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 their take!

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Definition and History of Veganism The Vegan Society

IARC Definition of Group 1 Carcinogens (scroll to page 2)

Known and Probable Carcinogens cancer.org

Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat

The Sweet Danger of Sugar Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School

Intakes of meat, fish, poultry, and eggs and risk of prostate cancer progression DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28474

Are Eggs Risky for Heart Health? Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School

How It's Made: Cholesterol Production in Your Body Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School

What is cholesterol? Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Dairy and Breast Cancer Risk Study from 2013

A Study Suggests Milk Increases the Risk of Breast Cancer, but AICR Experts Say Not So Fast March 2020, aicr.org

Pesticide Drift epa.gov

Feeding Seaweed to Cattle Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission by 82% College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis

Six percent of a chimpanzee's diet consists of meat and eggs Jane Goodall Institute

Article on gastric acid levels of humans. See chart on page 3 for chart of mammal and bird stomach pH levels 

The Evolution of Stomach Acidity and Its Relevance to the Human Microbiome

Shining the Spotlight on Trans Fats Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

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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 subject and don’t even mention multitasking!

In this last episode of the year, Dr. Tina Kaczor and Dr. Leah Sherman review the possible causes of CRCI and discuss ways that you can improve brain function. Neural plasticity, which is the ability to create new neural networks at ANY AGE, means that you have the potential for bettering brain function no matter what age you are. As always, you’ll learn a little, laugh a little, and by the end you will have ideas of how to optimize your own health. Thanks for listening!

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff (Find even more on our Pinterest page!):

Brain Cloudy Blues - Merle Haggard

MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) this is posted for informational purposes only, for accurate assessment please be evaluated by a healthcare professional

Ask the Experts: Understanding and Coping with Breast Cancer-related Cognitive Changes video Breast Cancer Resource Center

Measurement, outcomes and interventions of cognitive function after breast cancer treatment: A narrative review https://doi.org/10.1111/ajco.13484

An update on cancer- and chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction: current status DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2011.03.014

Acetyl L-Carnitine may increase neuropathy in patients receiving paclitaxel

Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System

Functional and Structural Connectome Features for Machine Learning Chemo-Brain Prediction in Women Treated for Breast Cancer with Chemotherapy 

Cytidinediphosphocholine (CDP‐choline) for cognitive and behavioural disturbances associated with chronic cerebral disorders in the elderly

Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang

Yoga and Self-Reported Cognitive Problems in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Dancing and the Brain

Moment of Woo: Revisiting an Ancient Theory of Herbalism (NY Times article on the Doctrine of Signatures)

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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 treatments, according to ASCO). Loss of bone mineral density (known as osteopenia or osteoporosis) increases fracture risk. This is not only true for older cancer patients but young ones too. And bone loss may be late-onset, not showing up until decades following treatment. That means adult survivors of childhood cancers are at a higher risk.

In Episode 15 of The Cancer Pod, Tina and Leah discuss bone density, risk factors for osteopenia and osteoporosis, and how you can prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures. Tune in and share this episode with anyone you think is at risk of bone loss (it's not just for cancer survivors... aging itself is a risk factor).

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Maren Morris - The Bones (video)

12 Yoga Poses vs. Osteoporosis - Dr. Loren Fishman (YouTube)

NCCN Task Force Report: Bone Health in Cancer Care

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial

Nothing Boring About Boron

Estrogen and the Skeleton

A Strategy for Preserving Bone Health During Chemotherapy (mouse study)

Therapy-Induced Senescence Drives Bone Loss

Bone Aging, Cellular Senescence, and Osteoporosis

Management of Osteoporosis in Survivors of Adult Cancers With Nonmetastatic Disease: ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial

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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, Tina and Leah review the official contributing factors to CrF, and a few causes that aren’t found on the official list. Understanding how the adrenal glands are involved in CrF is essential, and they explain how the adrenals help you maintain energy. As always, at The Cancer Pod, we talk specifics about what you can do to improve your day-to-day. Fatigue is not something you have to live with!

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Unofficial Theme Song for Survivorship Pod - Florence and the Machine

Unofficial Theme Song for Fatigue Episode - The Foo Fighters

NCCN Guidelines: Survivorship Fatigue (Provider)

NCCN Survivorship Care for Cancer-Related and Long-Term Effects (Patient)

Integrative Therapies for Cancer-Related Fatigue

Wisconsin Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius ) to Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

Aviva Romm Adaptogens: Ancient Medicine for 21st Century Stress

Association of Fiber, Vegetable, and Fruit Intake with Quality of Life and Fatigue in Colorectal Cancer Survivors

How Survivorship Went from Being an Outlier to Mainstream - from The Cancer History Project

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​​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't dwell on statistics, so no worries there.) 

Knowing whether there is familial hereditary cancer syndrome can influence decision-making for the person with cancer and their family. In this podcast, we discuss who, why and how the testing for hereditary cancer syndromes should be approached. Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, where the BRCA genes are involved,  may be the most commonly known, but there are many others to look for including Lynch syndrome, Li Fraumeni syndrome, and Cowden syndrome.

We round out this episode with our unofficial theme song and a different kind of Moment of Woo.

Links we mentioned on this episode and other interesting stuff:

MD Anderson Genetic Testing Information

National Society of Genetic Counselors

Facing Our Risk - FORCE Facing Hereditary Cancer EMPOWERED

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association

BRCA gene mutations from NCI

Alive and Kickn: Lynch syndrome advocacy group

Cowden syndrome (PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome

Lost Women of Science website and podcast

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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 newly diagnosed and seasoned veterans, about what to bring to appointments. They even delve into the topic of what to do if you don't like your doctor or what happens if your doctor leaves you.

The Trapper Keeper is Back!

NCCN Guidelines for Patients

Cancer.net - Questions to Ask Your Health Team

American Cancer Society - Questions to Ask Your Doctor

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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?" According to the National Institute for Health, integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field that utilizes mind-body practices, lifestyle modifications, and/or natural products interwoven with conventional cancer treatment. It prioritizes safety and best available evidence to offer appropriate interventions alongside conventional care. That's literally their definition.

Patients are often reluctant to talk to their doctors about using therapies that might be outside of standard of care, and doctors don't always know how to advise their patients on the use of these therapies. As more patients are becoming aware of the potential benefits of these treatments, keeping an open dialog with their providers is key.

Talk to YOUR doctor if you think integrative medicine is for you.

Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians Where to find licensed naturopathic doctors that specialize in naturopathic oncology

Memorial Sloan Kettering Herbs Database

Board Certified Specialists in Oncology Nutrition Listed by state

Eat This Much

Oldways Cultural Food Traditions

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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’s association with waking up in the middle of the night. And since this is the last episode of this four-part pod (a first!), they introduce a Moment of Woo!

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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, and some basic approaches to managing insomnia.
 
Here are the links for some of the things we talk about on this episode:
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale helps assess for daytime sleepiness.
Download the NCCN Survivorship Care for Cancer-Related Late and Long-Term Effects for ways to manage many of those lingering side effects.
Lions, dolphins, and bears? Take The Power of When Quiz and figure out your chronotype!

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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.

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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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