Symptom Spotlight: Melanie's Updates on Sleep Apnea and Constipation
Sometimes the symptoms you least expect turn out to be the most important ones to pay attention to. In this Symptom Spotlight update, Melanie shares two surprising diagnoses she received after recording our earlier episodes — obstructive sleep apnea and chronic constipation with diarrhea breakthrough — and how both were hiding in plain sight beneath what she assumed were normal cancer treatment side effects. If you're a metastatic cancer patient who's been brushing off fatigue, poor sleep, or digestive issues as "just part of treatment," this episode is for you.
Symptoms Spotlight: Constipation with Abigail Johnston and Melanie Sisk
Hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston have an honest conversation about constipation—a common but often unspoken side effect of cancer treatment. They discuss how to recognize constipation beyond the obvious symptoms, share practical remedies like MiraLax, Colace, and the "prune juice slider," and emphasize the importance of movement for digestive health. The duo also addresses the challenge of swinging between constipation and diarrhea, offering advice on when to troubleshoot on your own and when to seek help from your medical team or a GI specialist.