What if the turning point in cancer care isn’t another protocol, but a deeper conversation with your own nervous system and story?

In today's episode we sit down with Integrative Psychiatrist Tracy Peng, MD to explore how stress, trauma, and suppressed emotions shape the cancer journey and why mental health support is a core part of care.

We unpack the data on confidants and outcomes, the Adverse Childhood Experiences link to cancer risk, and the common pattern of people pleasing and emotional suppression. Tracy also shares tools for accurate narrative, grief work, boundaries, and nervous system regulation to restore coherence and inner wisdom.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• emotional stress as a driver of disease and what to do about it
• how integrative psychiatry supports cancer care
• confidants, anxiety, and outcome differences
• unhealed trauma mirroring nonhealing wounds
• childhood coping patterns and adult triggers
• ACEs research and cancer risk
• reconnecting to inner wisdom over quick med checks
• acupuncture, tapping, bodywork, and food as stabilizers
• grief as a core skill for resilience
• composting anger into clarity and action

Listen to learn how to create a care plan that includes your emotions, your body, and your soul. And if this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Tracy Peng MD is an integrative and holistic depth psychiatrist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. She practiced at UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Health for over 20 years, which is where she met and became a fan of the luminous Dionne! She has worked extensively with patients with chronic or terminal illnesses and has a special interest in spiritual and mindfulness-based approaches to the mental health care of women with cancer. She is a graduate of the End-of-LIfe Care Practitioner Program offered by Zen Hospice Project (and later offered through the Metta Institute).

👉 Tracy's Website: www.tracypengmd.com

PLUS Resources shared on today's episode:

👉 Screening tool for Adverse Childhood Experiences

👉 https://www.rachelremen.com/

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