Looking Inside Of Healthcare & The Impact Of Physician Burnout with Dr. Todd Otten
The Empowered (Cancer) Patient Podcast
Release Date: 11/03/2025
The Empowered (Cancer) Patient Podcast
Why are so many women afraid of mammograms? Do they actually cause cancer? In this episode, breast radiologist Dr. Robyn Roth (the Boobie Doc) helps explain why a test designed to protect our health has somehow become a source of anxiety. We break down breast density, decode the language used in mammogram letters, and discuss the screening options women are rarely told about. She also directly addresses common cancer myths, including the claim that mammograms cause cancer. This conversation replaces fear with clarity, and gives you the understanding you need to advocate for your own...
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What can you control when facing a cancer diagnosis, beyond treatments? When Emmy Award-winning TV host, journalist, and co-host of Dancing with the Stars, Samantha Harris, was diagnosed with stage II invasive breast cancer in 2014, it inspired a quest for answers about how we can all improve our overall health, prevent chronic diseases, and understand their underlying causes. It prompted her to write her best-selling book, Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent and Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life, which translates comprehensive,...
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(Part 2/4 in my The Reclaim Your Power – New Year Series) Family history is often overlooked, but it can be one of the most powerful tools in cancer prevention. In this episode, Krista Brown, a nurse and cancer survivor, explains how genetic testing following her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis uncovered her own high cancer risk and led to early, life-saving treatment. Krista walks through how patients can advocate for appropriate testing, navigate healthcare barriers, and use nutrition as part of an empowered care plan. This conversation equips listeners with knowledge that...
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I’m kicking off 2026 with The Reclaim Your Power – New Year Series (4 episodes this month) to help women with cancer start the year informed, confident, and actively participating in their care—rather than feeling overwhelmed or sidelined. I think this is the perfect episode to start, because so many patients feel dismissed, rushed, or unsure how to speak up about their care, especially during cancer treatment. A cancer diagnosis can push patients into a fast-moving system where decisions are critical and voices can easily get lost. In this episode, we’re joined by...
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Why does something as simple as eating become so overwhelming after breast cancer? For so many women, food goes from a source of comfort to a source of constant second-guessing. One article says a food is helpful. Another says it’s risky. And suddenly every meal feels like a high-stakes decision you’re terrified to get wrong. Today’s guest, Cathy Leman, a registered dietitian and breast cancer survivor, understands that anxiety on a personal and professional level. She’s lived it, studied it, and now teaches women how to replace fear with calm, clarity, and confidence. In this...
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Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice about diet, exercise, and recovery support? This episode brings you clarity. Dr. Amy Comander, a breast medical oncologist and leading voice in integrative and lifestyle medicine, breaks down what these approaches really mean — and why they’re becoming the foundation of modern cancer care, holistic health, and long-term survivorship. She explains the simple evidence-based habits that help breast cancer survivors live longer and feel better, how to find qualified lifestyle medicine physicians, and the one pillar of wellbeing patients say has the...
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How are you supposed to make decisions when your breast cancer diagnosis feels like a foreign language? Dr. Francisco Esteva, a medical oncologist who's dedicated his career to breast cancer care, recognized this gap and took an unconventional step: he started creating YouTube videos to translate complicated medical concepts into language real patients can actually understand. In this conversation, we dive into why patient education matters, how to navigate a cancer diagnosis without losing your mind, and what questions you should be asking your oncology team. Whether you’re newly...
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Can doctors still practice patient-first care in a profit-first healthcare system? Today, countless physicians are feeling the strain as independent practices are disappearing, replaced by corporate entities that prioritize profits over patient care and physician autonomy. Dr. Adrienne Towsen knows this landscape intimately, having navigated the challenging terrain of orthopedic surgery as a woman in a male-dominated field and recently walking away from a private equity practice that no longer aligned with her values. Her story offers a beacon of hope for healthcare professionals feeling...
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Easing hot flashes or chasing better sleep isn’t just about the balancing of hormones. It’s about reclaiming your energy, clarity, and confidence in everyday life. I sat down with Dr. Amy Killen, a menopause specialist who has been paving the way in women’s health long before it was trending. She shared how her own shift from emergency medicine to focusing on longevity began when she realized her lifestyle was pushing her toward the very chronic illnesses she was treating in her ER patients. That turning point led her to explore how the balancing of hormones, paired with...
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How can you stay grounded and strong while cancer turns your life upside down? Cancer changes everything, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. In this episode, Dr. Tiffany sits down with Maria Angelova to discuss how small shifts in mindset and daily habits can actually help you feel stronger, calmer, and more in control. You’ll hear real stories from people navigating cancer, showing what works when the stress and overwhelm hit. By the end, you’ll walk away with practical ways to support your body and your spirit through the journey. Why your daily mindset can change how your...
info_outlineHealthcare isn’t just breaking patients, it’s breaking doctors too. You wait months for an appointment, only to get ten minutes with a doctor who looks tired, burned out, and overworked.
In this episode, Dr. Tiffany sits down with Dr. Todd Otten to talk about what’s really happening inside healthcare, why good doctors are struggling, and how cancer patients can still get the compassionate, attentive care they deserve. Tune in to hear how healing can only happen when empathy extends to both patients and providers alike.
What You’ll Learn:
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Why even the most dedicated doctors begin to lose their sense of purpose over time.
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How Dr. Todd turned his own experience with burnout into a mission to heal the healers.
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The one thing that’s quietly driving physicians to exhaustion.
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The truth about rediscovering meaning in medicine.
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How small cultural shifts could protect both doctors and patients.
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Why true healthcare reform begins with letting doctors be human.
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The one conversation every hospital leader must have for real change.
Put Yourself First!
Understand your diagnosis, navigate your treatment options with confidence, and advocate strongly for your own well-being. Learn more at https://drtiffanytroso.com/home
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When Your Next Cancer Decision Matters Most - Get A Second Opinion
Get the expert second opinion and personalized guidance you deserve from a veteran, medical oncologist who specializes exclusively in breast and gynecologic cancers. https://drtiffanytroso.com/second-look-oncology
About Me - Dr. Tiffany Troso
I’m a double board-certified medical oncologist specializing in breast and gynecological cancers, with over 25 years of experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. But more than credentials—I'm here because I know the system doesn’t always see you.
Women like you are used to taking care of everyone else. But cancer is different. You deserve clear answers, fierce advocacy, and guidance that prioritizes you.
That’s what I do. Through one-on-one consults, coaching, and my signature Empowered Patient Method, I help you regain clarity, confidence, and control—without the chaos.