A Breast Cancer Diary

I'd hoped to make season two an even 20 episodes again, but there's more important work to be done right now....   Transcript:  Well, I had hoped to have three more episodes before closing for the summer, but I had a long month and a half off after my dad's passing, and I didn't get back on until last, uh, two weeks ago. And in the meantime, our country seems to be in quite a bit of turmoil. Our w...

My colleague and friend Nanette has been leading yoga for breast cancer survivors for the past few years in her community of Austin Texas, even as she's navigated the tough journey of recurrent metastatic disease in her bones. I think you'll love her spirit as she shares her story... Link to yoga4cancer: https://yoga4cancer.com/ Transcript: Today's guest is Nanette Labastida. She's in Austin, Texa...

Just a quick episode reflecting on Heather's story and the difference between "functional" or "integrative medicine" and "alternative" medicine. Subscribe on: APPLE PODCASTS - SPOTIFY Join my Newsletter List here: https://abreastcancerdiary.substack.com Heather's web site is: https://heatherjose.com/ and her podcast is here on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@ImStillHereCancer/videos Kathleen...

My guest Heather has been thriving with metastatic breast cancer for nearly 27 years! How did she do it? She feels that it's a combination of things--not necessarily the trial on stem cell therapy combined with high-dose chemo. She feels that her long-term drug, Faslodex, as well as lifestyle choices around nutrition, exercise and mindset are key in her success. Heather's web site is: https://heat...

Today's episode is part two of my advocacy series. I hope it's helpful, but if volunteerism and advocacy isn't your thing, I'll have more stories from guests coming up in the next two weeks! Subscribe on:  APPLE PODCASTS - SPOTIFY - AMAZON Join my Newsletter Mailing List: https://abreastcancerdiary.substack.com   Links:  NBCC:  https://stopbreastcancer.org  LBCA: https://lobularbreastcancer.org Ti...

Today I'm just talking from my own experience about some of the simpler ways to "stay in" the breast cancer community as an active advocate.    Here are some of the organizations that came up:   After Breast Cancer Diagnosis gives and trains mentors here: https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/ Stand Tall AFC is the flat visibility organization that I work for: https://standtallafc.org Lobular Breast...

Subscribe on: APPLE PODCASTS - SPOTIFY - AMAZON Join my Newsletter List here: https://abreastcancerdiary.substack.com Transcript: Hello friends and happy Spring. I do not have a guest today, and that might be shocking to some of you who've just started listening to this podcast because for the last five episodes I've had guests and that is really unusual. From the very beginning in season one, I a...

My friend Christine joins me on this week's podcast to tell her story of explant and continued success as a model after her second "mastectomy," going flat and embracing her concave chest publicly on the runway. Her new biopic is coming out on April first in LA and she's invited us breast cancer survivors to come. Shoot me an email to find out how. kathleenmoss@protonmail.com Listen Here ... and S...

My guest today is a breast cancer advocate who uses her voice and her writing to walk alongside new patients in so many ways--she has a blog, a memoir, and now she's got an AI companion for those who haven't found a human connection yet, to process their breast cancer experience with. Her web site is called "AskEllyn.ai" and that's where you can find all of her offerings.  Ellyn wrote her story of...

My new friend Lori is an amazing advocate for the power of exercise oncology and she's a wonderful hostess and educator here in the Northwest for those who want to try dragonboat paddling. As a 17 year survivor of breast cancer, she's met a lot of other breast cancer patients and her insights are so clear around one big value: just keep moving. I'm looking forward to having her back for a part two...

My friend Danyel takes photos of breast cancer survivors in her studio on Hillsboro Oregon. In this episode she describes what that's been like, and she also talks about her recent diagnosis with stage four breast cancer. Don't forget to rate and review the show and if you want to enter for a prize for doing so, email a screenshot of your review to me at kathleenmoss@protonmail.com Subscribe on: A...

This and next week I'll be interviewing some friends close to home. I live in Oregon Wine Country, and there are a few breast cancer survivors who live in my part of the woods that I've gotten close to over the past two years. Brenda is one. We talk just about every week and see each other monthly. She's been through so much, and she keeps going, relying mostly on her own strength. I was thrilled...

Today I'm reflecting on the science related to last week's episode talking to Christina Miner about her Capsular Contracture and Breast Implant Rupture. Lot's of good resources linked below about this.... Links : Another great podcast episode on the history of implant mis-regulation is here . The checklist I mentioned is here: https://www.center4research.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Black-Box-an...

This episode's guest is Christina Miner, host of Our Scars Speak Podcast. Today Christina shares about her experience with capsular contracture and her openness in sharing her scars publicly.  Don't forget to rate and review the show and if you want to enter for a prize for doing so, email a screenshot of your review to me at kathleenmoss@protonmail.com Subscribe on:  APPLE PODCASTS - SPOTIFY - AM...

My new friend and fellow podcaster, Tina Conrad, is this week's guest and I couldn't wait to hear how she did it. She maintained a high pressure job as a manager in a fast paced fashion corporation right through breast cancer treatment and recovery. She is truly a warrior woman and I'm so thrilled to tell her story here. Transcript: Kathleen: My guest today is Tina Conrad. She's a senior planner a...

This episode is an update from my personal story. I had a recurrence scare in November/Dec/January of 2024 and 2025, and this is the way it's sorting itself out. Always something to learn! --Kathleen   Transcript: Welcome back to season two. Today's episode is episode three of this new season. And as promised last week, I will just be talking about my own story this week. I had a recent recurrence...

The topic of breast surgery and skin conserving surgery has been a real trigger for me in the past since my first plastic surgeon kept refusing to take the extra skin off of my chest as I requested. The fact that I could talk to Lisa about this without getting emotionally worked up was one good sign--and then I had two other chances to talk publicly about my flat denial story in the past month as...

My instagram friend, Lisa, had a vision less than a year ago for a visual way to show the how the flat community has become a healing movement for women who don't want the usual reconstruction options post-mastectomy, and this week it is coming out into the breast cancer space as a work of art! I love that I can share the story of a vision come true and share it on the day before the end result co...

I'm jumping in here with a quick holiday tip in between seasons. I highly recommend "After Breast Cancer Diagnosis" if you're in need of a mentor... or if you're feeling ready to offer a mentoring ear to a newer patient. Find them at  https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org .   Transcript: I'm checking in today in between seasons because it is the holidays, and the holidays can be a pretty stressful t...

Last week's interview with my fellow advocate Leslie brought up a few things that make Metastatic Breast Cancer Unique. In today's episode I'll reflect on things like "lines of treatment," "progression" and "dormancy" when it comes to mets and I'll also talk about some of the ways that science is progressing for metastatic Lobular Breast Cancer patients.    Don't forget to rate and review the show...

My friend and fellow lobular breast cancer awareness advocate, Leslie Pifer-Pien joined me on the podcast this week to talk about her first seven years as a metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer patient. Leslie was diagnosed de-novo, which means, she didn't start with the mild kind of cancer but went straight to stage four, or "metastatic" cancer. She's taken it in stride, but finding the righ...

Today I'm just reflecting on how Breast Cancer Awareness month has gone for me personally this year. I hope it's been a good one for you!  Email me a screenshot of your rating or review of my podcast to be entered in a fun giveaway! kathleenmoss@protonmail.com is the place to send it!  Listen and Subscribe on:  APPLE PODCASTS - SPOTIFY - AMAZON Or watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/agbu6QjDiXs Sup...

In this episode I got to interview a fellow youtube/breast cancer recovery coach and influencer, Marina Blackford! I'm so honored that Marina has been willing to spend this time with me. We talk about her story of lumpectomy AFTER mastectomy, her desire to run the NYC Marathon, and her insights into the spiritual side of healing from this disease. I'm so excited to share this interview, both here...

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/agbu6QjDiXs Support my work by making a donation here: https://liberapay.com/abreastcancerdiary/   Links from today's episode: Meryl's Instagram Accounts: @merymeryl; @thestoryofcaptaincharlotte; and @rompandrollick Meryl's business email address for parent coaching: meryl@rompandrollick.com   This episode doesn't have a transcript. 

In earlier episodes with stories like Marquita's we've seen ways that Triple Negative Breast Cancer can be "not so bad" but in younger patients it's often the reverse. Meryl Opsal is my guest today, and she's got a harder story to tell about the effects of her immunotherapy. Meryl is a powerful woman, and if there ever was a cancer fighter she is my image of one. She and her family have been throu...