In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a double board-certified medical oncologist with over 25 years of experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the founder of Winning the Cancer Journey and Second Look Oncology. Dr. Troso shares how her decades of caring for patients with breast and gynecologic cancers inspired her to build a private practice focused on one-on-one patient advocacy and education.

She breaks down what it means to serve as a medical concierge, helping patients understand their bloodwork, scan results, and treatment options while also creating customized systems to stay organized throughout the cancer journey. Dr. Troso also gives a behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming two books, the online educational modules she’s developing to demystify the treatment process, and her work as the host of The Empowered Patient Podcast, where she strives to transform the doctor–patient relationship.

We also dive into her path to oncology, the populations she most frequently supports, and how she empowers patients to feel informed, confident, and in control at every stage of care.

In this episode of Sick & Good, we meet with Dr. Samantha Siegel, an onco-primary care and survivorship physician at Kaiser Permanente, and a cancer survivor herself. As the Director of Cancer Survivorship at Kaiser San Francisco and cofounder of the PCP-ONC CARES program, Dr. Siegel is transforming how patients are supported from the moment of diagnosis through long-term survivorship.

Dr. Siegel shares her own cancer journey and how it has profoundly shaped her practice, blending her personal experience as a survivor with her role as a physician. We explore her passion for integrative oncology, the evolving field of onco-primary care, and the unique needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. She also reflects on the future of supportive cancer care and the treatments that give her hope.

Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Siegel is the host of Beyond the Clinic, AIM at Melanoma’s supportive cancer care podcast, where she continues her mission of redefining what it means to live well during and after cancer.

Thyroid Cancer Awareness & Management: Recorded Bonus CEU Podcast Episode

Start : 06/01/2025

End Date: 03/25/2028

Description:
Registered Dietitian and thyroid cancer survivor Julia Diaz, RD combines her professional expertise and lived experience to guide dietitians in supporting thyroid cancer patients and survivors. This 0.75 CEU-eligible session explores risk factors, diagnosis, treatment realities, and long-term survivorship strategies. Julia provides practical tools for navigating the low iodine diet, clears up misconceptions about hormone replacement therapy, and shares insights on emerging topics such as GLP-1 medications.

Learning Objectives – By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Risk Factors and Early Detection – Identify key risk factors and recognize early symptoms of thyroid cancer.
2. Diagnosis and Prevalence – Understand diagnostic procedures and interpret prevalence and global trends.
3. Treatment Options – Explore standard treatment approaches such as thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy, including common challenges.
4. Radioactive Iodine Therapy Preparation – Apply best practices for preparing patients with the low iodine diet and related dietary restrictions.
5. Long-Term Recovery – Develop nutrition and lifestyle strategies to support survivorship, addressing nutrient deficiencies and weight management.
6. Lifelong Monitoring – Recognize the importance of ongoing monitoring to minimize recurrence risk.
7. Emerging Trends – Evaluate evolving practices in thyroid cancer management, including the role of GLP-1 medications and their impact on patient care.

Recording Sections:

• 0:00 – Introduction & Objectives
• 03:45 – Risk Factors & Diagnosis
• 17:00 – Treatment Options & Advances
• 30:55 – Nutrition & Lifestyle Management
• 42:20 – Emerging Trends & GLP-1 Medications
• 47:10 – Closing Remarks

Disclaimer:
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) are not responsible for the provider’s interpretation of the Academy/CDR Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession or its enforcement as it relates to the scenarios and content presented in this activity.

The presenter, Julia Diaz, and the Sick & Good Podcast declare that there are no conflicts of interest relevant to this recording. This session is free from commercial support or funding from non-CPE revenue sources.

This re-released episode has been approved for 0.75 CEUs for dietitians, offering both evidence-based knowledge and lived wisdom for professionals navigating the complexities of thyroid cancer care.

To earn your CEU, go to the link in the description. Under Bonus Episode Links, you’ll find the post-quiz link.

https://sickandgood.com/home/thyroid-cancer-awareness-and-management/

In this episode of the Sick & Good Podcast, we sit down with Mary Mathew, MA, LMFT licensed psychotherapist and founder of Beyond Cancer LA, a private practice dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Mary shares insights from her recent presentation at the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Conference, highlighting the emotional challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Together, we explore common themes such as grief, adjustment, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as the role of internal versus external coping skills. Mary also explains what it means to look through a “cancer lens,” sharing narratives from her practice, and discusses the co-morbid mental health conditions she frequently encounters. This thoughtful conversation sheds light on the vital connection between mental health and the cancer journey, offering hope and strategies for resilience.

Please follow the link to the navigate to the Beyond Care LA website and Sick & Good merch page:

https://beyondcancerla.com/

https://sickandgood.com/home/shop/

Jess shares her work as a social worker specializing in rural care at NaviCare. She he highlights rural health and the pivots to telehealth and how the pandemic has resulted in a resurgence of patients come back for cancer treatment. We explore ethical and moral dilemmas in treating patients in rural areas and the contribution to fragmented care. Jess relates her experience in oncology social work to line dancing and protecting her cubs. You know, like a line dancing Mama Bear.

Please follow the link to the navigate to the Navi Care Services website and Sick & Good merch page:

https://www.navicareservices.com

https://sickandgood.com/home/shop/

Dr. Caroline Dorfman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Duke University School of Medicine. Caroline has conducted extensive AYA cancer research and offers her findings on topics of pain, fatigue, distress and sexual reproductive health. We examine barriers for onco-fertility and reproductive preservation as financial and value-based decisions and the conversation closes on health behavior issues and difficulties in overall well-being for the AYA cancer population.

Please follow the link to Duke's Adolscent and Young Adult website and Sick & Good merch page:

http://dukehealth.org/tyao

https://sickandgood.com/home/shop/

Mary Baron Nelson, PhD, RN, CPRP, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Keck Medical School at USC. She imparts her previous clinical and research experience as a Nurse Practitioner at the Children Hospital Los Angeles in studying brain injury from childhood cancer treatment and names neurocognitive and psychosocial late effects of brain cancer treatment. She shares her approach on wellness through her various roles and highlights age-related differences between children and adults in the recovery process.

Please follow the link below for Sick & Good Podcast's latest merch:
https://sickandgood.com/home/shop/

We're pleased to share our conversation with Rushil Patel, MD, on the intersections of religion and spirituality and cancer care. Dr. Patel is a Assistant Professor of Medicine at the O'Neal Cancer Center, University of Alabama Birmingham specializing in hematology/oncology. Our conversation spans his interest in oncology, focus on spirituality and religion in practice, personal research interest in exploring Dharmic faiths (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) in active treatment and other contemporary studies on these faith traditions. He also denotes cultural disparities in palliative care and the effect on treatment outcomes.

Please follow the link below to Spiritual, Theology and Health Seminars at Duke University mentioned by Rushil and for Sick & Good Podcast's latest merch:
https://spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/education/seminars/
https://sickandgood.com/home/shop/