#417 Healing Smarter After Breast Cancer - Using Research and Experience to Guide Your Choices
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Release Date: 06/27/2025
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Biological dentistry goes far beyond cavities and cleanings—it’s about understanding how your mouth connects to your entire body. In this episode, Dr. Toni Engram explains how the oral microbiome impacts inflammation, hormones, digestion, and even healing from chronic illness. We cover: Why dental materials (like mercury fillings and fluoride) matter for long-term health. How to safely approach dental care during cancer treatment. Everyday practices—like nutrient-dense food, flossing, and tongue scraping—that protect oral and systemic health. Listen now and discover how...
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Why does it feel so hard to hear yourself when life gets busy—especially during breast cancer recovery? In this episode: The science of stress, sleep, and comfort eating Why white space is not a luxury but a recovery tool Four research-backed ways to restore energy and balance Practical if-then scripts to protect your health this season Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: Let’s Connect! If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it...
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If you’ve ever thought, “I just can’t stop eating sugar,” this episode is for you. I’ll share what I discovered while reviewing 20 nutrition genomic reports from breast cancer survivors—and the surprising genetic commonalities that explain both difficulties with blood sugar regulation and stronger tendencies toward impulsive cravings. You’ll also learn how cancer cells use insulin receptors to fuel their growth, why sugar is about more than just sweets, and how your brain and body work together in the cycle of cravings. Plus, I’ll walk you through The 5 S’s framework—a...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Food isn’t just calories—it’s connection. It’s energy from the sun and the soil transformed into nourishment for your body. Yet in our modern world, food often feels like discipline, restriction, or just another task. In this episode, I talk about how to shift your perspective so food once again becomes love—for your body, for your healing, and for your life after breast cancer. Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: Let’s Connect! If this episode helped you...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Stress isn’t just “in your head”—it changes your biology. It depletes nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, B vitamins, and zinc, and keeps your body in survival mode. Supplements can help, but they won’t heal you if the root cause—stress—remains. In this episode, I talk about why stress management is as critical as nutrition, how CBT and EMDR support your healing, and why lab testing matters before wasting money on supplements. References from this episode: Juster R-P, McEwen BS, Lupien SJ. (2020). Allostatic load and allostatic overload: Clinical...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Have you ever felt almost afraid to set a boundary—especially with someone you love? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share the story of a client who jokingly called it “boundary phobia” and how that phrase perfectly captures the fear and discomfort so many of us feel when we try to protect our time, energy, or emotional well-being. We’ll talk about: The fears that keep us saying “yes” when we want to say “no” The myths we’ve been taught about boundaries and relationships Why boundaries are about action as much as they are about words How to set healthy...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
In this heartfelt episode, I share a story of one of my clients who chose to live as if she was cured—even while waiting for a PET scan. Her courage and clarity inspired this conversation about mindset, belief, and the science behind choosing peace in uncertain moments. We’ll explore: The difference between what’s true and what fear tells us The emotional and biological cost of staying in survival mode Studies that show how belief and agency improve healing outcomes How to anchor into peace with simple daily practices Why the story you tell yourself is powerful...
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Can you keep eating dairy or sourdough bread during breast cancer recovery—or do they need to go? In this episode, I walk you through the confusing world of food myths and metabolic health, exploring: The difference between A1 and A2 dairy What the research says about dairy and cancer risk Whether sourdough bread is truly blood sugar–friendly How gluten impacts gut health (and what zonulin has to do with it) And the truth behind the “toast your bread to reduce carbs” trend Whether you love yogurt or can’t part with crusty sourdough, you’ll leave this episode...
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Can your thoughts really change your health? In this episode, we explore how belief—both positive and negative—impacts the healing process after breast cancer. Learn what neuroscience, psychology, and real-life coaching reveal about the nocebo effect, the power of belief, and how to gently shift your thinking to support long-term wellness. 💡 In this episode: 🌱 Join The Better Than Before Breast Cancer Membership: A 2007 study published in Science Used harmless cream + expectation to trigger real pain—with brain scans showing activation in pain perception areas....
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
In this episode, I’m joined by two extraordinary women: Cheri Henderson, a two-time breast cancer thriver, and Monica Kasari-Desulme, a physical therapist who specializes in cancer rehabilitation and lymphatic drainage. You’ll hear how physical therapy helped Cheri recover from life-limiting pain, chemo brain, lymphedema, and post-surgical complications—and how it gave her the strength to return to the outdoors and active life she loves. 🎧 We dive into: Why physical therapy should be part of your care plan The role of adhesions and scar tissue in post-treatment symptoms What...
info_outlineWhen you're recovering from breast cancer, you're bombarded with advice—some of it rooted in science, some of it based on personal stories. But how do you know what to trust? How do you separate what’s promising from what’s just popular?
In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to understand the evidence pyramid—from anecdotal stories to randomized controlled trials—and explain where therapies like the ketogenic diet, ozone therapy, sonodynamic therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and high-dose vitamin C fall in that landscape.
You’ll learn how to make informed, personalized decisions that honor both the science and your lived experience—so you can heal smarter, not harder.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✅ The 5 levels of scientific evidence explained in simple, everyday language
✅ The difference between the ketogenic diet and therapeutic ketosis
✅ Where popular integrative therapies rank in terms of research
✅ Why anecdotal evidence matters more than you might think
✅ How to evaluate whether a therapy is right for your body and your terrain
✅ A simple 3-question filter to help you make smart, aligned decisions
✅ How to combine personal experience with medical research to build a whole-body healing plan
Mentioned Therapies in This Episode
- Ketogenic diet vs. ketosis
- Ozone therapy
- Sonodynamic therapy
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
- High-dose intravenous vitamin C
This Episode Is For You If...
- You’ve ever been told “there’s no evidence for that” and felt shut down
- You’re exploring complementary or alternative healing therapies
- You want to feel more confident and informed in conversations with your care team
- You believe healing is about more than just treatment—it’s about supporting the whole person
Connect With Me
Looking for support, structure, and a safe place to explore your next steps after breast cancer?
Join us inside the Better Than Before Breast Cancer Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership for guidance, group coaching, and access to trusted integrative tools.
Get all the details and Enroll here today
💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
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🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer
Rate & Review the Show
If this episode helped you feel more clear, confident, or just a little more supported, it would mean so much if you left a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other breast cancer survivors find the show and feel less alone.
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