Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful

From Survivor to Founder: Redefining Swimwear with Post Swim with Lauren Yerkes, Breast Cancer Survivor and Founder of Post Swim In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful, host Melissa Berry sits down with Lauren Yerkes, a triple negative breast cancer survivor and founder of Post Swim, a new swimwear brand designed to solve the difficult challenges we face when finding the right swimsuit afte...

In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful, we're talking about beauty, confidence, and self-care with Karissa Bodnar, CEO and Founder of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare. Her mission goes way beyond makeup—Karissa has created a brand that champions clean beauty, uplifts those affected by cancer, and helps women feel like themselves again. As a breast cancer survivor, I know h...

In this special episode, host Melissa Berry is joined by Harjeet Kaur, a Stage 4 cancer survivor, patient advocate, speaker, influencer, and founder of Chai and Hope, a support community for South Asian cancer patients. Harjeet is dedicated to breaking the stigma around cancer, fertility loss, and hair loss due to treatment—especially within the South Asian community. After her cancer diagnosis an...

The Life Saving Power of Self Breast Exams with Jessica Baladad, Founder of Feel For Your Life In this episode, host Melissa Berry welcomes Jessica Baladad, a 6-year breast cancer survivor and passionate advocate for self-breast exams. After a practitioner dismissed a malignant lump as "normal," Jessica discovered it herself during a routine self-exam—an act that may have saved her life. She went...

In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful, we discuss an often-overlooked aspect of cancer care: oral health. Onco-Radioligist Dr. Abida Taher and Pediatric Dentist Dr. Robyn Lesser, the experts behind (un) cancer, join the show to explain why oral care is so important during cancer treatment, how to protect your teeth and gums, and their unique products designed to help maintain oral health....

In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful!, I'm joined by Erica Deligne, style expert, breast cancer survivor, and creator of the Flat, Fierce, and Feminine guide. After opting for aesthetic flat closure,Erica became a passionate advocate for helping women embrace their bodies with confidence and style without reconstruction. Erica shares her personal breast cancer story, the decision to go fl...

In this special episode, I sit down with Ricki Fairley of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Hayley Dinerman of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation to discuss the latest advancements in TNBC research, including key takeaways from SABCS 2024, new immunotherapy and targeted therapies, and the impact of the AACR research grant. We also explore efforts to address racial disparities,...

In this episode, I continue the "Your Voice. Your Health" series with a powerful conversation about step therapy, healthcare disparities, and patient advocacy. I had the privilege of speaking with Jamil Rivers, a metastatic breast cancer thriver, nationally recognized advocate, and founder of The Chrysalis Initiative. We discuss Jamil's experience from her breast cancer diagnosis to her groundbrea...

In this episode, I sat down with breast cancer advocate Rachel Marx—aka baesymmetrical—who proudly calls herself the Uniboob Unicorn. After choosing a unilateral mastectomy, Rachel has redefined beauty, confidence, and sexuality on her own terms. We explore body acceptance, the healing power of personal photography, and her experience modeling for AnaOno, a lingerie brand designed for those affect...

In this episode, I sit down with photographer Charise Isis, who helps breast cancer survivors rediscover their inner goddess through powerful imagery. Her work captures strength, beauty, and resilience post-surgery, guiding women to embrace their bodies with confidence. We explore the healing power of photography, how it transforms self-perception, and how you can book your own empowering photo ex...

In this episode, I'm joined by Tom Butina, a passionate advocate for the power of storytelling in the cancer community. Tom discusses his work with This Is Living with Cancer, a platform from Pfizer that focuses on sharing real stories from those living with cancer. We dive into the importance of storytelling in creating connection, spreading awareness, and offering support to those navigating lif...

In this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Tiffany Troso, a medical oncologist with over 25 years of experience in treating breast and gynecological cancers. We'll unpack some of the most important updates from this year's San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in a way that's clear and easy to follow. We'll cover topics like the latest on SERDS and how they're changing treatment options, t...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Robyn Roth, also known as "The Boobie Docs," a breast radiologist specializing in breast health and early detection. We dive into the essentials of mammograms, including when to start screenings, navigating dense breast tissue, and the importance of risk assessments for high-risk individuals. From understanding your personal risk to exploring the latest advanceme...

In this episode of Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer, Melissa Berry and her co-host, Deltra, talk about the often-overlooked topic of sex and intimacy after a breast cancer diagnosis. Building on their previous discussions about dating and relationships post-cancer, they share the real challenges that chemotherapy and medications can bring, such as low libido, vaginal...

In this episode, we continue with a special series close to my heart: Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky unpacks the challenges of living with a BRCA-positive diagnosis and the critical role of genetic testing in managing hereditary breast cancer risk. Dr. Teplinsky offers actionable advice for individuals and families, covering when to begin te...

If you or someone you love is navigating metastatic breast cancer, this episode of Your Voice. Your Health is a must-listen. Abigail Johnston, a metastatic breast cancer advocate and legal expert, shares powerful strategies to overcome the life-threatening delays caused by step therapy policies. Known as "fail first," step therapy can block access to critical care for stage 4 patients—when every m...

In this third episode of Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer, join Melissa and her dear friend and co-host Deltra as they explore the realities of dating after a breast cancer diagnosis.  Building on their previous discussion about navigating intimacy in marriages, the duo reflects on their personal journeys through divorce and re-entering the dating scene. Melissa and D...

If you're a breast cancer patient or survivor facing challenges with intimacy and sexual pleasure, or if you're curious about how vibrators can help you feel sexy again, this episode is for you! I'm excited to introduce my new friend Shay Martin, President and Owner of Vibratex. As a breast cancer survivor, Shay shares how her experiences shape her innovative approach to intimacy. We explore her r...

In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful, we continue with a special series close to my heart: Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight. I'm thrilled to be joined by Sue Friedman, Founder and Executive Director of FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered). Sue's journey with hereditary breast cancer, combined with her tireless advocacy, has made her a powerful voice i...

In the second episode of "Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer," Melissa Berry and Deltra take a deep dive into the difficult challenges they faced in their marriages after their breast cancer diagnoses. They explore how to navigate intimacy, reflecting on their biggest struggles and breakthroughs. Join them as they share personal stories and offer valuable advice for tho...

I'm thrilled to introduce Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a leading breast oncologist and USA Today bestselling author of "All In Her Head." Dr. Comen is passionate about empowering patients to advocate for themselves throughout their breast cancer journey. In this episode, we discuss the complexities of breast cancer care, and how to talk to your doctor during breast cancer treatment to get the care you nee...

In the debut episode of "Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer," hosts Melissa Berry and Deltra share their personal breast cancer journeys, discussing their lumpectomies, reconstruction surgeries, and the emotional challenges of hair loss and scarring.  This candid conversation covers the deeply personal steps they've taken to rebuild their self-esteem and embrace their n...

In the debut episode of "Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer," hosts Melissa Berry and Deltra share their personal breast cancer journeys, discussing their lumpectomies, reconstruction surgeries, and the emotional challenges of hair loss and scarring.  This candid conversation covers the deeply personal steps they've taken to rebuild their self-esteem and embrace their n...

In this deeply moving episode of "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful," I sit down with Dr. Liz O'Riordan, a former breast surgeon who has faced breast cancer three times and emerged as a powerful voice in the community. Dr. O'Riordan shares her personal battle with depression during her cancer treatment, a struggle that many patients face but few openly discuss. Learn how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT...

In this episode of the new series "Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight," host Melissa Berry and her mother share a heartfelt conversation on the profound impact of genetic testing. From the decision to undergo BRCA testing to the discovery that both Melissa and her brother Matt carry the BRCA gene, they explore the power of knowledge, the strength of family, and the vit...