Podcast Episodes

In this episode, Tina and Leah cover what you need to know about folate, otherwise known as vitamin B9 or folic acid. What could be so important about folate that a whole episode is dedicated to it, you ask? Well, there are times when supplementation is needed and other times when it could be detrimental. Companies selling supplements aren’t going to tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but we will. Plus, there is a lot of misinformation out there on folate/folic acid, and who be...

What exactly are omega-3 fatty acids? They are essential, but what does “essential” even mean? Why do we need them? Tina and Leah tackle these questions and more. They also discuss the role of omega-3s before, during, and after treatment for cancer. They include a few studies that show particular benefits during conventional cancer treatments and some cautionary notes too.

Supplement use during and after cancer treatment is common. But do you really need to take supplements? How do you even begin to prioritize what (if any) supplements are right for you? In this episode, Tina and Leah open up about how they approach their use. Instead of saying, "must do this or that," they talk about how you can prioritize supplements.

The third installment of the At the Movies pod is Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me. In this 2004 shockumentary, Morgan eats nothing but McDonald’s three times a day for 30 days and assesses the effects it has on his body over that period of time but is this movie exaggerating the facts? And with some problematic and outdated material, can it be shrugged off as “of its time”? You’re going to want to listen to this one to find out what Tina and Leah think! SPOILER ALERT: Overall Rating: Tina gave t...

This week Tina and Leah discuss In Defense of Food, a 2015 documentary that tries to answer the question, what can I eat to eat healthy? The documentary is based on a 2008 book by Michael Pollan, who also has written other best-sellers like The Omnivore’s Dilemma and The Botany of Desire.

The 2017 movie What the Health? presents its case for adopting an animal-free diet, but does the science the filmmakers cite support their claims? In the latest pod, Tina and Leah go to the movies and review the first of three food-related films, separating the wheat from the chaff, fact from fiction.

Chemo brain, brain farts, brain fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI)… no matter what you call it, it is a debilitating side effect that may persist for months or years after treatment ends. CRCI is more than just forgetting why you walked into a room or where you left your keys. Tina and Leah review the possible causes of CRCI and discuss ways that you can improve brain function.

Fracture risk increases with age as our bones thin, but throw some cancer treatment into the mix and bone thinning can happen sooner and more rapidly. Loss of bone mineral density (known as osteopenia or osteoporosis) increases fracture risk. This is not only true for older cancer patients but young ones too. And bone loss may be late-onset, not showing up until decades following treatment.

Cancer-related fatigue (CrF) is common, both during treatment for cancer and afterward. Studies show up to 30% of cancer survivors experience fatigue for years following diagnosis. In this episode, Tina and Leah review the official contributing factors to CrF, and a few causes that aren’t found on the official list.

Knowing whether there is familial hereditary cancer syndrome can influence decision-making for the person with cancer and their family. In this podcast, we discuss who, why and how the testing for hereditary cancer syndromes should be approached. Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, where the BRCA genes are involved,  may be the most commonly known, but there are many others to look for including Lynch syndrome, Li Fraumeni syndrome, and Cowden syndrome.

Doctors' appointments can be overwhelming, especially after a cancer diagnosis. Tina and Leah review some of the questions to bring up at an oncology appointment and offer some tips to help patients, both newly diagnosed and seasoned veterans, about what to bring to appointments.

Whether it's about integrative medicine or questions you might not have thought of, we'll try and cover how to talk to your doctor in this pod.