My Breast My Health

In today's episode, I explore the question: Why does breast cancer come back after treatment? I discuss the mechanisms that can lead to cancer recurrence, offering insights into microscopic spread, lymph node involvement, resilient cells, dormant cancer cells, incomplete treatment, and genetic mutations. Join me in this solo episode where I uncover the reasons behind breast cancer recurrence...

In this episode of "My Breast, My Health," I delve into the lesser-known but crucial topic of inflammatory breast cancer. I explore the challenging diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis of this aggressive type of breast cancer. I discuss the unique presentation of inflammatory breast cancer, the importance of seeking medical attention for persistent symptoms, and the evolving tre...

Hi friend, Today, we delve into the world of radiotherapy and explore its potential side effects.  The majority of people tolerate radiotherapy well. However, like with most clinical treatments, there can be potential side effects. Short-term side effects of radiotherapy may include skin reactions, fatigue, and breast changes.  Whilst long term side effects can range from changes in breast appeara...

Welcome to a solo episode of "My Breast My Health," where your host, Tasha Gandamihardja, delves into the cutting-edge realm of cancer detection using a blood test. In this enlightening discussion, Dr Tasha sheds light on the groundbreaking potential of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in transforming the landscape of cancer detection and monitoring. Discover the advantages of ctDNA, its p...

Welcome back to "My Breast My Health," where we shed light on important topics related to breast health. In today's solo episode, we're delving into the world of DCIS, also known as ductal carcinoma in situ. We'll be tackling what it is, how it presents, the treatment options available, and the prognosis associated with it. DCIS is a non-invasive form of breast cancer, con...

In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. D Dizon, an oncologist who will be shedding light on an important topic that many breast cancer patients are apprehensive about – chemotherapy. Dr. Dizon is a professor of medicine and surgery at the prestigious Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. With a clinical focus on pelvic cancers, including those of the ovary, uterus, and cervix, Dr....

Welcome to the My Breast, My Health podcast. In this episode, our host and breast surgeon, Tasha Gandamihardja, dives into the different types of breast cancers.  Tasha discusses the common types encountered in clinical practice, including invasive ductal carcinomas, invasive lobular carcinomas, triple-negative breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancers, and DCIS.  She provides insights into the...

In this episode of "My Breast My Health," host Tasha Gandamihardja, a breast cancer surgeon, delves into the topic of "Embracing Emotional Resilience" in the face of a breast cancer diagnosis.  She outlines four strategies designed to help cope with the mental and physical impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, offering actionable steps and a bonus strategy. Tasha emphasizes the...

In this episode of "My Breast, My Health," host Tasha Gandamihardja is joined by special guest Sarah Newman, founder of Get Me Back. Together, they dive into the crucial topic of exercising post-surgery, particularly for those recovering from breast cancer treatment.  The episode delves into the importance of strength training, the benefits of consistent physio exercises, and strategies...

Welcome to "My Breast My Health," the podcast where we discuss everything related to breast health and breast cancer. In this episode, our host Tasha delves into the important topic of breast cancer recurrence.  Tasha covers the areas where cancer can recur and explains the significance of early detection. She provides valuable insights on self-examinations, signs to look out for, and th...

Breast cancer in the South Asian community is a topic that doesn't get talked much about.  My guest on today's show, Iyna Butt, knows all about this. You see, Iyna is a British South Asian woman, and when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she soon realised that cancer in general, let alone breast cancer specifically, seems to be a subject that nobody talks about. Although no doubt th...

How does yoga help with breast cancer recovery? We all know that exercise and movement are not only good for our health, it also has a positive impact on the outcome of breast cancer treatment. Many of you may already practice yoga, and no doubt you already know about the various benefits it brings. But, if you have had treatment for breast cancer, can yoga help with recovery? In this episode, Mar...

In this episode, we are talking about all things bra-related.  If you think you know about bras..think again. In this episode, I talk to Julie Blanche who is an expert bra fitter. It was a great conversation and you wouldn't believe how complex the world of bras can be. You don't know what you don't know. That is so true. At the end of this episode, you will learn so much. We talked...

Life is predictably unpredictable. Things happen randomly, unexpectedly, and out of our control. A breast cancer diagnosis for example is such a life event. Similarly, after breast cancer treatment has finished,  you can't predict how you recover. You may find changes to the breast. You may be feeling certain symptoms that you are not particularly sure of. You may need support for your mental...

Welcome back to the podcast! In this solo episode, I talk about all things related to breast cancer recurrence. This is the one thing most patients fear... the fear of cancer coming back. In this episode, I talk about the types of breast cancer recurrences, what can be done to treat it and what symptoms to look out for. I hope this is useful, and if you want to check out the show notes, head over...

Dr Bob Octovianus is a breast surgeon in Indonesia, one of the most populous countries in the world. With that comes many challenges. Limited resources, financial restrictions and cultural barriers. He also explains the lack of breast cancer awareness in the community leading to patients presenting to his clinics with locally advanced cancers. This episode highlights the differences in health care...

So, this episode is slightly different. Today I am going to take you behind the scenes on an operating day. For those who have never had surgery, you may wonder what happens on a day when a surgeon operates? What time does it start? How does the day run? What are the different activities that happen behind the scene to make sure that all surgeries are done and all patients are taken care of? This...

We live in a digital age and more and more of us are downloading health apps in order to boost and improve our health and wellbeing. But, how can a health app be helpful for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer? Dr Anne Bruinvels is the founder of the app OWise, a health app that is designed to help patients with breast cancer. It is essentially a one-stop shop which can be used to sto...

The field of functional and integrative medicine is becoming increasingly recognised by the mainstream. If you haven't come across these areas, then this is the podcast episode for you. Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is my guest today. She is an integrative medicine practitioner, who initially trained as a natural scientist and then entered medicine. She became slightly disillusioned by how very disea...

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial. But, what is a clinical trial? Am I eligible to participate? What are the benefits? What does it involve? Do I have to pay? These are some of the questions we discuss in this week's episode with Danielle Ralic. Danielle is a technologist and her career has revolved working on solving tech problems...

Jo was diagnosed with primary breast cancer at the age of 38 years, 14 years ago. At the time, she had a 5-month daughter, a 2-year-old son, and her life was turned upside down. Since her primary diagnosis, she has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer affecting her lymph nodes in her neck, her sternum, and recently brain metastasis. Throughout the years, Jo has been a passionate advocate fo...

Hello again and welcome to the second part of a two part series where we talk all things benign. Today's conversation is with Dr Peter Davis, who works as a histopathologist. He and his team are responsible for analysing any tissue that we take either from a biopsy or at surgery. They process it, examine it under the microscope and deliver a diagnosis. It is really clever stuff. We left off f...

When you have a breast abnormality, you may need to have a biopsy. This is where a sample is taken from the breast and sent to the lab for analyses. The majority of biopsies come back as a benign (non-cancerous) diagnosis. Of course this is always a great relief. But the actual terminology of the results can be confusing and unclear. Today I have a conversation with Dr Peter Davis, who is a histop...

What happens when you are diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28?  You reflect on your life, consider what is important and then you pivot. You pursue a path that you find meaningful and fulfilling. This is what happened to my guest today, Paulina Golozd. Paulina had a secure high flying corporate job. However, a breast cancer diagnosis made her realise that perhaps what she was doing wasn&...