The After. Cancer Podcast

Leslie J. Waltke, PT, DPT
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine

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.

  1. Jun 30

    ep 18 Can You Get Back to Normal After Cancer?

    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

    20 min

  2. Jun 23

    ep 17 BAD CANCER ADVICE - Why Smart People Fall for Cancer Misinformation

    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.

    19 min

  3. Jun 16

    ep 16: When Certainty Disappears: Living With Metastatic or Chronic Cancer

    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

    20 min

  4. Jun 9

    ep 15 - Can You Trust Your Body Again After Cancer? Why Your Body Is Not Betraying You

    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.

    19 min

  5. May 26

    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

    26 min

  6. May 19

    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!

    12 min

  7. May 12

    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!

    19 min

  8. May 5

    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

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Leslie J. Waltke, PT, DPT
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The After. Cancer Podcast
  • Show Website
    The After. Cancer Podcast

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