When board-certified oncology dietitian Alison Tierney told patients "food is medicine," she believed it, but she never expected to test that belief against her own breast cancer diagnosis.

Having witnessed cancer's impact in her own family, Alison dedicated her career to helping patients heal through nutrition. Her personal journey led her to plant-based eating, which unexpectedly helped her overcome infertility. But when she faced her own breast cancer diagnosis, everything she'd studied and taught collided with the raw reality of being the patient, not the practitioner.

In this candid conversation, Alison shares how she merged evidence-based nutrition, strategic fasting during chemotherapy, and unwavering faith to navigate treatment and reclaim her life. She doesn't sugarcoat the fear or the uncertainty; instead, she offers something better: practical wisdom on "controlling the controllables" and finding purpose in the midst of crisis.

In this episode:

• How plant-based nutrition supports prevention, treatment, and recovery from cancer
• The science and safety of fasting during chemotherapy (and who it's right for)
• Shifting from oncology expert to cancer patient: what changed and what didn't
• Managing the mental weight of recurrence fear and survivorship
• Actionable lifestyle strategies for long-term resilience and wellbeing

Whether you're facing a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or want to live with more intention, Alison's story proves that healing isn't just physical; it's a daily practice of mind, body, and spirit.

WAVS Study: Barnard ND, Kahleova H, Holtz DN, Del Aguila F, Neola M, Crosby LM, Holubkov R. The Women's Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms (WAVS): a randomized, controlled trial of a plant-based diet and whole soybeans for postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2021 Jul 12;28(10):1150-1156. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001812. PMID: 34260478; PMCID: PMC8462449.

Fighting Hot Flashes with Diet: https://www.pcrm.org/clinical-research/fighting-hot-flashes-with-diet

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