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.