Teri Pollastro shares how she combined standard of care treatment with bold, informed self-advocacy — and why that combination may have shaped her extraordinary 22-year survival after a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.

Her story highlights a critical reality:

Standard of care is foundational.
But progress often requires patients willing to responsibly go beyond it.

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What if something as small as the sweetener in your coffee could decide whether your cancer treatment works?

In this episode, Dr. Abby Overacre, a microbiome and immunology researcher at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses her team’s new findings published in Cancer Discovery: the common artificial sweetener sucralose can undermine immunotherapy effectiveness by disrupting the gut microbiome and depleting immune-fueling amino acids like arginine.

Even modest use—about three packets of Splenda per day—was associated with faster tumor growth and poorer progression-free survival in both preclinical models and cancer patients. Dr. Overacre explains how the microbiome links diet to immune response, why natural sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit appear safer, and how fiber-rich and fermented foods can support gut and immune health during treatment.

She also shares emerging research into arginine and citrulline supplementation, fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), and how restoring microbial balance could improve outcomes across cancer types, including melanoma, lung, and liver metastases.

Key takeaways:

—Sucralose consumption can blunt immunotherapy response.

—Gut microbiome diversity plays a pivotal role in cancer outcomes.

—Fiber and fermented foods strengthen immune-microbiome synergy.

—Arginine and citrulline may help restore immune cell metabolism.

Patients can take concrete steps to protect their microbiome during therapy.

“Just three packets of sucralose a day were enough to completely blunt immunotherapy response. Patients deserve to know this.” — Dr. Abby Overacre

🎧 Listen now and learn what every cancer patient on immunotherapy should know about artificial sweeteners.

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When Kristen Dahlgren was diagnosed with breast cancer, she thought she’d seen it all as an NBC correspondent. But she quickly discovered a story no one was telling: the promise of therapeutic cancer vaccines. These revolutionary treatments are showing 10+ year survival in advanced breast cancer clinical trials, and similar mind blowing results for other cancers, yet most doctors—and patients—still don’t know they exist.

In this inspiring and informative episode, Kristen shares her journey from diagnosis to advocacy, the science behind cancer vaccines, and how we can all play a role in bringing them to market faster.

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What if your own immune system could be trained to find and destroy cancer? In this uplifting episode, Dr. Nora Disis shares the exciting breakthroughs in cancer vaccines—and why there’s real hope for patients today and in the future.

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Leading radiation oncologist Dr. Henry Park—Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital— reveals how radiation can cure some cancers and be used to treat patients with multiple tumors. Learn which gender may respond better to radiation and how cutting-edge technology like RefleXion Scintix is changing the game by targeting multiple tumors in real time, even while patients breathe. This episode dives into what “curative intent” really means, the impact of genomics and immunotherapy on radiation outcomes, and why radiation is more precise—and powerful—than ever.

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Surprising New Research by Dr. Xiang Zhang Reveals the Hidden Cancer Risk of Bone Trauma and How His Work is Helping Patients

Did you know that bone is one of the most common sites for cancer metastasis? If you've had breast, prostate, lung, renal, liver, or bladder cancer, this is a must-watch conversation.

Dr. Xiang Zhang, a leading cancer researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, joins us to discuss groundbreaking findings on bone metastasis, including:

-- How bone fractures, injuries, and even osteoporosis can awaken dormant cancer cells

-- Why exercise plays a crucial role in reducing recurrence risk by up to 50%

-- How bisphosphonates may help prevent bone metastasis

-- New precision therapies being developed to stop bone metastasis in its tracks

As a metastatic breast cancer survivor, this conversation was mind-blowing for me. Understanding these risks is critical for anyone looking to outperform cancer and take control of their health.

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NEW RESULTS. Dr. Joseph Cullen’s latest randomized clinical trial reveals double progression-free survival and double overall survival for pancreatic cancer patients when receiving high-dose vitamin C with standard chemotherapy. Additional clinical trial work by Dr. Cullen indicates this approach also improves survival in for glioblastoma.

We reconnect with Dr. Joseph Cullen, a distinguished Professor of Surgery at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, to discuss his seminal research newly published in Redox Biology.

This important study not only confirms the promise shown in previous trials but significantly strengthens the evidence supporting IVC's role as a game-changing adjunctive treatment in cancer care.

Dr. Cullen, who has led extensive clinical investigations including trials on glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, has observed consistent life-extending benefits across cancer types with the integration of IVC. These consistent outcomes underscore the transformative potential of high-dose vitamin C in enhancing the efficacy of conventional cancer therapies.

With over 162 peer-reviewed papers and 32 book chapters to his name, Dr. Cullen's expertise continues to shape the future of oncology. His ongoing research at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is advancing the understanding of how pharmacological ascorbate manipulates redox metabolism, paving the way for innovative and more effective cancer treatments.

Tune in to learn how this groundbreaking trial is reshaping the narrative around cancer treatment and why Dr. Cullen's work holds profound implications for patients and the medical community alike.

In this episode of Outperform Cancer, we are privileged to welcome Dr. Magdalena Naylor, MD, PhD. Her remarkable story exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of mindfulness. Join us as we explore the compelling journey of this distinguished psychiatrist and mindfulness expert who faced the ultimate test—her own stage 4 metastatic cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Naylor, who spent her career pioneering innovative treatments for chronic pain and exploring the brain's response to mindfulness at the University of Vermont Medical Center, became the patient in 2012 when she was given just six months to live. With cancer widespread through her uterus, lymph nodes, and lungs, she found herself grappling with the same fears and uncertainties she had helped so many patients navigate: pain, guilt, and the looming specter of death.

Yet in a pivotal moment—whether triggered by her deep-seated clinical knowledge, a profound inner acceptance, or divine intervention—a remarkable transformation occurred. Dr. Naylor's body began to heal, leading to a radical remission that defied medical expectations. Now, over 12 years later and cancer-free, Dr. Naylor shares her story publicly for the first time.