The Cancer Pod: Integrative Medicine Talk

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 an...

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 tr...

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 co...

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...

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 And with some problematic and outdated material, can it be shrugged off as “of its time”?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...

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 fo...

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 th...

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 su...

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 t...

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,...

​​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&...

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 ne...

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?&qu...

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’...

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, a...

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. Leave a message and let us know what you liked about the epis...

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 t...

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...

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 Pinter...

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...

Looking for natural relief from hot flashes? In this final episode of our hot flash series, naturopathic doctors Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr. Leah Sherman review the protocols they’ve actually recommended to patients. Looking to reduce hot flash triggers? Check out Episode 1: Talkin’ bout Triggers to learn how to squelch hot flashes before they even happen. From black cohosh to magnesium to lesser-know...

Hot flashes disrupting your life? When hormone replacement isn’t an option—especially during cancer treatment—knowing your alternatives matters. In part two of the three episode pod, naturopathic doctors Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr. Leah Sherman break down the most commonly prescribed medications for hot flashes (beyond hormone therapy) and explore phytoestrogens: plant-based compounds that may offer r...

Hot flashes aren't just a menopause thing—they're a common side effect of cancer treatment, particularly for breast and prostate cancer patients on hormone therapy. But what triggers them? Why does something as innocent as a scoop of ice cream set off a sudden wave of heat? In the first three episodes of The Cancer Pod, Tina and Leah break down the surprising culprits behind hot flashes—...