Breastcancer.org Podcast: Recent Episodes
Breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. Our mission is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives. Breastcancer.org podcasts offer unique insights on prevention, treatment, research, and other breast cancer topics from our medical experts and invited guests.
Biomarkers are molecules that help doctors distinguish breast cancer cells from healthy cells. In general, there are three broad categories of breast cancer biomarkers:
biomarkers that every breast cancer is tested for
biomarkers that may be tested for, depending on the characteristics of the cancer
biomarkers that are being studied
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Tripathy explain:
biomarker tests that are always done
biomarker tests that might be done, the types of breast cancer they’re done on, as well as when they’re done and why they’re done
experimental biomarkers and how they might be used
Many people diagnosed with breast cancer decide to use cannabis to ease side effects such as pain, nausea and vomiting. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:
the two main compounds in cannabis
the symptoms and side effects cannabis has been shown to help
how to find a dispensary that meets your needs
the top three things to consider if you want to try medical cannabis
There are several genomic tests -- also called genomic assays -- that analyze a sample of a breast cancer tumor to see how active certain genes are. The results of these tests help people and their doctors decide if more treatments after surgery would offer more benefits than risks. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what each test does and when it might be recommended
how doctors decide which test to use
how widely applicable the results are
At the 2023 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Dr. Christina Dieli-Conwright gave a presentation entitled “Resistance exercise is medicine: Applications to improve health and cancer outcomes.” Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Dieli-Conwright explain:
how she came to study exercise as medicine
the exercise benefits for people diagnosed with cancer she’s seen in her research
how to get started with exercise and how to stay motivated
resource suggestions for people who want to start exercising, including the Exercise is Medicine website and a library of exercise videos from the Zakim Center
Dianne Hyman founded Sister Will You Help Me, a breast cancer support group for women of faith and color, nearly 22 years ago. Listen to the episode to hear Dianne talk about:
why it was important to her to include faith in the support group
how she sees faith and spirituality helping the women in her group
how different beliefs can give people a new perspective on things
The 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting featured five days of research presentations, educational sessions, posters, and networking events. The amount of research presented can be overwhelming, so we asked Dr. Stephanie Graff to break down the key takeaways for people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Graff explain:
the results of the NATALEE trial on Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) for early-stage breast cancer
a meta-analysis showing ovarian suppression definitely reduces the risk of recurrence for pre-menopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer
a poster showing that diclofenac (brand names: Flector, Cambia, Zipsor), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, in a topical gel form seems to help ease hand-foot syndrome caused by the chemotherapy medicine Xeloda (chemical name: capecitabine)
Hormonal therapy can cause a number of troubling issues for women, including loss of libido, hot flashes, and pain during sex. At the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Dr. Kristin Rojas chaired a session called “A Juggling Act: Managing the Toxicity of Estrogen Deprivation for Patients With Breast Cancer.” Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Rojas explain:
some of the most problematic issues and how they can be treated
some of the therapies, products, and devices to avoid
how women can find help for sexual issues
At the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting Dr. Marisa Weiss, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org, presented results from her study looking at cannabis to ease peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:
how chemotherapy causes peripheral neuropathy
the cannabis product she studied and how it can be obtained
what the results mean for people with peripheral neuropathy
At the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Dr. Slamon presented results from the NATALEE trial, showing that Kisqali plus an aromatase inhibitor after surgery for early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, reduced recurrence risk by 25% compared to an aromatase inhibitor alone. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Slamon explain:
why he thought Kisqali could benefit people with early-stage breast cancer
the side effects Kisqali can cause
what the results mean for people diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive disease
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, also called BIA-ALCL, is a rare type of cancer of the immune system that can develop in the scar tissue capsule and fluid surrounding a breast implant. In some cases, it can spread throughout the body. BIA-ALCL is curable in most patients if it’s diagnosed early and treated appropriately, but a small number of women have died from the illness. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Zafar explain:
what we currently know about BIA-ALCL and its causes
treatments for BIA-ALCL
the differences between the three types of capsulectomies available
reconstruction options for women who have implants removed
We know that disparities exist in healthcare, including in breast cancer outcomes and in general care before someone is diagnosed. Evidence suggests that structural racism, including how doctors talk to their patients and what they talk to them about, may be at the heart of some of these disparities.A study led by Dr. Jennifer Griggs found that coaching patients to talk to their doctors about their concerns about their care and advocate for themselves can offset doctors’ implicit biases and lead to better care for Black patients.Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Griggs explain:how an activated patient behaveshow doctors’ implicit biases can affect patient caresteps you can take if you want to be a more activated patient
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, eating nutritious food is an important part of your treatment plan. What you eat can affect your recovery from treatment, your energy levels, and how severe some side effects may be. Listen to the podcast to hear Amy explain:
her definition of healthy eating
how to wade through all the conflicting stories in the media about nutrition research
ways to eat when you’re having specific treatments and side effects
how to start eating healthier
In September 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out a safety alert about reports of squamous cell carcinoma and other lymphomas in the scar tissue that forms around breast implants. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what squamous cell carcinoma is and how it’s different from anaplastic large-cell lymphoma
what he thinks about squamous cell carcinomas being found in the scar tissue around both textured and smooth breast implants
the rarity of squamous cell carcinoma in implant scar tissue, how he’s talking to patients about it, and what women should look for
The concept of survivorship is complicated and means different things to different people. Still, in most cases, we’re usually talking about the time after initial treatments for breast cancer are completed. Evelyn Robles-Rodriguez joined us to explain why the term can be controversial, as well as how a survivorship care plan can monitor for late and long-term side effects. Listen to the episode to hear Evelyn discuss:
how she defines survivorship
the most common late and long-term side effects someone who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer may have
the screening tests she recommends for everyone who’s received breast cancer treatment
Joanna Morales and Loriana Hernandez-Aldama talk about the common issues people face when paying for cancer care and offer solutions for them. Listen to the podcast to hear Joanna and Loriana discuss:
the four most common issues people face when paying for cancer care
their personal experiences helping people overcome financial issues
advice on how to solve financial issues
resource recommendations for help with financial issues
At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022, Dr. Matthew Goetz presented interim overall survival results from the MONARCH 3 study showing that adding Verzenio to an aromatase inhibitor improves overall survival by 12.6 months for advanced-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Goetz explain:
how Verzenio works
the aims of MONARCH 3 study
the difference between progression-free and overall survival and why each is important
Verzenio side effects
what the results mean for people diagnosed with advanced-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022, Dr. Rugo presented results from the TROPiCS-02 trial, which was looking to see if the targeted therapy Trodelvy could offer more benefits for people diagnosed with previously treated, metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer than chemotherapy. Currently, Trodelvy is approved to treat previously-treated, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Rugo explain:
the type of medicine Trodelvy is and how it works
the results showing people diagnosed with previously treated, metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer lived longer when they received Trodelvy compared to chemotherapy
how the results from TROPiCS-02 fit into current treatment options
At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022, Dr. Naoto Ueno presented patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes from the DESTINY-Breast04 study, which found that compared to doctors’ choice of chemotherapy, Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) improved both progression-free survival and overall survival in people diagnosed with previously treated metastatic HER2-low breast cancer. Listen to the episode to her Dr. Ueno explain:
how the researchers assessed quality of life
the results showing that Enhertu offered better quality of life than the doctors’ choice of chemotherapy
differences in side effects between Enhertu and chemotherapy
We know that many people with breast cancer find that pets offer comfort and companionship and help them better cope with all the emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Steven Feldman joined us to talk about the mental health benefits pets can provide people with cancer, as well as things to think about if you’re considering adopting a pet. Listen to the episode to hear Steve talk about:
the benefits of pets
how pets affect people both physiologically and psychologically
things to consider before adopting a pet
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary, upsetting, and traumatic for the person diagnosed, as well as their family members. Many people could benefit from counseling and therapy, but don’t know what services are available or how to find them. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Ross explain:
how therapy or counseling can help people diagnosed with breast cancer
how to find a therapist that’s right for you
why there is still a lot of stigma and embarrassment attached to therapy
how to start the process, if you think therapy would benefit you
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause, some of your treatments, including chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, can bring on menopause earlier and more abruptly than expected, causing hot flashes and night sweats. For some women, these symptoms can be severe and dramatically affect their quality of life. In search of relief, some women consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But because HRT contains hormones -- estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone -- which can make breast cells grow, it is not recommended for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Neal-Perry explain:
how fezolinetant works to ease hot flashes
fezolinetant side effects
why the results of her work on the SKYLIGHT 2 study are so exciting for women with a history of breast cancer
At the recent 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, researchers presented results showing Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki), which is a type of medicine doctors call an antibody-drug conjugate, improved both progression-free survival and overall survival in people diagnosed with previously treated metastatic HER2-low breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what HER2-low breast cancer is
how Enhertu works
how the results of the DESTINY-Breast-04 study will change practice
If you’re being treated for breast cancer, you may be considered immunocompromised, meaning your immune system isn’t functioning at its full capacity. As mask mandates are being dropped and other COVID-19 restrictions are loosening, many immunocompromised people feel left behind and are worried that other people’s eagerness to get back to quote “normal” may make them sick. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
vaccine effectiveness in immunocompromised people
his mask recommendations
how immunocompromised people can continue to protect themselves
how he’s talking to his patients about this issue
If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, your doctor may have talked to you about genomic testing. You also may have heard about genetic testing. The names sound similar, but the tests are very different.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
how the tests are used and how they’re done
for whom the tests are recommended
how the tests are different
how he talks to his patients about the tests
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Barrett talk about:
why diversity in in clinical trials is so important
what the Just Ask program is and how it works
reactions to the program
her recommendations for people who want to be part of a clinical trial
In this episode, four very different people explain their diagnoses and how they approached dating after breast cancer:
Shawn is a nurse who lives in Kentucky and has had two breast cancer diagnoses.
Suzette Brown is a stand-up comedian and founder of NYLaughs, a non-profit that produces free comedy events in public spaces to inspire audiences, enrich the lives of New Yorkers, and connect people through humor. She is also the creator of #StrongBlackBoobs, which aims to increase breast health awareness and heighten self-esteem among breast cancer patients of color.
Jenne lives in Philadelphia and was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27.
Bret Miller is the co-founder of the Male Breast Cancer Coalition and founder of the Bret Miller 1T Foundation.
Dr. Rebecca Johnson is a pediatric oncologist/hematologist at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. She specializes in treating childhood blood disorders and cancer in kids, teens, and young adults. While at Seattle Children’s Hospital, she founded the adolescent and young adult oncology program and is now building a similar program at Mary Bridge. Dr. Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 27 years old. This personal experience helped shape her research interests, which include patient engagement, cancer epidemiology, and unmet needs and barriers to care among adolescents and young adults. Earlier this year, Dr. Johnson and colleagues wrote a clinical review of breast cancer in adolescent and young adult women that was published in the Journal of Oncology Practice. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Johnson discuss:
why the number of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer is going up, as well as the size of the increase
issues that are more challenging for younger women with breast cancer
reconstruction options for very young women
her advice for a newly diagnosed adolescent or young woman
Dr. Sara Tolaney is chief of the Division of Breast Oncology and associate director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. The 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium featured four days of presentations on the latest research on breast cancer. Dr. Tolaney joined us to discuss the research that is most immediately applicable to people who’ve been diagnosed with the disease. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Tolaney explain:
results of an early study looking at how effective the experimental medicine datopotamab deruxtecan was in treating metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer
a study comparing Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) to Kadcyla (chemical name: T-DM1 or ad-trastuzumab emtansine) for metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to the brain
the studies that she thinks are practice-changing
Dr. Jeremy Braybrooke is a consultant medical oncologist and clinical lead for oncology at University Hospitals Bristol, as well as a senior clinical research fellow at the University of Oxford. Rosie Bradley is a medical statistician in the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford. At the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Rosie presented the results of their meta-analysis of four studies looking at effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors compared to tamoxifen in pre-menopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive disease. Listen to the episode to hear them explain:
the results of the study, showing that an aromatase inhibitor and ovarian suppression reduced recurrence risk more than tamoxifen, but didn’t lead to better overall survival
the side effects of aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen
how Dr. Braybrooke is advising his pre-menopausal patients diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive disease
Dr. Aditya Bardia is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the breast cancer research program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. At the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, he presented results from the EMERALD trial, comparing the experimental medicine elacestrant to the standard of care for post-menopausal women diagnosed with metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has grown during treatment with hormonal therapy. That standard of care is either Faslodex or an aromatase inhibitor. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Bardia explain:
how elacestrant works
the results of the EMERALD study
what the results mean for post-menopausal women and men diagnosed with metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has grown while being treated with hormonal therapy
Dr. Avonne Connor is assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University. Much of Dr. Connor’s research focuses on cancer health disparities in women, especially cancer risk factors that people have some control over, such as drinking alcohol, weight, exercise, and smoking. Listen to the episode to her Dr. Connor explain:
how much alcohol affects breast cancer risk
why alcohol as a breast cancer risk factor is so emotional
why binge drinking is so harmful
why drinking during treatment isn’t a good idea
steps people can take if they want to reduce or quit drinking
Dr. Brian Wojciechowski practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Dr. Wojciechowski joined us to talk about some of the most notable research at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what an antibody-drug conjugate is
results from the DESTINY-Breast03 study, showing Enhertu more than doubled the 12-month progression-free survival rate compared to Kadcyla in people diagnosed with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer that had been previously treated
results from the BrighTNess study, showing adding carboplatin to chemotherapy before surgery improves progression-free survival.
Running time: 14:09
Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi is professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a past president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is one of the world’s leading authorities on breast cancer treatment. He has published more than 1,000 papers in peer-reviewed journals. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, Dr. Hortobagyi presented overall survival results from the MONALEESA-2 trial, which compared the combination of Kisqali and Femara to Femara alone to treat advanced-stage hormone-receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Earlier results from the study found that adding Kisqali to Femara improved progression-free survival — the amount of time the women lived without the cancer growing. These new results found that the combination of Kisqali and Femara also improved overall survival — the length of time women lived whether the cancer grew or not. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Hortobagyi explain:
the goals of the MONALEESA-2 study
why the overall survival difference of more than 1 year is so important
whether the improvement in overall survival is likely to be the same no matter which aromatase inhibitor is used
what the results mean for postmenopausal women diagnosed with advanced-stage hormone-receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer
Dr. Hope Rugo is professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she is also the director of breast oncology and clinical trials education. Dr. Rugo is also a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. She is a principal investigator of a number of clinical trials looking at combining new targeted and immunotherapy medicines with standard treatments for both early-stage and advanced-stage breast cancer and has published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, Dr. Rugo presented final results from the KEYNOTE-355 trial, which was looking to see if Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy were better than chemotherapy alone as a first treatment for metastatic PD-L1-positive, triple-negative breast cancer. Earlier results found that adding Keytruda to chemotherapy improved progression-free survival — how long people lived before the cancer grew — for this type of breast cancer. These new results show that adding Keytruda improves overall survival — how long people live whether the breast cancer grows or not. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Rugo explain:
what the KEYNOTE-355 aimed to do
whether Keytruda offers benefits for PD-L1-negative disease
why it’s important for a medicine to improve overall survival as well as progression-free survival
the differences in PD-L1 tests and what they mean for the effectiveness of breast cancer checkpoint inhibitor medicines
Running time: 25:03
Dr. Lola Fayanju is the Helen O. Dickens Presidential Associate Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also chief of breast surgery at Penn Medicine, as well as surgical director of the Rena Rowan Breast Center. Her research focuses on health disparities, aggressive breast cancer variants, and improving value in oncology. Studies show that overall participation in cancer clinical trials is low, and participation by people of color is even lower. This is thought to be part of the reason that minority women — especially Black women — have worse breast cancer outcomes than white women. One strategy to help reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes is to make clinical trials more diverse. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Fayanju explain:
why diversity in clinical trials is important
some of the barriers that keep people of color from enrolling in clinical trials and how they can be overcome
how she talks to all her patients about clinical trials
Running time: 31:11
Dr. Susan Summerton is associate professor of clinical radiology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Summerton joined us to talk about an issue that many people are unaware of: Ink from tattoos on the upper body migrating to the lymph nodes and showing up as white specs on a mammogram. In some cases, this can lead to more tests to rule out breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Summerton explain:
how tattoo ink ends up in the underarm lymph nodes
how often this happens
how often tattoo ink leads to more testing
what women with tattoos who are getting regular mammograms should know
Running time: 15:26
Dr. Peter Schmid is chair in cancer medicine at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University London and also serves as clinical director of the Breast Cancer Centre at the St. Bartholomew Cancer Centre and honorary consultant medical oncologist at Barts Hospital. His research focuses on breast cancer, cancer immune therapy, and early drug development. At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress, he presented results from the KEYNOTE-522 study showing that the combination of the immunotherapy Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy before surgery to remove early-stage triple-negative breast cancer led to a better pathologic complete response than chemotherapy alone. This is the first phase III study using immunotherapy to treat early-stage breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Schmid discuss:
the design of the KEYNOTE-522 study
side effects related to both chemotherapy and Keytruda
what these results mean for patients
Dr. Monique Gary is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist and medical director of the Grand View Health-Penn Cancer Network Cancer Program in Sellersville, Penn., where she also serves as director of the Breast Program. As a physician, advocate, and expert on health and healthcare disparities, she is passionate about developing integrative, holistic, and innovative approaches to cancer treatment, prevention, and general wellness. Dr. Gary joined us to talk about oncoplastic lumpectomy surgery, which is lumpectomy to remove the breast cancer followed by immediate breast reconstruction. In many cases, lumpectomy and reconstruction are done during the same surgery. The goal is to have the best possible cosmetic outcomes, without the need for any additional surgery to correct any dents or asymmetry. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Gary explain:
how and why oncoplastic lumpectomy was developed
who is and isn’t a good candidate for oncoplastic lumpectomy
the benefits and drawbacks of oncoplastic lumpectomy
things to consider when deciding between lumpectomy and mastectomy
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board-certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is also vice president of clinical research. The 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting was held virtually June 4-8, and there were a number of studies on breast cancer presented. Dr. Litton joined us to talk about some of the most notable research. Listen to the episode to hear her explain:
results from the OlympiA trial, showing that Lynparza (chemical name: oliparib) offered benefits for early-stage breast cancer in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
results from the NEOTALA trial showing that Talzenna (chemical name: talazoparib) offered benefits for early-stage breast cancer in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation when given before surgery
updated results showing continued better overall survival when advanced-stage, hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer is treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitors Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib) or Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib)
Saundra Pelletier is the CEO and founder of Evofem Biosciences. Saundra was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer while her company was conducting phase III clinical trials on Phexxi, a nonhormonal contraceptive gel for women. She describes herself as a mother, daughter, CEO, and trailblazer. She has more than two decades of experience of executive leadership at companies and nonprofits focusing on women’s health. Listen to the episode to hear Saundra discuss:
how she led her company without taking a leave of absence while being treated for breast cancer
how breast cancer changed her
how Phexxi, a nonhormonal birth control gel, was developed, how it works, and why it's safe for women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer
her advice for women who’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer
See full product information at Phexxi.com. Do not use if you have a history of repeated urinary tract problems. Side effects include vaginal burning, itching, discharge, genital discomfort, yeast infection, urinary tract infection or bacterial vaginosis. Phexxi does not protect against STIs.
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. One of the goals of treatment for DCIS and early-stage breast cancer — which is stage I, II, or stage III cancer — is to stop the cancer from coming back, called recurrence by doctors. Dr. Wojciechowski joined us to talk about recurrence risk and how it’s estimated. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski discuss:
the factors used to determine each breast cancer’s risk of recurrence
'the steps a person can take to help keep the risk of recurrence as low as it can be
how tests called tumor genomic assays can help estimate the risk of recurrence
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. He is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Medical and oncology organizations disagree on the value of breast self-exam. The American Cancer Society, for example, doesn’t recommend breast self-exam, while Breastcancer.org believes they are part of a comprehensive screening plan. Dr. Wojciechowski joined us to talk about the role of breast self-exam in screening and why it’s controversial. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
why organizations stopped recommending breast self-exam
the benefits and drawbacks of breast self-exam
how he talks to his patients about breast self-exam
Dr. Hana El Sahly is associate professor of molecular virology and microbiology in the Vaccine and Treatment and Evaluation Unit at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. El Sahly is the chairperson of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, the committee that makes vaccine recommendations to the FDA, and was also the lead investigator for the phase III trial for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Because of her role in studying the Moderna vaccine, Dr. El Sahly recused herself from the committee’s review of COVID-19 vaccines. In this podcast, she talks to us about both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency authorization by the FDA. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. El Sahly explain:
how mRNA vaccines work
the differences between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines for people with weakened immune systems '
why someone who’s been vaccinated still needs to wear a mask and practice social distancing
Marcia Beck is a clinical nurse specialist at the University of Kansas Health System. Marcia is certified in adult health and breast health and also certified as a lymphedema therapist by the Lymphology Association of North America. Listen to the episode to hear Marcia explain all aspects of lymphedema, including:
what lymphedema is and where it can develop
risk factors for lymphedema
how lymphedema is treated
steps people can take to reduce their risk of lymphedema or lymphedema flare-ups
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control have recommended that use of the Johnson & Johnson-Janssen COVID-19 vaccine be paused because six cases of what’s called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia have been diagnosed after people received the vaccine. Basically, a blot clot was found in the veins that drain blood from the brain, and the people also had very low levels of platelets, a type of cell that helps the blood to clot. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what these rare clots are and how they happen
what people who’ve received the J&J vaccine should know
how he’s advising his patients with breast cancer
Joanna Fawzy Morales is a cancer rights attorney, author, speaker, and CEO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization providing free education on the legal and practical issues that may affect people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Joanna has spent more than 27 years working on behalf of people with cancer, including 5 as an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School, teaching a seminar in cancer rights law, and 8 years at the John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Psychosocial Care Program. Currently, she’s also an adjunct law professor at Wayne State University. Listen to the episode to hear her explain the American Rescue Plan and the benefits it may offer to people diagnosed with breast cancer, including:
additional economic impact payments for individuals who make up to $75,000 or couples who make up to $150,000
the increase in health insurance marketplace subsidies
when the benefits begin and how long they will last
Dr. Steven Isakoff is a medical oncologist who serves as associate director for clinical research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and also as director of the Mass General Scalp Cooling Program and the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Program. He is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Isakoff explain what scalp cooling is and how it works, including:
the differences between automated scalp cooling systems and manual cold caps
the factors that influence how effective scalp cooling can be at preserving hair during chemotherapy
the biological mechanism of how scalp cooling works
his tips for anyone who wants to try scalp cooling
Dr. Halle Moore is director of breast medical oncology and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program at the Cleveland Clinic. Her research focuses on breast cancer treatment and issues related to cancer survivorship. Since the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved, she has been advising people diagnosed with cancer about what they need to know about being vaccinated. In this episode, she gives us an update on COVID vaccines, as well what people with allergies to polyethylene glycol and polysorbate should consider before being vaccinated. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Moore explain:
how the technology of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine differs from the technology of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
why the vaccines can’t be compared head-to-head
how she is advising people with polyethylene glycol and polysorbate allergies about the COVID vaccines
what people currently being treated for breast cancer need to consider before being vaccinated
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board-certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, where she is vice president of clinical research. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Litton joins us for this episode to talk about the side effects that may be caused by the two immunotherapy medicines approved for breast cancer: Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) and Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab). Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton explain:
how these two immunotherapy medicines work
the side effects that are unique to the immunotherapy medicines
how doctors monitor immunotherapy side effects
tips how people can monitor themselves for side effects
Dr. Deanna Attai is associate clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Attai was an early adopter of social media for professional and patient education. She serves as the social media editor for the Journal of Oncology Practice and is a member of the Annals of Surgical Oncology editorial board. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Social Media Working Group and co-chair of the Collaborative for Outcomes in Social Media in Oncology research group. Much of her recent research has focused on going flat and how satisfied women are with this decision, as well as whether surgeons support women who want to go flat. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Attai explain:
the reasons why a woman may opt to go flat
why she decided to study how satisfied women were with their decision to go flat
how a woman should talk to her surgeon to ensure she gets a truly flat chest that she is happy with cosmetically after mastectomy, with symmetrical scars and no dog ears
Dr. Neil Iyengar is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center whose practice focuses on people with breast cancer. His research is looking at the links between metabolic health and cancer, specifically looking at how diet, exercise, and medicines can prevent cancers tied to obesity, such as breast cancer, and improve outcomes for people with inflammation in fatty tissues. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Iyengar explain:
what intermittent fasting is and how it was developed
why some people think intermittent fasting could be a tool to prevent breast cancer
the research done so far
the risks of intermittent fasting and what people who want to try it should consider
Dr. Reshma Jagsi is the Newman Family Professor and deputy chair of the department of radiation oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan. At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she presented results from a study looking at how well doctors recognized radiation treatment side effects among people treated for breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Jagsi explain:
why the researchers decided to look at this topic
why certain groups, including younger women and women who are Black or of a race other than Asian or white, were more likely to have their doctors assess their side effects as less severe than they really were
how patients can help make sure their doctors understand the severity of any side effects they’re having
Fertility after breast cancer treatment is an important issue for many, many younger women diagnosed with breast cancer. At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, research was presented showing that while breast cancer survivors of child-bearing age are less likely to get pregnant than the average woman, most have healthy babies and pregnancy has no effect on their long-term survival. Dr. Matteo Lambertini, adjunct professor of medical oncology at the University of Genova - IRCCS Policlinico San Martino Hospital, is corresponding author of the study. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Lambertini explain:
why the researchers did the study a summary of the study and the results
why it is important for women and doctors to know that pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is safe for both a woman and her baby
his advice to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and want to have a child after treatment
Dr. Jenni Sheng is assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sheng mainly treats people diagnosed with breast cancer and helps them live with, through, and beyond cancer by working with her patients to create the best treatment plans and manage any side effects treatment may cause. Dr. Sheng is also a research member of GRASP — Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships — a nonprofit that connects cancer researchers and advocates so they can learn from each other. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sheng explain:
what health literacy is and how having good health literacy skills can help people diagnosed with breast cancer
how people can improve their health literacy skills
how to navigate online sources of health information
Dr. Patricia Ganz is a medical oncologist who is distinguished professor of medicine as well as professor of health policy and management at UCLA. She also serves as director of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Ganz is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she presented results from a study looking at using mindfulness meditation and survivorship education classes to ease depression in younger women treated for breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Ganz explain:
how the breast cancer experience is different for younger and older women
why the researchers chose to study mindfulness meditation and survivorship classes to ease depression
how someone who is interested could participate in the UCLA Mindfulness Center mindfulness meditation classes
Heba Abdalla is a member of the Breastcancer.org community who was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer at age 36 when she was pregnant with her third child. Being diagnosed de novo means that the cancer was metastatic at first diagnosis. Heba has been on several different treatments, including some that are known to cause hair loss. She has used cold caps during treatment three times and in this episode of the Breastcancer.org podcast, she’ll tell us about her experience with them. Listen to the episode to hear Heba talk about:
her diagnosis and first treatments
how she learned about cold caps
why she wanted to use cold caps
how well cold caps worked for her
what she wants other people considering cold caps to know
Maura Harrigan is an oncology research registered dietitian and project manager at the Yale School of Medicine. She also serves as a registered dietitian nutritionist in the Survivorship Clinic at the Yale Cancer Center. At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, results were presented from a study on dietary supplement use by breast cancer survivors and how these supplements may interact with tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors. Maura is the lead researcher on the study. Listen to the episode to hear Maura discuss:
why telling your doctor and/or a registered dietitian with oncology expertise about any and all the supplements you take is so important
why people may be getting more of a particular supplement than they realize
her advice for women who’ve been treated for breast cancer and are considering taking supplements
Dr. Chirag Shah is a radiation oncologist and director of breast radiation and clinical research in the department of radiation oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. His primary research interests are breast cancer, sarcoma, and innovative radiation treatment schedules, as well as lymphedema. He has participated in numerous clinical trials. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shah explain:
the difference between hypofractionated radiation schedules and older, longer radiation schedules, as well as why accelerated schedules were created
the benefits and possible risks of a hypofractionated radiation schedule
how to advocate for yourself if your radiation oncologist doesn’t recommend a hypofractionated schedule
Ira Feinstein is an American author currently living in Chicago. Cut Off will be his first book. Growing up in Georgia and Michigan, Ira lived as Carla before gender transitioning at age 38. Carla lost both of her parents by age 11 — her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack and 2 years later, her mother died from breast cancer. A number of years after her mother’s death, Carla learned that she carried a BRCA1 mutation, which gave her a much higher than average risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Carla had a preventive double mastectomy and hysterectomy before gender transitioning. Listen to the podcast to hear Ira talk about:
living with a BRCA1 mutation, both as a woman and a trans man
the decision to have preventive surgery
his experiences as a trans man dealing with the medical community
his advice for other people dealing with a genetic mutation
Cut Off, his first book
Weslinne Cespedes, who lives in Brooklyn, was diagnosed with stage III triple-negative breast cancer at age 30 in March of this year, just as New York City was deciding when and what to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast to hear Weslinne talk about:
how finding a lump in her breast led to her diagnosis
how the COVID-19 pandemic added to the stress of cancer treatment
how she started chemotherapy and planned her wedding during the pandemic
how she feels the diagnosis changed her
what she wants people to know
Dr. Leisha Emens is professor of medicine in hematology/oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center. She is also co-leader of the Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program and director of translational immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center. She is internationally recognized for her research on using immunotherapy to treat breast cancer. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020, Dr. Emens presented final overall survival results from the IMpassion130 study, showing that the combination of Tecentriq, which has the chemical name atezolizumab, and Abraxane, which has the chemical name nab-paclitaxel, improved overall survival by 7.5 months compared to Abraxane alone for people diagnosed with metastatic PD-L1-positive, triple-negative breast cancer. But another trial — the IMpassion131 study — found that combining Tecentriq with Taxol, a different form of paclitaxel, was no better than Taxol alone in treating the same type of breast cancer — metastatic triple-negative disease. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Emens explain:
the differences in the designs of the two studies
how Abraxane is different from Taxol
possible reasons for the difference in results
what this means for patients
Dr. Michael Method is an oncologist and also senior medical adviser and global lead for adjuvant breast cancer treatment research at Lilly Oncology. While ESMO 2020 was virtual this year, there was still quite a bit of breast cancer research presented. Dr. Method joined us to talk about some of the most notable studies. Listen to the podcast to hear him discuss:
studies looking at using the CDK4/6 inhibitors Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) and Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib) to treat early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
a study using the immunotherapy Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab) to treat early-stage triple-negative breast cancer before surgery
Infectious disease expert Dr. Elizabeth Robilotti is assistant attending physician and associate medical epidemiologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Listen to the podcast to hear her discuss:
why a flu vaccine is so important during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for people diagnosed with breast cancer
why you can’t contract the flu from the flu vaccine
how to safely celebrate the fall and winter holidays
Dr. Megan Kruse is a breast medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. On Aug. 24, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modified its COVID-19 testing guidelines to say that people who don’t have symptoms don’t need to be tested, even if they’ve been exposed to the virus. Many experts questioned the change, and on Aug. 26, the director of the CDC issued a statement saying that, “testing may be considered for all close contacts of confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients.” It’s the “may be considered” language that seems to be confusing people. Dr. Kruse joins us to help clear up any confusion about COVID-19 testing recommendations. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Kruse explain:
how she’s talking to her patients about COVID-19 testing
how someone who is immunocompromised should approach COVID-19 testing
why testing recommendations for people being treated for breast cancer have to be nuanced
Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded before September 18, 2020, when the CDC again changed its recommendations on COVID-19 testing to say that people without symptoms should talk to their doctor about being tested if they may have been exposed to the virus.
Dr. Stephen Johnston is professor of breast cancer medicine and consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research in London. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020, Dr. Johnston presented results from the monarchE trial. This study compared treating people diagnosed with early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence with either standard hormonal therapy after surgery or two years of Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) in addition to standard hormonal therapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Johnston explain:
the characteristics that make early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer have a high risk of recurrence
an overview of the study and its early results
side effects caused by Verzenio seen in the study
the future of using Verzenio to treat early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence
On July 30, 2020, Breastcancer.org hosted a virtual town hall to hear from medical experts and patients about the effect of COVID-19 on breast cancer care. During the town hall, the medical experts answered many questions, but didn’t have time to answer all of them. In this podcast, Breastcancer.org medical adviser Dr. Brian Wojciechowski answers the rest of the questions. If you’d like more information, visit our special report on COVID-19 and breast cancer care. Dr. Wojciechowski practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals. He trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what we know about how stress and anxiety can affect the immune system
how people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can protect themselves in public spaces
whether or not it is safe to get a chemotherapy port flushes
questions to asks surgeons and other doctors to ensure the proper safety protocols are in place
Running time: 21:14
Dr. Lola Fayanju is assistant professor of surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition to treating people with breast cancer surgery, Dr. Fayanju’s research interests include using big data and sophisticated analyses to reduce disparities in outcomes after breast cancer diagnoses and to improve the value of breast cancer care. When she was a general surgery resident at Washington University in St. Louis, her research found that women treated by safety-net primary care doctors in the greater St. Louis area were more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced-stage breast cancer than women who had private insurance. She also looked at the reasons behind this disparity, and her work led to an overhaul of the referral process for underserved women in the St. Louis area. In a June 2020 New England Journal of Medicine article, at least two widely used tools estimating breast cancer risk have been found to offer lower risk estimates for women of color. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Fayanju explain:
how these tools were created
why an artificially lower risk of breast cancer can be harmful for women of color
the factors that she thinks need to be incorporated into risk calculators for minority women
how women of color can accurately figure out their risk of breast cancer and develop an appropriate screening plan with their doctor
Running time: 25:12
Dory Ellen Fish is a board-certified, state-licensed acupuncturist with 25 years of experience in 5 Element and Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture. She holds a diplomate in acupuncture from the National Commission for the Certificate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. For the past 15 years, much of her continuing education has been focused on cancer care. She completed the acupuncture course in oncology for cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and the Oncology Training for Acupuncture course at MD Anderson. Dory Ellen has lectured and taught at various universities, hospitals, and organizations. Her clinical practice is in Bryn Mawr, Penn. Listen to the podcast to hear Dory Ellen explain:
what acupuncture is
the benefits of acupuncture
the risks of acupuncture, including the risk of lymphedema
her top three recommendations for someone who wants to try acupuncture for the first time
Running time: 27:38
Dr. Kelly Shanahan is a metastatic patient advocate and METAvivor board member. She had to give up her OB/GYN practice because of side effects from metastatic breast cancer treatment. At the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Shanahan was one of the moderators of a panel sponsored by Breastcancer.org and Sermonix Pharmaceuticals on the sexual side effects that breast cancer treatment can cause. As a dual citizen of this discussion — she’s both a metastatic patient who has experienced some of these side effects and an OB/GYN who used to treat people for these side effects — she’s uniquely qualified to help us all understand the topic and offer solutions. Listen to the podcast to here Dr. Shanahan explain:
her personal journey with breast cancer
why anti-estrogen medicines and chemotherapy can cause vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, and pain during intercourse
some of the causes of loss of libido
solutions to some of the most common sexual side effects, including vaginal dryness and thinning, pain, lack of desire, and hot flashes
Running time: 37:20
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in September and October 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
results of a study that found the targeted therapy Perjeta increased overall survival by about 1.5 years in women diagnosed with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
why wearing a bra IS NOT linked to breast cancer risk
why breastfeeding decreases breast cancer risk
how Trelstar might increase the chances that some premenopausal women get pregnant after going through breast cancer treatment
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in October 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
results of a study that found the targeted therapy Herceptin offers long-lasting benefits for women diagnosed with early-stage HER2-positive disease
a study that found occult cancers in more than 2% of women who were having their ovaries removed preventively because of genetics or family history
why Hispanic women still need to take steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer, even if they have a genetic variant that may lower their risk
why more research is needed before a new genomic test can be used to make treatment decisions
This Breastcancer.org podcast features Aniela McGuinness, an actress and the creator of the My Breast Choice blog. Aniela knew she had an abnormal BRCA1 gene and lost her mother to ovarian cancer in 2013. A year and a half later, at age 31, Aniela was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, three days before her appointment to schedule a preventive double mastectomy. Listen to the podcast to here Aniela talk about:
why she decided to create her blog and YouTube channel
how she uses humor to get cope with things that upset her
how she came up with the idea for her mastectomy photo series
her Halloween costume and why Halloween is the best holiday for people with cancer
Sheila McGlown, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 5 years after her mother died of the disease, talks about her work with the Shades of Brown Foundation to advocate for, educate, and support Black women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Jennifer Litton, a board-certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is chief of the Section of Clinical Research and Drug Development for Breast Cancer. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute. At the American Association for Cancer Research virtual annual meeting, Dr. Litton presented results from the EMBRACA trial, looking at using Talzenna (chemical name: talazoparib), a type of medicine called a PARP inhibited, to treat advanced-stage HER2-negative breast cancer in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. She joins us today to talk about the results, especially the patient-reported outcomes, which showed that people treated with Talzenna had better quality of life than people treated with chemotherapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton explain:
what a PARP inhibitor is and how it works
how quality of life was better for people treated with Talzenna compared to chemotherapy
why she thinks Talzenna is a good treatment option for people diagnosed with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer who also have a BRCA1 or a BRCA2 mutation
Running time: 14:04
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
the different types of white blood cells and what they do in the body
how chemotherapy and targeted therapy medicines lower white blood cell counts
why low white blood cell counts raise the risk of infection
how doctors monitor white blood cell counts
symptoms of infection to watch out for
steps you can take during chemotherapy to keep your risk of infection as low as it can be
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. A recent study found that the number of women having 3D mammograms has increased dramatically in the last four years. Still, 3D mammograms are not available everywhere. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
the difference between 2D and 3D mammograms
why 3D mammograms are a standard of care, but not the standard of care
how to find a center that offers 3D mammography, if you decide you would like one
Dr. Jackie Gollan is associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science and a clinical psychologist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. As a clinician, she uses evidence-based psychotherapy to treat people for depression and anxiety. Her research focuses on how habits interfere with our goals; this includes how people make decisions to approach or avoid situations. As the quarantine and restrictions related to COVID-19 stretch into their fourth month — though some areas are loosening some restrictions — we may find ourselves not wearing a mask every single time we leave the house or being a bit more casual about washing our hands. This reaction is called “caution fatigue.” In this podcast, Dr. Gollan explains caution fatigue and give us some tips on how to overcome it. Listen to hear Dr. Gollan explain:
the differences between caution fatigue, alarm fatigue, and information overload
how to recognize if you’re experiencing caution fatigue
how to overcome caution fatigue
Running time: 20:30
Dr. Lola Fayanju is assistant professor of surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition to treating people with breast cancer surgery, Dr. Fayanju’s research interests include using big data and sophisticated analyses to reduce disparities in outcomes after breast cancer diagnoses and to improve the value of breast cancer care. When she was a general surgery resident at Washington University in St. Louis, her research found that women treated by safety-net primary care doctors in the greater St. Louis area were more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced-stage breast cancer than women who had private insurance. She also looked at the reasons behind this disparity, and her work led to an overhaul of the referral process for underserved women in the St. Louis area. Breast cancer is a crisis in its own right. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many doctors’ offices and treatment facilities to close, so breast cancer screenings and treatments have been delayed for months. When some areas were just starting to schedule appointments again, many people experienced additional trauma due to the killing of George Floyd and potentially even more limited access to medical facilities. All of this fear, anxiety, and uncertainty can lead to sky high stress and despair levels, especially for people of color who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. In this podcast, Dr. Fayanju talks about some of the disparities we see in breast cancer, as well as some ways to ease stress and despair. Listen to the podcast to hear her explain:
some of the disparities in breast cancer care and some of the reasons behind the disparities
the idea of choice and how that affects the diversity of enrollment in clinical trials
the resources she recommends to her patients who are feeling stress and anxiety
Running time: 22:25
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, or “Dr. D” as he has come to be known, is a founding partner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. Board-certified in plastic surgery, Dr. D has performed thousands of reconstructive procedures, both for women diagnosed with breast cancer and women at high risk of the disease who choose to have prophylactic breast removal. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also has been named one of the “Best Doctors in America.” In this podcast, Dr. DellaCroce talks about why numbness happens after mastectomy or breast reconstruction and factors that can affect how much sensation returns. Listen to the podcast to hear him explain:
the differences between immediate and delayed reconstruction and how each procedure can affect the potential for sensation to return
the difference between implant reconstruction and autologous reconstruction and how each procedure can affect the potential for sensation to return
how the type of mastectomy can affect the potential for sensation to return
why we need more research on using nerve grafts to possibly help sensation return
Running time: 42:43
During her professional career, Shirley Mertz was a political science teacher and high school principal. Before her retirement, Shirley was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, 12 years after being diagnosed with early-stage disease. After receiving targeted treatment, Shirley experienced a durable remission. She decided in 2005 to use her skills and intellect to advocate for research to end deaths from metastatic breast cancer; to lobby for access to affordable, quality healthcare; and to empower metastatic patients to make informed healthcare decisions to have the best outcomes. In 2009, to spread knowledge about metastatic disease, Shirley organized and led a group of patients to Congress, asking for a resolution to designate October 13 as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The resolution passed unanimously. In 2013, Shirley was a founding member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and currently serves as its chairperson. She is also president of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, a patient advocate member of the Translational Breast Cancer Consortium and the AURORA USA clinical study, and a member of the board of directors of the Global Advanced Breast Cancer Alliance based in Lisbon. Shirley is often invited to speak at conferences about the challenges and needs of patients. Among her numerous awards, Shirley was honored at the White House in 2011 as a Champion of Change in Breast Cancer by President Obama. In this podcast, Shirley talks about what it’s like to live with metastatic breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast to hear Shirley discuss:
her personal journey with breast cancer
the ways in which the stresses of COVID-19 and metastatic breast cancer are similar
how people with metastatic disease are coping with treatment and scan delays
Running time: 38:31
Dr. Julie Sprunt is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Surgeons who specializes in breast surgery, treating all breast conditions. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center, she did her residency in general surgery at the University of Texas at Austin and completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Southern California. Dr. Elisabeth Potter is a board-certified plastic surgeon who received her medical degree from Emory University. She completed her plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and her reconstructive plastic surgery and microsurgery fellowship at MD Anderson. Dr. Potter specializes in autologous breast reconstruction and has performed more than 750 DIEP flap surgeries. Drs. Potter and Sprunt work as a team to treat breast cancer and then reconstruct a woman’s breast or breasts. On April 21, 2020, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released guidelines on how breast reconstruction surgery can begin again. The American Society of Breast Surgeons also issued updated guidelines on treating people with breast cancer during the pandemic. Listen to the podcast to hear Drs. Potter and Sprunt explain:
why resuming both breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction surgery will depend on where a woman lives
how the surgery process has changed as a result of COVID-19
how postoperative procedures have changed as a result of COVID-19
Running time: 27:50
Our guest is Dr. Brian Wojciechowski, who practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. In one of our Discussion Board threads, people were talking about how a breast cancer is staged, especially if an early-stage cancer spreads or comes back in a place away from the breast. Both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute websites say that the stage of a breast cancer at first diagnosis doesn’t change. So a woman who was diagnosed in 2010 with stage II disease and then had a recurrence in the bones in 2015 would technically be “stage II with metastatic recurrence to bone,” which is not how most people think and talk about metastatic disease. Dr. Wojciechowski reached out to the American Cancer Society about this, and he joins us today to help us all understand this a little bit better. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski each explain:
the technical differences between stage IV breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer
how prognosis differs for someone diagnosed de novo stage IV and someone who was diagnosed stage II with a metastatic recurrence 2 years later
how he talks to his patients about a breast cancer’s stage
Running time: 17:23
Jack Goodpasture, senior director of medical affairs at Eli Lilly and Company, discusses some of the research presented at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium that might be most applicable to people diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Rashmi Murthy, assistant professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, discusses the results of the HER2CLIMB study that she presented at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that the experimental medicine tucatinib offers benefits to people diagnosed with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and may be a new standard of care. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Murthy explain:
a summary of the study results
why this study included people with brain metastases
the side effects of tucatinib
why she thinks the results are practice changing
Joanna Morales is a cancer rights attorney, author, speaker, and CEO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization connecting people to cancer survivorship education through educational events, a speakers bureau, and online materials and resources. Joanna has spent more than 24 years working on behalf of people with cancer, including 5 as an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School teaching a seminar in cancer rights law and 8 at the John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Psychosocial Care Program and Positive Appearance Center. In this podcast, Joanna explains the most important aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for people with cancer, as well as:
how the new paid sick leave and family and medical leave programs work
what to do if you’ve been laid off and have lost your employer-sponsored health insurance
why it’s important to communicate with your creditors if you can’t pay your bills right now
Running time: 30:02
Sami Mansfield started her career as a cancer exercise specialist in 2003. Since being inspired by coaching her first client who had been diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, her career has been dedicated to helping people with cancer — any type and any stage — live as well as possible. Sami’s experience encompasses work in both community- and hospital-based cancer centers, nonprofit organizations, developing and consulting on clinical trials, and as a speaker presenting to both patients and healthcare professionals. She is a certified cancer exercise trainer, a CrossFit Level 1 coach with extensive exercise and nutrition experience, and the founder of Cancer Wellness For Life. She also offers functional movement basics classes on the We Build 4 Life YouTube channel. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, gyms are closed and personal trainers can’t visit their clients. So how can people with breast cancer stay active and continue their exercise programs? Listen to the podcast to hear Sami discuss:
how to motivate yourself to exercise when you’re working out alone
how exercise can help both your physical and mental while being while you’re isolating
tips on how to exercise if you have no equipment at home
Running time: 23:07
Editor's Note: On April 21, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released guidelines on how breast reconstruction surgery can begin again. The American Society of Breast Surgeons also issued updated guidelines on treating people with breast cancer during the pandemic. Listen to our update with Drs. Sprunt and Potter, recorded on April 27. Dr. Julie Sprunt is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Surgeons who specializes in breast surgery, treating all breast conditions. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center, she did her residency in general surgery at the University of Texas at Austin and completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Southern California. Dr. Elisabeth Potter is a board-certified plastic surgeon who received her medical degree from Emory University. She completed her plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and her reconstructive plastic surgery and microsurgery fellowship at MD Anderson. Dr. Potter specializes in autologous breast reconstruction and has performed more than 750 DIEP flap surgeries. Drs. Potter and Sprunt work as a team to treat breast cancer and then reconstruction a woman’s breast or breasts. Many people diagnosed with breast cancer are concerned because their breast cancer surgery or reconstruction surgery has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast to hear Drs. Potter and Sprunt explain:
why many breast cancer surgeries can be safely delayed
the American Society of Breast Surgeons recommendations for treatment during COVID-19
the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommendations for reconstruction during COVID-19
what they want people who have been diagnosed with breast to know about breast surgery and reconstruction during COVID-19
Running time: 23:45
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. On the Breastcancer.org discussion boards and on our Facebook page, people are talking about doctor and treatment appointments being delayed or cancelled because of COVID-19. And many people whose appointments haven’t been cancelled are scared to go out. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about:
the general recommendations oncologists are following when deciding which treatments should be delayed
which breast cancer treatments can compromise the immune system and how long it takes the immune system to recover
the most important things someone being treated for breast cancer should know about COVID-19
Running time: 21:10
For nearly 25 years, Kelly Grosklags has dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care and hospice. An experienced therapist, Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker and a board-certified diplomat in clinical social work. She also earned a fellowship in grief counseling from the American Academy of Health Care Professionals. Kelly speaks frequently about end-of-life issues, including care, grief and loss, both in person and on her website, Conversations With Kelly. Her passionate and supportive demeanor helps patients, caregivers and health professionals connect with the wisdom of making life more meaningful, coping with depression and anxiety, transforming fear into hope, healing versus curing, and the wisdom of dying a good death. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly talk about:
becoming comfortable with talking about the end of life
why stopping treatment is not giving up
hospice care — what it is and when to start talking about it
how to talk to children about the end of life
Photo credit: Geordie Griffiths
For nearly 25 years, Kelly Grosklags has dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care and hospice. An experienced therapist, Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker and a board-certified diplomat in clinical social work. She also earned a fellowship in grief counseling from the American Academy of Health Care Professionals. Kelly speaks frequently about end-of-life issues, including care, grief and loss, both in person and on her website, Conversations With Kelly. Her passionate and supportive demeanor helps patients, caregivers and health professionals connect with the wisdom of making life more meaningful, coping with depression and anxiety, transforming fear into hope, healing versus curing, and the wisdom of dying a good death. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly talk about:
taming the feelings of fear, anger, and loss of control that can come with a metastatic diagnosis
strategies to deal with “scanxiety”
how to allow yourself to ask for help
how and how much to disclose about your diagnosis to your friends and at work
Photo credit: Geordie Griffiths
For nearly 25 years, Kelly Grosklags has dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care and hospice. An experienced therapist, Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker and a board-certified diplomat in clinical social work. She also earned a fellowship in grief counseling from the American Academy of Health Care Professionals and is the author of A Comforted Heart: An Oncology Psychotherapist Perspective on Finding Meaning and Hope During Illness and Loss. Kelly speaks frequently about end-of-life issues, including care, grief and loss, both in person and on her website, Conversations With Kelly. Her passionate and supportive demeanor helps patients, caregivers and health professionals connect with the wisdom of making life more meaningful, coping with depression and anxiety, transforming fear into hope, healing versus curing, and the wisdom of dying a good death. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly talk about:
what PTSD is, what causes it, and some of the most common symptoms of PTSD in people diagnosed with cancer
why people who’ve experienced trauma in the past may want to be proactive and schedule an appointment with a mental health professional or spiritual guide shortly after being diagnosed
when PTSD can happen
how PTSD is treated
three things people diagnosed with breast cancer should know about PTSD
For more information on PTSD in people diagnosed with cancer, you can read a piece Kelly wrote for the journal Oncology Issues.
Deven McGraw is the chief regulatory officer for Ciitizen, a tech company creating a platform that helps people collect, organize, and share their medical records digitally. Before joining Ciitizen, she directed U.S. health privacy and security policy as deputy director for health information privacy at the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, the office that oversees HIPAA policy and enforcement. She also served as acting chief privacy officer for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. McGraw also served as an adviser to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Network, as well as the All of Us Research Initiative. Listen to the podcast to hear Deven discuss:
what HIPAA is and what it was created to do
how HIPAA guarantees people access to their health information
tips for requesting and then keeping track of your medical records
Kelly Grosklags is an experienced therapist who dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care, and hospice. Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker, a board-certified diplomate in clinical social work, and a fellow of the American Academy of Grief Counseling. Kelly now teaches and speaks frequently about end-of-life issues, including care, grief and loss, both in person, on her website, Conversations With Kelly, and on her Conversations With Kelly Facebook page. Her support has helped patients, caregivers, and health professionals cope with depression and anxiety and transform fear into hope. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly discuss ways to combat the loneliness and anxiety people may be feeling during this time of isolation and social distancing because of COVID-19, including:
how to stay emotionally close while being physically distant
how breathing and living in the now can help ease anxiety
why taking up a new hobby can be good for your psyche
Running time: 47:15
Dr. Angela Rasmussen is an associate research scientist in the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Her research focuses on how hosts respond to infection by viruses in order to determine the severity of the infection and outcomes of the disease, as well as to look for new pathways to treat the disease and how to design vaccines. She is especially interested in newly emerging viruses, such as COVID-19. Listen to the podcast to hear her explain:
where COVID-19 testing stands right now and what needs to happen to improve testing
some measures that people who are undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressing treatments might take to protect themselves
how handwashing removes the COVID-19 virus membrane
some of the myths surrounding COVID-19 and why they’re untrue
Running time: 30:34
Kimberly Irvine is a two-time breast cancer survivor, passionate advocate, consultant, and CEO of her Chicago firm at kimberlyirvine.com. Kim was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 31 years old; her second diagnosis came four years later at age 35. Her treatments included surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, all while being a mother to two young children. Currently, she has no evidence of disease. Kim attributes her survivorship to her faith, strength, hope, and passion. She has recently published a memoir about her breast cancer experience titled STRONG(ER+): Becoming My Own Best Advocate and Discovering My Purpose. By sharing her story as a two-time cancer survivor, Kim aims to empower others to be advocates in their healthcare decisions. Listen to the podcast to hear Kim discuss:
what it means to be your own advocate
how being an advocate gives you some control over situations you may feel you have no control over
10 steps you can take to help you be your own best advocate
Ashish Khanna, M.D., is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and part of the ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Khanna completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kingsbrook Jewish Rehabilitation Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he became interested in cancer rehabilitation early on. He completed his fellowship subspecialization in cancer rehabilitation at Medstar Georgetown University/National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. He specializes in the treatment of people who have pain or functional issues as a result of cancer or cancer treatments, including people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This includes pain, shoulder issues, fatigue, joint pain from aromatase inhibitors, and other issues. He has lectured at numerous international conferences, has published peer-reviewed research on a variety of related topics, and is the co-author of an upcoming book on cancer rehabilitation. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Khanna talk about:
the shoulder problems that can happen as a result of breast cancer treatment
links between lymphedema and shoulder problems
how shoulder problems can be managed
his top three tips for people who are having shoulder issues
Mallori Thompson is manager of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program at the Duke Cancer Institute. Mallori received her master’s degree in mental health counseling from North Carolina Central University. Her area of expertise is the psychosocial care of patients diagnosed with cancer and their families. Her research involves learning about how cancer affects people who’ve been diagnosed, as well as their family members and their relationships. Mallori leads a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers, including medical family therapists, oncology recreation therapists, child life specialists, and psychologists, as well as people who coordinate volunteer services and self-image programs. Listen to the podcast to hear Mallori explain:
how the needs and concerns of cancer caregivers are different from those of people diagnosed with cancer
the services that caregivers seem to use the most
her top three suggestions for a caregiver who’s feeling overwhelmed or burned out
Dana Donofree is a designer and founder of AnaOno. After being diagnosed with stage I estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer almost 10 years ago at the age of 27, Dana began to design her first pieces to meet her need for sexy, beautiful lingerie during a recovery period that she calls “anything but sexy and beautiful.” She has made it her mission to design lingerie specifically for women who have had breast surgery, breast reconstruction, or are living with other conditions that cause pain because she believes that they shouldn't have to compromise between comfort and beauty. On February 9, for the fourth year in a row, AnaOno is partnering with #Cancerland to put on a fashion show during New York Fashion Week to raise funds for METAvivor. All the models in the show are women who have been touched in some way by breast cancer or its risk — from previvors to people with early-stage disease to people with stage IV disease — to start new conversations between all these groups. Listen to the podcast to hear Dana talk about:
her diagnosis and treatment and how it inspired her to start AnaOno
where the AnaOno name came from
the show during Fashion Week and what she hopes to accomplish with it
her tips for someone who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer
Dr. Chirag Shah is a radiation oncologist and director of clinical research for the department of radiation oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Shah received his bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University and his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He completed his internship and residency at William Beaumont Hospital from 2007 to 2012 and joined the Cleveland Clinic Staff in 2015. Dr. Shah serves as a reviewer for various medical journals and is a member of various medical societies. His primary research interests are breast cancer, sarcoma, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and innovative radiation treatment schedules as well as lymphedema. He has participated in numerous clinical trials. In this podcast, Dr. Shah talks about specific characteristics of early-stage breast cancer that make the cancer more likely to come back, which doctors call recurrence. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shah discuss:
the difference between local/regional recurrence and metastatic/distant recurrence
the characteristics of early-stage breast cancer that make the risk of recurrence higher
Editor’s Note: Please know that Dr. Shah does point out that more research is needed on how diet, alcohol use, and smoking affect recurrence risk because current data are inconsistent. His ultimate point is that a survivorship care plan, which includes monitoring, is the most important tool we have beyond following your treatment plan to reduce the risk of recurrence. A survivorship care plan includes:
monitoring for and managing long-term physical and emotional side effects
guidance about diet, exercise, and health-promoting activities
resources to help with financial and insurance issues surveillance
Vicki Flannery wears a number of hats: She’s a nurse in the Kansas City area; she’s a yoga instructor at weBuild4Life, a nonprofit that focuses on functional fitness and nutritional programs for cancer survivors and people with chronic illnesses; and she is a breast cancer survivor. Vicki’s yoga classes center around recovery, flexibility, and strengthening. Listen to the podcast to hear Vicki talk about:
what yoga is and examples of different types of yoga
the benefits yoga can offer to people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer
precautions people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer may want to consider
how she modified her own yoga practice after being diagnosed with breast cancer
Jennifer Litton, associate professor of breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of the EMBRACA study she presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that talazoparib, an experimental targeted therapy medicine, improved the time until the cancer grew in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who had been diagnosed with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer compared to chemotherapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton explain:
how talazoparib works
whether talazoparib will offer benefits to women with other mutations linked to a higher risk of breast cancer
how the side effects differed between talazoparib and chemotherapy
why quality of life was better in women who were treated with talazoparib
Editor's Note: Talzenna (chemical name: talazoparib) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 16, 2018, for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in women with BRCA mutations. Learn more about Talzenna.
Dr. Terry Mamounas is medical director of the comprehensive breast program at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center and is considered one of the country’s top cancer doctors. At the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, he presented the latest results from a study looking at whether an additional 5 years of Femara after five years of a combination of tamoxifen and an aromatase inhibitor or 5 years of only an aromatase inhibitor offers benefits to postmenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Mamounas discuss:
the results showing additional Femara reduced the risk of distant recurrence – the breast cancer coming back in a part of the body away from the breast
the amount of improvement in event-free survival
side effects associated with taking Femara for another 5 years
how he’s talking to his patients about these latest results
Dr. Madeleine Tilanus-Linthorst is a member of the department of surgery at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. At the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she presented research comparing breast cancer screening with MRI versus mammography in women at high risk of the disease because of strong family history. The results found that MRI found cancers earlier, when they were smaller in size and could potentially change screening standards in the Netherlands and other European countries. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Tilanus-Linthorst explain:
differences in screening recommendations between the United States and the Netherlands
why it’s important to find cancers earlier
the risk of more false-positives with MRI screening
Dr. Brian Wojciechowski, Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, specializes in the care of patients with cancer. He practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer Hospitals. His research has been presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the world's largest scientific meeting on breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
the breast cancer treatments that may cause diarrhea
why some people may be more prone to experiencing diarrhea
treatments for diarrhea
why it’s important to always report diarrhea to your doctor
Dr. Jack Cuzick is director of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and head of the Center for Cancer Prevention at the Queen Mary University of London, where he holds the title of John Snow Professor of Epidemiology. He is internationally known for his research showing tamoxifen can be used to treat estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, as well as his work to help develop the Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk evaluation tool, which helps women and their doctors estimate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. At the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, he presented the latest results from the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study II Prevention Trial, looking at whether 5 years of Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole) can reduce breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women who have higher-than-average risk of the disease but have not been diagnosed. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Cuzick discuss:
how much Arimidex reduced risk after about 11 years of follow up
why Arimidex is better than tamoxifen at reducing risk in high-risk postmenopausal women
the side effects seen in the study and why side effect rates were the same in women who took Arimidex and women who took a placebo
why it’s unlikely that Arimidex will be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this use, but why doctors will be able to prescribe it off-label
Dr. Luca Gianni, president of the Fondazione Michelangelo in Milan, discusses the results of the NeoTRIP trial, which looked to see if adding the immunotherapy medicine Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab) to chemotherapy before surgery for triple-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence could improve the time women lived without the cancer coming back.
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. In September 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a statement warning that the CDK4/6 inhibitors used to treat breast cancer:
Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib)
Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib)
Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib)
may cause rare but serious inflammation in the lungs. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about:
how CDK4/6 inhibitors are used to treat breast cancer
why we’re just hearing about this side effect now
the recommendations for anyone being treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor
In September 2019, marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas did something that had never been done before: she swam the English Channel four times, non-stop. And she did this a year after completing treatment for stage II breast cancer. Sarah started swimming lessons at age one and was on a year-round swim team by age 10. She swam on her high school team and in College at the University of Connecticut where she studied political science and journalism. She took a break from swimming while earning a master’s degree at the University of Denver, but joined a masters’ swim team after graduating. In August 2017, Sarah swam 104.6 miles in Lake Champlain, the first current-neutral open water swim of more than 100 miles and the world record for the longest unassisted open water swim. In November 2017, while planning her English Channel swim, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35. Listen to the podcast to hear Sarah talk about:
how she found the breast lump and what she did after that
how she talked to her doctors about treatments while she was planning her English Channel swim
what she thought about and how she ate during the 54-hour swim
how breast cancer has changed her
Photo credit: James Musselwhite
Dr. Kelly Shanahan, metastatic patient advocate, METAvivor board member, and former OB/GYN talks about the Mets, Sex, and Side Effects panel that she comoderated at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The panel was cosponsored by Breastcancer.org and Sermonix Pharmaceuticals.
Barbara and Tim Bigelow discuss Barbara’s metastatic breast cancer diagnosis and the side effects she experienced as one of the first people treated with immunotherapy for breast cancer. A board member of METAvivor, Barbara also explains the Beneath the Breast project, the latest initiative of the #ThisIsMBC campaign.
Felicia Johnson, who is living with metastatic disease, and Sharon Rivera-Sanchez, who was diagnosed in 2015 with triple-negative breast cancer, talk about what they learned during the GRASP (Guiding Researchers & Advocates to Scientific Partnerships) program.
Dr. Stephanie Graff, director of the Breast Cancer Program at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute, talks about why sexual health is so important for people living with metastatic breast disease and offers tips for people who may be uncomfortable bringing up the topic with their oncologist.
Erica Guardascione is a speech-language pathologist at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. She’s also a curriculum developer and faculty member at ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation. After completing her undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology at Hofstra University, Erica went on to pursue graduate studies at Nova Southeastern University. She has practiced for more than a decade as a clinical specialist in the Cognitive Rehabilitation Program at Kessler. The program is designed to help people with brain injuries rebuild cognitive skills, restore physical and emotional strength, and maximize independence. Erica is a clinical lead in the program. Erica has a deep interest in cancer-related cognitive problems and is considered an authority on attention, focus, and memory impairments and rehabilitation strategies. As a faculty member at ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, she recently co-led a continuing education course for therapists and other clinicians called “Cancer-Related Cognitive Decline.” Listen to the podcast to hear Erica explain:
why “cancer-related cognitive decline” is the most up-to-date term for chemo brain
the factors that can contribute to cognitive decline after a cancer diagnosis
some broad steps that people can take to help manage any thinking and memory problems they may be having
Christine Hodgdon was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in April 2015 and became heavily involved in the metastatic community after attending a Metavivor advocacy event on Capitol Hill to push for more research funding for metastatic breast cancer. Christine volunteers with a number of breast cancer organizations, including Living Beyond Breast Cancer, METAvivor, and the Tigerlily Foundation. She also has contributed articles and blogs to organizations to raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer and serves as a peer mentor for the Young Survival Coalition. Before she was diagnosed, Christine loved to travel and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala from 2011-2013. When she returned, she worked as a conservation biologist to save habitat for endangered species. Now Christine is using her science background to create an open-access online forum thestormriders.org that provides the most recent and scientifically accurate information about breast cancer and its treatments, including metastatic breast cancer clinical trials and drugs and therapies in the pipeline. She also has created a pilot program, pairing oncology experts with new patient advocates at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, which is what we talk about during this podcast. Listen to the podcast to hear Christine talk about:
how the cancer diagnoses changed her
how she keeps up with breast cancer research
her pilot program to pair oncology experts and patient advocates at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
what she wants people to know about metastatic breast cancer
Ashish Khanna, M.D., is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and part of the ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Khanna completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kingsbrook Jewish Rehabilitation Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he became interested in cancer rehabilitation early on. He completed his fellowship subspecialization in cancer rehabilitation at Medstar Georgetown University and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. He specializes in the treatment of people who have pain or functional issues as a result of cancer or cancer treatments, including people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This includes pain, shoulder issues, fatigue, joint pain from aromatase inhibitors, and other issues. He has lectured at numerous international conferences, has published peer-reviewed research on a variety of related topics, and is the co-author of an upcoming book on cancer rehabilitation. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Khanna discuss:
what aromatase inhibitors are and how they treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer
why and how aromatase inhibitors cause joint pain
how exercise can reduce aromatase inhibitor-related joint pain
other ways to ease this joint pain
Anne White, president of Lilly Oncology, discusses some of the most talked about breast cancer research presented at ESMO 2019.
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is chief of the Section of Clinical Research and Drug Development for Breast Cancer. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute. At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress, she presented information on a study she's leading, looking at combining a new type of immunotherapy with a traditional chemotherapy medicine. She joined us to talk about current immunotherapy research for breast cancer in general as well as what is specifically being presented at the congress. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton discuss:
why immunotherapy medicines to treat breast cancer will likely be used with another type of therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
the difference between a "hot" and "cold" tumor and why that is important for immunotherapy
other biomarkers besides PD-L1 that may help doctors decided if an immunotherapy medicine will work
Dr. Dennis Slamon is professor of medicine and executive vice chair for research for the UCLA Department of Medicine. He also serves as director of clinical/translational research and director of the Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA. He is probably best known for doing the laboratory and clinical research that led to the development of Herceptin, the first medicine to specifically treat HER2-positive breast cancer. Dr. Slamon has won numerous awards for his research. Earlier this month, he received the 2019 Lasker Award for clinical medical research for his groundbreaking work on Herceptin. At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress, he presented overall survival results from the MONALEESA-3 study, looking at using the CDK4/6 inhibitor Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) plus the hormonal therapy Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant) to treat advanced-stage, hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Slamon explain:
the background of the MONALEESA-3 study
how much adding Kisqali to Faslodex improved overall survival compared to Faslodex alone
treatment side effects seen in the study
what the results mean for people diagnosed with metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Dr. Leisha Emens is professor of medicine in hematology/oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center. She is also co-leader of the Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program and director of translational immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center. She is internationally recognized for her work in breast cancer immunotherapy. At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress, she presented overall survival results from the KATE2 study, which compared using the combination of Tecentriq, also called atezolizumab, and Kadcyla, also called T-DM1, to Kadcyla alone to treat HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that had grown while being treated with Herceptin and chemotherapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Emens discuss:
the design of the KATE2 study
why the study is encouraging, even though it didn't meet its primary endpoint
what the results mean for people diagnosed with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
her advice to people diagnosed with breast cancer who are interested in immunotherapy
Dr. George Sledge is professor of medicine and head of the Oncology Division at Stanford University. A former president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, he specializes in breast cancer research. He has published extensively on the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and has been honored with numerous awards for his work. At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress, he presented overall survival results from the MONARCH 2 study, which used Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) and Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant) to treat metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that was previously treated with hormonal therapy and had stopped responding. The women in the study were premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Sledge explain:
the background of the MONARCH 2 study
how much overall survival was improved the side effects seen in the study
what the results mean for people diagnosed with metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Dr. Conleth Murphy, an oncologist at Bon Secours Cork Cancer Center in Ireland, discusses his research on scalp cooling in people being treated with chemotherapy for cancer.
Karuna Jaggar has been executive director of Breast Cancer Action since 2011 and has a lifelong commitment to social justice. Throughout her 15-year career in nonprofit leadership, her work has focused on women’s rights and on eliminating socioeconomic inequities. Jaggar began her career working with women’s microenterprises internationally and in the United States, providing self-employment and business training, funding and support for low-income women. Prior to joining Breast Cancer Action, Jaggar was executive director at the Women’s Initiative for Self Employment. She has served on the Board of the California Association of Microenterprise Opportunity, where she chaired the Policy Committee. She holds a master’s degree in economic geography from the University of California-Berkeley and received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Smith College. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month upon us, Karuna joins us to talk about the Think Before You Pink project, including its history and goals. Listen to the podcast to hear Karuna talk about:
how the Think Before You Pink campaign started
how she defines “pink washing”
reactions to the campaign
four questions Breast Cancer Action asks people to consider before buying anything with a pink ribbon on it
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer Hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. In 2018, the American Joint Committee on Cancer, commonly called the AJCC, updated breast cancer staging guidelines to add other information to how a cancer’s stage is determined. This has made determining the stage of a breast cancer more complex, but also more accurate. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what the T, N, and M parts of the staging system mean
how the new characteristics added to the staging system in 2018 — cancer grade, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, HER2 receptor status, and Oncotype DX Recurrence Score — affect a breast cancer’s stage
how a cancer that might have been stage IIIA in the past might now be stage IB
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, or "Dr. D" as he has come to be known, is a founding partner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. Board-certified in plastic surgery, Dr. D has performed thousands of reconstructive procedures, both for women diagnosed with breast cancer and women at high risk of the disease who choose to have prophylactic breast removal. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also has been named one of the “Best Doctors in America.” In this podcast, Dr. DellaCroce discusses illness linked to breast implants, the Allergan textured implant recall, as well as how he is counseling his patients. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DellaCroce discuss:
the differences between textured and smooth implants, as well as the differences between silicone-filled and saline-filled implants and the theories as to why textured and silicone implants are linked to disease
what breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is and how it is treated
what to do if you have an implant and are concerned
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser. A native of South Philadelphia, he trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Blogs and popular media have discussed using fenbendazole (brand names: Panacure, Safe-Guard), a drug used to deworm dogs, to treat cancer. While some studies on cells in petri dishes and in mice suggest that fenbendazole might have anti-cancer properties, no studies have been done in people and it’s not clear what side effects it may cause or what the optimal dose might be. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about:
the type of drug fenbendazole is and how it might kill cancer cells
the studies in petri dishes and mice on fenbendazole that have been done so far
what he tells his patients when they ask about fenbendazole
Ashish Khanna, M.D., is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and part of the ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Khanna completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kingsbrook Jewish Rehabilitation Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he became interested in cancer rehabilitation early on. He completed his fellowship subspecialization in cancer rehabilitation at Medstar Georgetown University and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. He specializes in the treatment of people who have pain or functional issues as a result of cancer or cancer treatments, including people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This includes pain, shoulder issues, fatigue, joint pain from aromatase inhibitors, and other issues. He has lectured at numerous international conferences, has published peer-reviewed research on a variety of related topics, and is the co-author of an upcoming book on cancer rehabilitation. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Khanna explain:
how cancer-related fatigue is different from other fatigue
the link between inflammation and fatigue
why exercise is the best remedy for fatigue
steps you can take if you think you have cancer-related fatigue
Stephanie McLeod-Estevez is a licensed clinical professional counselor and art therapist with 15 years of clinical expertise in treating anxiety, depression, and trauma. Stephanie also is a breast cancer survivor. She started her company, Creative Transformations, in 2016 to provide information, tools, and services to people diagnosed with cancer to enhance their emotional health and wellness. Her writing has been published in Wildfire, Coping with Cancer, and Breast Cancer Wellness. In this podcast on art therapy, Stephanie explains how people diagnosed with cancer can use it to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Listen to the podcast to hear Stephanie discuss:
her own breast cancer journey and how that influenced her career
the process of art therapy and its benefits
how to find a reputable art therapist
Dr. Kelly Shanahan describes herself as a mother, wife, daughter, doctor, and woman living with metastatic breast cancer. Neuropathy from breast cancer treatment forced her to retire from her OB/GYN practice. She now works tirelessly as an independent metastatic breast cancer advocate. Dr. Shanahan was part of a panel on Right to Try Legislation at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. In this podcast, she explains Right to Try and Compassionate Use legislation and why she thinks the real answer is changing the criteria for enrolling in clinical trials. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shanahan talk about:
why she thinks Right to Try legislation is flawed
how the common criteria for entering a clinical trial exclude a majority of people diagnosed with metastatic disease and how trials can be changed
how she would proceed if her disease progressed and she didn't meet the eligibility criteria for an appropriate clinical trial
A member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board, Dr. Dawn Hershman leads the Breast Cancer Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University, where she is professor of medicine and epidemiology. Dr. Hershman is a nationally recognized expert in breast cancer treatment, prevention, and survivorship. ' At this ASCO annual meeting, Dr. Hershman presented results from a study looking at whether text messaging could increase the number of women who stick to their aromatase inhibitor treatment plans. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Hershman talk about:
the background of the study
the study results, which showed no difference in treatment adherence between women who received text messages and women who didn't
what future research needs to do to better help women stick to their aromatase inhibitor treatment plans
Dr. Maura Dickler, vice president of oncology late phase development for Eli Lilly and Company, offers insights on some of the most interesting research on metastatic breast cancer presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Dickler explain:
results from the IMpassion 130 trial looking at Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab) and Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) to treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
results from the Young-PEARL trial studying Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib) and Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane) along with ovarian suppression to treat premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer overall survival
results from the MONALEESA-7 trial, which examined using Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) and hormonal therapy to treat premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced-stage breast cancer
Dr. Jennifer Ligibel is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who treats breast cancer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Ligibel's research looks at the relationship between diet and exercise and breast cancer risk and prognosis. Her current project is the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) study, which is looking at connections between exercise, diet, weight management, sleep, and health and wellness outcomes in women being treated for breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Ligibel talk about:
the progress of the BWEL study so far
how the BWEL study is different from other studies that looked at low-fat diets and breast cancer
why the BWEL study wants to examine methods that work best to help women diagnosed with breast cancer lose weight and exercise more
Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist is professor of behavioral science and director of the Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Basen-Engquist’s research focuses on cancer survivors and how health behavior interventions can reduce the severity of late-term side effects, improve physical function, optimize quality of life, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. She also studies ways to help people make behavior changes and ways to assess symptoms and behavior in cancer patients and survivors. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Basen-Engquist talk about:
how to talk about diet and exercise with your doctor
why exercise and maintaining a healthy weight should be part of every person's long-term cancer care
how people who are feeling overwhelmed about having to make a lot of diet, weight, and exercise changes can start slowly to improve their health
Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, explains the results of the latest analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative.
Dr. Liz O'Day talks about a test her company is developing that uses metabolites in blood to assess whether a person with metastatic breast cancer will respond to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Dan Miller, founder of Live by Living, explains how the organization offers free outdoor experiences to people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers.
Marie Savard, M.D., is a doctor, educator, and former ABC News medical contributor. She is the founder of the Savard System for managing and controlling your healthcare. Dr. Savard is the author of five books, focusing on women’s health and wellness. A native of Philadelphia, she received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She formerly served as the director of the Center for Women's Health at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, technical adviser to the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, adviser to the American Board of Internal Medicine Subcommittee on Clinical Competency in Women's Health, health columnist for Woman's Day magazine, and senior medical consultant to Lifetime Television's "Strong Medicine." In this podcast on body fat, weight, and weight loss, Dr. Savard explains what women, especially postmenopausal women, can do to prevent weight gain and lose some pounds that may have been gained. Listen to the podcast to hear her explain:
why women tend to gain weight and change shape after menopause
steps you can take to reduce the risk of gaining weight after menopause
the top four things she recommends to a woman who wants to lose weight
Dr. Maura Dickler, vice president of late phase development for Lilly Oncology, discusses some of the research presentations she is looking forward to hearing at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Laura Cohen Romano is director of spiritual care and mindfulness for the Einstein Healthcare Network. She first came to Einstein in 2009 as director of chaplaincy, language and culture, and volunteer services. Laura began her own journey with meditation 25 years ago, and with evidence-based mindfulness meditation and practices 12 years ago. Following her growing passion to share the many benefits of mindfulness, she pursued training as a mindfulness teacher, first through teacher training at the Mindfulness Institute at the Jefferson Myrna-Brind Center for Integrative Medicine, and then receiving her teacher qualification through the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine Center for Mindfulness. Mindfulness and/or mindfulness meditation can be intimidating to many people. They’re not sure if they’re doing it correctly — or at all. People worry they can’t completely clear their minds and become frustrated. While mindfulness can’t make cancer or other chronic illness go away, it can help people with a disease have better quality of life by easing pain, stress, and worry. Listen to the podcast to hear Laura explain:
exactly what mindfulness and mindfulness meditation are
where mindfulness started
some common myths about mindfulness
For the last 5 minutes of the podcast, Laura leads a short, guided mindfulness meditation so everyone can experience mindfulness.
Dr. Donald Rosenstein is a professor of psychiatry and director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Comprehensive Cancer Support Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Rosenstein’s research focuses on the areas where medicine and psychiatry meet. His research interests include assessing and managing suicide in the medical setting and psychosocial support for patients facing cancer. In 2017, Dr. Rosenstein was elected president of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. He is also co-author of The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life, which details the challenges and triumphs of seven men who raised young children after their wives died. In this podcast on depression and suicidal thoughts after a cancer diagnosis, Dr. Rosenstein talks about what major depression can feel like, as well as risk factors for depression. Listen to the podcast to hear him discuss:
what we know about depression as a side effect of tamoxifen
signs that you may need to see a doctor for depression
treatments for depression
depression in the context of breast cancer and why people should not suffer with depression in silence
William Chey, M.D., is professor of internal medicine and professor of nutrition at the University of Michigan, where he leads the Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group. His research interests include diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, fecal incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and H. pylori infection. During his 30 years of treating people with constipation, Dr. Chey has written more than 300 manuscripts, reviews, and book chapters. He received his medical degree from Emory University and completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan. In this podcast on constipation, Dr. Chey discusses risk factors for constipation, how to manage constipation, as well as his favorite constipation joke. Listen to the podcast to hear him explain:
why he recommends an integrated, holistic approach to managing constipation
why patients need to overcome any embarrassment they have about constipation and be their own advocate for treatment
the steps he recommends when treating constipation
The targeted therapy Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) is approved to be used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor to treat advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that hasn’t been treated with hormonal therapy yet in postmenopausal women. Dr. Debu Tripathy, professor of medicine and chairperson of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of the MONALEESA-7 study he presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that Kisqali can help treat premenopausal and perimenopausal women diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Tripathy explain:
why the study is important
why ovarian suppression helps make the treatments more effective
the side effects caused by Kisqali
why he thinks this study will change practice
Editor's Note: On April 4, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the use of Ibrance so the medicine now can be used to treat men diagnosed with advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in November 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
results of a study that found calcium channel blockers, a common type of high blood pressure medicine, don’t increase breast cancer risk
new guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on complementary therapies for breast cancer
why more U.S. women are choosing mastectomy over lumpectomy to remove early-stage breast cancer
how the experimental targeted therapy olaparib works and why it may work against advanced-stage cancers in people with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
Beth Baughman DuPree is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in diseases of the breast, with additional board certification in integrative medicine. She is also a master level Reiki practitioner. Dr. DuPree is part of the Sedona Breast Care Clinic of the Northern Arizona Healthcare System. Dr. DuPree earned her medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and her undergraduate degrees in behavioral neuroscience and the history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh. Her first book, The Healing Consciousness: A Doctor’s Journey to Healing, was released in 2006 to excellent reviews by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Bernie Siegel, M.D, among other well-known experts in the women’s health field. Her numerous honors include the Clara Barton Humanitarian Award from the American Red Cross for her ongoing contributions to the treatment of breast cancer. She was selected by her peers for Philadelphia Magazine’s TOP DOCS in Surgery in 2016 and 2017. She serves on the advisory board for Breastcancer.org and often hosts live chats and podcasts on current breast cancer issues. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DuPree explain:
what Reiki is and why she uses it in her practice
what happens during a typical Reiki session
the benefits of Reiki for people diagnosed with cancer
three things you should know before trying Reiki
Below are links to the two studies on Reiki that Dr. DuPree discusses during the podcast:
Massage and Reiki used to reduce stress and anxiety: Randomized Clinical Trial, by Kurebayashi, L., et al. Published in Revista Latino-Amerciana de Enfermagem, 2016.
Self-Efficacy for Coping with Cancer Enhances the Effect of Reiki Treatments During the Pre-Surgery Phase of Breast Cancer Patients, by Chirico, A., et al. Published in Anticancer Research, 2017.
Sami Mansfield started her career as a cancer exercise specialist in 2003. Since being inspired by coaching her first client who had been diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, her career has been dedicated to helping people with cancer — any type and any stage — live as well as possible. Sami’s experience encompasses work in both community- and hospital-based cancer centers, non-profit organizations, developing and consulting on clinical trials, and as a speaker presenting to both patients and healthcare professionals. She is a certified cancer exercise trainer and CrossFit Level 1 coach with extensive exercise and nutrition experience. Listen to the podcast to hear Sami discuss:
how attainable “exercise snacks” can help people start exercising
three exercises anyone can do safely at home
whether people with metastatic disease should “feel the burn” when they exercise
how to talk to your oncologist about exercise
Sheila McGlown talks about body positivity, choosing to be bald, and what walking in the AnaOno Fashion Week show means to her.
Susan Sullivan Danenberger talks about her experience with metastatic breast cancer, reconstruction, and what it's like to walk in the AnaOno fashion show.
Beth Fairchild talks about what it’s like to walk in the AnaOno Fashion Week runway show and what it means for people with metastatic disease.
Terlisa Sheppard talks about what it’s like to walk in the AnaOno Fashion Week show and what it means for people with metastatic disease.
Monica Hill talks about what it’s like to walk in the AnaOno Fashion Week show and what it means for people with metastatic disease.
Maggie Kudirka talks about what it's like to walk in the AnaOno Fashion Week show and what it means for people with metastatic disease.
Barbara Bigelow talks about her experience with metastatic breast cancer and what walking in the AnaOno fashion show means for her.
Emily Garnett talks about what it's like to walk in the AnaOno fashion show and what it means for people with metastatic disease.
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Diana Dyer, R.D. talks about how to eat healthy before, during and after the holidays. Diana is a registered dietitian and multiple-time cancer survivor. She the author of the book A Dietitian’s Cancer Story and writes the blog DianaDyer.com, where she shares her thoughts about life as a cancer survivor, food and nutrition, growing food, recipes, and our environment. Diana also is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. Listen to the podcast to hear Diana talk about:
strategies for coping with the snack table at holiday parties
how to be festive and alcohol-free
tips for eating if you’re undergoing chemo during the holidays
ideas for making traditional family dishes healthier
Bret Miller found a lump in his right breast when he was 17 and was finally diagnosed with breast cancer at age 24. His journey led him to found the Bret Miller 1T Foundation and the Male Breast Cancer Coalition. Running time: 12:03
Kelly Owens, director of education and research for FORCE, explains the organization's XRAYS (eXamining the Relevance of Articles for Young Survivors) program. Running time: 3:44
Dr. Zaida Morante, medical oncologist at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas in Lima, Peru, explains her research that found delaying chemotherapy for more than 30 days was associated with worse outcomes in women diagnosed with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor-negative, progesterone-receptor-negative, and HER2-negative. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Morante explain:
the design of the study
which outcomes delaying chemotherapy affected
possible explanations for why chemotherapy was delayed for some women
Roberto Leon-Ferre, M.D., breast oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, discusses the research he presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium evaluating the effectiveness of oxybutynin, a medicine commonly used to treated bladder incontinence, to treat hot flashes in women who can't take hormone replacement therapy, which includes most women treated for breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Leon-Ferre explain:
the design of the study
why he thought oxybutynin might be able to ease hot flashes
possible side effects of long-term use of oxybutynin and why the medicine may still be useful for women who have been treated for breast cancer
Dr. Laura Dominici, surgeon at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and division chief of breast surgery at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, discusses the research she presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium looking at how the type of breast cancer surgery affected quality of life in women 40 and younger who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Dominici explain:
the design of the study
what we can and can't infer from the results
why she hopes these results will lead to better communication between doctors and patients
Tim Watkins is the owner of the Watkins Garden Center and also is the partner of Michael Kovarik, a man with metastatic breast cancer. Tim and Michael became a couple after Michael had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but before he had been diagnosed with metastatic disease. Listen to the podcast to hear Tim talk about:
what it's like to date someone with breast cancer
how Tim's role as caregiver changed when Michael was diagnosed with metastatic disease
the advice he would offer to people who are cancer caregivers
Shirley Mertz, president of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network and chair of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, has been living with metastatic disease for 15 years. She talks about the increasing body of research on metastatic breast cancer at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Running time: 2:47
Christine Benjamin, breast cancer program director for SHARE Cancer Support and vice chair of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, explains some of the new programs each organization will roll out in 2019.
Matthew Goetz, M.D., professor of oncology at the Mayo Clinic where he is also co-leader of the Women's Cancer Program and chair of the Breast Cancer Disease-Oriented Group, discusses the research he presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on patient-reported outcomes from women being treated with Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) plus an aromatase inhibitor as the first treatment for advanced-stage, hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Goetz talk about:
what patient-reported outcomes are and why they're important for both doctors and patients
the Verzenio side effects reported in the study
how diarrhea caused by Verzenio can be proactively managed so a woman doesn't have to plan her life around a side effect
Kelly Hogan received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Northeastern University and her nutrition education, training, and master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University. As the nutrition and wellness manager at the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Kelly incorporates a holistic approach, focusing not only on nutrition, but overall wellness including physical activity, stress management, and sleep. Before the Dubin Breast Center, Kelly worked with the general surgery and oncology inpatient populations at Mount Sinai. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly discuss:
how people who want to eat healthy can have fun and not feel left out or hungry
why the holidays are a great time for creative mocktails
how some traditional holiday dishes can be modified to be a bit healthier
what she’s making for her Thanksgiving dinner
Kyle Woody is cofounder and executive director of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, a community of men who are cancer caregivers. Kyle believes that one of the biggest and most important challenges a man can face in his lifetime is engaging as a caregiver for a loved one with a serious disease such as cancer. Kyle believes that every man has the potential to rise to that challenge and be his boldest and most confident self. Reflecting on his experience as a primary caregiver for his spouse with metastatic colon cancer, he realized the principles of excellence and sound teamwork that he preached in his professional career should have been applied at home in his caregiving experience, which is why he helped found Jack’s in 2014 to improve the way men think, feel, and act in their role as cancer caregivers. Listen to the podcast to hear Kyle talk about:
how Jack’s was founded
some of the programs Jack’s offers to help men who are caregivers
some things that he’d like men who are cancer caregivers to know
why caregiving is akin to a team sport
Catherine Guthrie is a women’s health journalist with two decades of experience in the magazine and publishing industry. She has written for Cosmopolitan; O, The Oprah Magazine; Slate; Time; and Better Homes and Gardens, among others. In 2009, at age 38, Catherine was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the cancer was only in one breast, she opted for a double mastectomy and chose not to reconstruct. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time a year later in 2010. During her treatment, she searched for a memoir where the narrator grappled with the reality of the disease, where she unpacked questions about reconstruction, and challenged the tacit assumptions about what women want or need to feel whole after cancer. She couldn’t find a book that filled that niche, so she wrote one. Catherine’s queer, feminist memoir, FLAT: Reclaiming My Body From Breast Cancer, was published in September 2018. Listen to the podcast to hear Catherine discuss:
“the male gaze” and how it informs breast reconstruction, even if the surgeon is a woman
how her queerness affected her experience with breast cancer
how her experience with breast cancer has changed how she reports on the disease
her advice to women on things they can do to help ensure that their choices about reconstruction — or not — are respected by surgeons
Michael Stubblefield, M.D. is medical director of cancer rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey and the national medical director for Select Medical’s ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation program. He is known around the world for his expertise in the identification, evaluation, and rehabilitation of pain and functional disorders caused by cancer and cancer treatments, particularly problems caused by radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Stubblefield is an accomplished researcher and has published extensively on medical rehabilitation, oncology, pain management, palliative care, and neurophysiology. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Stubblefield explain:
the definition of post-mastectomy pain syndrome and the different ways it affects people
how surgeries and radiation can cause this pain syndrome
treatments for post-mastectomy pain syndrome
the three things that anyone experiencing post-mastectomy pain syndrome should know
An adult nurse practitioner, Dori Klemanski, DNP, CNP is clinical director of survivorship at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. In this role she helps identify the unmet needs of cancer survivors, as well as late- and long-term effects of treatment. She also oversees the creation of survivorship care plans to meet the long-term needs of survivors. Listen to the podcast to hear Klemanski explain:
what a survivorship care plan is and the information included in one
why it’s so important that a survivorship care plan be personalized
who creates a survivorship care plan
how to get a survivorship care plan if you don’t have one
Michael Stubblefield, M.D. is medical director of cancer rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey and the national medical director for Select Medical’s ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation program. He is known around the world for his expertise in the identification, evaluation, and rehabilitation of pain and functional disorders caused by cancer and cancer treatments, particularly problems caused by radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Stubblefield is an accomplished researcher and has published extensively on medical rehabilitation, oncology, pain management, palliative care, and neurophysiology. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Stubblefield explain:
what neuropathy is, how it happens, and the treatments that can cause it
how to explain neuropathy to friends and family
risk factors for neuropathy
treatments for neuropathy
the three things that anyone diagnosed with neuropathy should know
Michael Kovarik is a retired elementary school teacher who is living with metastatic breast cancer. He is the author of “Healing Within: My Journey with Breast Cancer” and the former host of the Healing Journeys with Michael Kovarik radio show. He was also one of the people profiled in Breast Cancer: A Story Half Told, a campaign to increase public awareness of metastatic breast cancer. Since his metastatic diagnosis, Michael participates in a number of advocacy organizations, including the Male Breast Cancer Coalition, the MBC Alliance, and METAvivor. Listen to the podcast to hear Michael talk about:
the importance of the doctor-patient relationship
the importance of a support system
deciding not to let fear run his life
becoming an advocate and sharing his story
how being stage IV has helped him live his truth
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, or "Dr. D" as he has come to be known, is a founding partner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. Board-certified in plastic surgery, Dr. D has performed thousands of reconstructive procedures, both for women diagnosed with breast cancer and women at high risk of the disease who choose to have prophylactic breast removal. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also has been named one of the "Best Doctors in America." Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. D discuss:
why a woman might consider revision reconstruction
the results of revision reconstruction: what to expect, as well as recovery and side effects
questions to ask a plastic surgeon if you’re considering revision reconstruction
Dr. Utthara Nayar is a research fellow in medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Harvard Medical School, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. A cancer biologist, her broad research focuses on the interface of basic biology, targeted medicines, and drug resistance. At the 2018 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, she presented research looking at how acquired HER2 mutations can make some metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers resistant to hormonal therapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Nayar explain:
the number of metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers that become resistant to hormonal therapy
what whole exome sequencing is and why she and her colleagues used it in this study
the possibility that genetic sequencing of cancers could be an ongoing part of treatment at some point in the future
Dr. C. Kent Osborne is director of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine, where he is also a professor and the Dudley and Tina Sharp Chair for Cancer Research. Since 1992, he has been a codirector of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the world's largest conference focusing entirely on breast cancer. His own research focuses on improving the effectiveness of hormonal therapy medicines and targeted therapies that treat HER2-positive disease. At the 2018 American Association for Cancer Annual Meeting, Dr. Osborne was honored with the 2018 AACR Distinguished Award for Extraordinary Scientific Achievement and Leadership in Breast Cancer Research, in part for his stewardship of the San Antonio Symposium. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Osborne discuss:
how our understanding of breast cancer has changed since the 1970s
the most promising areas of breast cancer research going on right now
the feasibility of a cure for breast cancer
Desirée Walker, who calls herself a two-time breast cancer "victor," talks about her poster on the importance of involving patients in breast cancer research projects.
Artist Kathryn Stella, vice president of the Bodice Project, discusses how the sculptural exhibit promotes inner healing among women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Levi Garraway, senior vice president of oncology development and medical affairs at Eli Lilly and Company, discusses some of the research highlights at the 2018 AACR Annual Meeting, particularly those in breast cancer.
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board certified medical oncologist and associate professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Her research focuses on the genetics of breast cancer and how the genes of a breast cancer change at the molecular level. She has been principal investigator on a number of research projects and is a member of the Genetic/Familial High Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian guideline expert panel for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton discuss:
the phases of clinical trials and why each is important
the benefits and risks of being part of a clinical trial
how to withdraw from a clinical trial
how care works in a clinical trial
how to find clinical trials
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board certified medical oncologist and associate professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is chief of the Section of Clinical Research and Drug Development for Breast Cancer. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton discuss:
how immunotherapy medicines work
why immunotherapy medicines haven’t seemed to work as well in breast cancer as they have in other cancers
the direction of immunotherapy research for breast cancer
Dr. Alexander Miller is a surgical oncologist who specializes in treating breast cancer and people at high risk of the disease. Currently at the START Center for Cancer Care in San Antonio, Texas, he trained at MD Anderson and the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Miller has received awards for excellence in research, education, and patient care. He has been lead or collaborating researcher for several studies on breast cancer treatments, prevention, genetic testing, and the psychosocial experiences of people receiving cancer care. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Miller explain:
the most common side effects of both mastectomy and lumpectomy and how to manage them
why the risk of lymphedema, while still a concern, has gone down in the last 10 years
steps people can take before surgery to reduce the risk of side effects
Dr. Dawn Hershman is professor of medicine and epidemiology at Columbia University. She also serves as leader of the Breast Cancer Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia and is nationally recognized for her expertise in breast cancer treatment, prevention, and survivorship. A member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board, Dr. Hershman also has conducted extensive research on breast cancer treatment and quality of life -- she has published more than 250 scientific papers and has received the Advanced Clinical Research Award in Breast Cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Advanced Medical Achievement Award from the Avon Foundation. Dr. Hershman is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and is an associate editor at the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Hershman explain:
how clinical trial results are used
how clinical trial results have changed the standard of care
why factors such as diet or exercise for reducing breast cancer risk are difficult to study in clinical trials
why some trials are stopped early because of good or not-so-good results
Dr. Sherene Loi is a medical oncologist who specializes in treating breast cancer. In addition to treating patients, particularly patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, she also leads the Translation Breast Cancer Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, where she is a professor. Much of her clinical research focuses on investigating new treatments, such as immunotherapy, especially for breast cancers that have become resistant to standard treatments. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Loi explain:
results from the PANACEA trial, which looked at using the immunotherapy medicine Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) along with Herceptin to treat Herceptin-resistant, HER2-positive, advanced-stage breast cancer that had high levels of PDL-1, a biomarker that indicates that Keytruda will be effective
how an immunotherapy medicine like Keytruda works
what tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are and why cancer tumors with high numbers of TILs seem to respond better to immunotherapy
side effects of immunotherapy medicines
Dr. Timothy Pluard is medical director at the Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute and the Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer in Kansas City, Missouri. A medical oncologist, Dr. Pluard specializes in offering comprehensive care, including treatments that use advanced genomics and immunotherapy to women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. He also incorporates nutrition planning, spiritual counseling, exercise physiology, massage, yoga, palliative care, and emotional support into patient care. He also advises patients on participating in clinical trials on leading-edge treatments for advanced-stage breast cancer. Many of Dr. Pluard’s patients have praised his communication skills. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Pluard discuss:
how he tailors his communication to each individual patient and that person’s unique situation
how he talks to patients about disappointing news, such as cancer progression or a treatment that stops working
what makes someone a good communicator
his tips on how to make doctor-patient communication the best it can be
Beth Fairchild was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in 2014 at age 34. The diagnosis was a surprise to her because her mammogram results from the month before were negative, and she had never had a lump in her breast. Beth was familiar with breast cancer though. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 44, and her paternal grandmother died from breast cancer at age 33. An artist and tattoo professional, Beth and her husband own five tattoo studios. Her focus is on permanent cosmetics, scar camouflage, and areola restoration for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Beth is the current president of METAvivor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of metastatic breast cancer and funding research on metastatic disease. Beth also is one of the creators of the Serenity Project, a metastatic breast cancer support campaign that gives patients an opportunity to tell their personal metastatic breast cancer stories through a series of photos and videos. Listen to the podcast to hear Beth talk about:
what the Serenity Project is
the inspiration for the Serenity Project and how it became reality
what the participants have said about the project
what public reaction has been to the project
Listen to Beth's other podcast, Permanent Cosmetics, Scar Camouflage, and Nipple Tattooing.
Beth Fairchild was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in 2014 at age 34. The diagnosis was a surprise to her because her mammogram results from the month before were negative and she had never had a lump in her breast. Beth was familiar with breast cancer though. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 44 and her paternal grandmother died from breast cancer at age 33. An artist and tattoo professional, Beth and her husband own five tattoo studios. Her focus is on permanent cosmetics, scar camouflage and areola restoration for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Beth is the current president of METAvivor, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of metastatic breast cancer and funding research on metastatic disease. Beth tattoos permanent cosmetics, such as eyebrows or eyeliner, as well as nipples and areolas for women who have had breast cancer surgery. Listen to the podcast to hear Beth explain:
how to find a professional who can do permanent cosmetics
what scar camouflage is
how she approaches the nipple tattooing process
what nipple tattooing and areola restoration has done for her clients
Listen to Beth's podcast about the Serenity Project.
Cristina Nixon is a licensed certified genetic counselor with the Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program at Main Line Health in Pennsylvania. In addition to counseling patients, she also assists with research, including a study looking at multi-gene panels in BRCA1/BRCA2-positive families. Cristina also has completed the City of Hope’s intensive course in cancer risk assessment. In the wake of the March 6, 2018 U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization of the 23andMe Personal Genomic Service Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) test, we talked to Cristina about at-home genetic testing. Listen to the podcast to hear Cristina explain:
the differences between an at-home genetic test, such as the 23andMe BRCA genetic test, and a genetic test that is ordered by your doctor, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each how the cost of a genetic test ordered by a doctor isn’t much more than the cost of an at-home genetic test
why genetic counseling is so important when having genetic testing
what she wants people to know about at-home genetic tests
Dr. Marleen Meyers is a medical oncologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone. She also serves as director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center Survivorship Program. She received her medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Meyers talk about:
what HER2-positive breast cancer is and how its aggressiveness ranks compared to other types of breast cancer
factors doctors consider when estimating a person’s risk of recurrence
specific ways to reduce the risk of HER2-positive disease recurrence
how she helps her patients manage the fear of recurrence
Preserving fertility after chemotherapy is an important issue for many, many younger women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Dr. Matteo Lambertini, medical oncologist at the Institute Jules Bordet Brussels, presented research at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that ovarian suppression with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue such as Lupron, Trelstar, or Zoladex, can safely protect ovarian function and may help preserve fertility in younger women being treated with chemotherapy for early-stage disease. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Lambertini explain:
why earlier studies on this topic had mixed results
the results of the study
the side effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues
the strategies he recommends to his younger patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who want to have a child after chemotherapy
Terry Lynn Arnold, founder of The IBC Network Foundation who was diagnosed with triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer in 2007, talks about how her organization is raising awareness of and funding research on this rare type of breast cancer.
Leisha Emens, associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and member of the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, discusses the state of immunotherapy to treat breast cancer.
Marc Hurlbert, chairperson of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA) and chief mission officer of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, discusses some research presented in San Antonio by MBCA collaborators.
Kelly Shanahan, MD, a former obstetrician/gynecologist, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2008 and then diagnosed with metastatic disease in 2013, on her birthday. Here she talks about how empowering it was to participate in the #ThisIsMBC Serenity Project, which gives women and men living with metastatic breast cancer an opportunity to tell their personal stories through a series of unique pictures and inspiring videos.
Joint pain is one of the most common side effects of aromatase inhibitors and may be a big reason why women stop taking these medicines early. Dr. Dawn Hershman, leader of the Breast Cancer Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, presented research at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that acupuncture can ease aromatase inhibitor-caused joint pain, even after the acupuncture treatment sessions stop. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Hershman explain:
how much acupuncture eases joint pain
why she believes acupuncture could help many women stick to their hormonal therapy treatment plans
the cost of acupuncture relative to other treatments
the few and mild side effects of acupuncture
Research has shown that women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause. Still, research results have been mixed on whether losing weight would decrease a postmenopausal woman's breast cancer risk. Rowan Chlebowski, research professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at City of Hope, discusses an analysis of data from the very large Women's Health Initiative Observational Study that found that overweight or obese postmenopausal women who lost just a modest amount of weight — as little as 10 or 15 pounds — had a lower risk of breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Chlebowski explain:
why he wanted to do this study
why this study was different than earlier studies
his advice to postmenopausal women
This Breastcancer.org podcast focuses on breast reconstruction and features Frank DellaCroce, M.D., F.A.C.S., cofounder of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and the St. Charles Surgical Hospital. Dr. DellaCroce is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and his pioneering work in microsurgery has made the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery an international leader in the art and science of breast reconstruction. He has performed thousands of breast reconstructions on women from around the world. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DellaCroce discuss:
the advances in reconstruction that have happened in the past decade
what microsurgery is and why it’s so specialized
the most popular breast reconstruction options
how he assesses a breast reconstruction that a woman is unhappy with
A former pharmaceutical sales rep, Deidra is a 3-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with melanoma in 1991 at age 32 in 1991. In 2006, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 47. Three days before Christmas in 2014 and 12 weeks before the wedding of her son, Pierce, she was diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in two spots. She had double mastectomy and immediate DIEP flap reconstruction on January 18. She also had nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Her goal was to be able to dance at Pierce’s wedding, and she did. She continues to take an aromatase inhibitor. Deidra is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on reconstruction after mastectomy. Listen to the podcast to hear Deidra talk about:
why she was honored to share her story
what she would tell a woman who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer
how she felt when she was relating her story on camera
what dancing at Pierce’s wedding meant to her
A former first grade teacher, Peggy Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2009 after she became concerned about some dimpling in her left breast. She had six rounds of chemotherapy, then a double mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction in May 2010. She then had radiation therapy. After that treatment was completed, she had new implants inserted in December 2010. At that time, nipple reconstruction wasn’t offered to her. In early 2016, at her annual exam with her breast surgeon, the surgeon discovered that one of her implants had ruptured and was leaking. Peggy was told she would have to have her implants replaced yet again. Instead, she decided to have DIEP flap reconstruction as well as nipple reconstruction and nipple tattooing in May 2016. Peggy is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on reconstruction after mastectomy. Listen to the podcast to hear Peggy talk about:
why she decided to have DIEP flap surgery when her implant ruptured
how keeping a journal helped her
how she tries to be a resource for women diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer was familiar to Mimi, even before she was diagnosed. Her mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer three times. She was treated with a double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. Fifteen years later, she is cancer-free. Mimi’s cousin Annette, her best friend, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and passed away from the disease that same year at age 42. Mimi herself was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer in April 2015 at age 45, the same age her mother was first diagnosed. She had a double mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Later she also had a preventive hysterectomy because the cancer was hormone-receptor-positive. She took tamoxifen and an aromatase inhibitor but has since stopped. Mimi is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on reconstruction after mastectomy. Listen to the podcast to hear Mimi discuss:
how she made her decisions about surgery and reconstruction
the positives she believes breast cancer brought to her life
what she would say to a woman who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer
Krista Curley was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago with estrogen-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer in her lymph system and bones at the age of 39. She had no previous diagnosis of cancer. Since her initial diagnosis, the cancer has spread further into her bones and to her liver, despite surgery, various hormonal therapies, and chemotherapy. Krista lives in Ontario, Canada and is married to Patrick, the love of her life. She is the mother of Ethan, who is 16, and Naomi, who is 10. She has a blog about living with metastatic disease called “Metastatic Breast Cancer: Now What?” Listen to the podcast to hear Krista talk about:
what writing the blog gives to her
how she and her family find joy and humor in day-to-day life
how she talked to her kids about metastatic disease
the one thing she would tell people about metastatic breast cancer
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, or "Dr. D" as he has come to be known, is a founding partner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. Board-certified in plastic surgery, Dr. D has performed thousands of reconstructive procedures, both for women diagnosed with breast cancer and women at high risk of the disease who choose to have prophylactic breast removal. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also has been named one of the “Best Doctors in America.” Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. D discuss:
the benefits and risks of nipple reconstruction
the timing of nipple reconstruction
how nipple reconstruction has evolved over the years
how long the procedure takes and what recovery is like
Beth Baughman DuPree performs breast cancer surgery and is vice president at the Holy Redeemer Health System, as well as an adjunct assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a board certified general surgeon specializing in diseases of the breast. She also has obtained dual board certification in integrative and holistic medicine. She has won numerous awards for her medical work as well as her humanitarian endeavors. Dr. DuPree’s skin-sparing mastectomies, performed in conjunction with plastic surgeon Robert Skalicky, were featured live on the Internet; the webcast and subsequent documentary received a Gracie Award. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DuPree discuss:
the types of medicines used to control pain during breast cancer surgery
non-opioid pain control options for people in recovery or who simply don’t want an opioid
the side effects of pain medications
ways to control pain that don’t involve medication
Teva Harrison is an artist, writer, and cartoonist who was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at age 37. She is the author of the bestselling, critically acclaimed graphic memoir, In-Between Days; the book was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Teva is a Canadian Magazine Award and National Magazine Award finalist whose writing and/or comics have appeared in The Walrus, Quill & Quire, Huffington Post, Carte Blanche, The Humber Literary Review, The Globe and Mail, and more. She is a regular commentator on radio, television, and in newspapers, including CBC Radio, the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and The Agenda with Steve Paikin. Born and raised in rural Oregon, Teva currently lives in Toronto with her husband. Listen to the podcast to hear Teva talk about:
how she changed her mind about being public about her diagnosis
how she controls her fear and finds joy and beauty in her life
the things she’s saying yes to and how they are making her happy
what leaving a legacy means to her
Suze Orman has been called “a force in the world of personal finance” and a “one-woman financial advice powerhouse” by USA Today. A two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times mega bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, Orman is undeniably America’s most recognized expert on personal finance. Listen to the podcast to hear Suze discuss:
the four documents that EVERYONE should have
what a young parent with metastatic disease can do protect the financial future of her minor children
when to start taking disability or Social Security payments if you’ve been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer
the differences between wills and trusts
Several studies have shown that cooling the scalp to a very low temperature can help reduce hair loss due to chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. In this podcast, Julie Nangia, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, Baylor College of Medicine talks about the study results she presented at the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System. The study was the first prospective, randomized trial on a scalp cooling system and found that about 50% of the women who used the cooling system kept most of their hair. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Nangia explain:
how the Paxman Hair Loss Preservation System works
how the type of chemotherapy regimen the women were on affected the results
why doing a prospective, randomized trial was important
Editor’s Note: On April 19, 2017, the Paxman Scalp Cooling System received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance. This means the system can be marketed in the United States.
Ann Partridge, M.D., MPH., is founder and director of the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer and the Adult Survivorship Program, as well as senior physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is a medical oncologist focusing on the care of women with breast cancer and has a particular interest in the psychosocial, behavioral and communication issues in breast cancer care and treatment. Dr. Partridge is also the lead investigator of the U.S. arm of the POSITIVE trial. This study is looking at whether premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive disease who stop taking hormonal therapy after about 1.5 to 2.5 years of treatment to get pregnant have a higher risk of the breast cancer coming back, which doctors call recurrence. Most women diagnosed with hormone receptor positive disease take hormonal therapy for 5 to 10 years after surgery. In the POSITIVE trial, the women who want to get pregnant are stopping hormonal therapy for up to 2 years to become pregnant, deliver the baby and breastfeed. The women then start hormonal therapy again. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Partridge talk about:
why the researchers decided to do this study
the safeguards the study has in place so a developing baby won’t be harmed by the hormonal therapy medicine
other safety concerns associated with stopping hormonal therapy to get pregnant besides recurrence risk
Visit the Fertility and Pregnancy Issues During and After Breast Cancer section for more information on pregnancy after treatment.
Dr. Philip Lammers, a medical oncologist, is the chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Meharry Medical College and adjunct assistant professor of internal medicine at Vanderbilt University. He has several active research projects on ways to increase minority and underserved population representation in clinical trials. He also studies state-of-the art cancer treatments, including biosimilars. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Lammers explain:
what a biosimilar drug is, as well as the approval process for biosimilars
how we can be sure that biosimilars are as safe as the reference products
the advantages and disadvantages of biosimilars
when we might see biosimilars on the market to treat breast cancer
Sage Bolte is executive director of Life With Cancer and also serves as associate director of psychosocial program for the Inova Health System. She is an internationally recognized educator and speaker on sexual health, intimacy, and relationships among people diagnosed with cancer and other chronic diseases. She conducts lectures, workshops, and training to both patient and healthcare professional groups on the topic of the sexual self and cancer survivorship. Her goal is to help empower patients to reclaim their sexual selves in spite of the many physical and emotional changes they may experience from their cancer diagnosis and to help healthcare professionals feel more comfortable and knowledgeable to assess and address the sexual health needs of their patients. Listen to the podcast to hear Sage talk about:
how women diagnosed with metastatic disease can redefine sexual health so they’re fulfilled and satisfied
tips for women who are having vaginal pain/dryness, including stretching and strengthening exercises
why it’s important to remember libido starts in the brain, not necessarily the body
how to start a conversation with a partner about what is pleasurable right now and how what’s desired may change
Leah Eshraghi, director of clinical research at the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, discusses the poster she presented on quality of life and disease collateral damage in women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
Breastcancer.org Chief Medical Officer and Founder Marisa Weiss, M.D. talks how radiation therapy can affect different types of breast reconstruction.
Breastcancer.org Chief Medical Officer and Founder Marisa Weiss, M.D. talks about the importance of sticking with a hormonal therapy treatment plan and ways to deal with any side effects.
Breastcancer.org Chief Medical Officer and Founder Marisa Weiss, M.D. offers her take on a new device that may help women keep quite a bit of their hair during chemotherapy.
The experimental medicine buparlisib helps treat metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has been treated with an aromatase inhibitor, but grew after being treated with Afinitor (chemical name: everolimus) and Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane). In this podcast from the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Ruth O'Regan, M.D., professor of hematology and oncology at the University of Wisconsin and one of the researchers who did the phase III BELLE-3 trial, discusses the results of the study and explains why the mechanics of how buparlisib work are promising, even if buparlisib probably isn't the right medicine to treat breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. O'Regan talk about:
how buparlisib works
why inhibiting the PI3 kinase pathway may help treat metastatic, hormone-receptor-positive disease that has stopped responding to hormonal therapy
buparlisib's unacceptable side effects
how she plans to talk to her patients about buparlisib
In 2012, research results showed that taking the hormonal therapy tamoxifen for 10 years instead of 5 offered more benefits for women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, including less recurrence and better overall survival. Since that time, researchers have wondered if extending the time a woman with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive disease took an aromatase inhibitor would offer similar benefits. In this podcast from the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Terry Mamounas, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, discusses the results of his and other studies looking at whether 2.5 to 5 additional years of Femara (chemical name: letrozole) after 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor offered better survival or lowered the number of recurrences. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Mamounas talk about:
the very specific group of women that may benefit from an additional 2.5 to 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor
which women should not take an additional 2.5 to 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor
how women and their doctors can weigh the benefits and potential risks of extended aromatase inhibitor treatment
how he plans to talk to his patients about this issue
"An exciting but early time." Oncologist Philomena McAndrew talks about the exciting, but still early research on what's called by a variety of names: liquid tumor biopsies, circulating tumor cells, and cell free DNA and what the development of these tests might mean for patients in the future.
"I've been on a roll of male breast cancer advocacy." Breast cancer survivor Michael Singer was staffing the Male Breast Cancer Coalition booth at the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. In this mini podcast, he talks about his diagnosis and how he works to raise awareness that men can be breast cancer patients, too.
In August 2016, Stephen Sala found a small lump on the right side of his chest. His doctor thought it was a cyst, but scheduled an ultrasound to be sure. His ultrasound results were concerning, so he had a mammogram the same day, followed a needle biopsy about a week later. The results showed breast cancer. He was 41. He decided to have a bilateral mastectomy to reduce his risk of contralateral disease; pathology results showed that he had cancer in his left chest as well. As he went through diagnosis and treatment, Steve experienced a number of awkward situations. Almost all mammography offices are in women’s health care centers, with no consideration for men. Forms asked when he had his last period, how many children he had given birth to, and if he was in menopause. Listen to the podcast to hear Stephen talk about:
how he came to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis
his ideas on how the process can be made less clumsy for men
how he talked to his children about his diagnosis
how he found support
advice he would offer other men
In our premiere podcast, we're excited to bring you a summary of the day's research highlights from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2013! We discuss treatments before surgery for HER2-positive cancers, radiation after lumpectomy in women over age 65, and more. Breastcancer.org medical adviser Brian Wojciechowski, M.D. and senior editor Jamie DePolo explain the latest news.
Listen to the December 12 updates from the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on today's podcast! In this edition, we fill you in on the latest research about Arimidex (chemical name: anastrazole) for reducing the risk of a primary breast cancer, sticking to your aromatase inhibitor regimen, strength training and aerobics for the relief of aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain relief, and survival improvements with bisphosphonates after early breast cancer. Breastcancer.org medical adviser Brian Wojciechowski, M.D. and senior editor Jamie DePolo explain the latest news.
In this edition of our podcast coverage from the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, we bring you the latest information from these areas of breast cancer research:
post-treatment psychosocial and physical issues
updates on chemotherapy in high-risk women, early and metastatic breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancers, and in women with high numbers of circulating tumor cells
a new design for clinical trials that may allow drugs to become available sooner
breast cancer incidence in women using hormonal treatments for infertility
a presentation on what women know about risk reduction versus how they put this knowledge into practice, from Breastcancer.org Chief Medical Officer Marisa Weiss, M.D.
Because Valentine’s Day is in February, many people start thinking about romance, love, and sex — and their satisfaction with what they have. The February 2014 Breastcancer.org podcast features Lynn Wang, M.D., female sexual medicine specialist for the Main Line Health System and member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. She is a board-certified gynecologist and American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists-certified counselor and educator. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wang discuss:
different models of female sexual response
the biological, psychological, social, and relationship reasons why libido may be reduced
how a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can affect libido and sexual satisfaction
who to talk to if you’re having sexual problems
In the March 2014 Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, discusses some of the most talked about research studies that were published in February 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
the Canadian mammogram study and why it’s flawed
why the FDA is warning women not to use ductal lavage in place of mammograms
the importance of starting chemotherapy within 30 days of surgery
how yoga can ease fatigue and reduce inflammation in women diagnosed with breast cancer
how acupuncture can ease aromatase inhibitor side effects
The March 2014 Breastcancer.org podcast features Michele Pich, a psychologist and veterinary grief counselor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Michele also has extensive experience in leading support groups for people diagnosed with cancer. Michele brought along Vivian, her certified therapy dog who has been named Therapy Dog Ambassador for two years in a row at the National Dog Show. Listen to the podcast to hear Michele discuss:
the physical and psychological reasons pets are so comforting
how the therapy animal world has expanded beyond dogs
Michele and Vivian's experiences helping women diagnosed with breast cancer
how you can arrange for a visit from a certified therapy animal
In the first April 2014 Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org's medical adviser, talks about some of the most interesting research studies that were published in March 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski discuss:
the importance of exercise to reduce breast cancer risk
the new guidelines for the size of cancer tumor margins
available options for women who are having trouble paying for treatment
resources for older cancer survivors who might be having sexuality issues
how radiation after mastectomy benefits women with one to three positive lymph nodes
results from a phase II trial on the experimental medicine palbociclib
The second April 2014 Breastcancer.org podcast features Pamela Post-Ferrante, a four-time breast cancer survivor, writer, teacher, and workshop leader. She wrote her book, Writing and Healing: A Mindful Guide for Cancer Survivors, to help others use writing and mindfulness to heal themselves. Listen to the podcast to hear Pamela discuss:
how writing helped her heal
how the exercises in her book have helped others
why therapeutic writing is so powerful
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Kathy Miller, M.D., talks about how breast cancer treatments can affect your stamina and your ability to exercise, as well as how to exercise during treatment. Dr. Miller is a professor of medicine at Indiana University and is the author of more than 60 scientific papers, many of which focus on breast cancer biology and treatment. Dr. Miller also is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Miller talk about:
how to figure out what a safe level of exercise is while you’re getting chemotherapy or radiation or recovering from surgery
tips on how to start exercising if you’ve never exercised before
how treatment can change your stamina
the benefits of exercise, including helping women recover from treatment
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, discusses some of the most talked-about studies that came out in April 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
the new American Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines on sentinel lymph node biopsy for people diagnosed with early-stage disease
more guidelines from ASCO on issues faced by survivors, including chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, fatigue, and depression
how healthy eating improves survival why an individualized approach to mammography screening is needed
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Michael Krychman, M.D. discusses female sexual health and how a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can affect sexual function and quality of life. Dr. Krychman is executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, as well as a clinical sexologist. Dr. Krychman also is writing a new blog for Breastcancer.org called "Sex Matters." Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Krychman talk about:
some of the biggest sexual issues and side effects during and after breast cancer treatment
the best way to discuss sexual issues with your doctor, especially if you're not comfortable with the topic
the importance of having an individualized survivorship care plan that includes a sexual health component
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in May 2014 or presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in June 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
why using Aromasin on top of ovarian suppression medicine is better at reducing risk in premenopausal women than tamoxifen on top of ovarian suppression medicine
why some research studies on any links between vitamin D and breast cancer outcomes seem to have mixed results
the American Society of Clinical Oncology special series of articles on pain in people diagnosed with cancer
why childhood cancer survivors have a higher risk of breast cancer, even if they didn’t have radiation to the chest area
In this podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in July 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about:
why treating inflammatory breast cancer with three treatments — chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation — improves survival compared to using only one or two of these treatments
the reasons why having more moles is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, though moles themselves DO NOT cause breast cancer
research showing that women with an abnormal BRCA1 gene — but not an abnormal BRCA2 gene — diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to survive if they have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed
a study that found combining 3-D mammograms (digital tomosynthesis) and digital mammograms find more breast cancers with fewer false positives
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Suzanne Wardell, Ph.D., talks about how breast cancer drugs are developed and why some drugs never make it to market. Dr. Wardell is a research scientist at Duke University in North Carolina. Her research interests lie in understanding the processes by which breast cancers develop resistance to tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors and in developing drugs that will target estrogen receptor activity in these resistant tumors. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wardell talk about:
bazedoxifene (BZA), a SERM approved in Europe to treat osteoporosis that has been shown to stop the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer cells
the importance of clinical trials
new research she's conducting suggesting that women diagnosed with breast cancer who do some form of moderate exercise three times a week while in treatment have better outcomes than women who don’t exercise; this applies to women who didn't exercise before being diagnosed, as well as women who did
This Breastcancer.org podcast focuses on metastatic disease and features Roz Kleban, a licensed clinical social worker who is a clinical supervisor and program coordinator at the Breast Imaging Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Roz has worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering since 1989 and works with patients being treated for all stages of breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Roz talk about:
why metastatic disease doesn't mean the loss of hope
how people with metastatic disease who feel isolated can build a community of people who understand what they're going through
how the needs of a woman with metastatic disease are different from the needs of a woman with early-stage disease
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in August and September 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
results of a study that found an abnormal PALB2 gene increases breast cancer risk more than previously thought
why bisphosphonates don’t reduce risk in women who’ve never been diagnosed with breast cancer
the risk-reducing benefits of exercise for postmenopausal women
the risks and benefits of double mastectomy versus lumpectomy plus radiation for women at average risk diagnosed with breast cancer in just one breast
This Breastcancer.org podcast focuses on not having reconstruction after mastectomy and features Barbara Kriss, the founder of BreastFree.org, a nonprofit website that presents non-reconstruction as a positive alternative to reconstruction. Listen to the podcast to hear Barbara talk about:
how she made her decision to not have reconstruction
how to handle any pressure to have reconstruction from doctors or loved ones
how to ask your doctor for the best possible cosmetic results after mastectomy if you're not going to have reconstruction
clothing tips for women who opt for no reconstruction and decide not to wear breast forms
Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., FACS, ABIHM, is a general surgeon and also medical director of the Breast Health Program at the Holy Redeemer Health System, as well as an adjunct assistant professor of surgery for the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. DuPree strongly urges her patients to consider complementary healing support, whether it's through lifestyle modification, spiritual assistance, grief counseling, exercise programs, reflexology, nutritional counseling, Reiki, yoga, or massage. She herself has participated in all these techniques and is a master level Reiki practitioner. She believes that "whatever it takes to help a person find healing and peace is the way to curing them." Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DuPree talk about:
how she became interested in complementary therapies and how she integrates them into her practice
the healing benefits of some complementary therapies
how it feels to see her patients heal their minds and psyches as well as their bodies
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Pat Prijatel talks about triple-negative breast cancer and what makes it different from other types of breast cancer. Pat Prijatel writes the blog Positives About Negative and is the author of Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She has been a magazine writer, editor, consultant, and professor for more than 35 years. She headed Drake University's magazine sequence for 22 years before taking over as director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2004. In May 2006, Pat was diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. She retired from Drake in 2007 to focus on health writing and her health. She had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and is now healthy, fit, and cancer-free. Listen to the podcast to hear Pat talk about:
what the idea of triple-negative disease meant to her when she was diagnosed
when and why she started her blog
what researchers have learned recently about triple-negative disease
advice she would give to a woman newly diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Harvey Singer talks about his diagnosis of breast cancer and awareness of male breast cancer in general, especially during October. With his sister Vicki Singer Wolf, a three-time breast cancer survivor, Harvey is the founder of the HISBreastCancer Awareness, Inc. Foundation and HISBreastCancer.org. He also wrote the book Sir, You Have Breast Cancer! My Life and the Story of a Man with a Woman’s Disease. Listen to the podcast to hear Harvey talk about:
the shock of his diagnosis
how he made his treatment decisions
how perceptions of male breast cancer have changed
risk reduction advice he recommends for men at high risk
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
results of a study that found that Aromasin plus ovarian suppression reduced recurrence risk better than tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression in some women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive disease
research that underscored the long-term benefits of tamoxifen for reducing risk in women with a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer who’ve never been diagnosed
a study showing that Faslodex worked better than Arimidex as a first treatment for women newly diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer
research conducted in part by Breastcancer.org that shows that breastfeeding, even for a short time, reduces breast cancer risk more than previously thought
why a low-fat diet improved survival in women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, discusses Ibrance, a medicine that was approved to treat metastatic, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in February 2015. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
how Ibrance works
who is eligible to take Ibrance
how Ibrance is taken and whether any other medicines are taken with it
the side effects that Ibrance can cause
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, discusses a study looking at whether Zoladex (chemical name: goserelin) given during chemotherapy can help preserve fertility in premenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
when Zoladex is given
why women shouldn’t get pregnant while they’re being treated with chemotherapy and Zoladex
why a woman might have to bring this treatment up with her doctor
why this treatment is only recommended for women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-negative disease
This Breastcancer.org podcast features Holley Kitchen, the metastatic “cancer lifer” as she calls herself, whose June 4, 2015 video about what it’s like to live with metastatic breast cancer went viral on Facebook and other media outlets. Holley was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2012. In 2013, she learned that the cancer had recurred in her spine and other bones. Listen to the podcast to hear Holley talk about:
why and how she made her now-famous video
her support group of other younger women with metastatic disease and why it’s so important to her
some of the most common misconceptions about metastatic disease
what she’s doing next
This Breastcancer.org podcast features Marie Arsenault, a former music promoter and booking agent, who was first diagnosed with stage II estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in September 2000 at age 36. She had mastectomy with TRAM flap reconstruction, chemotherapy, and radiation. In May 2007, she was diagnosed with metastatic disease; the breast cancer had returned in her liver and bones. In 2011, the cancer spread to her bone marrow. Listen to the podcast to hear Marie talk about:
how she feels during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
what she would like people to know about metastatic breast cancer
how her support network helps her stay positive through treatment
her volunteer work with the Tenth Life Cat Rescue in St. Louis
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, talks about four studies that were presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 8-12, including studies that offer encouraging news about treatment for women diagnosed with triple-negative disease and metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
what luminal A breast cancer is and why women diagnosed with this subtype didn’t seem to benefit from chemotherapy after surgery
why adding carboplatin to a standard chemotherapy before surgery for triple-negative breast cancer improved pathologic complete response rates and what this means for women with triple-negative disease
why postmenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer who are taking an aromatase inhibitor and have experienced bone loss might want to consider taking the targeted therapy denosumab
results showing that Kadcyla improves overall survival in women diagnosed with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that has stopped responding to Herceptin and Tykerb
In this podcast, Marisa Weiss, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s chief medical officer, explains a study that looked at the effectiveness of Arimidex and tamoxifen for reducing risk after DCIS surgery and radiation, as well as the side effects of each medicine. The study was presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 8-12. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:
what DCIS is
why postmenopausal women should be reassured no matter which of these medicines they’re taking
the side effects of each medicine
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Marisa Weiss, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s chief medical officer, discusses a study examining survival rates after lumpectomy plus radiation or mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer. The study was presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Dec. 8-12. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:
why lumpectomy plus radiation and mastectomy are both good choices for early-stage breast cancer surgery
why one type of surgery might be recommended over the other
why the researchers think there might have been a difference in survival rates
Nancy Davidson, M.D., is director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, where she also is a distinguished professor of medicine and associate vice chancellor for cancer research. She also serves as president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research, the first and largest cancer research organization in the world. Dr. Davidson is a world-renowned breast cancer researcher who has played a key role in discovering how hormones, particularly estrogen, affect cell growth in breast cancer. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Davidson explain:
what the American Association for Cancer Research is and what its goals are
what precision medicine is
what she thinks the moonshot program to conquer cancer will do
what new treatments she sees coming in the near future
Hope Rugo, M.D. is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer research and treatment. A professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Rugo is the director of the Breast Oncology Clinical Trials Program and is the lead researcher on a number of studies investigating new treatments for both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Rugo is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. She also was the lead researcher on the study that led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the DigniCap, a cold cap that may help some women keep some or quite a bit of hair during chemotherapy. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Rugo explain:
how she became interested in studying cold caps
how cold caps work
her research on the DigniCap
how much cold caps might cost and whether insurance is covering it yet
Tracy Crane is a registered dietitian and senior research specialist at the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health. Her research focuses on diet, specifically studying diet quality and cancer risk. Tracy also has more than 15 years’ experience developing nutrition plans for cancer survivors, many of them breast cancer survivors. Listen to the podcast to hear Tracy discuss:
why obesity is linked to higher breast cancer risk
the new U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and what they mean for women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as women who want to keep their risk of the disease as low as it can be
how to make lasting changes to your diet
styles of eating that can keep your risk of breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence as low as it can be
Courtney Bitz is a licensed clinical social worker who heads the Couples Coping with Cancer Together program for City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center in Duarte, Calif. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, research has shown that having a supportive partner is one of the most important factors in helping her cope. But partners may struggle with knowing what to say or how best to support a loved one. The only program of its kind, Couples Coping with Cancer Together helps women and their partners identify problems that are most important to them as part of their overall medical care. Listen to the podcast to hear Courtney discuss:
how the Couples Coping with Cancer Together program works
specific examples of how a woman can ask for and get the support she needs
the different ways women and men cope with stress and how each can understand the other better
common requests that women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer ask of their partners
To help our visitors, Courtney provided the Partners’ Guide to Managing the Challenges of Breast Cancer (download the PDF). It offers tips on what partners can do to help a woman who’s been diagnosed, as well as tips for what diagnosed women can do to get the best support from their partners and other loved ones.
In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org’s medical adviser, explains a study published in January 2016 suggesting that chemotherapy for breast cancer may increase the risk of common infections. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about:
how the immune system works
how chemotherapy affects the immune system
when women who will be undergoing chemotherapy should get vaccines
steps you can take to support your immune system
Cristina Nixon is a licensed certified genetic counselor with the Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program at Main Line Health in Pennsylvania. In addition to counseling patients, she also assists with research, including, most recently, a study looking at multi-gene panels in BRCA1/BRCA2 positive families. Cristina also has completed the City of Hope’s intensive course in cancer risk assessment. This is part one of three-part podcast on genetics and breast cancer with Cristina. Listen to this podcast to hear her explain:
the difference between a genetic abnormality and a genetic mutation
what the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes do in the body and why having a mutation in one of them increases the risk of breast cancer
other genes besides the BRCA genes that are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer
other types of cancer that are linked to a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
Listen to part 2 of the series. Listen to part 3 of the series.
Cristina Nixon is a licensed certified genetic counselor with the Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program at Main Line Health in Pennsylvania. In addition to counseling patients, she also assists with research, including most recently a study looking at multi-gene panels in BRCA1/BRCA2-positive families. Cristina also has completed the City of Hope’s intensive course in cancer risk assessment. This is part two of three-part podcast on genetics and breast cancer with Cristina. Listen to this podcast to hear her explain:
the factors that would recommend genetic testing for a particular woman
whether DCIS is considered differently than invasive cancer when recommending genetic testing
the process of genetic testing
when genetic testing wouldn’t be recommended for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer
Listen to part 1 of the series. Listen to part 3 of the series.
Cristina Nixon is a licensed certified genetic counselor with the Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program at Main Line Health in Pennsylvania. In addition to counseling patients, she also assists with research, including most recently a study looking at multi-gene panels in BRCA1/BRCA2-positive families. Cristina also has completed the City of Hope’s intensive course in cancer risk assessment. This is part three of three-part podcast on genetics and breast cancer with Cristina. Listen to this podcast to hear her explain:
how a woman could use an online risk assessment tool
the factors the different tools consider
why it’s important that a woman use a risk assessment tool with her doctor or a licensed genetic counselor
what the results from direct-to-consumer testing companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com contain
Listen to part 1 of the series. Listen to part 2 of the series.
Dr. Alan Stolier is a surgeon at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans. He has more than 35 years of experience in surgical oncology. He specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and is a pioneer in the development of nipple-sparing mastectomy. Dr. Stolier also focuses on breast cancer genetics and the associated care of women who have a BRCA gene mutation. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Stolier talk about:
how much each type of prophylactic surgery (breast, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus) can reduce risk
who is most likely to benefit from prophylactic surgery
women who shouldn’t consider prophylactic surgery
whether there is an optimal age for prophylactic surgery
Listen to part 2 of the series.
Dr. Alan Stolier is a surgeon at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans. He has more than 35 years of experience in surgical oncology. He specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and is a pioneer in the development of nipple-sparing mastectomy. Dr. Stolier also focuses on breast cancer genetics and the associated care of women who have a BRCA gene mutation. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Stolier talk about:
the timing of prophylactic surgery
other genetic mutations besides BRCA1 or BRCA2 that might make a woman consider prophylactic surgery
the type of screening program recommended for a woman who’s had prophylactic surgery
how often cancer is found during prophylactic surgery
Listen to part 1 of the series.
Lorell Hornbrook has a strong family history of breast cancer: Both her older sister and her father were diagnosed with breast cancer. Her father died at age 75 from treatment complications, a year after he was diagnosed. In 2014, at age 48, Lorell decided to have genetic testing to see if she had a gene mutation that dramatically increased her risk for breast cancer. When her test results came back positive for a BRCA2 mutation, Lorell had already decided what she would do: a double prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction using tissue from her tummy area. Lorell is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, and reconstruction. Listen to the podcast to hear Lorell talk about:
why she never hesitated about participating in the videos
the type of research she did after she got her genetic test results
how she prepared herself for surgery
the advice she would give to women in a similar situation
Kerry Osmond was 10 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. When it became available, genetic testing for a mutation that raises the risk of breast cancer was strongly recommended for Kerry’s mom — in 2010 her mother tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation. Kerry knew that meant she had a 50-50 chance of having the same mutation. In 2012, she decided to have genetic testing and learned that she, too, had a BRCA2 mutation. She decided to have a double prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction using tissue from her hip area. Kerry is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, and reconstruction. Kerry’s younger sister, Mandi, also tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation and is also in the video series. Listen to the podcast to hear Kerry talk about:
how her family uses their experience to help others
how she connected with women who had similar surgeries on the Breastcancer.org discussion boards
how sharing her story in the video was healing in a way
why talking to other women who had already had prophylactic surgery was encouraging
Mandi Seifert was 3 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. When it became available, genetic testing for a mutation that raises the risk of breast cancer was strongly recommended for Mandi’s mom — in 2010 her mother tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation. Mandi knew that meant she had a 50-50 chance of having the same mutation. In 2013, she decided to have genetic testing and learned that she, too, had a BRCA2 mutation. She decided to have a double prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction using tissue from her tummy area. Mandi is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, and reconstruction. Mandi’s older sister, Kerry, also tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation and is also in the video series. Listen to the podcast to hear Mandi discuss:
how talking about her surgery with her sister was both emotional and freeing
how it felt to see her reconstructive surgeon again after she was completely healed
how her sister’s experience helped guide her
why family support is so important