Pain, Collagen, and Recovery After Cancer Treatment
- LINDA DAL MOLIN
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 29
How your body can rebuild from the inside out
When we think about pain, we often focus on the nerves or muscles that hurt — but the real story lies in the connective tissue that supports and protects every part of the body. Collagen is the backbone of this system. It gives structure to your skin, joints, muscles, tendons, and even bones.
In this month’s Wellness by Designs podcast, physiotherapist Matt shared how collagen therapy is becoming a game-changer in both post-cancer rehabilitation and pain recovery. You can listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Why collagen matters in recovery
During cancer treatment — whether chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy — the body experiences inflammation, muscle wasting, connective-tissue damage, and lymphatic changes. These all slow healing and can leave lasting pain or stiffness.
Collagen supplementation provides the raw materials the body needs to:
Support the formation of new connective tissue
Strengthen skin and fascia after surgery or radiation
Encourage fibroblast activity for wound repair
Assist nerve and lymphatic recovery after scarring or “cording”
This is especially relevant for people post-chemotherapy or radiotherapy, where tissues may tighten and nerve pathways become hypersensitive.
The hidden pain of “cording”
After breast or prostate cancer treatment, some people develop cording — thick, tight bands under the skin that can feel like guitar strings. They can restrict arm or leg movement and trigger pain that radiates along nerves.Matt explains that cording is a mechanical and inflammatory response: the lymphatic system is trying to reroute itself after surgery or radiation. Physiotherapy, exercise, and collagen together can help restore elasticity and mobility.
Beyond beauty — collagen for bones and joints
Collagen isn’t just for hair and skin. It’s now clinically shown to support bone mineral density, especially in women during or after menopause. Research from Europe has demonstrated measurable improvements in bone structure and stability — something unheard of 20 years ago when loss of bone density was considered inevitable.
Matt’s clinical experience backs this up:
“Endocrinologists are starting to get it. They’re talking about collagen and exercise together as the best long-term strategies for bone health.”
He often recommends 10 grams daily, or up to 20 grams during acute healing phases such as post-surgery, fractures, or joint replacement.
For athletes and active recovery
Younger patients aren’t missing out either. Collagen can:
Reduce activity-related joint pain
Shorten recovery time after training
Improve tendon resilience and flexibility
Support DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) reduction
It’s particularly useful for high-impact sports like running, rowing, and netball. Different collagen types target different tissues — Type I and III for tendons and skin, Type II for joint cartilage — so a tailored approach works best.
Post-surgery and oncology recovery
Collagen supports healing at every stage:
Pre-surgery: helps prepare tissue and reduce inflammation.
Post-surgery: stimulates new collagen fibres for scar and skin repair.
Radiation recovery: improves elasticity in irradiated tissues, reducing tightness and pain.
Matt begins collagen therapy as soon as possible post-operation — typically within 1–2 weeks — to take advantage of the body’s “critical healing window.”
Key takeaways
Collagen is more than a beauty supplement — it’s a therapeutic tool for pain, repair, and regeneration.
It supports recovery from chemo/radiation damage, joint degeneration, and post-surgical healing.
Doses of 10–20 g per day are well-tolerated and clinically supported.
Combined with exercise and physiotherapy, collagen may help rebuild mobility, bone strength, and confidence in movement.
Ready to take the next step in your recovery?
If you’re experiencing ongoing pain, stiffness, or slow recovery after cancer treatment or surgery, nutritional and herbal medicine can play a powerful role in your healing journey.
As a Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath, I can design a personalised pain recovery program that supports tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and complements your medical and physiotherapy care.
Book a consultation to begin your tailored pain and collagen support plan — and rebuild your strength from within.
Listen to the full conversation
For the complete discussion on pain, recovery, and collagen science, listen to the full episode of Wellness by Designs featuring Matt:
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