Podcast Episodes

We’re celebrating our 50th episode! Looking back, even we are amazed at how much ground we’ve covered. Join us as we hit the highlights from past and take on some listener questions. This is a one-of-a-kind episode! Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you haven’t already, hit that follow button! We’ll keep them coming. And, as always, thank you for joining us! Okay, here are some of the topics we've covered so far: Hot Flashes, Soy, Coffee, Alcohol, Insomnia, Mouth Sores, Nausea, How to Talk to Your D...

Are there any natural cancer cures out there? What the heck is the abscopal effect? Should you pursue it? What is the goal of your treatment? How do you decide between treatment A versus treatment B? Are antioxidants always a good idea? Join us in this jam-packed episode where we discuss details on these topics and much, much more. In this episode, Tina & Leah discuss concepts behind some natural agents used in cancer care. Retractions of Dr. Bharat Aggarwal’s papers on Curcumin/Boswellia High ...

In this episode, Tina & Leah discuss how you can reliably reduce your risk of cancer occurrence, recurrence, or improve your odds if you currently have cancer. They pick up where they left off in Episode 47, talking about The Cancer Conflict, a 2022 documentary directed by Thomas Meadmore that follows two separate people, each with newly diagnosed cancer. One chooses to use conventional treatments, adding some cutting-edge therapies from Germany. The other chooses to pursue alternative treatment...

How do you choose your treatment? Conventional? Alternative? A combination of both (integrative)? Listen in as Tina & Leah discuss some do’s and don’ts of decision making that you need to know. A film called The Cancer Conflict juxtaposed two newly diagnosed patients and followed each one as they went through their cancer treatments. One person started with conventional, the other one went with alternative medicine. This film inspired our discussion about how people make such decisions and how ...

Join us as we talk about navigating survivorship with Amy & Stef. As always, the conversation is upbeat and includes tips for survivors and caregivers alike. Amy & Stef started Cancer for Breakfast, a podcast and community, with one goal in mind: to create a supportive place for those who have had cancer. With their immutable wit and authenticity, they bring comfort to the common experience of being a person diagnosed with cancer. Connect with Cancer for Breakfast here: Email Website Instagra...

We taped a minisode to wrap up Leah's story and share the results of her biopsy! Ah, life of a #cancerinsider…tune in to find out how the story plays out. Tell us your thoughts on this episode! Support the show Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Gain access to live Q&As, exclusive content, and so much more! Join us today! Check out our website! Looking for more information? We have blogs, merch, and all of our episodes listed by season and category. Shop our favorite reads! W...

Leah’s story picks up where Part 1 left off. We update you on what’s happening with that suspicious area on her MRI, continue talking about details of her past treatment and integrate some lessons along the way. Join us as Leah’s story unfolds: past and present. Cancer Treatment Centers of America where Leah worked (and received her treatment) Leah’s story, contemporaneously told, on Tumblr What does Leah Like? (Pinterest) The Cancer Social Club: Leah’s community-building project Fasting 13 ...

Leah has the dubious distinction of being our #cancerinsider. In this episode, she shares her history of diagnosis and treatment while seeing patients at an integrative cancer center. Join us in this unscripted chat! Today, Leah is once again practicing in an integrative cancer center, and during the recording of this episode, she happens to be awaiting the results of a recent MRI. As every person who has gone through cancer treatments knows, past and present are forever intertwined. This is a ...

Dr. Mary Barnhart is a former dietitian and retired breast surgeon. From the idea of spreading tumors with biopsies (true or false?) to who gets to pick the music in the OR, Tina & Leah ask some tough questions in this one. Ultimately, you are in control of your healthcare decisions, and Dr. Barnhart discusses how she balanced medical advise with patient autonomy in her own practice. She may have retired from surgery, but she still advocates for those who have been affected by cancer. A cancer ...

Sammy Peterson, RD, CSO (Certified Specialist in Oncology), talks about an approach to diet and wellness that won’t leave you stressed out. Join us in this engaging chat. Guaranteed you’ll be ready to take action. We all want to feel our best, no matter who we are or what our condition is. There is so much conflicting info out there though! Ultimately, we just want to get there without all the hassle! What if you adopted simple rules to living day to day? Then, added new habits and little by li...

Join us as we chat with naturopathic physician, teacher, author, and cancer survivor Dr. Amy Rothenberg. Dr. Rothenberg had been a naturopathic physician for 30+ years when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her story is one of incredible resilience (two separate cancers in the same year!). In keeping with her career of sharing her knowledge and experience, she recently penned a book that gives survivors the direction they crave after (and during) intensive treatment, So You’ve Finished Treatment, ...

Curcumin is what makes turmeric orange. It is also a very popular supplement. What does it do exactly? How should it be taken? How is it used in integrative oncology? Can you take it with chemo? Tina & Leah answer these questions and much more in this episode of The Cancer Pod. Want to support the show? Just buy us a coffee! Buymeacoffee and THANK YOU! Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff: A review of the health benefits of Curcumin Foods Turmeric in cancer care Memorial-S...

Mushrooms are a valuable food and medicine, but which ones are best? Are they safe during treatment for cancer? What’s the proper dose? Do they really affect immune function? Tina & Leah discuss all of this and more from a practical- and as always-naturopathic perspective. The use of mushrooms dates back thousands of years. As a food, mushrooms add nutrients like vitamin D, B vitamins and even protein to your diet. As a medicine, all mushrooms contain components that help support proper immune ...

L-glutamine is a "conditionally essential" amino acid. What's that? Tune in & find out: what glutamine is, what it does, and when you shouldn't be taking it. Tina & Leah discuss generalities and then delve into specifics, particularly for those who have (or had!) cancer. Glutamine is one of those supplements that many people take…. willy-nilly. That’s a bad idea. There is a time and a place for glutamine supplementation. Listen in to find out more. Why is glutamine so tricky to use a...

Hair changes from treatment for cancer are common. Listen as Tina & Leah discuss what to expect, including which drugs lead to hair loss, how to reduce your risk, nutrients involved in hair regrowth, and ways to support hair recovery after treatment. Hair loss, also called alopecia, can be a challenging side effect for many people undergoing treatment. The loss of control, the cultural headwinds, the utter capitulation... It’s a private initiation into a club you never wanted to be part of. Lea...

Skin & nail changes can happen with chemotherapy, radiation, oral drugs, and immune-directed therapies for cancer. There are ways to lower your risk with natural agents and simple measures. Tune in to hear two naturopathic physicians, Tina & Leah, discuss what you can do. Changes to your nails and skin are more than merely aesthetic. If left untreated, they can be severe enough to prompt modifications in your treatment plan. Reducing your risk of developing skin and nail damaging side effects i...

Nerve damage from chemotherapy can lead to lingering effects after treatment. There are several natural agents that can help. But, some can actually make it worse too! Listen in while Tina & Leah discuss how to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and what to (safely) do if you already have it. Chemotherapy drugs are designed to be toxic to cancer cells but sometimes they are also toxic to your nervous system. This can have long-term consequences. Take heart, there are ways...

Can anything really be a “cure-all?” What a concept! There are things this 100-year-old herbal formula can do, and there are things it can't. Tina & Leah chat facts about Essiac & Flor-Essence teas. Herbal medicine, plant medicine, botanical medicine, whatever you like to call it, there’s evidence for its use dating back thousands of years. We love using medicinal plants for ourselves and our patients. The promise of a cure for cancer, however, needs to be looked at closely. Is it possible? Cou...

The terms “antioxidants” and “free radicals”- what do they mean exactly? Are antioxidants safe to take as a supplement? Tina & Leah tell you the truth, even if it is inconvenient. (Don’t blame the messengers!) Antioxidants only do good, right? The theory is that antioxidants prevent cancer by limiting damage in and around our cells. Truth: Foods high in antioxidant compounds are associated with less cancer (think plants!). BUT, does this mean that antioxidant supplements are a good idea? The tr...

Ketogenic diets are all the rage these days, but what is ketosis? Should you try to achieve it? If so, how? Tina & Leah talk facts about the ketogenic diet, what it is and what it isn’t. What does it mean to be in a state of ketosis? And, most importantly, does the ketogenic diet have anti-cancer effects? There are studies out there on the ketogenic diet in people with cancer, and we stick close to the data in these studies. There is plenty of theory around why a ketogenic diet should be usefu...

Vitamin C: so simple, so necessary... but what is it used for exactly? And what does deficiency look like? Is vitamin C deficiency linked to cancer incidence? Recurrence? Are there times when it should not be taken? Tina & Leah answer all of these questions and more! Vitamin C is vital to the production of collagen, immune cells, and energy from fats in our diet, to name just a few of its actions. Sometimes called ascorbic acid or ascorbate, vitamin C is a nutrient that you can get from various...

What exactly is collagen? Does it really support skin and joints? And, most pressing: IS IT SAFE to take (in general? if you've had cancer?) Tina and Leah answer all of this and more as they discuss one of the most popular functional foods available today. Did you know there are at least 28 different types of collagen in the human body? It is by far the most abundant protein in humans, accounting for about 30% of the total protein content in the body. Collagen is a "scaffolding" protein becaus...

Vitamin D may be the most pivotal nutrient in all of cancer care. Tina and Leah talk about this hormone masquerading as a “vitamin.” How much is ideal? Do you need to take it? Can you get what you need from the sun? Is it even safe to take? There is a tremendous amount of information on vitamin D and cancer, so there is a lot to sift through to figure out what is well-founded and what is hype. Tina and Leah discuss the data, their experiences with patients, and how you can optimize your levels....

Personal accounts of cancer can be inspiring, and this documentary about renowned film critic Roger Ebert is no exception. Tina and Leah discuss the man, his career, his cancer, and how he lived life to its fullest, right until the end. FYI: You don't need to have seen the movie to partake in their discussion. Life Itself the documentary is based on the memoir of the same name written by Roger Ebert. With his keen eye for storytelling, however, it is no surprise that the memoir translates flaw...