Breast Cancer Conversations

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Dawn shares her journey from diagnosis to traveling the world doing cat sitting after caring for her mother. Their conversation touches on major milestones, personal experiences, and the impact of travel on Dawn's life post-treatment. Tune in for an inspiring story of resilience and adventure. 00:02:08 - Travel Stories Post-Diagnosis 00:08:42 - Seeking a Seco...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, Emily Parks, a patient advocate and professional living with a chronic illness, shares her personal journey with medical PTSD, starting from her diagnosis at birth with a gene mutation affecting her GI system. She talks about the lack of mental health support in her medical treatment and how she learned to manage her condition and advocate for her...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, we had the pleasure of introducing our incredible Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Leadership Team. It was a heartwarming session where we delved into the personal journeys of our team members, each sharing their unique experiences with breast cancer. Our conversation was guided by the ever-inspiring Abigail Johnston, a board member and a dear frien...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Today's episode of Breast Cancer Conversations features Rachel Burns, an incredible musician, singer, songwriter, and founder of the nonprofit Cancer Culture. Celebrating 10 years since her initial diagnosis, Rachel dives into her identity beyond cancer, highlighting her roles as a mom, daughter, and advocate. As a musician, Rachel describes the healing power...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jacquie Carter Angell, a remarkable woman who has not only survived non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as a teenager but is now living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTBBC). Jacquie shares her incredible journey with us, from being told she wouldn't live past her early 20s to becoming a mother, a wife, and...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Today, we had the pleasure of having Melanie Sisk on the show to demystify the complex world of emerging endocrine therapies, often referred to as the "alphabet soup" of treatments. Melanie provided clarity on the different classes of drugs and how they interact with tumors, particularly focusing on those that target estrogen receptors. We discussed: SER...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Sanya has been conducting interviews with breast cancer patients and medical professionals to provide a comprehensive understanding of the treatment process. In this episode, Sanya interviews Gracita, a dedicated chemotherapy nurse who shares her own breast cancer journey and her passion for helping others. Gracita's story from the Bahamas to Haiti and eventu...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, we delve into the exciting developments in antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) presented at the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. ADCs are a promising class of treatment that combines an antibody with a chemotherapy drug, aiming to target and kill cancer cells more effectively while reducing side effects. We discuss approved ADCs like Enhertu...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! This podcast episode is part of our MBC webinar series with survivingbreastcancer.org, and focuses on resources for parents living with stage four metastatic breast cancer. The panel includes Carissa Hodgson from Bright Spot Network, Airn Ahlum Hanson from  Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Kelsey Mora from the Pickles Group, and Sara Olsher from Mighty and Bright. All...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Welcome back to another episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, where we continue to share valuable insights from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. As a breast cancer survivor and the founder of survivingbreastcancer.org, I'm thrilled to bring you key takeaways from one of the world's largest breast cancer conferences. In this episode, we focus on...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode, part of our MBC webinar series, we delve into the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). We aim to break down the overwhelming amount of information into digestible insights. We discuss key findings, particularly on inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), with insights from Amy Parliman, a member of our...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode, part of our MBC webinar series, we delve into the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). We aim to break down the overwhelming amount of information into digestible insights.  Over the next week, we will be releasing short snippets and key take-aways from SABCS.  If you are thinking about attending this conference, today's patie...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In today's episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we dive deep into oral health!  Before undergoing cancer treatment, it is crucial for individuals to prioritize their dental health. This is because cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can have significant effects on oral health, specifically how bisphosphonates may lead to Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Creating hope through tragedy is a powerful concept that is exemplified throughout this podcast episode. The conversation we have with Jan Hillman and Elesha Snyder shed light on the devastating effects of breast cancer and how it can inspire individuals to take action and make a difference.  Jan shares her journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer multiple ti...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Welcome to Breast Cancer Conversations, the podcast dedicated to empowering those affected by breast cancer. I'm your host, Laura Carfang, a breast cancer survivor and the founder of survivingbreastcancer.org. In this episode, we're diving into a topic that resonates with many in our community: the role of exercise, specifically Pilates, in regaining nor...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, we emphasize the significance of being mindful about the conversations we have, the friendships we cultivate, and the music we listen to, as they can either nourish or deplete us.  Just as the food we consume can impact our physical well-being, the conversations we engage in can have a similar effect on our overall health. Investing time in nouris...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! This podcast episode features a conversation about breast cancer, advocacy, and medical PTSD. Host Laura Carfing introduces two guest authors, Brenda Denzler and Elaine   Schattner, who share their experiences with breast cancer and discuss their books and writing. The episode also highlights the importance of finding purpose and meaning after a breast cancer diag...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this podcast episode, Laura Carfing interviews Shelly Rosenfeld, the director of the Cancer Legal Resource Center. The center offers free legal resources to people impacted by cancer, including patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. They provide confidential information and research on various legal topics related to cancer. Today's podcast ep...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfing is joined by Dr. Stacey Devine, a board-certified family physician with a passion for disease prevention and holistic health. Dr. Devine discusses her journey from traditional medicine to integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine, highlighting the importance of addressing the root causes of illne...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Breast cancer research funding disparity is a significant issue that affects the progress and outcomes of finding the cure for metastatic breast cancer.    Funding for breast cancer prevention and early-stage treatment, while important, does not address the specific challenges faced by those with metastatic breast cancer.  Instead, if funding goes towards developi...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Our annual Pinktober MBC Panel on October 29 featured guests Megan-Claire Chase, Janice Cowden, Kathleen Friel, Victoria Goldberg, Claudia Gonzalez, Kirby Lewis, Amy Parliman, and Stephanie Walker. In this episode, these women share their experiences living with metastatic breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The panelists discuss how their perspect...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, we discuss the use of ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) in surveillance for breast cancer patients. Dr. Rodriguez, being a board-certified medical oncologist, has extensive experience in breast cancer oncology and has conducted clinical research in ctDNA application and breast cancer management. Together we dive into the different stages of breast can...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this podcast episode, we speak with Carrie Danny, a mother of two daughters who are autistic. Carrie shares her experience of being a parent with MBC and the challenges she faces in raising her children.  Carrie expresses her gratitude for being able to be there for her children despite the difficulties of a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. The conversation...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this episode, Laura Carfang and Dr. Sophia Edwards-Bennett emphasize the importance of fully processing and learning from experiences before moving on. Through their discussion, they explain that with reflection and understanding, individuals can glean valuable lessons that inspire and help others. When faced with adversity, there is often a lesson or message t...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Today Laura Carfang is joined with Amy Gallagher, who discusses her decision to have a prophylactic double mastectomy due to her positive BRCA1 mutation. Amy shares her personal journey with breast and ovarian cancer in her family, highlighting the importance of genetic testing and raising awareness about the potential for inherited mutations on the paternal side....