Podcast Episodes

Sharon Jones was the electrifying front-woman for the NYC band, The Dap-Kings. She captivated audiences with her raw energy and talent. A diagnosis of cancer derailed her career but didn't deter her. Tina & Leah talk about the film and the shared challenges of those who see their world upended by cancer and its treatment. The film was directed by Academy Award-winning director, Barbara Kopple and is available to stream online. Links we mentioned in this episode and other cool stuff: Sharon Jon...

Tina and Leah are Back at The Movies! This time they are reviewing cancer-related documentaries. They talk about them, what they like, what they didn't like, and what parts of the films resonated with them. In this episode, they review TIG, a 2015 documentary directed by Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York. The film covers the personal experiences and events leading up to, during, and after comedian and actor Tig Notaro's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2012, and how she uses humor to cop...

In this episode of Side Eff@¢ks, Tina and Leah talk about poo that just won’t quit—diarrhea. No matter what the cause, this episode offers tips and advice about what you can do to normalize your bowel function. Nearly every cancer treatment will affect bowel function, so diarrhea is not uncommon. Whether it is chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, immunological, or biological (targeted) therapy (or a combination!) the gut is most likely to be affected. Since rapidly dividing cells line the gastroin...

Do you have issues with constipation? If so, today is your lucky day! This podcast is all about the sticky business of stuck bowels. In our first episode of The Return of Side Eff@¢ks, we covered the basics of bowel function and touched on possible bowel issues encountered during treatment. In this episode, Tina and Leah talk about constipation from a naturopathic perspective. Whether during treatment or long after treatment has been completed, constipation can hamper your health. Since the mo...

Cancer treatments can be rough on the gut. The symptoms during and after treatment are no laughing matter (although well-timed potty humor can certainly be therapeutic, don't you think?). In this episode, Tina and Leah talk poop, that is, about the fundamentals of bowel function with an emphasis on the many ways that cancer treatments can interfere with it. As naturopathic physicians, Tina and Leah have spent their entire careers talking poop with patients. Why? Because most gut issues have to...

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? How are they used in our bodies? What foods are the best sources? In this episode, 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. And , keep an ear out for hot tips and ...

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? As naturopathic doctors, Tina and Leah talk about supplements all the time. In this episode, they open up about how they approach their use. Instead of saying, "must do this or that," they talk about how you can prioritize supplements. And yes, they talk about times when supplements may not be appropriate too. A...

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...

It’s a new episode of The Cancer Pod podcast and we’re still at the movies. This week we 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. Click here for the Unofficial Theme Song for this pod. It’s the song that’s played over the final credits in What the Health (E17 At the Movies)...

To vegan or not to vegan? 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. Whether you’ve already seen the movie or not, you will want to hear their take! Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff: Definition and History of Vega...

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. You may find yourself struggling to remember a simple word or having a hard time concentrating on a single subject and don’t even mention multitasking! In this last episode of the year, Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr...

Want to learn all about bone health? Then this is the episode for you! How does bone degrade? Who should be most concerned? How can you build bone? Are there certain nutritional supplements that can help? 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 (up to seven times faster following cancer treatments, according to ASCO). Loss of bone mineral density (known as osteopenia or osteoporosis) in...

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. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill not getting a good night’s sleep or overdoing it at the gym fatigue. CrF is its own entity. It’s not relieved by sleep or rest and can be distressing, even life-altering. In this episode, Tina and Leah review the official contributing factors to CrF, and a few causes that aren’t found o...

​​What is genetic testing and is it appropriate for you? How do you talk to your doctor about getting tested? Tina and Leah cover what you need to know in this episode of The Cancer Pod. Hereditary cancers happen, but what are the chances? It is estimated that 10% of all cancers are due to genes we inherited from our parents. Yet, certain mutations can lead to personal risk of up to 80%. (We don't dwell on statistics, so no worries there.) Knowing whether there is familial hereditary cancer sy...

Doctors' appointments can be overwhelming, especially after a cancer diagnosis. There are so many questions to ask even before walking into the office, and then once a treatment plan is presented there are even more questions. On the latest episode of The Cancer Pod, 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. They even delve into the top...

It's the first pod inspired by our listeners' requests! Talk to Your Doctor is a series of episodes about, well, how to talk to your doctor! Whether it's about integrative medicine or questions you might not have thought of, we'll try and cover it in this pod. In the first episode of this series, we answer the question "how do I ask my doctor about integrative medicine?" According to the National Institute for Health, integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field that u...

Sleep disturbances may affect 40% of cancer survivors up to five years post treatment. In Episode 9 of Side Eff#%ks pod, Tina and Leah covered the causes of sleep disturbances and sleep hygiene, and now in Episode 10, they review integrative approaches to sleep management, including herbs and supplements that address anxiety and pain, which often contribute to insomnia. They also discuss cortisol’s association with waking up in the middle of the night. And since this is the last episode of this ...

Good quality sleep is always important, but it becomes especially precious following a cancer diagnosis. A good night's sleep supports our immune system, our mood, and so much more. It helps our body and mind heal. Anxiety, depression, and pain are only a few common causes of sleep disruption. In the first of this two-part episode, Tina and Leah talk about sleep disturbances, sleep hygiene, and some basic approaches to managing insomnia. Here are the links for some of the things we talk about o...

We're continuing with our theme of things that make our life miserable...I mean side effects from cancer treatment. Mouth sores and taste changes can greatly affect quality of life when going through treatment for cancer. Tina and Leah discuss causes and both pharmaceutical and integrative approaches to managing these side effects. 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 m...

It's here! The first in what we hope to be many episodes on cancer treatment-related side effects. The most common questions we get have to do with integrative oncology approaches to managing common, and not so common, side effects when patients go through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. (Immunotherapy and targeted therapies are included whenever we say "chemo.") We kick off this first pod with our nausea and vomiting episode. We cover a number of causes for nausea and vomiting, how di...

The third episode in the Good for You? Bad for You? pod is here, and it's about soy. Soy was a conundrum in the nutrition and the integrative medicine realm for many years—is it helping or harming cancer patients? Tina helps clear up some of the confusion and Leah is the Debbie Downer in this podcast. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review The Cancer Pod, and hang tight for now, the next pod will be released in two weeks. Tell us your thoughts on this episode! Support the show Become a membe...

For those who are still listening after our alcohol episode (hello loyal fans!), here is an episode that is easier to swallow. Tina and Leah talk about coffee, the good, the bad, the better, as well as that crazy hot dog article that was circulating a few weeks ago. What do hot dogs have to do with coffee? Tune in and find out! And as always, links to studies we mention are available on our Pinterest page. Tell us your thoughts on this episode! Support the show Become a member of The Cancer Pod...

Alcohol might be a solution, but it won't solve your problems. Okay, cheesy chemistry jokes aside, alcohol is always in the news. One day we read alcohol is going to save us from heart disease, the next day we're reading for every drink over the recommended limit, *someone* is going to take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes off of our lives (yes, this was an actual study a few years ago in The Lancet). So, who do we believe? Tina and Leah conquer this very intoxicating subject on this episode of...