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Cognitive changes
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Some people can experience problems with cognition after a cancer diagnosis and during treatment. Cognition refers to things like memory, the way we think and process information, and planning and organisation of tasks and daily activities. Many people describe these changes as “brain fog” or “chemo brain”, although these changes are …
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Smoking and Cancer
| Updated 8 Jul 2026
Stopping smoking has important benefits and many of these happen straight away. It is not easy to quit, but there are lots of resources to make this process easier. This information from the NHS better health resources describes the changes to your body and the benefits of stopping smoking. Quit …
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Alcohol and Cancer
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Cutting down on alcohol intake has important benefits for your general health and well being. The world cancer research fund advises to protect yourself against cancer, to not drink at all. Alcohol does not have any benefits to prevent against developing cancer. For more information, see Alcohol and cancer | World Cancer Research Fund Men and women are advised …
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Managing joint pain (arthralgia) after a cancer diagnosis
| Updated 8 Jul 2026
What is joint pain (arthralgia)? Joint pain is a sensation of discomfort, achiness, or tenderness in one or more of your joints. It can make movement difficult, leading to muscle weakness and increased stiffness, which often creates a cycle of worsening pain. Pain is most common in the hands and feet, …
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Support groups
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Facing cancer can sometimes feel overwhelming. Even with supportive friends and family, many people find themselves longing for connection with others who truly understand what they are going through. Cancer support groups offer a safe and compassionate space where people living with and beyond cancer and families can find strength …
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Bone health and cancer
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Cancer and its many treatments can affect the bones in different way. Sometimes these treatments can weaken your bones, this can happen in different ways. Some anti-cancer treatments can cause bone loss and thinning Some cancers can spread to the bones (see bone metastasis section below) Cancer may affect bone building cells, which can weaken areas …
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Heart health and cancer treatment
| Updated 10 Jul 2026
Cancer treatments can be very effective, but some of these treatments may occasionally affect the heart, by putting it under extra strain. This strain can impact the heart in different ways, it may reduce how hard it can pump, it might change the rhythm of the heart (see Arrythmias below), it might affect the blood pressure or inflame the …
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Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) is the use of drugs that affect the whole body. It aims to destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing and dividing. SACT drugs include, but are not limited to: cytotoxic chemotherapy biological therapies targeted therapies immunotherapy
Immunotherapy
| Updated 12 Apr 2026
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system recognise and fight cancer cells. It works by boosting or modifying the body’s natural defences. Immunotherapy may be used on its own or alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy. It is usually given through a …
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Feeling sick (nausea)
| Updated 8 Jul 2026
Nausea is the feeling that you might be sick (vomit). It is a common symptom for people living with cancer and may happen for several different reasons: Causes of nausea in cancer: Some cancers can affect the stomach, liver, brain, or bowel, which can cause nausea. During and after surgery, anaesthetic drugs, pain …
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