Real Pink

A breast cancer diagnosis can bring a wide range of emotions, including shock, fear, sadness and anger. These feelings are normal. Some people find joining a support group or talking to a counselor or therapist helpful in coping with these feelings. Today’s guest is a Komen staff member and a licensed clinical social worker with experience helping patients through the transitions that they face th...

Happy Pride Month, everyone! We know that early detection of breast cancer can save lives. Although screening mammography rates for lesbian and bisexual women are similar to rates for heterosexual women, some lesbian and bisexual women may still not get regular mammograms. This may be due to lack of health insurance, a perceived low risk of breast cancer, or concern due to past experiences of disc...

The breast health inequities that Black women in the U.S. experience are a social imperative that calls for collective action. Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. To help address these inequities in Indianapolis, a group of community organizations recently came together to host a discussion about community-based resources that service breast cancer pat...

This is Real Talk, a new podcast series where we’re going to break down the stigmas and feelings of embarrassment and talk openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be – from diagnosis, to treatment, to living with metastatic breast cancer, to life after treatment ends.      Today’s guests had plans for their lives. Sara and her family moved into a new house during the pandemi...

Current law requires insurance companies to cover the cost of annual mammograms for women over the age of 40, without any cost to the woman. Unfortunately, individuals at a higher risk of breast cancer or those requiring follow-up imaging due to an abnormal mammogram result will likely be facing hundreds to thousands of dollars in patient cost sharing. Komen strongly supports policies that elimina...

Breast cancer screening and early detection play an important role in your health. Screening tests can help detect breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are highest. In this episode, we will dive into the importance of screening and how that can help with early detection. As part of this conversation, we will also discuss why genetic counseling and testing is so important, a...

Dr. Elizabeth Morris, M.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of California Davis. She is a clinician and specializes in high-risk breast cancer screening. A pioneer in the field of breast imaging, she is at the cutting edge of research using advanced screening techniques like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in conjunction with artificial intelligence to id...

Finding and seeing joy in life can be a challenge. When you have been diagnosed with cancer four times and lost numerous family members to the disease, it can be even more of a challenge. However, Sulie Spencer has found ways to be victorious in body, mind and spirit and shines her light on every path she crosses. She is a great example of what faith in God, prayer and early detection can do. As a...

In this episode of the Susan G. Komen "Real Talk" podcast series, Alison LoCoco and Kate Ratajczak share their personal journeys of being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant. As guests on the show, they candidly discuss the challenges they faced during this difficult time and offer insight into how they navigated the complex and emotional decisions that came with their diagnoses. Hear firs...

After undergoing a mastectomy, women can either proceed with a reconstruction or “go flat”, but today’s guest says that the correct decision is what’s best for the patient. As an oncoplastic breast surgeon at City of Hope Chicago, Dr. Carolyn Bhakta performs surgical procedures for patients with breast malignancies, ranging from the earliest to advanced stages of disease. Dr. Bhakta works closely...

In an effort to drive systemic change, Komen partnered with ASCO and a group of health care institutions to develop and test interventions that address breast health inequities in the Black community. Here’s a peek into a success story at Parkland Hospital & Health System in Dallas, where the intervention helped connect Black cancer patients to financial coverage and ultimately improved their...

When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, the unknown can sometimes feel like the scariest part. The support of family, friends and others can help as you go through the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Some people find going to a support group is helpful and some people desperately long for connection with other survivors who have been through similar feelings and situations. Today’s guest, C...

A breast cancer diagnosis can be life altering for women and men at any age. But for younger women who want to have children, a diagnosis can immediately change their life plans. Some treatments can prevent a woman from carrying a child; some can make it more difficult to become pregnant; and some can require quick decisions about freezing eggs before treatment begins. And for women who are diagno...

Whether you’ve had a mammogram or are preparing to have your first mammogram, chances are that you’ve heard a myth or two that might make you nervous about this important annual screening test. Here with us today to debunk some of the most common mammogram myths is Erica Kuhn, Komen’s Sr. Manager of Health Information & Publications.

As part of our Stand for H.E.R. series, we talk about how the breast cancer experience impacts the Black community. In this episode, we are taking a deep dive into Kay Shaw’s experience as a breast cancer survivor and the challenges women – and especially Black women – may continue to face post treatment. Welcome to the show, Kay!

Today I’m joined by two survivors who experienced menopause at an early age due to breast cancer and treatment. At the time of their diagnoses, Deb Song and Elvira Velez could have carried children. The treatment for their cancer, and subsequent hysterectomies, however, changed their lives forever.

Breast cancer screening and early detection play an important role in your health. Screening tests can help detect breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are the highest. Joining us on the show today to talk about the importance of screening, imaging tests for women for dense breasts and the role of innovation and technology in screening is Henry Izawa, President and CEO of F...

Learning about your breast cancer risk can empower you to make important breast care decisions to take charge of your health. If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, talk with your doctor about a screening plan that’s best for you. You may need to be screened earlier and more often than other women. If genetic test results show that you have an inherited gene mutation, you may also consider ri...

Komen’s free, virtual 10-week patient navigation training program provides specific training for patient navigators to ensure they can help Black patients overcome barriers to receiving high-quality care and treatment. The patient navigation training program takes a multifaceted approach to addressing inequities and barriers in the health care system, first and foremost by connecting patients to r...

As we celebrate Black History Month, it is our honor to be joined today by a woman truly making history and one that I know we will be seeing much more from in the future. Dr. Zainab Shonibare, recently graduated from her PhD in 2022, is a reproductive cancer researcher at Yale University and the first Black postdoctoral researcher in her lab. Her story underscores why representation matters and d...

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! But we’re kicking things off a day early with a conversation about LOVE and breast cancer. February 14th it isn’t red roses and champagne toasts for everyone, and today’s conversation about LOVE reminds us of that. Se’Nita Harris was diagnosed with aggressive, triple negative breast cancer at age 37, before she found love. LaToya Bolds-Johnson was diagnosed with stage...

Genetic testing gives people the chance to learn if they’re at a higher risk of breast cancer, if their family history of breast cancer, or if their breast cancer is due to an inherited gene mutation. In the past, breast cancer genetic testing only checked for inherited gene mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. However, we’ve seen tremendous advancements and genetic discoveries in recent years, and...

If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, learning about your risk can empower you to make important breast care decisions to take charge of your health. Today’s guest has a strong history of breast cancer in her family but was still not prepared to find a lump at the young age of 32. Here today to share her breast cancer story, how she learned to self-advocate, and the importance of...

Susan G. Komen’s Center for Public Policy identifies the public policy issue areas where Komen’s voice can provide the greatest potential for achieving the mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. We are excited to discuss the work Komen is doing to drive policies that will bridge gaps that...

Julie Untener remembers the day like it was yesterday… 20 years ago, in January of 2003, Julie decided to do a breast exam. She’d been vigilant about getting her yearly mammograms, so on on this particular day, when she felt a marble on her left side, Julie knew something wasn’t quite right. She went to the doctor to get additional scans, and was eventually diagnosed with breast cancer. After unde...