery • The difference between curative, diagnostic, preventive, and palliative surgery • What recovery really looks like beyond the incision You’ll also hear honest insights about how surgery can impact movement, function, identity, and daily life—and why rehabilitation is a critical, often missing part of recovery. Chapters 00:00 Episode Hook – “We got it all” vs. reality 01:30 Introduction to Cancer Surgery 101 03:45 What cancer surgery actually is 07:10 Understanding surgical margins 10:30 Lymph nodes and cancer spread 13:20 Waiting for pathology results 15:40 Types of cancer surgery (curative, diagnostic, preventive, palliative) 18:30 How surgery affects the body and identity 23:00 Real patient recovery experiences 27:15 Why cancer surgery is part of a larger treatment plan 30:10 What real recovery looks like 34:00 Deconditioning after surgery 36:30 Scar tissue and mobility changes 39:00 Lymphedema risk after surgery 41:30 The role of cancer rehabilitation 44:30 Emotional recovery after surgery 47:00 Multidisciplinary cancer care 49:00 Key takeaway – surgery is not the end 50:30 Reflection prompts and closing This is Part 2 of the 4-part Cancer 101 series, designed to help you understand what is happening inside your body and why it feels the way it does. Resources Mentioned This podcast is brought to you in partnership with CURE. For more information, visit CUREtoday.com. • ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis – Free, personalized mentorship support • Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy – Education, consulting, and program development Related Episodes • Episode 9: Cancer Cell 101: What Cancer Actually Is and How It Starts: https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8 • Episode 11: Chemotherapy 101: How It Works and Why It Affects the Whole Body (coming soon) • Episode 13: Exercise During and After Cancer Treatment (coming soon) Community Shout Outs ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides free, virtual, personalized emotional support by matching individuals impacted by breast cancer with trained mentors. Learn more at ABCDBreastCancerSupport.org. About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and leader in cancer rehabilitation. She helps people navigate life after cancer with clarity, compassion, and evidence-based care. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast is a space for the emotional, physical, and real-life challenges that begin at diagnosis and continue beyond treatment. Rooted in medicine, spoken in human. Subscribe / Follow Follow The After. Cancer Podcast Join the email list to receive new episodes in your inbox! https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer Work With Dr. Waltke Available for speaking, CME/CEU education, consulting, and cancer rehabilitation program development through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. Visit WaltkeAcademy.com. Contact Information Website: WaltkeAcademy.com Email: dr.waltke@waltkeacademy.com Final Note If you are navigating cancer, survivorship, treatment side effects, or the emotional realities of life after diagnosis, The After. Cancer Podcast is here for you! Topics cancer surgery, what is cancer surgery, cancer surgery recovery, margins cancer surgery, lymph nodes cancer, cancer rehabilitation, cancer recovery, oncology rehab, breast cancer surgery recovery, cancer education, survivorship, After Cancer Podcast

Ep 9: Cancer Explained: what cancer is and how it starts

Most people hear the word cancer thousands of times in their lives, but very few are ever actually taught what it is. In this foundational episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Leslie J. Waltke, PT, DPT breaks down the biology of cancer in clear, human language so you can better understand what is happening inside the body. This is Episode 9 and the first in a 4-part Cancer 101 series where we will walk step by step through what cancer is, how it develops, and how treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation actually work. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with CURE, a leading resource for cancer education, support, and survivorship information. For more information, visit CUREtoday.com. Chapters 00:00 Episode Hook – What is cancer, really? 02:10 Why cancer is rarely explained clearly 04:25 How normal cells work 07:40 DNA and mutations explained simply 11:30 Why mutations happen (and why it’s not your fault) 15:20 How cancer cells break the rules 19:10 Tumor growth and why it takes years 23:45 Angiogenesis – how tumors build blood supply 26:30 Metastasis – how cancer spreads 30:10 Why cancer risk increases with age 33:00 Cancer is not one disease 35:20 The immune system and cancer 38:00 Reflection and what this means for you Resources Mentioned For more information on cancer education and survivorship, visit CUREtoday.com ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org Related Episodes Episode 10: Cancer Surgery 101 (coming soon!) Episode 11: Chemotherapy 101 (coming soon!) Episode 12: Radiation Therapy 101 (coming soon!) Episode 5: When Your Brain Stops Processing After Hearing “You Have Cancer” Episode 6: Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t Community Shout Outs A special shout out to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. ABCD provides free, virtual, personalized emotional support by matching anyone impacted by breast cancer with a trained volunteer mentor who has a similar lived experience. Learn more at ABCDBreastCancerSupport.org. About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and advocate for evidence-based cancer rehabilitation. She is the founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy and has spent over three decades helping people live stronger lives during and after cancer. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast is where medicine meets real life. Rooted in science and spoken in human terms, this podcast helps you understand your body, your experience, and what comes next after a cancer diagnosis. Subscribe / Follow Follow The After. Cancer Podcast so new episodes are delivered directly to you. You’ll find the link to join the email list in the show notes so future episodes come straight to your inbox. https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer Work with Dr. Waltke For organizations, health systems, and professional groups looking to improve cancer rehab care delivery: Dr. Leslie Waltke provides medical and rehab continuing education (CEU/CME), conference and keynote speaking, and consulting services through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. Whether you are building, expanding, or refining a cancer rehabilitation or survivorship program, these offerings are designed to help teams implement evidence-based care that improves patient outcomes and system performance. Learn more or inquire about booking: https://www.drlesliewaltke.com Contact Info Website: WaltkeAcademy.com Email: dr.waltke@waltkeacademy.com Topics Cancer basics, cancer biology, what is cancer, DNA mutations, tumor growth, metastasis, survivorship, cancer education If you are navigating cancer, survivorship, treatment side effects, or the emotional realities of life after diagnosis, The After. Cancer Podcast is here for you!