The Cancer Pod: Integrative Medicine Talk

Support cancer education, advocacy, and research this November by skipping the razor! Fight CRC’s Ben White joins Leah to talk about No Shave November (no-shave.org) and the Fight Colorectal Cancer initiatives it supports.

Ben walks through Fight CRC’s work:

• No Shave November fundraising with partners
• March 2027 Call on Congress and advocacy for research funding
• The Global Early Onset Colorectal Cancer Think Tank
• United in Blue flag installations
• Insurance coverage gaps in the screening continuum
• Better symptom awareness for providers and the public

Ben’s own story is why he does this work. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at 26 years old, after months of escalating GI symptoms and repeated dismissal as “too young.” His career pivoted from Navy pilot to health policy and he shares how his diagnosis brought him into the advocacy space.

Get involved: 

• Sign up for No-Shave November 
• Register for the 2027 Call on Congress 
• United in Blue 
• Order Flags for United in Blue 
• Fight CRC Website 
•  Global Early Onset Colorectal Cancer Think Tank 

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

When treatment ends and the world moves on, cancer survivors are often left alone with a flood of unprocessed emotions. Author and survivorship mentor Kia Lee sits down with Leah to explore the hidden emotional weight of life after cancer—and why healing isn’t about returning to the past.

In this conversation, Kia shares:

• Her diagnosis with stage III breast cancer at 38 and how it became a portal to a new way of living

• Why she wrote Lighthouse: The Path Through Cancer while undergoing chemo and how it started as a private reckoning with mortality

• The difference between survival mode during treatment and the inner work of healing afterward

• Practical tools for survivors: journaling, life audits, and reflection questions

• How to grieve the person you were before cancer and make space for who you’ve become

• Why Kia mentors exclusively women and the importance of lived experience in support

Follow Kia on Instagram
and on TikTok

Subscribe to her YouTube channel  

Download Kia’s free reflection questions available on her website 

Lighthouse: The Path Through Cancer available on Amazon
https://a.co/d/0aqr4dWc

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

When faced with a Stage IV terminal cancer diagnosis at age 37, how do you keep living, surfing big waves, and raising a child?

In this powerful episode, author and big-wave surfer Melanie Ezell joins Leah to share her unfiltered story of surviving Stage IV ovarian cancer, navigating recurrences, and finding profound joy despite an incurable diagnosis.

Melanie, author of the memoir Inherited: A Life Without a Cure and writer behind the popular Substack An Incurable Life, opens up about using big-wave surfing to mirror her mental health, taking ownership of her healing, and building a life fully lived alongside mortality.

In this episode:

• Surfing as a Mirror: Melanie’s journey from Michigan to riding big waves in Hawaii and Mexico—and how the ocean reflects her inner emotional state.
• The Diagnosis: Her BRCA1 genetic mutation background, subtle ovarian cancer symptoms, and receiving a Stage IV diagnosis in 2022.
• Integrative & Alternative Cancer Care: Navigating ketogenic and Gerson diets, fasting, supplements, Dr. Joe Dispenza meditation, and plant medicine (Ayahuasca and Psilocybin) in search of the “root” cause of her cancer.
• Addressing Emotional Roots: How tackling codependency, resentment, setting firm boundaries, and writing her memoir became crucial parts of her healing journey.

(Note: Brief mention of past eating disorders).

• Subscribe to Melanie on Substack: https://substack.com/@melanieezell
• Visit her website http://www.melanieezell.com
• Follow her on Instagram @yogasurfmel
  and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/melanie.malski
• Buy her book, Inherited: A Life Without a Cure

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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.

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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/

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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.

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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 

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 Patreon.

Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!

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

Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.

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

Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:

• Instagram
• Bluesky
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube