Podcast Summary
Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch
Episode: Dr. Allyson Ocean: Open-minded Oncology
Date: March 18, 2026
Host: Rachel Dratch with Irene Bremis
Guest: Dr. Allyson Ocean
Episode Overview
This episode of “Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch” delves into the intersection of modern oncology, holistic health, open-minded medical care, and the importance of patient intuition—blending hard science with a willingness to question, listen, and adopt alternative approaches. Dr. Allyson Ocean, an oncologist at Weill Cornell and a pioneer in her field, joins as an expert guest and personal hero to co-host Irene Bremis, whose cancer journey is at the heart of the conversation. The episode is rich with personal stories, medical insights, and engaging “woo woo” moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Irene’s Cancer Journey and Dr. Ocean’s Approach
- Irene’s Diagnosis: In 2025, Irene was diagnosed with colorectal cancer after ignoring early signs and initial misdiagnoses (“I thought it was hemorrhoids...until I started slowing down and started feeling depleted.” [03:00]).
- Feeling dismissed or “gaslit” by prior doctors, Irene found support and validation in Dr. Ocean, who listened and encouraged shared decision-making about treatment.
- Chemotherapy Choices: Irene's fear of chemotherapy led her to research and pursue alternate therapies, including turkey tail mushrooms and dandelion root, drawing on published science when available.
- Dr. Ocean’s Patient-Centric Philosophy:
“Who knows themself better than themselves, right?...I shouldn’t dismiss what a patient is telling me; a lot of times they're right and I'm not.” [04:45]
2. Integration of Alternative and Conventional Medicine
- Open-minded Oncology: Dr. Ocean emphasizes her commitment to the standard of care, but also openness to supplements or alternatives “if there’s science behind it and it’s harmless.” [08:34]
- Active Partnership: Dr. Ocean works collaboratively, even “googling” supplements during patient visits—her main concern is safety and possible interactions.
- Remarkable Results: Irene’s tumor shrank considerably on her alternative regimen, surprising skeptical colleagues and making surgery possible:
“We measured it...it was five and then it was three, and then it was two-something.” [26:59]
3. The Importance of Intuition and Empathy
- Personal Oncologist Experience: Dr. Ocean shares her experience as a cancer patient, highlighting empathy, advocacy, and the emotional dimension of care.
“To go through that as an oncologist...I had to channel how I treat patients to myself.” [13:00]
4. Younger Patients & The Changing Cancer Landscape
- Rising Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer:
“Colorectal cancer is happening to younger and younger people…It’s really like a pandemic now.” [17:38]
- Call to Action: Both Dr. Ocean and Irene urge listeners not to dismiss symptoms and advocate for earlier screenings.
5. Advances & “Woo Woo” in Modern Oncology
- Liquid Biopsies & Monitoring: Discussion on advanced testing (liquid biopsies) to detect minimal residual disease post-surgery, contributing to Irene’s close monitoring and recovery.
- Copper-Chelating Drug Research: Dr. Ocean discusses innovative trials using a repurposed copper-chelating drug to prevent recurrence in aggressive cancers:
“When you remove copper…that scaffolding disintegrates and the cells can’t land and they can’t take up residency. So they die and they don’t metastasize.” [39:26]
- Origin of Chemotherapies: Taxol, derived from the yew tree, illustrates how nature inspires powerful mainstream cancer drugs. [43:35]
6. Miraculous Recoveries and Personalized Immunotherapies
- Case Study: Dr. Ocean relates a “medical miracle”—her patient with stage 4 pancreatic cancer had a complete response to a tailored drug regimen flagged by chemosensitivity testing. Later, a personalized vaccine made from the patient's own tumor tissue was developed. [45:24–49:03]
- Cancer Vaccines: She explains how tailored vaccines can teach the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. [49:22]
“The vaccines are a way to trigger your own immune system to fight cancer.” [50:16]
7. Turkey Tail Mushrooms and the Mind-Body Connection
- Irene’s Regimen: Details on turkey tail as an immune modulator (not overstimulating, not repressing).
“Turkey tail is a modulator. It does not kick your immune into overdrive…it kept me at a level that I felt I could fight disease.” [50:34–51:39]
- Holistic and Western—Not Exclusive: Dr. Ocean reaffirms the need for combining approaches:
“We have so many tools in the toolbox that we can come together and apply.” [52:20]
8. Choosing Your Doctor—Advocacy and Fit
- Finding the Right Oncologist: Irene and Dr. Ocean advocate for “dating” doctors until you find the right match, even comparing it to house shopping:
“You kind of have to do that when you’re finding your doctor too.” [31:48]
- Most cancer patients, they note, don’t love their doctors, but it’s crucial to find one you trust.
9. Clean Skincare and the Oceans of Blessings Nonprofit
- Dr. Ocean introduces her charity, co-founded with her identical twin, gifting non-toxic skincare to cancer patients:
“Think of your skin as the biggest organ in your body; we don’t want to put anything on that can cause cancer or disrupt hormones...” [54:43]
- Products are researched, clean, and curated—available to purchase for patients at oceansofblessings.com. [56:05]
10. Woo Woo Twin Connection
- Twin ESP: Fun stories about twin telepathy—buying the same birthday cards in different states, showing up in the same clothes without planning.
“I know what she’s thinking every second of the day.” [56:50]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Patient-Doctor Relationship:
“I felt like you’re somebody who wasn’t operating from hubris…you put patient care first. You throw down. You’re intrepid as an oncologist…whereas you just really put me first.” – Irene Bremis [06:11–06:51]
-
On Open-minded Oncology:
“If we keep doing something the same way and get the same results and those results are not good…why do we keep doing them?” – Dr. Ocean [09:15]
-
On Self-Advocacy:
“Be your own advocate. That’s what you were, you were your own advocate. I was my own advocate. If something’s not right, question it. Keep pushing.” – Dr. Ocean [16:36]
-
On Hope and Progress:
“There’s hope, like between the vaccines and holistic methods, and we need more open-minded, loving, caring oncology and surgeons that see patients and don’t gaslight them, then I think we can make a giant step forward.” – Irene Bremis [51:39]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Irene’s Cancer Story and Diagnosis (02:41–04:45)
- Chemotherapy Alternatives and Patient Intuition (04:45–07:17)
- Dr. Ocean’s Philosophy on Integrative Medicine (08:34–09:15)
- Dr. Ocean’s Own Cancer Journey (12:09–16:27)
- Colorectal Cancer Trends and Screening (17:38–18:43)
- Surgical Decision & Tumor Shrinkage (26:30–27:10)
- Liquid Biopsies Explained (29:37–30:53)
- Case Study: Pancreatic Cancer Miracle (45:24–49:03)
- Cancer Vaccines Overview (49:22–50:24)
- Discussion of Turkey Tail and Immune Modulation (50:24–51:39)
- Choosing Your Oncologist—Vetting Doctors (31:48–32:10)
- Oceans of Blessings Nonprofit (54:32–56:05)
- Twin Woo Woo Stories (56:48–57:33)
Tone and Language
Throughout the episode, the conversation is candid, empathetic, humorous, and always accessible—blending serious medical insight with “woo woo” openness and a spirit of curiosity. Rachel, Irene, and Dr. Ocean maintain an easy, supportive rapport, tackling tough subjects with warmth and a healthy dose of laughter.
Final Takeaways
- Advocacy, skepticism, and intuition matter—even in science.
- Open-minded clinicians like Dr. Ocean bridge the gap between cutting-edge research, patient values, and alternative approaches.
- Emerging cancer monitoring (liquid biopsies), immunotherapies, and even nature-inspired drugs are driving cancer care forward.
- Patients should not settle for uninspiring care; partnership and trust with your doctor are key.
- The woo woo lives—in holistic thinking, in twin telepathy, and in medicine's future.
