When cancer treatment ends, the world expects celebration. The bell is rung, and everyone around breathes a sigh of relief. But for many survivors, that moment marks not an ending, but a new, confusing beginning.

The medical team steps back, the appointments stop, and a quiet question creeps in: now what?

Survivorship is more than the absence of disease. It's the long, often lonely process of learning how to live again, in a body, mind, and identity forever changed. Fatigue lingers. Treatment dulls memory and focus. Sleep becomes elusive. And beneath it all is the fear: what if it comes back?

But what if recovery after cancer isn't just about waiting for the next scan; it's about reclaiming control? Through lifestyle medicine, survivors can begin to rebuild their strength, calm their nervous system, and lower their risk of recurrence.

What measures are important for the survivor phase of cancer care? Why is connection and community so important?

In this episode, the Medical Director of the Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham, Dr. Amy Comander, returns. The pioneer in lifestyle medicine for survivorship joins us to share what true recovery looks like. She shares insights from her groundbreaking Paving the Path to Wellness program, and we talk about how to have a healthy life after the end of cancer treatment.

Things You'll Learn In This Episode

-Survivorship isn't just surviving Finishing treatment is only the beginning of recovery. How do survivors move from merely existing to truly thriving?

-Movement as medicine Exercise doesn't just build strength; it improves outcomes and lowers recurrence risk. What type of movement makes the biggest impact after cancer?

-Food over fear The right diet can reduce inflammation, support immunity, and ease anxiety about recurrence. What does the research actually say about the best foods for survivors, and which supplements to avoid?

-The overlooked healing power of connection Support groups and social bonds can dramatically improve the quality of life and survival. Why is community one of the most potent yet underused forms of medicine?

Guest Bio

Dr. Amy Comander specializes in the care of women with breast cancer. Dr. Comander is Medical Director of the Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham, where she also serves as Director of Breast Oncology and Cancer Survivorship at the Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham and at Newton Wellesley Hospital. She is the director of Lifestyle Medicine at the Mass General Cancer Center and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She received her undergraduate degree and a master's degree in Neuroscience at Harvard University. She received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency training and Hematology-Oncology fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She is board-certified in Hematology and Medical Oncology, and she is a Diplomat of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Comander has a strong interest in improving the quality of life and outcome of cancer survivors through important lifestyle interventions, including physical activity, diet, and mind/body interventions. She promotes healthy lifestyles for both her active treatment patients as well as those in the survivorship phase of care. She has launched PAVING the Path to Wellness, a 12-week lifestyle medicine-based survivorship program for women with breast cancer. Connect with Dr. Comander on LinkedIn.

Resources

The MGH Cancer Center is recruiting cancer survivors with insomnia for two behavioral treatment trials testing the Survivorship Sleep Program, a cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) skills program developed at MGH (PI: Daniel Hall, PhD; NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic ; NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic ). Eligible patients may be in treatment, post-treatment, or living with advanced cancer. All procedures are remote. Compensation is provided. Patients may see our study flyer and MGB Rally website (Rally | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Survivors with Insomnia ).

Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer | NEJM

Healthy Eating Plate • The Nutrition Source

10 Cancer Prevention Recommendations

About Your Host

Hosted by Dr. Deepa Grandon, MD, MBA, a triple board-certified physician with over 23 years of experience working as a Physician Consultant for influential organizations worldwide. Dr. Grandon is the founder of Transformational Life Consulting (TLC) and an outspoken faith-based leader in evidence-based lifestyle medicine.

Resources

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