Physical Concerns

This article reviews fatigue associated with cancer. It is one of the most common side effects that cancer patients report. This article also offers tips to decrease and manage fatigue.

A common side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss (alopecia). This side effect handout answers questions about alopecia and offers tips for coping with hair loss caused by chemotherapy.

In this article, we will answer questions about and offers tips for coping with hair loss caused by radiation therapy.

Treatment for cancer can affect the nails and skin in some patients. This article offers tips for managing nail and skin changes during chemotherapy.

Dyspnea is trouble breathing or difficulty catching your breath. Some people describe it as an awareness of uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of working very hard to breathe. This handout answers questions about and offers tips for coping with shortness of breath.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which a nerve or group of nerves have trouble communicating with each other. This article provides an overview of peripheral neuropathy and offers tips for coping with this side effect of some chemotherapy agents.

An overview of nutrition concerns during cancer treatment, including diarrhea, poor appetite, mouth sores, constipation, nausea and weight gain/loss.

Loss of appetite is when you do not feel hungry or have no interest in eating. This can be a side effect of some treatments for cancer or from the cancer itself. This article offers tips for coping with a loss of appetite from cancer and cancer therapy.

Mucositis may also be called mouth sores, oral mucositis, or esophagitis. It can range in severity from a red, sore mouth and/or gums to very painful open sores, causing a patient to be unable to eat. This article provides information about mucositis symptoms, oral care, tips to reduce pain and treatment.

Nausea is a "sick" or "queasy" feeling in your stomach. Vomiting or "throwing up" is when your body empties what is in your stomach through your mouth. It often goes along with nausea.  In most cases it can be managed with medications and diet and lifestyle changes.

Diarrhea can be caused by cancer treatments, disease, infections, anxiety, food, among others. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, low levels of nutrients in your body, weight loss, and fatigue. This hand-out answers questions about and offers tips for managing diarrhea.

An overview of the causes and treatment of constipation.

Exercise can help you deal with the side effects of cancer treatment and help you live a healthier life.

Cognitive dysfunction, also known as chemo brain, can be caused by treatments for cancer. Chemo brain can lead to challenges with short-term memory, multi-tasking, and concentration. This article provides an overview of chemo brain and offers tips for coping and living with chemo brain.

Insomnia, or trouble sleeping, is a common problem for patients with cancer. This article discusses insomnia in the person with cancer, potential causes, and treatments.

This article gives tips for coping with urinary incontinence (UI) and exercises to strengthen the muscles that control urinary flow.

Some treatments for cancer, and at times cancer itself, can cause urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is when you cannot control the flow of your urine. This article includes information about incontinence after cancer treatment and tips for managing this side effect.

Many women affected by cancer worry about their sexual health. Sexual health is an important part of life. Sexual health is more than sex. It is the physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of sex. This article addresses some common questions about sexual health and cancer for women. The article may be useful for people born with ovaries and a uterus.

Many men with cancer worry about their sexual health. Sexual health is an important part of life. Sexual health is more than sex. It is the physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of sex. This article addresses some common questions about sexual health and cancer for men.