Mind, Body and Side Effects

A routine blood test can determine when a genetic anomaly puts someone at high risk of dangerously toxic side effects from a common chemotherapy.

Ken Kessler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor. Although treatment was successful, Ken had lingering symptoms -- ones impacting his ability to think and enjoy his hobbies. The Functional Wellness Clinic helped him recover.

Rogel Cancer Center chaplains are trained to provide care for patients and their families through an interfaith lens, which allows them to help people of any spiritual persuasion.

When U-M public health professor Victor Strecher’s daughter passed away at the age of 19, he navigated his immense grief by committing to teach his students as if they were his own children. He developed new habits and behaviors that helped him show up for his students in the way he wanted, like walking to work, eating healthfully, meditating, getting more sleep and taking better care of himself.

Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, difficulty multitasking — about 1 in 3 patients experience mental changes following cancer treatment. Researchers have been giving the topic serious study since the mid-1990s.

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other cancer treatments can impair sexual function, as well as create issues with sexual desire and arousal. Some patients may question whether sexual pleasure is still possible. And there are often emotional challenges as well as physical ones.

Between one-third and one-half of patients seen in the Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic are dealing with a sleep-related problem. Psychological distress and fatigue often lead to poor sleep habits and keep those with a history of cancer from snoozing soundly, while others wake up regularly because of pain or develop sleep apnea.

One patient transcends her ‘moat’ against COVID-19 while her art therapist finds unexpected benefits to teaching online.

Estrogen-lowering aromatase inhibitors are frequently prescribed to women with ovarian and uterine cancers. Research shows joint and muscle pain are a common and often life-limiting side effect of letrozole and other medications in the same class, known as aromatase inhibitors. They can also cause hot flashes and fatigue.

Aromatase inhibitors are a game-changer for the treatment of some breast cancers, but many patients experience muscle and joint pain. A Rogel Cancer Center specialist discusses what’s behind treatment-related pain and what patients can do about it.