Test Those Breasts ™️

Surviving breast cancer is only the beginning. For many survivors, the emotional, mental, and physical healing continues long after treatment ends. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Crystal Yang, RN, Board Certified Nurse Coach and co-founder of Perky , to explore the often-overlooked challenges of survivorship. Crystal shares how nurse coaching provides a safe, supportive space for breast can...

In this episode of Test Those Breasts , Jamie sits down with fellowship-trained breast radiologist, Navy veteran, and founder of MammoLink, Dr. Ryan Polselli , for an important conversation about the future of breast cancer screening, access, and education. Ryan shares how his frustration with the traditional screening model led him to create one of Florida’s fastest-growing mobile breast imaging...

For most people, breast cancer starts and ends as a women’s conversation. But for Dave Catron, it became deeply personal. In this powerful and deeply important conversation, Jamie sits down with Dave, a firefighter, husband, father, and male breast cancer survivor, to talk about what it’s like to face a diagnosis that so few men ever see coming and even fewer talk about openly. Dave shares the sto...

At 34 years old, Katelyn Armstrong was living what many would consider a healthy lifestyle. As a wellness influencer, she exercised regularly, prioritized nutrition, and focused on overall well-being. Breast cancer was the last thing she expected to hear. In this powerful conversation, Katelyn shares her journey through a triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and the of...

What if you’re considered “too young” for breast cancer… but your risk says otherwise? In this episode of Test Those Breasts , Jamie sits down with Ashley Flurry, registered mammography technologist and founder of Breast Imaging Matters Outreach, to talk about one of the biggest gaps in breast health: helping women understand their breast cancer risk before age 40. Together, they discuss: 🍋 Why f...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jake Messier, we go deeper into the realities of living with stage 4 male breast cancer. Jake opens up about metastatic breast cancer, scanxiety, survivorship, mental health, and the emotional rollercoaster of receiving good news… followed by an “and then.” We talk honestly about toxic positivity, advocacy, purpose, and what it means to keep moving forward when ca...

In this powerful first part of my conversation with Jake Messier, we discuss the reality that men get breast cancer too, and why so many people still don’t know it. Jake shares his personal diagnosis story, the emotional impact of navigating a disease often viewed as “only for women,” and the isolation many men experience in breast cancer spaces. We also talk about: Male breast cancer awareness Fe...

In this episode of Test Those Breasts, Jamie Vaughn sits down with board-certified breast radiologist Dr. Robyn Roth, founder of The Boobie Docs, to discuss some of the biggest misconceptions and controversies surrounding breast cancer screening, mammograms, dense breast tissue, and early detection. Together, they tackle misinformation spreading online about mammograms causing cancer, confusion ar...

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Paula Berry, a licensed clinical social worker, trauma specialist, and cancer survivor, to talk about the emotional side of cancer that often goes unspoken. Paula shares her personal experience with colorectal cancer, including treatment, life-altering surgery, and the unexpected mental health challenges that followed. Together, they explore what emotional sur...

What if early detection didn’t just mean finding cancer sooner, but completely transforming how women move from diagnosis to care? In this episode of the Test Those Breasts Podcast , Jamie Vaughn sits down with Dr. Margaret Bredehoft of Gnosis for Her to talk about the future of breast imaging and why innovation in this space is so important. Together, they explore how emerging technologies like d...

What happens when breast cancer isn’t even on your radar? In this powerful episode, Jamie sits down with survivor and advocate Sabrina Skiles , who was diagnosed at just 35 with no family history. From finding a lump on her own to navigating surgery, chemo, and radiation, Sabrina shares what she wishes she had known, and why early detection is everything. Now a leader with Know Your Lemons , she’s...

Barbara Arbogast didn't just survive breast cancer; she dreamed her way through it. The 10-year survivor and author of Spiculated Darkness joins Jamie to talk about finding her own lump, being dismissed by her doctor because she had no family history (sound familiar?), triple positive diagnosis, chemo before surgery, and how her vivid dreams became a one-of-a-kind memoir. Raw, real, and unlike any...

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Sheila Mikhail, a biotech entrepreneur, breast cancer survivor, and fierce advocate, to discuss what happens when the system we trust fails us. Despite having access to top-tier medical care, Sheila’s breast cancer was missed by routine mammograms . What followed was not just a diagnosis, but a mission: to challenge outdated standards, figh...

In Part 2, Arianna Bennett shares what it really looks like to navigate cancer in real time—from treatment decisions like cold capping to the emotional reality of being seen as a cancer patient. We talk about support systems, what helps (and what doesn’t), and how to stay grounded through it all. This is an honest, human look at the parts of the journey people don’t always see. 💡 In This Episode...

In this episode, I sit down with Arianna Bennett , news anchor at Channel 2 in Reno, Nevada, who is currently going through breast cancer treatment. Arianna shares what it was like to receive her diagnosis, and opens up about almost not getting tested for the BRCA gene. One push from her doctor changed everything, and that decision led to early detection. This conversation is a powerful reminder t...

In Part 2 of Jamie Vaughn’s conversation with intimacy educator and cancer survivor Claire Rumore , the discussion turns to a topic rarely addressed in cancer care: intimacy and sexuality after cancer. Jamie and Claire explore how cancer treatments, menopause, body changes, and emotional healing can impact libido, relationships, and self-confidence. Claire shares powerful insights on redefining in...

In this episode of Test Those Breasts , Jamie Vaughn talks with intimacy educator and cancer survivor Claire Rumore about her unexpected stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how survivorship reshaped her life and work. Claire shares how her experience revealed a major gap in cancer care: conversations about intimacy, relationships, and sexuality after cancer are often missing from the recovery...

Zainab Sow returns to Test Those Breasts to share how daily self-exams helped her find a 1.8 cm lump at 38 and led to a Stage 1 IDC diagnosis. We talk family history without BRCA, survivorship realities, and the side effects many women face after treatment, especially aromatase inhibitors and medically induced menopause. Zainab is a three-time author and founder of Melanin Breast Cancer Alliance,...

Jamie sits down with Jennifer Herrod , a breast nurse navigator with nonprofit Project 31 and a seven-year breast cancer survivor , to talk about early detection, self-advocacy, and the power of community. Jennifer shares her diagnosis of DCIS (grade 3) at age 43 , her treatment journey including mastectomy with immediate reconstruction , and why learning your “normal” and speaking up about breast...

In Episode 104, Jamie talks with Leslie Ferris Yerger (founder/CEO of My Density Matters and Susan LePlae Miller (VP of Partnerships & Programs) about why breast density matters, how women can better advocate for themselves , and why some cancers, especially lobular breast cancer , can be harder to detect on standard imaging. Leslie shares her story of being diagnosed with stage IV lobular bre...

Andréa Gonzalez shares her journey before, during, and after breast cancer, highlighting the resilience and strength in survivorship. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy and support in the breast cancer community, showcasing her own experiences and contributions to the cause. The conversation covers topics related to beauty and self-care during cancer treatment, survivorship and advocacy, ad...

We share Nancie Steinberg’s path from losing her mother to breast cancer to navigating her own diagnosis, CML management, and a new DCIS finding, translating hard-won lessons into everyday advocacy. Practical guidance on second opinions, seeing a breast surgeon, and building support grounds the whole conversation. • Why a missed chemo recommendation changed how we view second opinions • How to int...

We sit with Tiffany Williams, a survivor who found her lump, fought for results, chose surgery and radiation, and carried private grief after losing her daughter on day one of treatment. Strength, vulnerability, and self-advocacy weave through a candid talk about silence, support, and speaking up. • life before diagnosis as a mover and shaker • finding the lump and insisting on answers • staging s...

For our 100th episode, we explore how storytelling helps reclaim body, mind, and spirit after cancer. Gillian Lichota, April Stearns, Melissa Andersen, and Sarah Zsak share how writing transforms fear into agency, supports embodiment, and creates space for healing and connection. Featured book: Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer Guests • Gillian Lichota – F...

Send us a text You can feel perfectly fine, hear the word cancer, and watch your whole life tilt. For Veronika Bubenickova , a seasoned product leader, that moment redefined how she approached work, wellness, and what it means to heal. We talk about the HER2+ whirlwind, the shock of chemo, the fatigue that steals sleep, and the mindset shift that turned treatment from a threat into an ally. Veroni...