Tina and Leah have an insightful conversation with Natasha Ewa, a licensed social worker, psychotherapist, founder of I Thrive Therapy & Wellness, and #cancerinsider who was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer at the age of 29.  Natasha shares her perspective on dealing with PTSD, grief, and death from the standpoint of wellness, based on her professional experience and personal journey as a cancer survivor. 

In her private practice, Natasha regularly helps people navigate trauma related to health challenges, and her advice is applicable to anyone who has been through (or is in) a tough health challenge. She emphasizes the importance of the power of knowledge, supporting mental wellness, and various coping strategies for cancer survivors.  

Follow Natasha on Instagram @natashaaftercancer 
and on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ittandwellnessllc

For more on I Thrive Therapy & Wellness, visit the website at https://www.ittandwellness.com/

To order Natasha’s book, email her directly at zanatasha (at) gmail.com

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An inflamed bladder (cystitis) can be caused by infections (urinary tract infection, UTI) or from treatment itself (radiation, chemotherapy, other drugs). Did you know some foods can irritate an inflamed bladder? Removing them can provide relief! Tina and Leah discuss the many ways that you can soothe and support your bladder with diet and herbs. Join the discussion and learn how to improve your own bladder health!

Foods that can irritate the bladder (from Brigham and Women's Hospital)
A technical paper on bladder damage from radiation

Prior episodes we mention:
Cranberry: A Healthy Addition to Your Plate!
Berries: Food First!

Herbal companies we recommend:
Mountain Rose Herbs
Starwest Botanicals
Frontier Co-op Herbs
GAIA Herbs

We may make a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase using links above.

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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.

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Pelvic health is often overlooked, especially in cancer care.  Dr. Alex Hill shares invaluable insights and practical strategies for addressing common issues like urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and constipation. Join us in this enlightening discussion about the tools of the trade, types of pelvic floor exercises (Spoiler: It's not just Kegels), and why you really should not hover over the toilet when you urinate.

Short bio, website, and all social links for Dr. Alex Hill.

Be sure to follow Dr. Hill on her YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/@oncopelvicpt and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/oncopelvicpt

Links mentioned in this episode:
Find a pelvic health or oncology-trained physical therapist
Find a lymphedema trained PT through Lymphology Association of North America (LANA)
 

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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. 

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.

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Prebiotics feed our probiotics. So which is more important?  Should you supplement  with prebiotics?  In this episode Tina and Leah discuss the different types of prebiotics and where to find them. They also talk about ketogenic diets, when a probiotic may interfere with treatment, and the hidden benefits in potatoes, rice and pasta!

Here are the seven categories of prebiotics we talked about in this episode:
Inulin, FOS, GOS, resistant starches, arabinooxalans, pectins, and beta glucans

Links to prior episodes we mention:
Probiotics: The Bugs We Love!

Studies we mention in this episode:
Stem cell transplants in kids work better when they have high gut diversity (2014)
The microbiota can make or break the effectiveness of Checkpoint inhibitors (Highly technical!)
Antibiotics alongside Checkpoint Inhibitors can impair the effectiveness of treatment

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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. 

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

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Discover valuable insights on nutrition, self-advocacy, and overcoming challenges in this heartfelt interview with Alison Tierney, MS, RD, CD, CSO, a cancer dietitian and #cancerinsider. Tina and Leah lead an engaging conversation on navigating treatment and beyond. Whether you're a beginner in healthy eating or a seasoned health enthusiast, Alison shares firsthand experiences and practical tips for self-care. Tune in for a refreshing perspective on wellness that promises to inspire and empower.

Find Alison online and learn more the The Wholesome Journey and Controlling the Controllables™ at https://wholesomellc.com
and on Instagram at https://instagram.com/wholesome.cancer.nutrition

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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. 

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

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Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, kale, arugula, cabbage, and radishes, are sometimes called "super foods." But why? How are they good for you? In this episode, Tina and Leah answer these questions and discuss ways crucifers can be part of a healthy diet. They touch on some of the supplements that come from crucifers, too. So, hit play, and you may hear the best broccoli joke you've ever heard.

A thorough (and technical) review on cruciferous vegetables - Linus Pauling Institute
Link to buy lids  for sprouting
Tina's review on iodine and Cancer in NMJ

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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. 

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.

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Berries are one of the most easily accessible, nutrient-packed plant foods we can eat. You may know that berries are good for you, but do you know what makes them so nutritious? Tina and Leah talk about common and exotic berries and tell you what's inside berries that makes them so awesome! You may even learn a few new plants you didn't know were technically berries!

Bananas are berries!
About Goji Berries
Information on Sea Buckthorn
The health effects of berry bioactive compounds
Antioxidant effects of berries
The fruit that is literally called Miracle Fruit

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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. 

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

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Electrolyte balance is essential for optimal function of all of our systems. This episode covers the electrolytes you should pay close attention to during and after treatment.  We're not talking designer drinks or influencer hacks to your biology,  just practical knowledge and tips to help you balance your electrolytes.  Join Tina and Leah as they talk about how to know if you have imbalanced electrolytes and what you can do to monitor and optimize them. 

Prior episodes related to this episode:
Calcium: The Low Down and the High Points
Magnesium: The Goldilocks Nutrient?

Relevant medical papers:
A brief review of electrolytes [Stat Pearls]
Electrolytes during platinum-based chemotherapies

Products we mention: (If you purchase, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.)
Pedialyte products
Oral Rehydration Salts by TriOral

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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. 

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

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Ginger "root" has been used for thousands of years. Technically a rhizome, not a root, ginger's modern-day claim to fame is its ability to prevent the onset of nausea. Ginger is so reliable and safe that it's been studied to prevent nausea during pregnancy as well as chemo-induced nausea.  But that is just the beginning of the benefits of ginger. It can be used to support immune function and lower cardiovascular risk, among its many uses. Join Tina & Leah as they explore the most reliable ways to use ginger from a culinary and medicinal perspective.

A review of 109 randomized controlled trials on the use of ginger
The history of gingerbread (from The Spruce)

Some products mentioned in this episode: (If you decide to purchase, we may earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you.)
Ginger People products
Reeds Ginger Ale
Tummy drops (Pineapple and Spicy Ginger are Leah’s favorites!) - Mild or Strong

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. 

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.

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Joint pain is common, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer! There are so many natural remedies to control and relieve the discomfort. Whether you are preventing joint pain during treatment or you have ongoing arthritis-type pain, Tina & Leah talk about ways to find relief. We even tackle the tough-to-treat joint pain from aromatase inhibitors (yes, there are things you can do!). Sometimes, the answer is already in your kitchen!

Links to prior episodes we mention:
Turmeric
Brain Fog
Sammy Peterson, RD, CSO

Rebecca Katz- nutrition, recipes, etc.- her website and her cookbooks.

Aromatase Inhibitors and Vitamin D in your blood.
Exercise to reduce the joint pain from aromatase inhibitors.
Community acupuncture can keep your cost for acupuncture way down.

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. 

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:

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