Sisters4Prevention Breast Cancer Stories and Survival

Our immune system is the “clean up crew” which constantly surveys for foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. These harmful substances are called antigens. Our Immune surveillance system identifies these invaders, marks them, and calls out the cavalry, the T cells, to destroy them.  Macrophages are large white blood cells that are an important part of the immune response. The word macrophag...

In the rearview mirror…What I wish I had known about post mastectomy challenges. When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, what’s probably foremost in your mind is to expedite surgery and treatment options to rid your body of the cancer.  In another blog, I talk about how to prepare for a mastectomy in a practical way by getting the supplies you will need for physical recovery.  What I didn’t dis...

Various varieties of mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for immune support.  Several of these medicinal mushrooms have been found to have estrogen suppression effects and are highly beneficial for estrogen sensitive breast cancers.  These immune boosting mushrooms are readily available in supplements or can be incorporated into the diet regularly to obtain these be...

After ten long years of attempts to obtain the necessary funding and FDA approval the Cleveland Clinic's Breast Cancer Vaccine will begin Phase I Clinical trials.  This podcast chronicles the events and difficulties that occurred to attain this goal.  The vaccine will begin the trial in Summer 2021.  Stay tuned! Support the show

This podcast discusses the benefits of the herb Tumeric as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. People whose diets are rich in Turmeric are found to have lower rates of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. Researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston suggest that curcumin, an active component in Turmeric, may also help prevent the spread o...

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Starting a more plant based diet can seem overwhelming.  My podcast discusses how to gradually add more fruits and vegetables to your diet to make your diet more plant based.  Eating the rainbow is an important strategy for cancer prevention. Support the show

This podcast discusses in detail the challenges of recovering from a mastectomy,  or in my case, mastectomies.  It includes a detailed and honest discussion on issues concerning the care of drains and managing post mastectomy pain from drains and expanders.  Strategies for managing pain and supplies which will help in these most challenging days of recovery are included. Support the show

Of course, although buying organic produce is the best, but when is it ok to buy their less expensive cousins?  How can you know which fruits and vegetables are ok to buy without the added cost of purchasing organic? Every year the Environmental Working Group publishes the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 Lists. These publications rate foods according to which have the highest and lowest pesticide residue...

Including powerful antioxidants in your diet is key in fighting or preventing cancer.  A great way to start the day is to include berries for breakfast.  Later meals throughout the day including cruciferous vegetables will continue your cancer fighting diet. Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae (also called Cruciferae) with many genera, species, and cultivars being rais...

Studies have shown that deficiencies of Vitamin D3 have been associated with various cancers including breast cancer.  A simple blood test will tell your oncologist if you need to take a vitamin D3 supplement.  Along with vitamin D3,  green tea and it's high level of antioxidants have been found to not only be beneficial for cancer prevention, but for the prevention of heart disease as well. ...

The following passage from the American Cancer Society’s Website: “After having breast cancer surgery, some patients have problems with nerve (neuropathic) pain in the chest wall, armpit, and/or arm that doesn’t go away over time. This is called post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) because it was first noticed in women who had mastectomies, but it can also happen after other types of breast-conser...

Lauren's Story: It was a bittersweet experience to be diagnosed with stage four breast cancer at the age of 37.  The thought of my young children, and what this label will mean to them, overwhelmed me. At the same time, I felt empowered, in a way I had waited to be empowered my entire life.  I knew I had a cause to fight for. I knew there were hurting people, people who did not have the tools...

Understanding the detrimental effects of chronic inflammation is important for good health.  Good diet and lifestyle habits are the only way to control this condition.  The dangers of chronic inflammation lead to serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.  Reducing inflammation can often reverse and sometimes cure these diseases.  That is why it's so important to understand t...

This is the first episode in a series where I will encourage you to adopt cancer prevention strategies by incorporating the suggested lifestyle changes in my next 29 posts. The goal of this series is to provide guidance to patients looking for ways to prevent cancer recurrence, but they can also be used to prevent cancer from starting.  Other benefits of adopting these strategies is the prevention...

A cancer diagnosis is not only a physical condition, but one of the most difficult psychological challenges one can ever face.  Reducing stress is an essential  part of the healing process. However,  when navigating  treatment, it can at times seem impossible.  This podcast shares thoughts and feelings that are commonly shared in survivor groups that others found helpful.  It discusses that acknow...

This episode analyzes the surgical pathology and confirmation that a double mastectomy was the right decision.  Since no lymph nodes were involved,  an OncotypeDX test is proscribed so no decision on chemotherapy options are known.  Stress levels are at an all time high and ways to cope are explored. Support the show

A complete explanation of the scoring system for the oncotype DX test and it's benefits for early stage, node negative, hormone positive, Her2 negative breast cancer.  The trend towards "individualized oncology" in the past ten years has changed the focus from "one size fits all"  to examining the genomic characteristics of the tumor cells.  Early stage breast cancers trea...

This session addresses the criteria used to assign breast cancer staging, cell differentiation and biomarkers.  Explanation for each stage and how this relates to prognosis and survival statistics is discussed.  This information is most useful after the tumor is excised and can be microscopically examined.   Support the show

This podcast explains the difference between DCIS and LCIS/Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors/and HER2 status and treatment decisions.  Understanding differentiation and how this corresponds to the aggressiveness of the cancer.  Why DCIS and LCIS are considered stage zero cancer and why excision of these tumors is important. Support the show

In this Podcast I discuss the days leading up to the mastectomy and detail the hospital stay from admittance to surgery and recovery.  Included are details of my journey with a double skin sparing mastectomy including  immediate reconstruction with expanders.  A nipple sparing was not possible and the reasons for my choices are discussed.  Tips for pain management and items to help recovery are re...

This chapter chronicles past issues with irregular mammograms and the need for a biopsy which thankfully this time was benign. Support the show

My cancer journey begins with an irregular mammogram.  Seeking a second opinion would be the key to saving my life. Support the show

The journey from biopsy to surgery is an extremely stressful and uncertain time.  Deciding between lumpectomy and mastectomy will depend on the clinical pathology resulting from your biopsy, and more information and further tests may be needed before reaching a final decision.  Organizing your surgery team if mastectomy is needed will require coordination between a breast surgeon and plastic surge...

My continual breast issues in previous mammograms result in my first biopsy.  These chapters depict the  events leading up to my breast cancer diagnosis. A benign biopsy ten years earlier becomes an invasive cancer that would threaten my life. Support the show