Some things supporting wellness are a great idea — if you're not in the middle of cancer treatment! Tina and Leah talk about some good-for-you, healthy, and usually risk-free things you should avoid while getting active treatment.  Avoiding anything that may undermine your treatment success is a top priority, so don't miss this one!

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Time flies! Before you know it, another year's gone by! We've hit some hot topics this past year, and the info just keeps coming! So, Tina & Leah plucked from the headlines and updated some prior episodes with the newest info. They also look to the future of cancer diagnosis (will ants someday be involved?) and tackle a listener question about mushrooms.  Join us as we learn (and laugh!) together.

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Green tea is a hugely popular drink and supplement. But are its health claims warranted? In this episode, Tina & Leah bring you the facts about green tea's benefits. As usual, there are some unique considerations regarding cancer. So tune in to find out if this anti-oxidant-rich tea should be a high priority on your to-do list!

Memorial Sloan-Kettering summary on green tea
ASCO position paper on green tea
Bottled versus Brewed green tea
Effects on Cancer stem cells
Topical green tea preventing radiation-induced rash
Review on high doses and liver toxicity
Scientific opinion on the toxicity of green tea
Decaf green tea, weight loss, and the COMT gene
Green tea phytosome as an add-on for weight loss
The paper referred to in our Moment of Woo

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Adaptogens are all the rage, making their way into popular pick-me-up products (looking at you, Monster energy drinks).  Many different plants are adaptogens (Ashwaganda, Ginseng, Rhodiola, etc), but should these plants really be taken willy-nilly? Tina & Leah give you the low down on adaptogens, including their uses, side effects, and some contraindications.

What's an adaptogen? "a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. A well-known example is ginseng." Tune in to learn more!

Learn more about Ginseng

Technical paper on Asian and American ginsengs

Schisandra Herbalgram from American Botanical Council

The difference between red and white Panax ginseng

ASCO study on ginseng and cancer-related fatigue

American (Wisconsin) ginseng from the source

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This isn't a sexy topic but darn it, someone has to talk about it! We naturopathic doctors don't shy away from sh*t talk.  In fact, we encourage it! We're rereleasing this episode because there's a slew of newer oral agents that cause loose stool and/or diarrhea. Listen in as Tina and Leah help you understand how it happens and what you can do about it.

Diarrhea management handout from equalhope.org

Managing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea 

Recipes from Cancer Support Community website

Chemotherapy-Induced Constipation and Diarrhea: Pathophysiology, Current and Emerging Treatments

Charcoal for diarrhea from Irinotecan (CPT-11)

Probiotics for diarrhea from Irinotecan (CPT-11)

An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly  (abstract only)

Transdermal absorption of castor oil (it was the Meridian Institute, not Heritage!)

Unofficial Theme Song: L7 Sh*tlist

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Drug repurposing is using a drug previously approved for one condition to treat an entirely different condition (like cancer). In cancer care, repurposed drugs are usually gentler than FDA-approved cancer treatments. They include common drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and more. Tina & Leah talk about who should consider this strategy and some of the most commonly used repurposed drugs.

Repurposing Drugs in Oncology- ReDo Project link
The Anticancer Fund
Care Oncology Clinic (we have no affiliation!) - good info & access to repurposed drugs
Thorough review of mechanisms for repurposed drugs in cancer
Cimetidine- early study suggesting benefit in colorectal cancer
Review of cimetidine in colorectal cancer
Review of better blood sugar regulation leading to better outcomes in cancer care
Metformin- early study suggesting benefit in ovarian cancer

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Detox programs are popping up everywhere, but what’s the best approach? Do you really need to chug charcoal?! Tina & Leah talk about what detox means from their perspectives. And while they agree on most of it, they each bring a different perspective on how detoxification, elimination, and cleansing should be defined. Tune in to learn more!

Harvard University takes on Detox
Objective Assessment of an Ionic Footbath (IonCleanse)
Tim Horton’s versus Tony Horton
Info on the Master Cleanse (a cleanse before cleanses were vogue)
Emunctories? What the heck are those?
A traditional naturopathic perspective on “toxemia” and “detoxification”
The Glymphatic System: A Beginner’s Guide (this is the lymph in your brain)
Scientists urge a more realistic take on the hundreds of chemicals we’re exposed to (Tiina’s article)
Infectious causes of cancer
Link to causes of various cancers.
Infections that can lead to cancer (ACS)
How Foods Directly Affect Detoxification Pathways (A scientific review paper.)
Common Carcinogens You Should Know (WebMD)
What is Phase 2 Detox?
What’s a femtosecond?
Tainted water - 25 million Am

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Did you know you can lower pain levels with natural agents as well as medications? Food matters too. What you eat can worsen pain, while some foods help you resolve it. Tina & Leah are naturopathic doctors who know what works (and what doesn’t!). They’ll spare you the arms-length list of supplements that “may” help. So tune in and find out how to lessen pain and inflammation.

Links we mentioned on this episode:

55% of people going through cancer experience pain 

Boswellia information from Memorial Sloan Kettering 

Frankincense has no boswellic acids, but it works anyways!

FDA rules around the use of Cannabis-containing products

Cannabis for pain control

Vitamin D deficiency and Pain Association 

Links to prior episodes for more info:
E21 Omega-3 fatty acids: Supplements 101
E35 Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: The Return of side Ef#@cks
E53 Magnesium: Supplements 101

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Pain is unpleasant. (That’s an understatement!) While pain itself is no fun, Tina & Leah keep you entertained and informed as you learn the basics in this episode. Understanding pain and knowing how to report it accurately can speed up the process of getting some relief.  So listen in, and as always, please share this podcast if you find it useful!

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:
McGill Pain Questionnaire to help you describe your pain accurately
About the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a short version
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
How taste, temperature, and pain sensations are linked
Medical Cannabis for Cancer-Related Pain
Booklet by ASCO: Managing Cancer-Related Pain
More on Pain from ASCO

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Probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, Oh My! The “bugs” in our guts have more to do with cancer than you may think. They interact intimately with your immune system and can influence cancer treatment effectiveness. Join Tina & Leah as they discuss the bugs we love, probiotics!
Probiotics- What they are, and what they are not
The. Federal Trade Commission challenges Dannon’s claims regarding Activia yogurt
Bacteria found inside pancreatic cancer are able to metabolize chemo (gemcitabine)
Taking an antibiotic with gemcitabine improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer (2023)
Probiotics may hamper or improve response to checkpoint inhibitors
A probiotic improved cognition in breast cancer patients receiving chemo
Fecal Microbial Transplant (FMT) was better than probiotics for gut restoration
FMT may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies (human—> mouse study)
Fusobacteria spp. and colorectal cancer association

The bug running the show in the movie Men in Black (1997)
A Bug’s Life - The animated movie (1998)

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Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Gain access to live Q&As, exclusive content, and so much more! Join us today!

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