Melatonin is a popular supplement in cancer care. Tina & Leah review the many uses of melatonin and tackle some controversies around this powerful hormone.  Join us as they chat, like only two naturopathic docs can.

Did you know melatonin was first discovered in 1958?  That’s a long time ago! Amazingly, research is still uncovering new ways melatonin affects the body. We know it sets our circadian clocks, influences immune cells and acts as an antioxidant inside cells. 

But like so many natural agents, there are some cautionary tales, too. Tina & Leah explain melatonin:  when you should take it, when you should not, and what doses are safe and effective.  

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We’re celebrating our 50th episode! Looking back, even we are amazed at how much ground we’ve covered. Join us as we hit the highlights from past and take on some listener questions. This is a one-of-a-kind episode! 

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If you haven’t already, hit that follow button! We’ll keep them coming. And, as always, thank you for joining us!

Okay, here are some of the topics we've covered so far: Hot Flashes, Soy, Coffee, Alcohol, Insomnia, Mouth Sores, Nausea, How to Talk to Your Doctor, Genetic Testing, Bone Health, Fatigue, Chemo Brain, Movie Reviews, Nutritional Supplements (Folate, Omega 3 fatty Acids, Vitamin C, Collagen, Vitamin D, Glutamine, Mushrooms, Curcumin), Bowel changes, Constipation, Diarrhea, Antioxidants, Cure-All Tea, Low Carb Diets, Neuropathy, Hair Loss, and Nail Changes. We also had some very special guests: Dr. Amy Rothenberg, Sammy Peterson, RD, CSO, Dr. Mary Barnhart, Amy & Stef from Cancer for Breakfast, and Leah told her story too.

We have big plans for 2023, so join us, and you can help shape the future of The Cancer Pod!

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Are there any natural cancer cures out there? What the heck is the abscopal effect? Should you pursue it? What is the goal of your treatment? How do you decide between treatment A versus treatment B? Are antioxidants always a good idea? Join us in this jam-packed episode where we discuss details on these topics and much, much more. 

In this episode, Tina & Leah discuss concepts behind some natural agents used in cancer care. 
Retractions of Dr. Bharat Aggarwal’s papers on Curcumin/Boswellia

High dose, intravenous vitamin C may improve outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer receiving radiotherapy

Example of a clinic in Germany that does whole-body therapies, including hyperthermia 

Antioxidants may encourage cancer cell survival, undermining treatments that kill cells via oxidation (example: radiation)  

High doses of some natural compounds (ex: curcumin) complement treatment through oxidation, not as antioxidants 

Possible interaction of curcumin with tamoxifen/endoxifen

Tamoxifen as a prodrug, and the interactions that may occur

Previous episodes for more details on topics mentioned in this episode:
Supplements 101: Curcumin, Episode 40
The Truth about those Antioxidants, Episode 33

Dose translation from animals to humans

Curcumin can lead to cells protecting themselves through Nrf2 activation

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In this episode, Tina & Leah discuss how you can reliably reduce your risk of cancer occurrence, recurrence, or improve your odds if you currently have cancer. They pick up where they left off in Episode 47, talking about The Cancer Conflict, a 2022 documentary directed by Thomas Meadmore that follows two separate people, each with newly diagnosed cancer. One chooses to use conventional treatments, adding some cutting-edge therapies from Germany. The other chooses to pursue alternative treatments only. The challenges each of them faces are universal. This film is the inspiration to discuss what you can do to help yourself, reliably.

You don’t need to see the film to get a whole lot of useful information from this episode. Tina & Leah tell you about the foundations of health, the use of anecdotal evidence, and some hazards to being your own advocate throughout your treatment planning.

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Link to the film, The Cancer Conflict on Prime Video and on AppleTV

Prior episode: Supplements 101: The Basics

Prior episodes: Sleep, Part 1  and Sleep, Part 2

Oldways, heritage diets for healthy living

Institute for Forest Bathing

The Healing Benefits of Humor & Laughter

LaughActive = Laughter Yoga

Prior episode: Supersize Me: The Cancer Pod at the Movies

Exercise is good before, during, and after treatment for cancer

Coriolus versicolor (Turkey tail) mushroom for colorectal cancer

Good sleep as a means of reducing risk of cancer and improving outcomes

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How do you choose your treatment? Conventional? Alternative? A combination of both (integrative)? Listen in as Tina & Leah discuss some do’s and don’ts of decision making that you need to know.

A film called The Cancer Conflict juxtaposed two newly diagnosed patients and followed each one as they went through their cancer treatments. One person started with conventional, the other one went with alternative medicine. This film inspired our discussion about how people make such decisions and how to strike a balance between controlling your own care and submitting to recommendations by “experts.”

You don’t have to have seen the film to enjoy the chat between Tina & Leah. As always, they use their extensive experience in oncology to bring you context and helpful lessons along the way. 

The film: The Cancer Conflict

Our podcast with Dr. Mary Barnhart, surgeon

Tina’s paper on thermography

The Biology of Belief, by Bruce Lipton

The Society of Cells, by Carlos Sonnenschein

FDA approved medical device using energy, Optune for brain tumors 

Find a naturopathic physician specializing in cancer care

Find researchers and doctors specializing in integrative oncology

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Join us as we talk about navigating survivorship with Amy & Stef. As always, the conversation is upbeat and includes tips for survivors and caregivers alike. 

Amy & Stef started Cancer for Breakfast, a podcast and community, with one goal in mind: to create a supportive place for those who have had cancer. With their immutable wit and authenticity, they bring comfort to the common experience of being a person diagnosed with cancer.

Connect with Cancer for Breakfast here:

Email
Website
Instagram
Twitter

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We taped a minisode to wrap up Leah's story and share the results of her biopsy! Ah, life of a #cancerinsider…tune in to find out how the story plays out.

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Leah’s story picks up where Part 1 left off.  We update you on what’s happening with that suspicious area on her MRI, continue talking about details of her past treatment and integrate some  lessons along the way. 

Join us as Leah’s story unfolds: past and present.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America where Leah worked (and received her treatment)

Leah’s story, contemporaneously told, on Tumblr 

What does Leah Like? (Pinterest)

The Cancer Social Club: Leah’s community-building project

Fasting 13 hours overnight is associated with less breast cancer recurrence

Clock genes- a review

Fasting around chemo lessens side effects

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a role for short-term fasting?

Prolon as a fasting-mimicking diet

Rebecca Katz’s Magic Mineral Broth

Bears and Fatty Liver?

Tell us your thoughts on this episode!

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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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Leah has the dubious distinction of being our #cancerinsider. In this episode, she shares her history of diagnosis and treatment while seeing patients at an integrative cancer center. Join us in this unscripted chat!

Today, Leah is once again practicing in an integrative cancer center, and during the recording of this episode, she happens to be awaiting the results of a recent MRI. As every person who has gone through cancer treatments knows, past and present are forever intertwined. This is a jam-packed episode where we touch on scanxiety, the difference between lumpectomy & mastectomy, whether cancer is truly “preventable,” and so much more.  

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Cancer Treatment Centers of America where Leah worked (and received her treatment)

Leah’s story, contemporaneously told, on Tumblr 

What does Leah Like? (Pinterest)

The Cancer Social Club: Leah’s community-building project

Dr. Richard Brown, Leah’s plastic surgeon, on TikTok 

Tell us your thoughts on this episode!

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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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Shop our favorite reads! We've joined with Bookshop.org to offer some of our fave books!

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Dr. Mary Barnhart is a former dietitian and retired breast surgeon. From the idea of spreading tumors with biopsies (true or false?) to who gets to pick the music in the OR, Tina & Leah ask some tough questions in this one. 

Ultimately, you are in control of your healthcare decisions, and Dr. Barnhart discusses how she balanced medical advise with patient autonomy in her own practice. She may have retired from surgery, but she still advocates for those who have been affected by cancer. A cancer survivor herself, she knows all too well what it’s like to be the patient. 

Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:

Study on the progression of breast cancer in those who decline surgery. Am. J. of Surgery

Study on refusal of conventional treatment and poorer outcomes. J of Nat. Cancer Institute

Dr. Barnhart Retires from Practice News Release.  The Outlook

Listen on Spotify to Like a Surgeon by Weird Al Yankovich, or watch on YouTube.

Tell us your thoughts on this episode!

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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!

Check out our website! Looking for more information? We have blogs, merch, and all of our episodes listed by season and category.

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