Cancer can change your body and life in ways people rarely talk about.
The After. Cancer Podcast explores the real-world experience of living with and beyond cancer - the fear, the side effects, the recovery, the identity shifts and the path forward. Hosted by oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke, each episode features honest, understandable, and medically accurate conversations, survivor stories, and practical guidance to help people better navigate life after cancer with strength, clarity, and hope.
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Join the After Cancer Email List! Join my email list for episode updates, practical recovery tips, and Season 2 announcements. Join here: https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer What should we cover in Season 2? Send your ideas to: Email: info@waltkeacademy.com Episode 18 Summary: Cancer treatment has an ending date. Recovery often doesn't. In this Season 1 finale, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores why life after cancer may not return to what it once was, why recovery is an active process, and why accepting change should never mean accepting treatable weakness, fatigue, or loss of function. This podcast is brought to you in partnership with CURE. In This Episode 18 • Why the end of treatment is rarely the end of recovery • The myth of closure after cancer • Accepting change without accepting treatable limitations • The role of rehabilitation and exercise • Looking ahead to Season 2 Reflection Questions • What part of your life have you been waiting to restart? • Are there limitations you've assumed were permanent that deserve evaluation? • What is one small step you can take this week toward rebuilding your health, strength, or life?
Chapters ep 18: 00:00 Introduction 00:01 Why Life Doesn't Go Back to Normal After Cancer 00:02 Welcome to The After. Cancer Podcast 00:03 The Myth of Closure 00:05 Why Survivorship Isn't a Finish Line 00:08 Recovery Is Not Passive 00:10 Acceptance vs. Giving Up 00:11 Too Many Survivors Accept Treatable Limitations 00:13 Rehabilitation Is About Rebuilding Life 00:15 Reflection Questions 00:15:35 Thank You for Season 1 00:17 Looking Ahead to Season 2 00:18 ABCD Shout-Out 00:19 Closing
SEASON 1 EPISODE LINKS: Ep 1 - Cancer Labels and Claiming Identity: who decides what to call you? https://youtu.be/09HpIAh92sk?si=ZYprI812Tmd5tKtH Ep 2 - The Finish Line Myth: why survivorship may feel harder than you expected https://youtu.be/UUggVScpzY8?si=_TFewtGFLg-gqcT7 Ep 3 - The Cancer Comparing: why we do it and why it doesn’t help https://youtu.be/LDh4mGI9tWo?si=5ggmnul2s8H2YfkJ Ep 4 - Living in a Hyper-Vigilant Body: why your body stays on high alert after cancer https://youtu.be/h8p7bvUWBew?si=dA8hWjfcylw3XAJ5 Ep 5 - Why Your Brain Stops Processing After a Cancer Diagnosis https://youtu.be/RxK0WmMgaJE Ep 6 - Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t https://youtu.be/TfO810C5dfc Ep 7 - Battle Language in Cancer: Why “Fighting” Cancer Can Hurt Survivors https://youtu.be/0zr3NZq0D8o Ep 8 - 18 Million Cancer Survivors: The Reality of Cancer Survivorship Today https://youtu.be/gntcH3lvTDs Ep 9 - Cancer Cell 101: what cancer is and how it starts: https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8 Ep10 - Cancer Surgery 101: why “we got it all” doesn’t mean “you’re done.” https://youtu.be/ESWK-oB3muM Ep 11 - Chemotherapy 101: why chemo feels so different https://youtu.be/jdJc3u7HMlU Ep 12 - Radiation Therapy 101: https://youtu.be/N09j9ViFmm0 Ep 13 – Why Cancer Survivors Stay Exhausted https://youtu.be/V3gnQtdRRYE Ep 14 - How Cancer Changes Relationships, Marriage & Friendships https://youtu.be/KrbOzeEwLww Ep15 - Did Your Body Actually Betray You?? https://youtu.be/IYqBNPNI0bw Ep 16 - When Certainty Disappears: Living With Metastatic or Chronic Cancer https://youtu.be/7r0mNrxfVGk ep 17 - Bad Cancer Advice: when smart people fall for misinformation: https://youtu.be/2syEITnt5ec Resources: Email: info@waltkeacademy.com Website: https://www.drlesliewaltke.com CURE: https://www.curetoday.com ABCD: https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org
ep 17 BAD CANCER ADVICE - Why Smart People Fall for Cancer Misinformation
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Duration 18:50
Cancer misinformation is everywhere—social media, influencers, testimonials, miracle cures, supplement stacks, and conspiracy theories. In this episode, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores why misinformation spreads so effectively, why intelligent people are not immune to it, and how patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals can evaluate claims more thoughtfully. The conversation examines confirmation bias, the appeal of certainty, the power of stories, the influence of social media algorithms, and the importance of balancing hope with evidence.
Key Topics Discussed
• Why smart people can fall for misinformation
• Confirmation bias and uncertainty after a cancer diagnosis
• The difference between stories and scientific evidence
• How social media amplifies misleading information
• Influencers versus expertise
• What 'do your own research' really means
• How to evaluate health claims online
• Trust, skepticism, and expertise in healthcare
• Why science changes recommendations over time
• The role of identity and community in shaping beliefs
• Balancing hope, curiosity, and critical thinking
Episode Chapters
• 00:00 Introduction – The threat of misinformation
• 02:30 Why intelligent people believe false information
• 06:00 Confirmation bias and the search for certainty
• 09:30 Stories versus scientific evidence
• 13:00 Social media and the misinformation machine
• 17:30 Influencers, expertise, and visibility
• 21:00 'Do Your Own Research' unpacked
• 25:00 How to evaluate medical claims
• 30:00 Trust, skepticism, and healthcare
• 35:00 Why science changes its recommendations
• 39:00 Identity, beliefs, and intellectual humility
• 43:00 Practical strategies for patients and caregivers
• 47:00 Reflection prompts and closing thoughts
Reflection Prompts
1. When you encounter health information online, what signals make you trust it?
2. Have you ever changed your mind about an important belief? What helped you do that?
3. How can you balance curiosity, hope, and critical thinking when making healthcare decisions?
Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 9 Cancer Cell 101: what cancer is and how it starts: https://youtu.be/k9_NkHp1rZ8
Episode 10 Cancer Surgery 101: why “we got it all” doesn’t mean “you’re done.” https://youtu.be/ESWK-oB3muM
Episode 11 Chemotherapy 101: why chemo feels so different https://youtu.be/jdJc3u7HMlU
Episode 12 Radiation Therapy 101: https://youtu.be/N09j9ViFmm0
Episode 14: How Cancer Changes Relationships, Marriage & Friendships https://youtu.be/KrbOzeEwLww
Episode 15: Did Your Body Actually Betray You?? https://youtu.be/IYqBNPNI0bw
Episode 16: When Certainty Disappears: Living With Metastatic or Chronic Cancer https://youtu.be/7r0mNrxfVGk
Resources
Learn more about ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org
Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy
https://www.drlesliewaltke.com
Explore cancer rehab CEU courses, consulting, and speaking opportunities through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy.
Next Episode
Episode 18: The Myth of Closure. As Season One comes to a close, we explore why many cancer survivors never receive the sense of closure they expected, and how learning to live without a perfectly wrapped-up ending can create a healthier relationship with uncertainty.
ep 16: When Certainty Disappears: Living With Metastatic or Chronic Cancer
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 • Duration 19:52
A metastatic cancer diagnosis changes more than a treatment plan. It changes a person's relationship with time, uncertainty, planning, and the future itself. In this episode, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the often misunderstood reality of living with metastatic (stage IV) or chronic cancer. This is not a conversation about giving up. It is a conversation about building a meaningful life when certainty is no longer available.
Together, we discuss scan anxiety, the loneliness of looking well, the challenges of making life decisions without clear timelines, the role of exercise and cancer rehabilitation in metastatic disease, and why people living with stage IV cancer deserve to be understood—not stereotyped. This episode is brought to you in partnership with CURE.
In This Episode
• Why metastatic cancer changes a person's relationship with the future
• The psychological burden of living with ongoing uncertainty
• Scanxiety and the endless cycle of waiting for results
• The loneliness of looking healthy while carrying invisible burdens
• The planning paradox: trips, retirement, finances, and major life decisions
• Why strength, exercise, and cancer rehabilitation matter in metastatic disease
• How uncertainty can clarify values and priorities
• Moving forward without toxic positivity
Reflection Prompts
1. What decision in your life is uncertainty making difficult right now?
2. What is one thing people misunderstand about living with metastatic disease?
3. What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with metastatic cancer?
Episode Chapters
00:00 – When Certainty Disappears
03:10 – Living Between Categories
05:20 – Survivor, Patient, or Both?
06:47 – The Endless Waiting Room
08:11 – The Loneliness of Looking Well
09:30 – The Planning Paradox
11:40 – Why Function Matters More Than Ever
14:09 – What Uncertainty Teaches Us
15:52 – Building a Meaningful Life Without Certainty
16:15 – A Message to Those Living With Metastatic Cancer
17:22 – Reflection Prompts & Closing Thoughts
Resources Mentioned
Episode 8: Survivorship by the Numbers: https://youtu.be/gntcH3lvTDs
The After. Cancer Podcast YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@aftercancerpodcast
Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy: https://www.drlesliewaltke.com
ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org
ep 15 - Can You Trust Your Body Again After Cancer? Why Your Body Is Not Betraying You
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • Duration 18:50
Many cancer survivors reach a point where they no longer trust their bodies. Cancer appeared inside the very body that was supposed to protect them. Treatment changed how their body looks, feels, and functions. It is understandable why so many people describe the experience as betrayal. But what if there is another way to understand the story?
In Episode 15, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the idea that a random cellular error should not define your relationship with your body for the rest of your life. Drawing on biology, rehabilitation science, and patient experiences, this conversation reframes survivorship through the lens of partnership rather than resentment. You will learn why the human body is remarkably resilient, how adaptation drives recovery, and why movement, exercise, and rehabilitation are powerful acts of collaboration with your body after cancer.
This episode is an invitation to consider a different possibility: your body may not have betrayed you. It may be the same body that has been fighting for you every second of every day.
Chapters
00:00 – Opening Hook: Did Your Body Betray You?
01:19 – Welcome & Season One Update
02:35 – What Your Body Was Doing Before Cancer
04:15 – The Biology of Protection and DNA Repair
06:40 – Why 'Betrayal' May Not Be the Right Story
09:20 – The Survivor Who Was Angry at Her Body
12:05 – Resentment vs. Partnership
14:00 – The Science of Resilience and Adaptation
17:10 – Why Cancer Rehabilitation Works
19:15 – Grief, Identity, and Not Recognizing Your Body
22:05 – Movement as Communication
24:40 – A Random Cell Should Not Control the Next 30 Years
27:10 – The Stories We Tell Ourselves
29:30 – Reflection Prompts
31:05 – ABCD Community Shout Out
32:00 – Next Episode: Living With Metastatic Disease
Key Topics Discussed
• Why many survivors feel their body betrayed them after cancer
• The difference between betrayal and biological vulnerability
• How the body repairs DNA and protects itself every day
• The science of resilience and adaptation
• Why rehabilitation works after cancer
• Movement as communication and partnership
• Grief versus war in the relationship with your body
• How the stories we tell ourselves shape recovery
• Building a stronger future through partnership rather than resentment
Reflection Prompts
1. If you viewed your body as a teammate instead of an enemy, what is one thing you would start doing differently this week?
2. What has your body done for you since your cancer diagnosis that you rarely give it credit for?
3. What story have you been telling yourself about your body since cancer—and is that story helping you build the future you want?
Related Episodes
Episode 1 – Cancer Labels and Claiming Identity https://youtu.be/09HpIAh92sk?si=ZYprI812Tmd5tKtH
Episode 2 – The Finish Line Myth https://youtu.be/UUggVScpzY8?si=_TFewtGFLg-gqcT7
Episode 3 – The Cancer Comparing https://youtu.be/LDh4mGI9tWo?si=5ggmnul2s8H2YfkJ
Episode 4 – Living in a Hyper-Vigilant Body https://youtu.be/h8p7bvUWBew?si=dA8hWjfcylw3XAJ5
Episode 5 – Why Your Brain Stops Processing After a Cancer Diagnosis https://youtu.be/RxK0WmMgaJE
Episode 6 – Survivor Guilt in Cancer https://youtu.be/TfO810C5dfc\
Episode 7 – Battle Language in Cancer https://youtu.be/0zr3NZq0D8o
Episode 8 – The Reality of Cancer Survivorship Today
https://youtu.be/gntcH3lvTDs
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 Explained https://youtu.be/jdJc3u7HMlU
Episode 12 – Radiation Therapy 101 https://youtu.be/N09j9ViFmm0
Episode 13 – Exercise During & After Cancer Treatment https://youtu.be/V3gnQtdRRYE
Episode 14 – The Relationship Earthquakes https://youtu.be/KrbOzeEwLww
Community Shout Out
ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) provides free, virtual, personalized emotional support by matching anyone impacted by breast cancer with a trained volunteer mentor who has a similar lived experience. Abcdbreastcancersupport.org
About the Host
Dr. Leslie Waltke, PT, DPT, is an oncology physical therapist, educator, speaker, and founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy. She serves as Cancer Rehabilitation Coordinator for Aurora Health Care and is dedicated to helping people recover, understand and navigate life during and after cancer.
About the Podcast
The After. Cancer Podcast, in partnership with CURE, is rooted in medicine, spoken in human. Each week, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the physical, emotional, and practical realities of life during and after cancer.
Ep 14 - The Relationship Earthquakes
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 • Duration 24:23
The Relationship Earthquakes: How Cancer Changes Marriages, Friendships, Families, Intimacy, Parenting, and the Invisible Expectations Between People
Cancer does not just change bodies. It changes relationships.
In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the often-unspoken ways cancer can reshape marriages, friendships, family dynamics, parenting, intimacy, communication, and support systems. While many people expect the physical challenges of cancer, few are prepared for the relationship aftershocks that can continue long after treatment ends.
Dr. Waltke discusses why some relationships become stronger while others fracture, how cancer can expose existing patterns within relationships, and why survivors often find themselves carrying not only the weight of their diagnosis but also the emotions and expectations of the people around them.
Topics include caregiver dynamics, friendship loss, emotional support, parenting through cancer, body image, intimacy, communication challenges, changing identities, and the difficult reality that cancer sometimes reveals which relationships are capable of growing and which are not.
If your relationships changed after cancer—or if you have struggled to explain those changes to others—this episode offers validation, insight, and perspective on one of the most common yet least discussed parts of the cancer experience.
This podcast is in Partnership with CURE. Visit CUREtoday.com
Resources Mentioned
- ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- The After. Cancer Podcast Community
Related Episodes
• Episode 1: Cancer Labels and Claiming Identity: Who Decides What to Call You? https://youtu.be/09HpIAh92sk?si=ZYprI812Tmd5tKtH
• Episode 2: The Finish Line Myth: Why Survivorship May Feel Harder Than You Expected https://youtu.be/UUggVScpzY8?si=_TFewtGFLg-gqcT7
• Episode 4: Living in a Hyper-Vigilant Body: Why Your Body Stays on High Alert After Cancer https://youtu.be/h8p7bvUWBew?si=dA8hWjfcylw3XAJ5
• Episode 6: Survivor Guilt in Cancer https://youtu.be/TfO810C5dfc
• Episode 15: Your Body Is Not Betraying You – coming soon!
Community Shout Outs
A special thank you to ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) for their ongoing support of people living with and beyond breast cancer.
ABCD provides free, personalized emotional support by matching individuals impacted by breast cancer with trained volunteer mentors who have lived similar experiences.
About the Host
Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, speaker, consultant, and cancer rehabilitation leader. For more than three decades, she has helped people living with and beyond cancer navigate recovery, function, survivorship, and quality of life.
She is the founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy, host of The After. Cancer Podcast, and a national advocate for improving access to cancer rehabilitation and survivorship care.
About the Podcast
The After. Cancer Podcast is rooted in medicine and spoken in human.
Hosted by oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke, this podcast explores the physical, emotional, and practical realities of cancer and survivorship. Each episode combines evidence-based education, clinical insight, and real-world experience to help survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals better understand life during and after cancer.
Subscribe and Follow
If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, follow, leave a review, and share the podcast with someone who may benefit from these conversations.
Your support helps more people living with and beyond cancer discover the information, validation, and community they deserve.
Join the After Cancer Podcast email list and get new episodes delivered to your inbox:
https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer
Work With Dr. Waltke
Dr. Waltke is available for CEU and CME education programs, keynote speaking engagements, cancer survivorship presentations, oncology rehabilitation consulting, health system program development, and professional/interdisciplinary healthcare education.
To learn more about educational programs, speaking engagements, and consulting services through the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy, visit WaltkeAcademy.com.
Contact Information
Website: WaltkeAcademy.com
LinkedIn: Dr. Leslie Waltke
Topics
Cancer survivorship, relationships after cancer, marriage and cancer, friendship loss, caregivers, caregiving, family dynamics, intimacy after cancer, body image, parenting with cancer, emotional support, communication, survivorship challenges, cancer recovery, cancer relationships, caregiver burden, survivorship psychology, life after cancer, oncology rehabilitation, Dr. Leslie Waltke
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 13 - Why Cancer Survivors Stay Exhausted Even When “Active.” Activity, Exercise and Cancer Rehab
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • Duration 26:06
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
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 12:02
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
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 18:59
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”
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Duration 19:30
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
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • Duration 21:14
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!
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