The Flourish After Cancer Podcast

Flourish After Cancer
  • 4.9 (60)
  • Alternative Health

Join me, Dr Megan Bernard, Naturopathic Doctor, and guest experts as we teach you how to not just survive, but to thrive past cancer. Using research-backed information with a holistic spin, I’ll dive deep into the best nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, and testing to help you to feel better faster after treatment and to reduce your risk of cancer coming back.

  1. 3d ago

    59: The Cancer-Fighting Compounds in These Vegetables and How to Get More of Them

    Broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Your mom probably told you to eat them—but she probably never told you why. Every vegetable in this family produces the same type of starting compound, then does something different with it once it’s inside your body. In this episode, I break down the cruciferous vegetable family and the specific compounds found in each one, why those compounds matter for your internal environment after cancer, and what the research actually shows about broccoli, cabbage, kale, and more. ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: • You’ve been told to “eat more vegetables” without ever being told why. • You want to understand the difference between general cancer information and a plan built for your body. • You’re curious about what the research actually shows—not just what wellness culture repeats. • You want simple changes that don’t give you one more thing to obsess over.   ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why broccoli, cabbage, and kale each specialize in different compounds, even though they come from the same plant family. • How sulforaphane activates your body’s own detoxification and antioxidant genes through the NRF2 pathway. • How I3C and DIM shift estrogen metabolism toward a more protective pathway. • What the current research shows—and where the evidence is still limited to laboratory and animal studies rather than human trials. • Why eating a variety of vegetables from this family matters more than staying loyal to one favorite.   💡 You’ll leave this episode with: • A clear understanding of what’s happening inside your body when you eat these vegetables. • Simple, practical ways to get more from what you’re already cooking. • Language to help explain this to the people in your life who still won’t touch a vegetable. • A better understanding of one more piece of your internal environment—based on evidence instead of guesswork. The Cruciferous Vegetable Family at a Glance Every cruciferous vegetable contains glucosinolates—plant compounds that are converted into the active compounds your body uses. Each vegetable specializes in a particular glucosinolate that becomes an active compound with its own potential role in cancer recurrence prevention. •Broccoli and broccoli sprouts - Glucosinolate: Glucoraphanin - Becomes: Sulforaphane - Anticancer impact: Activates your body’s own detoxification and antioxidant genes. •Cabbage, mustard greens, and horseradish - Glucosinolate: Sinigrin - Becomes: Allyl isothiocyanate - Anticancer impact: Supports cell repair and helps reduce inflammation.   •Kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts - Glucosinolate: Glucobrassicin - Becomes: I3C, then DIM - Anticancer impact: Shifts estrogen breakdown toward a more protective pathway.   I'm Dr. Megan, a licensed naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again.   ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps  Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  2. Sep 9

    58: Your Muscle Sends Signals That Can Kill Cancer Cells

    You've heard "move more" a hundred times since your diagnosis, and it never quite explains why. What if the advice was never vague, just incomplete. There's a real trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, showing that a structured exercise program lowered the risk of cancer coming back by 28 percent, and lowered the risk of death by 37 percent, compared to usual care. That's the kind of result a new drug has to prove in a randomized controlled trial. This one came from walking and support, nothing you have to buy. In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I break down what's happening in your blood sugar, your hormones, your muscle, and your immune system every time you move, and why muscle itself works more like a messenger than an engine. ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: You've been told to "exercise more" but no one explained why it matters for recurrence You feel exhausted in a way that seems bigger than just being tired You used to be active and feel a quiet grief over how far you've drifted from that You're not sure what's safe to do around surgery sites or lymphedema risk You want a real starting point instead of another generic plan ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ, and what myokines actually do in your bloodstream What the 2025 colon cancer trial proved, and why the benefit held even without weight loss How a 15-year breast cancer study found lower recurrence risk even in women who started being active after treatment Why the research shows exercise isn't one-size-fits-all across cancer types or hormone status What's really behind low motivation after treatment, from nutrient depletion to unresolved pain 💡 You'll leave this episode with: A clear, science-backed reason to see exercise as part of your recovery, not just a wellness suggestion Permission to stop blaming yourself for low energy that has a physical cause A short list of who can help you build a safe, appropriately paced plan A better sense of where you actually fall on the path from walking to strength work I'm Dr. Megan, a licensed naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let's Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let's chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/  Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  3. Sep 2

    57: The Test That Could Explain Your Post-Cancer Fatigue (And Address Cancer Risk)

    Brain fog that won't lift. Energy crashes an hour after lunch. Cravings you can't outrun, no matter how disciplined you are. You've probably chalked it up to stress, age, or just life after cancer. But what if it's actually one hormone—and it's not the one anyone's testing? In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I talk about fasting insulin, why it's a more sensitive marker than glucose, what it has to do with cancer specifically, and the exact words to use to get it added to your next blood draw. This conversation is designed to help you: • Understand why normal glucose doesn't mean normal insulin • See how this one marker connects to brain fog, cravings, and stubborn belly fat • Learn what to actually ask for at your next blood draw 🔗 Episode Relevant Resources: • Related episode, E08: Is Your IGF-1 Fueling or Fighting Cancer? https://flourishaftercancer.com/post/e8   • Blood work clarity guide: https://flourishaftercancer.com/bloodworkhandout   • How to get your blood work ordered: https://flourishaftercancer.com/post/e48   • Full episode notes and blog: https://flourishaftercancer.com/blog/e57  ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: • You have brain fog or energy crashes that don't match your sleep • Your cravings feel impossible to outrun no matter how disciplined you are • Your glucose has always come back normal, but something still feels off • You've been told your labs are fine and you're still not convinced • You want to know exactly what to ask your doctor to add to your next blood draw ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: • Why fasting insulin can be a problem for years before glucose ever moves • How high insulin drives IGF-1, and why that matters for hormone-sensitive cancers • The difference between a "normal" lab range and an optimal one for recurrence prevention • What symptom pattern shows up when insulin is quietly running high • The categories that actually move fasting insulin, and why doing all of them at once isn't the goal 💡 You'll leave this episode with: • A marker to ask for that your standard cancer follow-up likely isn't testing • A clearer read on symptoms you may have written off as stress or age • Relief that this is something you can act on now, before it becomes a bigger problem • A next step for finding out which lever matters most for your body first I'm Dr. Megan, a licensed naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  4. Aug 26

    56: The Cortisol Conversation No One’s Having After Cancer

    You're exhausted, but not the kind of tired that sleep fixes. Wired at night, dragging in the morning, and nobody's mentioned why. There's a piece of the recovery conversation that rarely comes up: what cancer, and everything involved in treating it, does to your cortisol. In this episode, I talk about your cortisol rhythm during and after cancer, why it shapes your sleep, blood sugar, inflammation, and immune function, and how a simple test shows you your own pattern instead of guessing what's going on. This conversation is designed to help you: • Understand the difference between normal stress and a disrupted cortisol rhythm • See how sleep, blood sugar, and inflammation are all connected to this one system • Learn how to actually look at your pattern instead of guessing at it 😮‍💨 ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: • Why burnout, adrenal fatigue, and HPA axis dysfunction are often describing the same underlying pattern • How a healthy cortisol rhythm is supposed to work, and what it looks like when it's off • Why cancer and its treatment stack cortisol spikes with almost no recovery window in between • How cortisol connects to your sleep, blood sugar, inflammation, and immune function What a four-point cortisol test actually measures, and why it's a starting point, not a diagnosis 💡 You'll leave this episode with: • Language for what you've been feeling, instead of it being mistaken for "just anxiety" or "just depression" • A clearer picture of how stress recovery fits into your overall cancer recovery plan • Relief that this pattern is fixable, not something you're stuck managing forever • A next step for getting real data on your own cortisol rhythm instead of guessing 🔗 Episode Relevant Resources: Watch the Cancer Recurrence Prevention Blueprint training: https://flourishaftercancer.com/blueprint  I'm Dr. Megan, a licensed naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  5. Aug 19

    55: Where chatGPT Can (And Can’t) Help Your Cancer Recovery

    You've probably typed your labs into ChatGPT at some point, or asked it a question you were too tired to bring up at your next appointment. Maybe you got an answer back that felt more personal than anything your medical team has said in months. In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I talk about where AI helps your recovery, and where it quietly falls short, even when the answer feels confident and complete. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why an AI-generated answer can feel more personalized than it actually is How AI can filter your own information back to you, giving you what you want to hear instead of what you need Why AI can't tell the difference between a lab number that's a warning sign and one that just needs time What AI does well, and where a real clinician still has to take over 💡 You'll leave this episode with: A clearer sense of when AI is a helpful tool and when it isn't Better questions to bring to your own appointments Less pressure to have every health decision figured out on your own More confidence trusting your care team alongside the tools you already use I'm Dr. Megan, a licensed naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  6. Aug 12

    54: My Oncologist Said I Probably Shouldn’t Take These Supplements

    "My oncologist said I probably shouldn't take these supplements." You've heard some version of this. Usually it comes with one word attached: interacts. And then the conversation stops there, with no real explanation of what that actually means or how much it actually matters. In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I walk through the exact process I use to evaluate a supplement, the same kind of process your care team uses when weighing medication decisions, so you understand why that "probably shouldn't" answer happens, and when it's worth a second conversation. This isn't about telling you your oncologist is wrong. It's about giving you a better answer than "we just don't know." 💛 ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: You've been told to stop a supplement with little to no explanation You feel caught between what your oncologist says and what you're reading online You want to understand how interaction warnings actually get decided You're tired of guessing whether "we don't know" means "unsafe" or just "unstudied" You want to feel less afraid of supplements without ignoring real risk ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why a lack of research is not the same as evidence of harm How to read the evidence ladder from theoretical to multiple human studies What the A through X interaction categories actually mean Why "shown in humans" can mean four people or four hundred, and why that matters How to ask what outcome a study actually measured, not just what it found I’m Dr Megan, a board-certified naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  7. Aug 5

    53: There Is No Anticancer Diet. But This Works.

    "What's the best anticancer diet?" Keto, Mediterranean, plant-based, vegan, raw. You've probably tried at least one of them, and you're still wondering if you picked the right one 😮‍💨 Here's the honest answer: there isn't one best anticancer diet Not because nutrition doesn't matter, but because the question assumes one diet could be right for every body that's been through cancer treatment In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I walk you through the exact 6-step process my team and I use to build individualized eating plans for our clients, starting with the symptoms your body is already showing you. This episode is designed to help you: Stop cycling through diets and start reading what your body is asking for Understand what food does for cancer recurrence risk, and what it doesn't Build an eating plan you'll enjoy following 💛 🔗 Episode Relevant Resources E38 Phytoestrogens: The Fear, The Facts, and What Matters E28 Cancer Recurrence Risk Isn't Fixed: What Epigenetics Shows Us ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: You keep asking "what should I eat" and getting a different answer everywhere you look You've tried keto, plant-based, or anti-inflammatory eating and still don't feel like yourself You're dealing with brain fog, joint pain, or gut issues since treatment You want a way of eating that reduces recurrence risk and still leaves room for real life ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why symptoms like brain fog, joint pain, and constipation are information pointing toward specific foods What food does in the body, and why it never goes into battle with a tumor Why two women with the same diagnosis can need completely different eating plans The 6 steps that turn "eat healthy" into a plan built on your data Where diagnosis-specific foods like soy, green tea, and flax fit, and why foundations come first I’m Dr Megan, a board-certified naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

  8. Jul 29

    52: Should You Consider GLP-1s For Cancer Survivorship?

    The weight shifted during treatment, and now everyone seems to have an opinion about GLP-1s Maybe your GP mentioned it, maybe a friend is on one and feels amazing, or maybe you're already taking it and quietly wondering: "Is this helping my recovery, or getting in the way of it?" "Does losing weight this way lower my recurrence risk?" "What happens to my muscle, my bones, my gut?" 😮‍💨 In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I walk you through what GLP-1 medications do in the body, what the early research suggests about cancer biology, and where they fall short for women after treatment. This is a must-listen if: You've gained weight since treatment and wonder if a GLP-1 is right for your situation You're already on one and want to know how to protect your muscle, gut, and nutrient status Your glucose and HbA1c look "normal" but no one has ever checked your fasting insulin You keep hearing GLP-1s mentioned for cancer prevention and want the real state of the evidence You want a clear way to decide instead of following the trend In this episode, you'll learn: What GLP-1s do in the pancreas, stomach, and brain, and why that lowers insulin and glucose Why chronically elevated insulin drives IGF-1 and a pro-cancer internal environment What the early research on GLP-1 receptors and tumor cells does and doesn't show Where GLP-1s fall short after treatment: muscle loss, GI effects, and the root cause they leave untouched When a GLP-1 or a microdose moves up your priority list, and when it doesn't  Episode Relevant Resources Work with my team and me in The Roadmap To Recovery: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps I’m Dr Megan, a board-certified naturopathic doctor. My team and I have worked with hundreds of women globally to rebuild their health after cancer and reduce recurrence risk using science-backed nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplement strategies — so they can feel confident, strong, and free to enjoy life again. ✨ Let’s Connect! Book a free Roadmap Call and let’s chat about how we can help: https://flourishaftercancer.com/nextsteps Follow me: Instagram: @MeganBernardND Facebook: @MeganBernardND Website: https://flourishaftercancer.com/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in these videos and podcasts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle. Content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care.

See All (60)

4.9
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Join me, Dr Megan Bernard, Naturopathic Doctor, and guest experts as we teach you how to not just survive, but to thrive past cancer. Using research-backed information with a holistic spin, I’ll dive deep into the best nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, and testing to help you to feel better faster after treatment and to reduce your risk of cancer coming back.

Information

  • Creator
    Flourish After Cancer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Flourish After Cancer Podcast

You Might Also Like