Breast Cancer Conversations

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Cancer related fatigue is one of the most persistent and frustrating symptoms. In this deeply validating and informative episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang, Ed. D. , sits down with Dr. Jessa Landmann , naturopathic doctor and integrative oncology specialist, to unpack why fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, joint pain, and sleep disruption li...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang, Ed. D. sits down with philanthropist Sheri Biller of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation to explore the often overlooked—but absolutely essential—role of supportive cancer care . After losing her two closest friends to breast cancer over 35 years ago, Sheri made a promise: if she...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this powerful conversation, host Laura Carfang , founder of SurvivingBreastCancer.org, sits down with Adrian Mendes , CEO of Perimeter Medical Imaging, and Dr. Allison DiPasquale , breast surgical oncologist and technology innovator. Together, they unpack one of the most anxiety-provoking moments after breast cancer surgery: “Did we get clear margins?” Today, s...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Inside the VIKTORIA-1 trial with Dr. Rachel LaymanWhat the New Genitolasib Data Mean for ER+ / HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , Laura sits down with Dr. Rachel Layman, breast medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to unpack what’s new in ER-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer—and why clinical tr...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this candid and empowering episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , Dr. Christy Thozer breaks the silence around sexual health, menopause, and intimacy after breast cancer. Together, we unpack the myths surrounding estrogen, discuss safe treatment options for vaginal dryness and low libido, and explore how to restore confidence and connection after treatment. D...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Today’s episode is going to challenge how you think about treatment. What if cancer care wasn’t one-size-fits-all? What if every decision — from the drugs you take to the supplements you choose — was tailored to your own biology? My guest, Dr. John Oertle , Chief Medical Director at Envita Medical Centers , has spent over 25 years pioneering a truly personalized,...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What if your cancer treatment was designed just for you? In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Dr. Laura Carfang sits down with Jim Foote , CEO and co-founder of First Ascent Biomedical , to explore how AI-powered functional precision medicine is transforming cancer care. Instead of relying on one-size-fits-all treatment plans, this breakthrough ap...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this inspiring episode, host Laura Carfang, Ed. D. sits down with Tara Hoffmann of Recovery on Water and Miranda Baldwin , co-producer of Breast in Show . Together they explore life eight years after breast cancer — from navigating long-term side effects and hormonal therapy to finding joy, movement, and connection through rowing and burlesque. This is not just...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang sits down with Dr. Evan Garfein, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Co-Founder of Greenwich Street Aesthetics. With more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, three biomedical patents, and a leadership role in shapi...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Six years ago, Veronica shared her powerful story about preparing for surgery—a conversation that quickly became one of the most-downloaded episodes in SBC history. Today, she returns to reflect on her journey, her many surgeries, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: The early days of diagnosis: how a mobile mammogram outs...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this conversation, Laura Carfang interviews JP Parthasarathy, the founder and CEO of Astran Biosciences, about the critical topic of breast cancer, particularly focusing on breast density and its implications for women's health. They discuss the importance of understanding breast density, the advancements in early cancer detection technologies, and the ong...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this special episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang speaks with Dr. Troso  about the evolving role of DNA testing in breast cancer care. Together, they break down the three main types of testing: Hereditary genetic testing : Identifying inherited mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 (among others) that increase cancer risk and influenc...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang sits down with Dr. Rebecca Knackstedt, Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Duke University and founder of the popular Instagram community @surgical_recovery . Together, they explore the groundbreaking concept of prehabilitation (“prehab”) before breast cancer surgery —a holistic approach tha...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Tiffany Troso Sandoval, a highly esteemed medical oncologist who has dedicated over 25 years to treating women's cancers. Dr. Troso shared her extensive experience and insights into the evolving landscape of oncology, particularly in breast cancer treatment. Throughout our...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! A cancer diagnosis is life-changing. For individuals navigating breast cancer, the focus often centers on survival—completing treatment, managing side effects, and getting back to “normal.” But for many survivors, what follows is far from familiar. The emotional, physical, and relational impacts of cancer can linger long after treatment ends, especially when it co...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , I had the privilege of speaking with Bob Furniss, a father, husband, and author who has turned his family’s heartbreaking experience with breast cancer into a mission to educate and advocate for early detection. Bob and his wife Susan founded the nonprofit WarriorPrincess.org in honor of their late daughter, Keesha...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cindy Fortuna, a registered holistic nutritionist who specializes in supporting individuals navigating and recovering from cancer. Cindy brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to the table, having faced her own cancer diagnosis. Our conversation covers a range of topi...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! How A Walk in the Woods Changed Everything: Regan’s Story of Healing and Breast Cancer Survival In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Regan Stacey, a breast cancer survivor and advocate for the healing power of nature. We delved into the profound impact that connecting with the natural world can have on our mental, emo...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nina Prol, an experienced oncology nurse and SurvivingBreastCancer.org's  amazing Pilates instructor. Nina has been a vital part of our community, offering free, virtual Pilates classes that are accessible to anyone. We dive into the benefits of Pilates, especially for those undergoing cancer treatment. Nin...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Genetic tests like 23andMe are perceived as a fun and engaging way to explore family history,  However, the implications of genetic testing extend beyond mere curiosity about ancestry; they touch on the very fabric of our lives and the lives of our loved ones. For those who discover they carry genes associated with increased cancer risk, like Lesser, the stakes ar...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In the podcast episode, I speak with Kate Garcia and Jen Tipton, and  discuss  the significant role that yoga can play in the lives of breast cancer survivors and thrivers. Both Kate and Jen lead yoga classes for our SurvivingBreastCancer.org (SBC) community and they share their personal experiences and insights on how yoga can aid in healing and recovery. Restora...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I, Laura Carfing, founder of survivingbreastcancer.org, delve into the critical topic of fertility preservation and genetic counseling for breast cancer patients. Joined by Alejandra Bernal, a genetic counseling student at the University of Pittsburgh, and Melissa Bourdius , a hereditary cancer counselor, we explore...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang welcomes Dr. Amy Morris, an ovarian cancer survivor and cancer researcher, to discuss navigating health and wellness post-cancer diagnosis. We delve into essential topics such as the side effects of treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapies, including weight gain and the chall...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kathleen Moss, a nutritionist from Portland, Oregon, who shared her journey with breast cancer. Kathleen's story is both unique and insightful, as she was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer after a decade of screening and monitoring a shadow in her left breast. She detailed...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Kohli, the Director of Breast Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey. We delved into the multifaceted journey of breast cancer survivorship, emphasizing the importance of treating the whole person, not just the disease. Dr. Kohli shared her insights on the increasing...