Advertise on podcast: The Cancer Pod: Integrative Medicine Talk

In this episode, we dive deep into surgical support for cancer patients and share all the insider intel you might be missing out on. From what not to take before surgery (blood clotting is essential!) to the importance of inflammation in the healing process (yes, inflammation is actually your friend after surgery!), we cover it all.  Discover key nutrients, physical and occupational therapy recommendations, and even some mind-body strategies to boost your recovery. We’re talking macronutrients, micronutrients, supplements, and the best foods to eat before and after surgery. Also, we reveal a common supplement that we’re told to skip that might actually help with healing! This episode is packed with practical, easy-to-implement advice that you won't want to miss. Past episodes we mentioned: Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Supplements 101Vitamin D: Supplements 101Calcium: The Low Down and the High PointsVitamin C: Supplements 101Magnesium: the Goldilocks Nutrient?Flax and Chia Seeds: Foods FirstLink to nutrient absorption chart of gutFind clinical trials on exercise as cancer supportive therapyProducts we mentioned (we may earn a small commission at no cost to you): Juven Ginger People Tummy Drops  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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Writer, humorist, previvor, survivor, and breast cancer prevention advocate Gila Pfeffer joins Leah for a thoughtful, funny, and deeply honest conversation about loss, resilience, and finding humor in the most unlikely situations. Gila talks about her memoir, Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences, how humor can be a survival tool during cancer treatment, and her cheeky Feel It on the First campaign that raises awareness of breast cancer screenings and risk reduction. Gila shares her experiences from undergoing a risk-reducing double mastectomy as a BRCA+ previvor to becoming a cancer survivor who is a powerful voice in breast cancer awareness.  This wide-ranging interview moves between generations—Gila’s experience as a daughter watching her mother go through cancer, and later as a mother facing her own diagnosis—highlighting the power of storytelling to help us make sense of what feels impossible. Honest, insightful, and refreshingly human, this episode is for anyone navigating cancer. Follow Gila on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gilapfeffer/ Subscribe to her Substack  Send your Feel It On the First pictures to Gila! [email protected] Things mentioned in this episode: Read Gila’s first publication in McSweeney’s An Open Letter to Tiffany & Co. About Their Advertising Campaign for the Ring That Helps Women Remember They Survived Cancer The Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Calculator Koning-Vera, compression-free mammography Eleonora Deplinsky, MD Gynecologic medical oncologist  https://www.instagram.com/drteplinsky Robyn Roth, MD breast radiologist  https://www.instagram.com/theboobiedocs Sharsheret, a non 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr. Leah Sherman discuss new diagnostic tools that can tell benign tumors from cancer in the pancreas, highlight the growing concerns over microplastics, and explore the link between ultra-processed foods and early colorectal cancer. They also highlight some amazing inventions by teenagers, like a melanoma-detection app and a skin-cancer-reducing soap. Last, they cover the benefits of hypnosis before breast cancer surgery and the health impact of commonly used chemicals in dry cleaning. This episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and overall wellness. Soap for skin cancers invented by TIME's Kid of the Year, Hemen Bekele A skin cancer detecting app invented by Richmond, VA high-schoolers The dramatic increase in glyphosate use across the Midwest in the USA The rising rates of cancer in young people around the world Exposure of rat fetuses to glyphosate levels led to early cancer development The rising rate of glyphosate exposure over time  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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

In this special November episode, we are swapping podcasts with Charlotte Bayala of the Cancer Caregiver Podcast. Charlotte explores the complexities of meeting expectations of gratitude during the holidays when you or your loved one is dealing with cancer. Listeners will hear an honest, grounded discussion of the mixed emotions that arise, and a breathing tool to help you deal with them in real time. By the end, listeners will have strategies for expressing gratitude authentically in difficult times.  Links to Charlotte's bio and social media https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/ 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

In 2022, Jeff Stewart was preparing to donate a kidney when his life took a completely different turn. Unknown to him at the time, he was harboring two separate cancers—kidney and stomach. As a former Jeopardy champ, long-time molecular biologist, and inventor, it’s no surprise that Jeff instinctively framed his relationship with cancer as a complex puzzle that needed solving. In this heartfelt interview with Dr. Sherman, Jeff shares the insights he has gained over the years. He also discusses his published memoir, Living: Inspiration from a Father with Cancer. Written with his seven children in mind, Living offers advice and inspiration for everyone, regardless of age.  He also touches on his love of writing itself, having just completed his upcoming young adult fantasy book, Angel Chloe and the Wall of Stone and Bone. Jeff passed away in August 2025, yet his wisdom, humor, and legacy live on to inspire us, just as he intended. Hope for Stomach Cancer support group mentioned by Jeff Buy his book, Living: Inspiration from a Father with Cancer, from our bookshop.org collection NPR piece by Jeff on experimental therapies  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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Maria Montoya shares her personal experience as a two-time AYA breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed first at 30 and later at 37, she discusses dealing with Li Fraumeni Syndrome—a rare genetic predisposition to various cancers. Maria also talks about the systemic gaps she encountered in the healthcare system, such as limited genetic testing and inadequate fertility counseling, and what can be done to fix this. She also shares how getting treatment during the isolating early months of the COVID-19 pandemic fueled her passion for cancer care advocacy and systemic change. Now pursuing a Master’s in Social Work, Maria aims to address systemic healthcare challenges, focusing on improving psychosocial support and survivorship care. Maria's bio and LinkedIn profile 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Charlotte Bayala, host of the award-winning Cancer Caregiver Podcast, joins Dr. Leah Sherman to discuss the unique challenges caregivers face. Charlotte shares her journey of becoming a caregiver for her husband with cancer and how she developed practical, emotional, and self-care strategies for caregivers. The conversation covers how to ask for help, integrating meditation and breathwork into daily routines, and the unexpected benefits of self-compassion for caregivers. Listeners can also learn about Charlotte’s Scanxiety Toolkit, a resource designed to help manage the anxiety leading up to medical appointments. 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Dr. Natalie Godbee, gynecologic oncologist at City of Hope in Atlanta, Georgia, talks with Dr. Leah Sherman in a wide-ranging interview on gynecologic cancers. The conversation covers the pros and cons of the HPV vaccine, the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers, and the benefits of integrative medicine in cancer care. Listeners will gain valuable information on early detection, treatment options, and preventive measures for these complex cancers. Dr. Godbee's bio and links to her social media Human Papillomavirus (HPV) review by the National Cancer Institute Concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccine Does the HPV vaccine increase promiscuity in teenagers? Dramatic reductions in pre-cancer of the cervix 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

In this episode of the Cancer Pod, Dr. Leah Sherman sits down with Dr. David Grew, a board-certified radiation oncologist and founder of Primr, a free digital video resource. They also go into details about prostate cancer, from early detection and PSA testing to the latest advancements in treatment options, including when active surveillance is possible vs. surgery and radiation therapy.  Dr. Grew shares how Primr evolved from his inclination to use images to understand and explain medicine. His digitally crafted visual explanations are helping patients understand and navigate their diagnosis and treatment options. Tune in to learn about symptoms, high-risk factors, diagnostic tools like MRIs and genomic testing, and the importance of multiple medical opinions when managing prostate cancer. Click here for Dr. Grew's bio and all social media links to Primr Primr Website: https://www.primrmed.com/ Direct link to Prostate Cancer Education on Primr Clinical Trial Explainers from Primer: The SABRE Trial The INDICATE Trial The CLARIFY Trial 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

What if something as simple as a morning versus an afternoon infusion determined whether your immune treatment works? A recent study of over 1600 patients shows that time of day can profoundly affect whether you derive benefit (ie, “respond to treatment”)!  This episode also explores how time-restricted eating can affect your fatigue (called “chrono-nutrition”) during and after treatment. Join Drs. Tina Kaczor and Leah Sherman as they bring you the latest evidence and tell you how you can use your own circadian rhythm to your advantage. The study of over 1600 patients receiving immune therapy, response and time of day The study on Time Restricted Eating and Fatigue we talk about A questionnaire to track the severity of overall symptoms The Brief Fatigue Inventory, a good way to track fatigue A study on timed eating for those with brain metastasis  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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

In this episode, Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr. Leah Sherman discuss notorious cancer fakers Belle Gibson (Apple Cider Vinegar), Amanda Riley (Scamanda), and Elizabeth Finch (Anatomy of Lies). Each one created elaborate schemes that often duped even their loved ones. The hosts examine the psychological aspects behind such behavior, revealing how these individuals exploited vulnerable people’s emotions and trust. They also discuss distinguishing between factual integrative cancer care (Hello! That’s us!) and harmful misinformation (like the fakers here, for example). The episode emphasizes the need for critical evaluation of health claims, especially in the age of social media. 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

The diagnosis of cancer is rising in young adults (under 45 years old). This episode of The Cancer Pod delves into potential reasons behind this trend, including epigenetics, environmental exposures, microbiome differences, and lifestyle factors. Tina and Leah discuss the types of cancers most commonly seen in younger adults, symptoms to watch for, and the significance of advocating for timely and accurate diagnoses. And, get ready for the next episode on cancer fakes and frauds!  Links we mention in this episode: Cancer rates are 2-3 times higher today than two generations ago Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc.) in tattoos as a possible contributor Why diagnosis of cancer is often delayed in young adults Types of cancers more common in young adults Young adults with colorectal cancer have better outcomes than older adults The increasing rate of colorectal cancer in young adults worldwide The SHIELD blood test for colorectal cancer 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

In 2024, a study sparked debate among wellness influencers, raising concerns about seed oils and their potential link to rising colorectal cancer rates in young adults. But is there any truth to these claims? In this episode, we break down the research and uncover the real health effects of seed oils. What are seed oils, and do they contain harmful compounds? Are some types better than others? Plus, we explore the role of ultra-processed foods in overall health—did you know there’s a key difference between processed and ultra-processed foods? Tune in for a science-backed discussion on seed oils, cancer risk, and what really matters for your health. A few scientific papers on toxic hexane in seed (vegetable) oils Snopes fact-checking article on canola oil Udo Erasmus on seed oils, etc. (YouTube) 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Did you know it takes an Act of Congress to change the warning label on alcohol? It’s true! But even more crucial: how much alcohol does it take to increase your cancer risk? In this episode, Tina and Leah dive into the connection between alcohol and cancer, exploring why the Surgeon General is pushing for updated warning labels. Whether you’re sticking with your current habits or considering a mindful approach to drinking, this episode delivers eye-opening insights that might make you think twice before your next sip. Tune in to learn more! Prior episode: Good for You? or Bad for You? Alcohol Ireland's strong alcohol label stance How acetaldehyde from alcohol ingestion forms in your body Which cancers are linked to alcohol consumption? 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!

Did you know frankincense is from the Boswellia plant? Tina and Leah delve into frankincense's history, uses, and benefits, especially in integrative cancer care. They discuss how to test the purity of essential oils, the various therapeutic applications of frankincense, including its anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer properties, and the intricacies of using it safely. ASCO Update on Boswellia Aromatase Inhibitor induced arthritic pain - Boswellia, Lipoic acid, and MSM Boswellia alongside radiotherapy for brain tumors Boswellia for nerve pain The role of Boswellia in post-radiation therapy for brain metastasis 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! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books! Buy our merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody. Have a comment or suggestion? Email us at [email protected] Follow us wherever you browse. We're always @TheCancerPod: Instagram Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn YouTube THANK YOU!!