{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthewholehealthcure.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Famy-comander-h8dAEWvq","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Breast Oncology Through the Lens of Lifestyle Medicine with Amy Comander, MD","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/fad2e887-570d-416b-bbd9-3cf4bf9b7e60/040ff946-10e4-4357-a839-ac0a54a8891d/e193-ig-square-episode-cover.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"There is a one in eight chance of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer in the course of her lifetime. Given the prevalence of this disease, being aware of the lifestyle factors involved in treatment response can greatly improve post-diagnosis survivorship and quality of life.\n\nTo learn more about the importance of lifestyle for breast cancer patients, I am joined by Amy Comander, MD, who has specialized in breast oncology for over a decade. In this conversation, we focus largely on engaging the pillar of exercise toward breast cancer treatment and recovery processes.\n\n“Where we do have good data in the oncology space is the important role of physical activity. So that's often something I ask all of my patients at that first visit, ‘What do you do for exercise?’”\n\nAmy recommends about 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, which can include light movement like walking to the mailbox, each week. Understandably, this may be difficult for individuals who are undergoing physically taxing cancer treatments. When counseling her patients, Amy considers their individual condition and tailors their recovery plan to their needs. \n\n“Those individuals who can remain physically active during treatment tolerate chemotherapy better… which then ultimately results in a better outcome. So physical activity during the treatment and beyond is so important.”\n\nIn fact, exercise’s role in cancer recovery has been found to be so critical that a new field, Exercise Oncology, is now emerging. Exercise Oncology is dedicated to studying metabolic and immune changes in cancer patients based on their physical activity. \n\n“Our muscles release these myokines which potentially affect so many pathways… they may augment the immune system. There's so many fascinating mechanisms that are being uncovered.”\n\nListen to the full episode to learn more about this groundbreaking “new frontier” of cancer research.\n\nHere are the details of our conversation:\n[00:01:53] Amy’s work in breast oncology and survivorship\n[00:02:50] Lifestyle medicine in oncology care\n[00:03:53] Amy’s unique specialization and career journey\n[00:06:05] Creating data-driven, credible resources for patients\n[00:07:38] Using a diagnosis as a starting place for lifestyle change\n[00:09:41] Nutrition data and exercise data\n[00:10:35] Physical activity guidelines and their role in cancer recovery\n[00:12:44] Personal and biological benefits of exercise\n[00:15:04] Metabolic and immune mechanisms\n[00:16:06] Connecting the immune system, cancer, and exercise\n[00:17:08] ASCO’s guidelines on diet, weight, and exercise during cancer treatments\n[00:18:52] Specificity in patient counseling\n[00:19:58] Amy’s program, Paving the Path to Wellness\n[00:23:41] Data on lifestyle interventions\n[00:27:11] Optimizing exercise outcomes\n[00:28:49] Debunking soy intake and cancer risk\n[00:29:53] Sleep and stress in cancer outcomes\n[00:31:24] Mental health and stress management for cancer patients\n[00:33:03] Conveying the importance of exercise to patients\n[00:34:39] Social connection’s impact on health"}