Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn
Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn is a podcast dedicated to empowering women and promoting breast health through a functional medicine lens. Dr. Jenn is a leading functional medicine practitioner specializing in restoring health to the breast cancer population. She explores a range of topics related to breast health, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and holistic approaches to support overall well-being.
Whether you're a breast cancer survivor, a woman seeking to improve your breast health, a caregiver supporting a loved one, or you are just looking to thrive in this complicated world, this podcast is designed to meet your needs. Discover how functional medicine approaches can complement conventional treatments, support hormone balance, enhance nutrition, manage stress, optimize lifestyle choices, and promote overall well-being. Tune into Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn to gain the knowledge, tools, and resources to take control of your breast health journey. Remember, at the end of the day, breast health is health!
Note: The Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and treatment recommendations.
Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn
135: Your Genes Aren’t Your Destiny: Personalizing Breast Cancer Prevention & Healing
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In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons is joined by Jen Nolan and Sara Stratton of Remission Nutrition for a conversation that cuts through the noise around “healthy living” after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Jen explains how nutrigenomics (genetic-based nutrition + lifestyle guidance) helps women understand what their body actually needs, from detox capacity to fat metabolism to exercise tolerance. Dr. Jenn shares her own example: years of high-intensity endurance workouts that she thought were helping until genetic testing revealed they were doing real harm.
Sara shares her story of being diagnosed with stage 3C triple positive breast cancer at 37, and how she supported her body through chemotherapy and recovery using a metabolic approach, including fasting around treatment, strength training, mindfulness, and carefully chosen supplements. Together, they talk about how to make changes without overwhelm, avoid fear-based restriction and orthorexia, navigate resistance from conventional providers, and build a lifestyle that’s sustainable long-term - with joy included.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- What nutrigenomics can tell you about food, detox, sleep, stress, and exercise
- Sara’s approach to supporting her body during chemo: fasting, movement, mindfulness, and recovery
- What to know about supplements during chemotherapy including why antioxidants can be tricky
- Why people get overwhelmed after diagnosis, and how to start with small, realistic steps
- The “crowding out” method: what to add first so healthy habits stick
- Common non-negotiables that move the needle fast (Diet soda + processed snack foods)
- How to avoid orthorexia and stop turning food into fear
- How to advocate for yourself when your oncologist dismisses integrative tools
Episode Timeline:
01:06 Introducing Jen Nolan + Sara Stratton
04:10 Nutrigenomics and personalized healing
10:56 Sara’s diagnosis at 37 + what life looked like before
13:55 Metabolic approach during treatment (fasting, keto, movement)
24:14 Fasting around chemo + how she trained through treatment
28:47 Supplements + what to avoid during chemotherapy
32:11 Fat metabolism genes + why keto doesn’t work the same for everyone
35:59 How to start without overwhelm (3 changes at a time)
44:44 Treatment phase vs. long-term lifestyle (graduating from strictness)
49:55 Why conventional providers resist integrative support
51:43 What to do when your oncologist dismisses fasting/nutrition
54:34 Why breast cancer is usually not an emergency (and time matters)
58:48 Joy, purpose, and living while healing
To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call
To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide
To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.
Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.jennsimmonsmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons