Real Pink

How can you be a full-time mom to your children while also facing breast cancer? Can you do both? Today’s guests share how they navigated two demanding roles – mom and patient – at the same time. Young women face even greater challenges when diagnosed young with breast cancer, as many are also raising young kids. Jennie Smythe had a 2-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter when she was diagnosed, an...

People with disabilities —especially women of color —face unique, often invisible, barriers when it comes to accessing breast health care. From physically inaccessible mammography machines to bias and misinformation among providers, the breast cancer experience can look vastly different for women with disabilities. In this powerful conversation, disability advocate Monique Stamps opens up about th...

When Inside Edition reporter, Alison Hall, was assigned to cover Olivia Munn’s breast cancer story, she agreed to use the same Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool that Munn used – and to do it onscreen. Not only was this part of her research for the story, but it would also help raise awareness. What she did not expect was that her risk score ultimately would lead to her own breast cancer diagnosis...

Today, we're joined by Karen Powell, a nurse practitioner who not only supports patients through breast reconstruction—but has also walked the journey herself. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Karen gained a new perspective on early detection, the emotional weight of treatment decisions, and the power of having a strong support system. In this episode, she shares how informed choices and...

Today, we’re joined by Sherry Easter, who shares her powerful and uplifting journey through breast cancer—from the moment of diagnosis to treatment and beyond. Sherry opens up about the lifestyle changes she embraced, the incredible support she received from loved ones, and how laughter became one of her greatest tools in healing. Her resilience and optimism shine as she offers heartfelt advice fo...

What happens when your gender journey and a breast cancer diagnosis collide? In this special Pride Month episode of Real Pink, our guests are Ash Davidson, a trans masculine activist who went in for gender-affirming top surgery and left with a breast cancer diagnosis and Scout, executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. They’ll help us dive into the challenges and care gaps trans and...

When a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, the journey touches every corner of life —especially for caregivers. In honor of Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, for this powerful episode of Real Pink, we sit down with two incredible Black men of faith, Kenneth White, spiritual adviser and group facilitator for a national addiction treatment center, and John K. Conner of Praise Is the Cure, a...

If your doctor is recommending that you get a mastectomy, you will likely have some choices about how the surgery is performed. Your breast cancer treatment, your body, your breast shape and your lifestyle affect not only your options, but also the pros and cons of your options. There’s no one method that works best for everyone because each person is unique. Today we are going to be exploring one...

Susan G. Komen stands alongside the rest of the cancer community with deep concern about proposed cuts in the federal budget in addition to significant policy changes which could impact access to high-quality, affordable health care. It is hard to weed through the information and to know where things stand at any moment in time so joining us on the show today is Molly Guthrie, Komen’s Vice Preside...

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women — but far too often, cultural stigma, language barriers and a lack of tailored education prevent early detection and timely care. To celebrate AANHPI Month, we’re joined by Dr. Judy Wang, a national leader in cancer prevention and behavioral science at the Georgetown Lombar...

Caregiving can be a very personal role on many levels - assisting a loved one through their cancer diagnosis, helping with daily activities, providing support and helping to make treatment decisions may all be a part of their responsibilities. When young adults are the caregiver taking care of a parent, they face many unique challenges, such as having more duties to juggle and managing their own g...

Laurel Pointer always knew that breast cancer was a possibility, with a strong family history and a confirmed CHEK2 gene mutation. In July 2024, Laurel was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive lobular carcinoma and immediately knew that she wanted a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Shannon Michaelson has been Laurel’s co-worker and close friend for the past 6 years. As soon as Laurel got the n...

Today’s guest is Mallory Tucker, a mother of four and breast cancer survivor from Georgia. She shares her experience with her diagnosis, how she approached the conversation with her children, and the role therapy played in helping her navigate treatment.

What if one call could help change not just your future, but your family’s too? In this episode of Real Pink, we're joined by Fanny Jackson, a compassionate and experienced Komen Patient Navigator, who walks us through how she helps callers to the Komen Patient Care Center understand and access genetic counseling and testing. Fanny shares how knowing your genetic risk for breast cancer—especially...

If you’re struggling with issues affecting your sexuality, you’re not alone. Sex and intimacy can be difficult for many women after a breast cancer diagnosis. Joining us today is Amy Rowan, a Certified Clinical Sexologist and Intimacy Coach. She’s known as the Suburban Sexologist because she is just like so many of you – a busy, working mom and breast cancer survivor who just gets it. She makes ta...

Brett Heins went through breast cancer in her late 30s. Kristin Goodman was in her early 40s when she was diagnosed. Both women are well below the average age at diagnosis – 62 – leading them to wonder what caused their cancer to develop. A growing body of research shows lifestyle choices – everything from drinking alcohol to following a healthy diet – influences one’s risk of breast cancer.

Everyone is at risk of breast cancer. Some are more at risk than others due to hereditary factors – such as a family history of cancers – and lifestyle choices that affect our overall health. Knowing your risk of breast cancer can help you decide what steps to take to lower your risk. Joining me today is Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, a Susan G. Komen Scholar and Komen grantee, Professor of Medicine at Har...

Just before her 38th birthday, Lauren Yerkes learned she had breast cancer. Genetic testing would reveal she had the BRCA2 inherited gene mutation that made her at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Her experience made her want to educate people about inherited genetic mutations because she had no idea at the time that she was at risk. Lauren is here today to share her story, th...

Today, we’re honored to share the story of Nancy Pickett, a woman whose breast cancer journey is not just her own — it’s part of a long family history. Nancy is the ninth person in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, making her path one of both personal resilience and advocacy. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize that every woman’s breast cancer journey is unique. That’s...

Breast cancer risk looks different for everyone. Our guests today have an inherited genetic mutation that increased their risk of breast cancer. Without knowing it, they may have passed this gene onto their children. Genetic mutations can increase risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women, and prostate cancer in men. About 10% of breast cancers are genetic – knowing if you have a gene mutation c...

Welcome to the Real Pink Podcast by Susan G. Komen. I’m Adam Walker, and each week we take a look at the stories of real people affected by breast cancer. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce our special guest host, three-time Emmy Award winner, author and breast cancer survivor Gaby Natale! Gaby is a proud Komen Ambassador, using her voice to educate, empower and uplift communities—especially the Lat...

It is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day – an annual opportunity to bring more awareness to this aggressive type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat because it lacks an estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptor. It primarily affects younger women and Black women and can spread quickly and be deadly if left untreated for too long. Treatment for TNBC used to include the toughest forms of chemo...

Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month, we invite in patients, community organizations, health care providers, researchers and policy advocates to discuss strategies and solutions that drive the health equity revolution forward for multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities. In honor of Black History Month, this Komen Health Equity Revolution episo...

Breast cancer treatment today is becoming more personalized and more precise. Precision medicine is rapidly expanding the options patients have for treating their cancer while helping them maintain a desired quality of life. A common mutation in breast cancer called PIK3CA affects more than 1 in 3 people with breast cancer, making it harder to treat. This mutation often leads to worse outcomes for...

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we’re digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We’re talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends.   In today’s episode, we’re talki...