Breast Cancer Conversations

Love the podcast? Send us a text! I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Thomas Francel, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of personalized care. Dr. Francel stressed that each patient's journey is unique, and decisions regarding reconstruction should be made based on individual circumstances, preferences...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dianne Faure, an attorney, author, teacher, advanced Eden energy medicine practitioner, and massage therapist. Dianne shared her incredible journey of using energy medicine to manage and overcome various health issues, including her own diagnosis with inflammatory breast cancer. Di...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with S.L. Wisenberg, a self-described "one-breasted feminist" and author of "The Adventures of Cancer Bitch." S.L. shared her journey of being diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in 2007, undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, and how she turned her experience i...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Dr. Janet Abrahm reshapes the common perception of palliative care, emphasizing that it should not be viewed solely as end-of-life support, but rather as an essential form of supportive care that can significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life when integrated early. With over 20 years of experience at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Abrahm is...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Breast cancer is a deeply personal journey. As the landscape of breast cancer treatment evolves, understanding the surgical options available becomes crucial for patients navigating this challenging experience. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Yolanda Tamero, a breast surgical oncologist, who provides invaluable insights into the various surgical interventions a...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie S. Abbott, a remarkable individual who has navigated the complex worlds of both healthcare administration and cancer survivorship. Stephanie brings a unique perspective, having served in multiple leadership roles in healthcare, including Chief Experience Officer for Adven...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with the incredible Dr. Amani Jambhekar, a board-certified general surgeon and medical director for surgical breast oncology at Christus St. Vincent in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Jambhekar shared her journey from Texas to New Mexico, driven by her commitment to women's health and he...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Heather Salazar, an incredible woman whose journey through breast cancer led her to create the impactful nonprofit, Pink Ribbon Good . Heather's story is one of resilience, compassion, and dedication to helping others. Heather shared her powerful narrative, starting with her connection to Alexis, a young mothe...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we delve into the complexities of living with a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis and explore the various diagnostic and treatment options available. Our panel includes Dr.  Groteluschen, a medical oncologist from Green Bay Oncology, Tammy, a patient living with metastatic breast cancer, and Dr. Covington, a breast...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In the realm of breast cancer treatment, nurse navigators play a pivotal role in guiding patients through the complexities of their diagnosis and treatment. This episode of "Breast Cancer Conversations" features insights from Colleen Beguin, Amanda Kuller from Honor Health and Lourdes Heras, a patient advocate at SurvivingBreastCancer.org, who share thei...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Katrece's journey began in her late 30s, a time when many women may not consider themselves at risk for breast cancer. With no known family history of the disease, she was caught off guard when she noticed a physical change in her body—one breast appeared larger than the other. This seemingly benign observation led her to seek medical attention, a decision th...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! I had the privilege of speaking with Katrece Nolen, a breast cancer survivor from Northern Virginia. We had such a lovely and long conversation that I ended up producing this episode in two parts. Today we dive into Katrece’s compelling story with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).  Diagnosed in her late 30s, Katrece's story began with a simple observation of...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode, we delve into the world of PET scans and other imaging modalities crucial for accurate diagnosis and staging of breast cancer. We are joined by two incredible guests: Dr. Kiser, the Medical Director of Molecular Imaging for Carilion Clinic, and Pam Kohl, a patient advocate living with metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Kiser provides an in-dept...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we delve into the critical topic of nuclear medicine and its role in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a breast cancer survivor and advocate, I understand the anxiety that comes with scans involving radioactive tracers. Today, we aim to demystify this process and highlight its importance. I am joined by Dr. K...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode we are joined by Dr. Katherine Benedict, a Clinical Psychologist at Stanford University, along with patient advocates Delta James and Roxana Guerrera, to discuss the topic of dating, sex, and love after a breast cancer diagnosis. We highlight the importance of normalizing the challenges and complexities of intimacy post-diagnosis. Tune in for insig...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Laura James, a naturopathic oncologist based in Washington State. Dr. James provided a wealth of information about the role of naturopathic oncology in breast cancer care, emphasizing the importance of integrative medicine. She clarified the distinctions between integrative, c...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode, host, Laura Carfang speaks with breast cancer survivor Briana Rickertsen. Briana was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in July 2020 at age 35. She underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and additional treatments due to a HER2 positive tumor. Briana discovered she has a BRCA2 mutation, leading to further preventive measures, inc...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Meet the SBC Early Stage Leadership Team: Meghan Staskal-BradtJ, ulie Cottrill, Carol Collins, Meghan Aycock, Pooja Jain & & Marcee Raffel The team is a powerhouse of volunteers who have been instrumental in driving various projects and initiatives at survivingbreastcancer.org. Today's episode provides an opportunity for you to meet these volunteers a...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Balidad, a remarkable woman who has turned her personal experience with breast cancer into a powerful advocacy platform. Jessica, a five-year survivor of stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma, shared her journey from diagnosis to becoming a passionate advocate for women's...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Listening to your body is crucial, especially during times of illness or recovery. In today's episode, Michelle Sandlin talks about her unexpected diagnosis despite leading a very healthy lifestyle.  We discuss the significant role of genetic testing in Michelle's life, revealing her BRCA1 gene mutation and its implications not only for her but also for...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! The heart of today's episode is the poetry readings from our community members. Each poet shared their personal experiene with breast cancer, touching on themes of struggle, resilience, and hope. From Brookshire McDonald's reflections on the growth of our community to Farhana's poignant farewell to her breasts, each piece brings unique insights and...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode, we tackle a highly requested topic: navigating work while living with MBC. We explore the complexities of managing a career, discussing when to work, when to consider disability, and how to maintain health insurance and benefits amidst a metastatic diagnosis. Our guest, Abigail Johnston, leads our MBC webinar series and has assembled an in...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Awareness and resources for safety are crucial when it comes to addressing issues of domestic violence, especially in the context of breast cancer.  In today's episode we share personal experiences, warning signs, and resources for those who may be facing this difficult situation. Lourdes Heras, a breast cancer survivor, shares her experience of dealing with...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Lauren shared her story, starting from the unsettling discovery of a lump during a routine yoga practice to her diagnosis of stage 3, triple-positive breast cancer at the young age of 29. She recounted the initial disbelief, the urgency of starting treatment, and the life-altering decisions she faced, including fertility preservation through IVF before commencing...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Tune in to this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations as Shannon and Erin share their personal experiences with the Signatara test. Shannon, living with oligometastatic breast cancer, takes a holistic approach to her treatment plan, while Erin, with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, offers insights from a different perspective. Personalized blood tests f...