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The After. Cancer Podcast

The After. Cancer Podcast

Written by: Leslie J. Waltke PT DPT
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 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.Copyright 2026 The After. Cancer Podcast Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Ep 8 - 18 Million Cancer Survivors: The Reality of Cancer Survivorship Today

    Ep 8 - 18 Million Cancer Survivors: The Reality of Cancer Survivorship Today
    Apr 21 2026
    There are millions of people living with and beyond cancer today — far more than most people realize! In the United States alone, there are more than 18 million cancer survivors, and that number continues to grow every year. Advances in treatment mean more people are surviving cancer than ever before. But survivorship is not always the simple “happy ending” people imagine. Episode 8 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Why Cancer Survivorship Numbers Matter 01:58 How Many Cancer Survivors Are There? 03:12 What “Cancer Survivor” Actually Means 04:40 Why Survivorship Is Growing So Fast 06:05 The Many Faces of Survivorship 07:28 Survivorship Across Different Ages 08:55 What These Numbers Mean for Families 10:12 The Hidden Challenges Survivors Face 11:35 Why Survivorship Care Is So Important 12:58 Millions of Stories Behind the Statistics 14:05 You Are Not Alone 15:12 Closing Thoughts In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke takes a step back and looks at cancer survivorship through the lens of data and reality. How many people are actually living with cancer today? What does survivorship really mean? And why are so many people living with long-term physical and emotional effects of treatment? You’ll learn how survivorship is defined, why the numbers are changing so quickly, and what those numbers mean for patients, families, and the healthcare system. Most importantly, this episode highlights a truth that many survivors quietly discover: you are far from alone. There are millions of people navigating life after cancer — learning to rebuild strength, identity, and confidence along the way. Resources Mentioned American Cancer Society — Cancer Survivor Statistics National Cancer Institute — Office of Cancer Survivorship Cancer survivorship research and epidemiology data Related Episodes: Episode 2 — The Finish Line Myth: Why Survivorship May Feel Harder Than You Expected https://youtu.be/UUggVScpzY8?si=_TFewtGFLg-gqcT7 Episode 6 — Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t https://youtu.be/TfO810C5dfc Episode 7 — Stop Calling Me Brave: The Pros and Cons of “Battle” Language in Cancer https://youtu.be/0zr3NZq0D8o Community Shout Outs A special thank you to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a nonprofit organization providing one-to-one peer mentorship for people facing breast cancer. Through their mentorship program, individuals newly diagnosed with breast cancer are matched with trained mentors who have walked a similar path. These connections offer emotional support, practical guidance, and the reassurance that no one has to navigate this experience alone. Learn more at: https://abcdmentor.org About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist and educator with more than 30 years of experience working with people living with and beyond cancer. Her work focuses on improving recovery, function, and quality of life after cancer treatment. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast is a place for honest conversations about the realities of cancer and survivorship. Rooted in medicine. Spoken in human. Subscribe / Follow New episodes are released every Tuesday. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Professional Education For clinicians and healthcare professionals seeking advanced education in cancer rehabilitation, visit: Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy https://waltkeacademy.com Contact Website: https://waltkeacademy.com Email: info@waltkeacademy.com Topics Cancer survivorship Cancer survivor statistics Long-term cancer effects Cancer recovery Cancer epidemiology 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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    17 mins
  • Ep 7 Battle Language in Cancer: Why “Fighting” Cancer Can Hurt Survivors

    Ep 7 Battle Language in Cancer: Why “Fighting” Cancer Can Hurt Survivors
    Apr 14 2026
    “You’re so brave.” “Keep fighting.” “You’re a warrior.” These phrases are everywhere in the cancer world. They’re meant to be encouraging, supportive, and empowering. But for many people living with cancer, those same words can feel complicated, uncomfortable, or even painful. In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the language we use to talk about cancer — especially the powerful and sometimes problematic “battle” metaphors that surround the disease. Why do we describe cancer as a fight? Why do we call patients warriors or survivors? And what happens when someone doesn’t feel brave at all? Episode 7 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:28 The Language We Use Around Cancer 01:42 Where “Battle” Language Came From 03:20 Why Some Survivors Find It Empowering 05:05 When “You’re So Brave” Becomes a Burden 06:48 The Hidden Pressure of Being a “Fighter” 08:03 Cancer Outcomes Are Not About Willpower 09:35 When Words Hurt Patients and Families 11:10 A Patient Story About Battle Language 12:42 How Language Shapes Identity After Cancer 14:08 Finding Better Ways to Support Survivors 15:32 Reflection: Choosing Words With Care 16:40 Closing Thoughts This episode looks at both sides of the conversation. For some people, battle language provides strength and identity. For others, it creates pressure, guilt, or the sense that outcomes are tied to personal effort rather than biology and medicine. Dr. Waltke discusses how these cultural narratives developed, how they influence patients and families, and how we might speak about cancer in ways that are more compassionate, flexible, and honest. Because sometimes the most supportive thing we can offer someone living with cancer is not a slogan — but understanding. Resources Mentioned • Research on illness metaphors and health communication • Studies on psychological effects of “battle language” in serious illness • Patient advocacy discussions on survivorship identity Related Episodes Episode 1 — Cancer Labels and Claiming Identity: Who Decides What to Call You? https://youtu.be/09HpIAh92sk?si=ZYprI812Tmd5tKtH Episode 6 — Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t https://youtu.be/TfO810C5dfc Episode 8 — Cancer Survivorship by the Numbers: The Reality Most People Don’t Know Link Coming Soon! Community Shout Outs A special thank you to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people facing breast cancer through one-to-one peer mentorship and compassionate support. ABCD connects individuals newly diagnosed with breast cancer with trained mentors who have experienced breast cancer themselves. These personal connections provide something incredibly powerful — the reassurance of speaking with someone who truly understands what you are going through. To learn more about their programs or to request support, visit: https://abcdmentor.org About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and advocate dedicated to helping people live fully with and beyond cancer. With more than three decades of experience working alongside cancer patients and survivors, she brings a rare blend of medical expertise, compassion, and honesty to conversations about life after diagnosis. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast is an educational and empowering space where we talk about the missing conversations in cancer care — the things people often wish someone had explained earlier. Rooted in medicine and spoken in human, the podcast explores the physical, emotional, and practical realities of living with cancer and beyond. Subscribe / Follow New episodes of The After. Cancer Podcast are released weekly on Tuesdays. Video episodes are available on YouTube, and audio versions can be found on most podcast platforms. Professional Education If you are a rehabilitation professional, oncology clinician, or healthcare leader interested in improving care for people living with and beyond cancer, visit: Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy https://waltkeacademy.com Dr. Waltke teaches continuing education courses and provides consulting for hospitals and health systems working to build or expand cancer rehabilitation programs. Contact Website: https://waltkeacademy.com Email: info@waltkeacademy.com Topics Cancer language Battle metaphors in illness Cancer identity Survivorship culture Patient communication Cancer psychology 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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    17 mins
  • Ep 6 - Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t

    Ep 6 - Survivor Guilt in Cancer: Learning to Live When Others Don’t
    Apr 7 2026
    Many cancer survivors quietly struggle with survivor guilt — the painful question: Why did I survive when others didn’t? In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores why survivor guilt happens, how it affects cancer survivors, and how people learn to carry loss while still allowing themselves to fully live. In this episode of The After. Cancer Podcast, Dr. Leslie Waltke explores the complicated emotional reality of survivor guilt — the experience of living when others do not. She discusses why these feelings occur, how they are connected to grief and trauma, and why survivor guilt can emerge months or even years after treatment ends. Chapters 00:00 Episode Overview 01:00 Introduction to Survivor Guilt in Cancer 03:00 What Survivor Guilt Is 07:00 Why Cancer Survivor Guilt Happens 13:00 Real Survivor Stories 19:00 Learning to Live When Others Don’t 23:00 Reflection Prompts for Survivors 25:00 Next Episode Teaser & Closing You’ll hear real patient stories, learn why guilt can coexist with gratitude, and discover healthier ways to carry the memory of those we’ve lost while still allowing ourselves to fully live. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable celebrating your own survival, struggled after losing someone from your cancer community, or wondered if it’s okay to move forward with your life, this episode is for you. Surviving cancer is not just about staying alive. It is also about learning how to live with the emotional complexity that survival can bring. Resources Mentioned Frankl V. Man’s Search for Meaning — foundational work describing survivor guilt in trauma survivors. Niederland WG. The Survivor Syndrome. International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 1968. American Psychological Association — trauma and post‑traumatic stress research. Cordova MJ et al. Posttraumatic Growth Following Breast Cancer. Health Psychology. National Cancer Institute — emotional adjustment after cancer treatment. American Cancer Society — coping with cancer survivorship and grief. Related After. Cancer Podcast Episodes: 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 5 – Why Your Brain Stops Processing After a Cancer Diagnosis https://youtu.be/RxK0WmMgaJE Episode 7 – Battle Language in Cancer Community Shout Outs A special thank you to the many cancer survivors who have shared their stories with honesty and courage! Your willingness to talk about grief, loss, and the emotional realities of survivorship helps others feel less alone. ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis ABCDbreastcancersupport.org 1-800-977-4121 About the Host Dr. Leslie Waltke is an internationally respected oncology physical therapist, educator, and advocate for improving the lives of people living with and beyond cancer. She is the founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy and has spent her career helping patients and clinicians better understand the physical and emotional realities of cancer recovery. About the Podcast The After. Cancer Podcast explores the real and often unspoken parts of the cancer experience. Hosted by oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke, the podcast blends medical insight, survivor stories, and honest conversations about life after diagnosis. Each episode is designed to help listeners better understand the physical, emotional, and social challenges that can arise after cancer — and to offer practical tools for navigating them. Rooted in medicine. Spoken in human. Subscribe / Follow Join The After. Cancer Podcast email list! https://drwaltke.myflodesk.com/aftercancer New episodes are typically released every Tuesday. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Professional Education If you are a healthcare professional interested in improving cancer care, visit the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy for continuing education courses designed to help clinicians better support people living with and beyond cancer. Learn more at WaltkeAcademy.com Contact Website: WaltkeAcademy.com Email: dr.waltke@waltkeacademy.com Topics cancer survivor guilt life after cancer grief in survivorship emotional recovery after cancer coping with loss in cancer communities survivorship psychology trauma and cancer recovery 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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    20 mins
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