Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful

Welcome to another episode of "Your Voice. Your Health." In this enlightening discussion, host Melissa Berry is joined by Dr. Rishi Garg, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Loyola University Medical Center and Medical Director of Financial Clearance. Dr. Garg delves into the challenges of step therapy, including how automated decisions can impact cancer patients and why it's so critical to persis...

You're going to love my amazing new friend Stephanie Germino, a passionate advocate for body positivity and the driving force behind the 'Boobless Babe' movement. At 27, Stephanie discovered she was BRCA positive, and at 28, she chose a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy with an aesthetic flat closure. This decision transformed her confidence and redefined her perspective on beauty. Join us for a p...

Welcome to another episode of "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful," part of the "Your Voice. Your Health." series. In this episode, I'm so honored to have Andrea Hans as my guest today - a breast cancer survivor, and passionate advocate for the Safe Step Act. Andrea will guide us through what this legislation entails, why it's crucial for cancer patients, and how its passage could significantly improve ou...

You're going to love my amazing friend, Caryn Sullivan, founder of Pretty Wellness and a Stage IV TNBC thriver. Caryn shares her inspiring story, from her initial cancer diagnosis 20 years ago to how a later stage 4 diagnosis transformed her life. Initially focused on her corporate career, Caryn's journey led her to prioritize wellness and self-care. Discover how her focus has evolved towards a li...

Welcome to another episode of, "Your Voice. Your Health," a special series dedicated to empowering patients and caregivers as they navigate the complexities of step therapy. Today we delve into the transformative world of personalized medicine and its potential to enhance your current treatment plans.  Join us as we sit down with Cynthia A. Bens, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Perso...

Welcome to another episode of the "Your. Voice. Your Health." podcast series, where we amplify the voices of experts and advocates in the realm of step therapy and utilization management. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of patient advocacy and learn about precision medicine. Our guest, Daneen Sekoni, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Cancer Support Community, shares some inv...

If you're a breast cancer patient or caregiver seeking a one-stop-shopping resource, then look no further! Meet my friend Virginia Carnesale, founder and CEO of Stage. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Virginia realized there was a significant lack of products designed to help cancer patients look and feel their best.  In 2022, she launched ShopStage.co, a mission-driven marketplac...

On National Clinical Trials Day, we're joined by my dear friend Ricki Fairley. She's the founder of Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and a 13-year triple-negative breast cancer survivor.  Ricki shares her journey, highlighting disparities faced by Black women in breast cancer care. We discuss the vital need for inclusivity in clinical trials, stressing their importance for everyone.  

As part of my special podcast series, "Your Voice. Your Health." focusing on step therapy, we're joined by Maxine Miller, a dedicated advocate and Coordinator of Policy & Advocacy at Cancer Support Community.  With a strong commitment to championing equity and access in healthcare, economics, and society, Maxine shares some advocacy efforts as well as groundbreaking research shedding light on the...

In this episode of "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful,"  I have the pleasure of introducing you to Y, the compassionate force behind the Women's Hair Loss Project. Join us as Y shares her personal journey through hair loss, shedding light on all of the emotional complexities that come with it.  With 17 years of dedication to empowering women, Y offers invaluable insights into reclaiming femininity and co...

Meet my new friend Ali, the founder of Lost and Found Tattoo in Cranford, NJ. In this episode of "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful," we're going to delve into Ali's journey as a tattoo artist specializing in both illustrative designs as well as nipple and areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors. Join us as we uncover Ali's passion for empowering women through her art and gain valuable insights into...

Join me and Dr. David Charles, Chief Medical Officer of the Alliance for Patient Access and a distinguished neurologist, for a dynamic discussion. In this episode, Dr. Charles sheds light on step therapy, fail-first protocols, and care pathways, revealing their impact on patient care. Explore how the Alliance champions patient education and advocates for healthcare policy improvements. Tune in to...

Join me and my incredible friend, celebrity hairstylist Chelsey, for an intimate conversation about navigating life with metastatic breast cancer. Discover her powerful journey of resilience, creativity, and finding purpose beyond the salon chair. This episode offers inspiring insights into living life to the fullest, despite the challenges we face. Tune in for a heartfelt exploration of courage,...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Amy, cancer survivor and creator of the Cancer Freedom Program. With over 13 years of clinical experience, Dr. Amy shares practical strategies for coping with weight gain and exhaustion post-cancer diagnosis. Discover evidence-based approaches to reclaiming energy and vitality as Dr. Amy dispels common myths and offers empowering insights. Tune in for...

Meet my new friend Alan Balch! Alan is the CEO of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation which provides patient services, eliminating obstacles in access to quality healthcare.    Alan has over 20 years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector spanning multiple advocacy areas including access and affordability, health equity, prevention and early detection, an...

I'm so excited to have my dear friend and TNBC sister, Chance Osborne here with us today. We met through our advocacy work and I smile every time I hear her name - and now you will too! At the young age of 24, Chance received a stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, all while carrying the weight of a family history of cancer and the BRCA1 gene mutation. This aggressive form of breast can...

Join me in this special episode as I mark my 11-year cancerversary by reflecting on the twists and turns of my journey, and how it's shaped my beauty and fashion routines.   I'll open up about the emotional and physical challenges I've faced, from diagnosis to treatment, and share the lessons I've learned along the way. Through it all, resilience and positivity have been my guiding lights.   I'll...

Introducing my dear friend and TNBC sister, Lorelei Colbert. We met through our advocacy work with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and her beautiful glow and energy are absolutely infectious!   At the young age of 28, Lorelei was diagnosed with TNBC, a direct result of going for a very routine doctor visit for a physical so she and her husband could move abroad on military orders. Her...

Meet my new friend Leslie Yerger! Leslie is the Founder and CEO of My Density Matters, which empowers people to find out their breast density, learn their screening options, and insist on essential additional screening. Today happens to be the annual, "Find Out My Breast Density Day," so what a perfect time to learn what breast density is, and the importance of knowing your breast density - whethe...

Meet one of my dearest friends, Katrina M. Johnson! Katrina is the US Director of Advocacy & Professional Relations for Pfizer Oncology as well as a three-time breast and two-time melanoma cancer survivor. Katrina and I met through our advocacy work but I feel like I've known Katrina FOREVER and I'm sure you will too!  Katrina is also a triple negative breast cancer survivor and the Mom of 2 amazi...

Introducing my wonderful friend and fellow TNBC sister, Tiffany Clifton-Reed! Tiffany is not only a courageous breast cancer thriver and advocate, but also brings extensive experience as an authorization coordinator. I invited Tiffany to be a guest on this episode of "Your Voice. Your Health." to discuss step therapy through the lense of her invaluable perspective. With her dual background as a br...

You won't want to miss this episode! Meet my new friend Irene Benson, the Chief Development Officer of the, "Know Your Lemons Foundation." Irene is obsessed with saving lives from breast cancer through creative education that leads to early detection. She's got an award-winning app, is responsible for self-breast exam educational campaign materials in 34 languages, and is the lead on a global educ...

Introducing my dear friend Ramy! He's a celebrity makeup artist, Founder of Ramy Cosmetics, cancer survivor and eyebrow MASTER! Ramy has worked with major celebs including Taylor Swift and Rihanna. He opened his New York City salon in 2004, and has since launched his own brand of cosmetics. His gift for eyebrow shaping has been featured in the pages of top magazines, including Vogue, Allure, InSty...

Dr. Monique Gary aka  "Dr. Mo" is a breast surgeon, educator, entrepreneur, media personality, farmer, and philanthropist. Dr. Mo currently serves as the Medical Director of the Grand View Health/Penn Cancer Network cancer program, where she also serves as director of the breast program. Tune in for this important conversation to learn about her career path, as well as the "golden nuggets" and mos...

Join us for the latest installment of the, "Your Voice. Your Health." series as we delve into crucial insights with Courtney Savage, the visionary behind Savage Health Policy. In this episode, Courtney sheds light on step therapy, navigates the appeals process, and teaches us why it's so important to really understand your health insurance policy. Tune in to discover the power of partnering with y...