Let's Talk About Your Breasts

After losing her mother to de novo metastatic breast cancer, Elise turned grief into long term advocacy and board service at The Rose. She demystifies modern metastatic care, clinical trials, and lifelong treatment while urging women of every age to push for screenings and answers. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and w...

How does one man's dedication to community health reshape cancer prevention efforts in Texas? Carlton Allen's passion for public health and population health, sparked during his academic years, led him to an influential role in the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Through his guidance, CPRIT addresses significant cancer burdens and health disparities statewide. Meanwhile,...

En este episodio, la Dra. Cotes, profesora asistente y jefa de la división de imágenes mamarias en UT Health en Houston, comparte su inspiradora historia, desde su Colombia natal hasta convertirse en una destacada radióloga mamaria en los EE.UU., su misión de servir a la comunidad hispana y su transición de The Rose a UT Health. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Diagnosed with DCIS while underinsured and between jobs, Ayanna Wilcher found compassionate biopsy care at The Rose and chose her own path through mastectomy and multiple opinions. Now, she leads survivor work and Rising in Grace, delivering post mastectomy comfort kits and community. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , an...

Board Chair Shannon Wiesedeppe carries a deep family history of breast cancer into every decision she helps make at The Rose. From hurricanes and COVID to a Co-Founder and CEO transition, she keeps The Rose focused on access, reimbursement realities, mobile coaches, and identical care for uninsured and insured women. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple...

Interim CEO Katherine Parsley brings decades of courtroom, nonprofit, and judicial experience to The Rose. As a longtime patient and daughter of a survivor, she centers early mammograms, steady leadership, and practical encouragement for a largely women led team in transition. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherev...

As the Executive Director of The Jung Center, Dr. Fitzpatrick's not only given the Rose community hope in the darkest of times, such as during the pandemic, but he’s also done so for countless others in the Houston area. During this conversation, Dorothy and Dr. Fitzpatrick talk about past challenges and how they’ve impacted the breast cancer community. He also discusses the need for c...

Forty years at The Rose taught our co-founder and CEO Dorothy Gibbons this: you don’t walk away from women, even when the system does. In this farewell episode, Dorothy share the stories that shaped her, why she's stepping back, and why your support and your stories still matter.  Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let ’ s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iH...

How does a simple flyer lead a high school student to a life-saving discovery? Monserrat Duron’s decision to perform a self-exam after attending a college fair changed the trajectory of her life. Upon finding a lump, she faced unimaginable challenges due to a lack of insurance. Yet, with the support of The Rose and the steadfast care of Dr. Bonefas, she navigated a grueling journey towards r...

Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection. Please consider sharing this episo...

Samina Farid built her career in oil and gas, founded her own company, and forged ahead in spaces where women are rarely seen. Through it all, she faced cancer twice and found strength that reshaped both her health and her work. - Breaking barriers as the only woman in the room - Building success in a male-dominated industry - Facing cancer two times and turning challenges into purpose Support The...

Dr. Melillo and Dorothy Gibbons started The Rose because they were tired of telling women, “You have cancer, and there’s nowhere for you to go.”  Forty years later, they're still in that same fight. In this conversation, Dr. Melillo walks us from those early days of oil‑bust Houston and charity‑hospital waiting lists to today’s harsh reality: we can diagnose, but for t...

Support comes to life at the "Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon," where advocates, survivors, board members, and friends stand shoulder to shoulder for women’s health in the community. In this episode: - Hear from an emcee who connects with women over shared experiences - Meet board members who bring The Rose’s mission to new supporters - Listen to how others are making commu...

¿Qué es exactamente una mamografía? ¿Duele? ¿Qué pasa cuando llegas? Kathia nos explica el proceso, rompe mitos y comparte por qué muchas mujeres latinas dudan en llamar. Si alguna vez lo ha pospuesto por miedo o falta de información, este episodio es para usted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced Stage 0 DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “Stage 2 HER2‑Positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith,...

Being a doctor has its challenges, but imagine starting out when women weren't always accepted in medicine. Dr. Elizabeth Bonefas built a practice, stood up for her patients, and guided many through tough breast cancer battles. Dr. Bonefas is the Speaker at this year's Everything's Coming Up Roses Luncheon; you don't want to miss this episode! - She helped care for our youngest ever diagnosed brea...

Shelley didn’t see herself as “an honoree.” She saw herself as a working mom in a male‑dominated industry who just wanted to stay ahead of breast cancer. In this conversation, she walks us through the mammogram she almost didn’t get, receiving the news of a Stage 0 DCIS diagnosis, and the 10 years of follow‑up, skin checks, and colonoscopies that followed. Her story reminds...

Road grit meets breast cancer courage in this wild ride from Daytona to Homer that turns one biker into a full‑on breast health champion for his fiance Kathy and uninsured women at The Rose. - Why one long‑distance biker took on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to honor his fiancée Kathy and support uninsured women with breast cancer at The Rose. - The brutal, beautiful 11,000‑mile route f...

Personal connections the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon . Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigatio...

Why is community support crucial during health crises? In this episode, Dorothy and Nancy Strohmer delve into the significance of showing support and care for others during tough times. Nancy shares her journey through a health crisis, highlighting the importance of receiving support from friends, family, and the community. This experience inspired her mission to help others through awareness and...

Barriers shape the path to care. Emily Reis describes her role as a community engagement navigator for the Rose, connecting rural and urban communities to breast cancer screening resources. She covers Brazos Valley’s counties, teaches early detection, and works with clinics and facilitators to organize mobile mammogram days. Service relies on partnerships and word of mouth. Please consider s...

How do you respond when a friend faces a diagnosis that changes everything? What does real support look like during breast cancer treatment? In this episode, you’ll hear how friendship, early detection, and self-advocacy made a difference. You’ll also learn about the challenges of treatment, the role of caregivers, and ways communities rally when it’s needed most. - Discover what...

En este episodio, el Dr. Fernando Angarita conversa con las mujeres de la comunidad hispanohablante sobre el cáncer de mama, desmitificando creencias comunes y resaltando la importancia de la detección temprana. Con un mensaje claro y esperanzador, explica cómo los avances médicos y el tamizaje adecuado pueden marcar la diferencia y salvar vidas. Un episodio inform...

Trusting your instincts can change everything. Dorothy Gibbons and Jenny Fitzpatrick talk about early breast cancer diagnosis, persistent self-advocacy, and navigating treatment as a young mother. Jenny Fitzpatrick describes celebrating survivorship, building community, and creating new traditions. Stories connect lives. Experiences shape what comes next. Please consider sharing this episode, or m...

Dorothy is joined by Ronnie Haggerty, a board member of The Rose, who recounts her personal story of rallying together with friends years ago when a close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She describes the important role friends can play during this time; a role no other person can fill. This was also the first time she encountered seeing the different ways The Rose helps women. Known...