Too Young For This Shit | AYA Breast Cancer Podcast

In our final Tit Talk episode for Season 3, Rosalina explores an intriguing (but small) study exploring how breast milk might aid early breast cancer detection using ctDNA. Published through Cancer Discovery, she discusses how this study uncovered a potential noninvasive screening method for pregnant and postpartum women. Rosalina unpacks the study's findings, discussing their implications for ear...

For this season 3 finale, we've saved the best episode for last. Rosalina and Shauna explore the intricate relationship between cancer and personal identity. They reflect on how the perception of being a "cancer patient" evolved from diagnosis to different life stages. The discussion spans how others perceive them, the challenges of disclosure, and the balance of embracing cancer as part of their...

In the third episode of Tit Talk, Rosalina guides us through a study featured in JAMA Oncology in November 2023. Examining data from nearly 50,000 women in the UK, the study investigates the potential link between vaginal estrogen therapy and breast cancer-related mortality. The study's findings reveal no evidence of an elevated risk. As always, Rosalina encourages listeners to stay informed, seek...

Shauna and Rosalina welcome Maddy Pollack and Shannon Cury, survivors of Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the cohosts of the podcast "Cancer Actually Fucking Sucks." In this episode, Maddy and Shannon discuss their individual experiences with navigating an under-30 diagnosis, IVF, cancer survivorship, and the tools they used to reconnect their bodies and minds. They share their personal re...

In today’s episode, Shauna shares the confusing, isolating, and difficult road that is survivor’s guilt. While she navigated how to continue on with her second chance at life, she was met with pockets of darkness when she felt she should be grateful for the light of remission. Rosalina shares the boundaries she created to protect herself and why she hasn’t experienced survivor’s guilt, while Shaun...

Chiara, who faced stage IV breast cancer at 27, chats with Rosalina and Shauna about the misconceptions about cancer and the challenges of relationships after diagnosis. She opens up about the emotional and physical struggles of living with stage IV cancer, reflecting on how cancer changes who you are and what you want in life. On dating apps, Chiara didn’t have much luck. She shares experiences o...

Rosalina and Shauna dive deep into the intricacies of managing careers while navigating a cancer diagnosis. Their conversation encompasses crucial aspects such as disclosing a diagnosis at work, handling treatment while maintaining a career, and understanding legal rights like the American Disability Act and Family Medical Leave. They share personal experiences regarding returning to work, establi...

Join us for an intimate conversation featuring four remarkable women—Aliza, Ashleigh, Jamie, and Nari (BIPOC)—as they candidly share their journeys through diagnoses, offering an up-close exploration of how they navigated the paths of motherhood and cancer. This special 'Part B' bonus series invites you to witness their unfiltered experiences, providing a heartfelt glimpse into the highs, lows, an...

Join us on a heartfelt journey as three remarkable women, Alyssa, Lauren, and Chantel(BIPOC), bravely share their emotional journeys through pregnancies intertwined with the unexpected diagnosis of breast cancer. This touching bonus series invites you to witness their raw experiences, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the highs, lows, and unwavering strength found amidst the complexities of their...

TW - Body Image In this episode, Rosalina opens up about her struggles with body image for the first time. She begins by shedding light on the overwhelming influence of media and societal pressures on body image and critically analyzing society's unattainable standards. Throughout the episode, Rosalina and Shauna discuss their personal journeys with body image, from their early childhood days to t...

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. Join Rosalina and Shauna for this insightful episode as we sit down with Dr. Laila Agrawal, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Norton Cancer Institute who runs a sexual health clinic for women with cancer. This episo...

TW: Hair Loss. Shauna and Rosalina share their respective experiences of hair loss, regrowth, and maintenance throughout treatment for breast cancer. Methods such as cold-capping are utilized to try and minimize loss, but with the inevitable fall-out, both Shauna and Rosalina resorted to additional measures outside of chemo treatment, such as hair extensions, trying out wigs, and wearing baseball...

We are ending our October voice memo series with some Survivor stories. They share about what survivorship is like and how to best prepare others after a cancer diagnosis. We want to mention that we did put a call out for Stage 4 Thrivers to share their stories and experiences but did not receive any submission to air the episode. We know October can be very heavy for many of us in the community a...

Rosalina and Shauna explore the theme of grief and its significance in the context of their lives as young individuals whose cancer diagnoses have disrupted their paths. They pause to reflect on their lives before their encounters with cancer, sharing personal memories to pay tribute to the things they've had to let go. The conversation examines the distinctions between "moving on" and "finding ac...

In this episode of "Tit Talk," Rosalina challenges the prevailing misconception that breast cancer only affects older people and reinforces that no one is too young to get cancer. She highlights the concerning statistics reflecting the rising breast cancer rates among young women under 40. Due to the heightened rising cancer rate, Rosalina introduces the "CheckMate" initiative pioneered by the Bre...

This week, we’re sharing voice messages from four Previvors in the community. You’ll hear their stories and the incredible advice they have for others who have recently discovered their gene mutations. We are still looking for voice memo submissions for our next mini-episode airing next Friday for anyone else who would like to participate. We want to know "What Is It Like To Be A Survivor? What Ad...

While Shauna wasn’t actively seeking out clinical trials during and following treatment, she felt it was important to be a part of the data considering her age and type of breast cancer. To her benefit, Shauna’s clinical trials were all low-to-no risk, participating in data collection at NYU, logging her caffeine intake, providing genetic information, and doing an at-home interview. It’s hard to s...

In this solo episode, Rosalina takes you on her journey with her participation in an exercise clinical trial focusing on strength training through UCLA. This study was to help alleviate joint pain caused by anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor drug. Working closely with a personal trainer, Rosalina shares her transformative experience of strengthening her bones and gaining muscle mass. She celebrat...

This week, We share voice messages from our listeners who gave their tips and advice to individuals and/or corporations who are considering donating to breast cancer awareness. We are still looking for voice memo submissions for our next mini episode airing next friday. This mini episode will feature the Previvors in the community. If you are a Previvor and want to participate, we want to know “Wh...

In this episode, Rosalina and Shauna are joined by Andrea, a young breast cancer survivor and healthcare advocate of Mexican-German descent (her mother is Mexican, and her father is German). The conversation explores Andrea's personal journey with breast cancer, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic while she was studying for her Masters in Budapest, Hungary. She shares the challenges she faced...

This week, we’re sharing the messages of ten listeners who called to tell us what advocacy means. You’ll hear from them about how advocacy can range from the personal to the institutional and how, no matter what stage in your journey you’re at, you can be an advocate. We are still looking for voice memo submissions for our next mini-episode airing next Friday for anyone else who would like to part...

To kick off breast cancer awareness month, Shauna and Rosalina sit with cancer survivor Trish Michelle. They ladies discuss Trish’s impact as an advocate in the breast cancer community, her rise to Chief Community Officer with the Breasties, and her continued fight against pinkwashing through her initiative “Reclaim October.” which had raised thousands of dollars in funding for research and non-pr...

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month highlights the importance of advocacy, Rosalina and Shauna discuss the diverse forms of advocacy one can take, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. They touch upon how individuals can become advocates, from sharing their stories on social media to supporting friends and loved ones through their breast cancer journeys. They also share their advoc...

Rosalina shares the impact she’s facing from the breast reconstruction, including scarring, healing concerns, and the need for revisions. She opens up about the uncertainties during her breast reconstruction process, her relationship with her plastic surgeon, and the struggle to find closure in her reconstruction journey. Shauna shares her decision to pursue a second revision, focusing on achievin...

In this episode of "Tit Talk," Rosalina explores the challenge posed by the federal government agency CMS, and the significant development in 2019 that affected one of the most popular breast reconstruction surgery options, the DIEP Flap Reconstruction. She examines how this surgery was no longer 100% covered by insurance due to changes in policy, creating challenges for patients and surgeons alik...