What happens when a graphic designer decides to document his own cancer diagnosis in a comic, panel by panel?

Georgia-based artist and prostate cancer education advocate James Burns joins Leah to talk about his autobiographical medical graphic novels “The Death of Me” and “The Half-Life,” which chronicle his stage 4A prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and life after.

James shares why he posted his diagnosis publicly on Instagram and how he pushes back on the expectation that men need to stay stoic through illness. He talks about his earlier comics that documented the time he had treatment for detached retinas, losing his voice following thyroid surgery, and a fall that lead to a completely unrelated surgery. 

He also gives specifics of this diagnosis and treatment, from an elevated PSA to MRIs, biopsy, and PMSA PET scans to 28 fractions of radiation therapy. James talks candidly about ADT side effects including brain fog and hot flashes, and how he uses exercise and weightlifting to combat the muscle loss from taking hormone blocking medication. 

Head to his website https://burnscomics.com/ to download PDFs of his comics.

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpburns
and on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jpburns.bsky.social

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more about prostate cancer at malecare.org

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Can working out actually change what's happening inside your body during cancer treatment? 

Dr. Leah Sherman sits down with certified clinical exercise physiologist JC Rodriguez to unpack the real science behind exercise and cancer—including how movement may redirect blood flow away from tumors, alter tumor metabolism, and boost immune surveillance.

JC breaks down what this looks like in practice: how to move through severe fatigue with “mentally small” wins like a 5-minute walk or in-bed stretches, why consistency matters more than intensity, and general targets for cardio and strength training (individualized to each person). He also covers managing joint pain from hormone therapy, exercising safely with a port, and where to find accessible, cancer-specific fitness support — from YMCA Livestrong to ACSM-certified specialists.

Visit JC’s website and learn more https://www.oncolofit.com/

Download JC’s FREE Get Stronger in 21 Days Guide: https://oncolofit.aweb.page/thriving-after-cancer-guide

Get his FREE Cancer Recovery Starter Kit: https://www.oncolofit.com/beat-cancer

Follow JC on social media:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oncolofit/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jc.oncolofit
YouTube https://youtube.com/@jc.oncolofit

00:41 Meet JC Rodriguez
01:28 What Is Cancer Exercise Science
03:15 How Exercise Fights Cancer
05:49 Starting With Fatigue
09:06 Low Impact Options
10:05 Inflammation And Movement
11:37 How Much Exercise Weekly
12:45 Strength Training Basics
14:00 Weight Gain And Muscle Loss
18:15 Radiation Fatigue Differences
19:45 Hormone Therapy Joint Pain
23:48 Exercising With A Port
31:01 How To Find A Cancer Exercise Program
34:41 Why J.C. Chose Oncology
37:16 Free Downloadable Guides And Tips
38:27 Final Advice And Wrap Up

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What if sound could help you heal?

Sandy Duarte is an award-winning actress, author,  Stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, registered yoga instructor, and one of OncoDaily's 2026 Top 100 Most Influential Cancer Survivors. While undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, she turned to crystal singing bowls to calm her nervous system. Her practice has expanded into sound baths, women’s retreats, and community healing, bringing the singing bowls to hospitals, corporate settings, and museum installations. In this interview, Sandy describes her personal experience using Peter Hess® therapy singing bowls, which are placed on the body specifically for Sound Massage. Sandy also talks about her book, Cancer Ramblings, a real-time reflection of her experience with cancer treatment.

What is your experience with sound therapy? Leave a comment below!

Visit Sandy’s website: cancerramblings.com

Follow Sandy on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/sandy__duarte
https://x.com/sandyduarte
https://www.tiktok.com/@cancer.ramblings

Find her on IMDB. 

Buy her book on Amazon.

Subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Learn more about Peter Hess® Singing Bowls.

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Support the show

Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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Death is a topic most of us avoid...until we can’t.

But what if talking about it early actually gave us more peace, not less? In this episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Susan Abernethy, founder of Mudança Healing, whose path from naturopathic medicine and nonprofit leadership (including Make-A-Wish) led her to become an end-of-life doula.

Susan shares how having honest conversations early, especially after a cancer or dementia diagnosis, can ease the pressure of rapid-fire medical decisions, bring clarity to what really matters, and offer real comfort to both patients and the families who love them. We get into the practical side too: the gaps hospice care often leaves behind, the toll caregiving takes on families, and why services like respite matter so much. Susan also walks us through the tools she uses in her workshops—from Death Decks to checklists—to help individuals and organizations get ready for what's ahead, not just legally, but practically and emotionally.

This conversation is a gentle reminder: planning for the end isn’t morbid. It is an act of care for the people you love.

Connect with Susan: www.mudancahealing.com
and on Instagram @mudanca_healing

Resources mentioned in this episode:

All There Is with Anderson Cooper https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper/id1643163707

Death, End-of-Life, and Dementia Decks https://thedeathdeck.com/collections/shop-all-decks

A Good Death by Margaret Rice https://bookshop.org/a/103670/9781911632146

Learn more about end-of-life doulas at https://inelda.org/

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Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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Have a comment or suggestion? Email info (at) thecancerpod (dot) com

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What does it actually mean to advocate for yourself in the medical system?

Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, ONC sat down with Dr. Tina Kaczor for a candid conversation about helping patients access the best possible care through self-advocacy and shared decision-making.

Navigating a cancer diagnosis is incredibly overwhelming. Between well-intentioned opinions from loved ones and rushed informed consent, it’s easy to feel lost. Dr. Lucille brings compassion and pragmatism to the table, explaining why we need to slow down, understand the true risks and side effects, and look at the whole picture—physical, emotional, and spiritual.

In this episode:

• The Power of Slowing Down: How to navigate a new diagnosis without being rushed into decisions.
• The Myth of "Forced Positivity": Breaking down the toxicity of societal pressure to stay positive.
• Holistic Resilience: The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), relationships, and the practice of habitual nourishment.
• Healing Tools that Work: A look at trauma-informed strategies like EMDR, brainspotting, and the role of spirituality in recovery.

Want to learn more about Dr. Lucille? Visit her website.

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Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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Buy The Cancer Pod merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody.

Have a comment or suggestion? Email info (at) thecancerpod (dot) com

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Survivor’s guilt is a common and not often talked about emotional experience after cancer. Dr. Leah Sherman sits down with returning guest Natasha Ewa, licensed clinical social worker and founder of I Thrive Therapy and Wellness, for an honest conversation about what survivor’s guilt actually looks like, why body image after cancer is so personal, and what healing can feel like on the other side.

The conversation widens to cover grief over pre-cancer identity, hypervigilance, reconstruction decisions, and Natasha’s documentation of her own DIEP flap experience and complications.

Whether you’re navigating survivorship yourself or supporting someone who is, this one meets you where you are.

Visit the I Thrive Therapy and Wellness website

Follow Natasha on Instagram

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Cancer Hope Network CEO Beth Blakey on Peer Mentorship, Caregiver Support, and Connection in Cancer Care

Beth Blakey, CEO of Cancer Hope Network, discusses the organization’s 46-year mission to ensure no one faces cancer alone. The unique model of free, confidential, one-on-one peer mentorship connecting patients and caregivers with trained cancer survivors or caregivers continues to touch lives. Blakey shares her personal story that led her to join the organization in 2019, and how she rose to become the CEO. She explains how, even in the midst of rapid technological advances, one thing has not changed: the need for personal connections. Cancer Hope Network facilitates these connections the old-fashioned way, through helping patients and their caregivers one on one. Blakey also outlines key initiatives: Cancer Hope Network en Español, the TACT (Talking About Clinical Trials) program, and Hopeful Hearts for parents of children and adolescents with cancer.

Learn more about the expert cancer care and support of Cancer Hope Network on their website.

Follow Cancer Hope Network:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok 

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Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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What happens to desire after a cancer diagnosis? In this episode, Dr. Leah Sherman speaks with intimacy coach and cancer survivor Claire Rumore about the often-overlooked intimacy challenges that come with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Claire shares how cancer may reshape desire, body image, and relationship dynamics—and why clinical care frequently misses these impacts. They explore practical approaches like redefining intimacy beyond intercourse, using nervous system regulation and consent-based touch to rebuild safety, and the Erotic Blueprints framework for understanding desire. Claire also introduces resources from her site cancerandintimacy.com designed to support patients, survivors, and their partners through this deeply personal aspect of cancer care.

Cancer and Intimacy website

Coupon Code: CAI20

Free resource kit: Reclaiming Intimacy During and After Cancer, The Sensual Wardrobe Reset

Claire's Bio and social media links

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Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

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Dr. Kaczor speaks with Dr. Chad Levitt, a board-certified radiation oncologist with over 25 years of experience and founder of ONCARE MD. Levitt discusses how patients are, in effect, consumers of a product called "medical care." As consumers, they are in charge and must navigate the often fragmented healthcare landscape. He talks about the need to have your questions answered fully, to seek second opinions, and to ensure that your care team communicates clearly. The discussion covers what fully informed consent looks like, the limits of the NCCN guidelines, and the need for integrative oncology (including nutrition, stress, and supportive care). His company, OncCareMD, provides unbiased, membership-based advice for optimal treatments with frequent touch points to ensure treatment goes smoothly.

Dr. Chad Levitt's bio and links

OnCareMD website

NCCN Guidelines for Patients

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Support the show

Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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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 101
• Vitamin D: Supplements 101
• Calcium: The Low Down and the High Points
• Vitamin C: Supplements 101
• Magnesium: the Goldilocks Nutrient?
• Flax and Chia Seeds: Foods First
• Link to nutrient absorption chart of gut
• Find clinical trials on exercise as cancer supportive therapy

Products we mentioned (we may earn a small commission at no cost to you):
Juven
Ginger People
Tummy Drops 

Leave a message with your thoughts about the episode!

Support the show

Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon.

Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category. 

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