Breastcancer.org Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Staying Active During Quarantine: Tips for People With Breast Cancer Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

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

Breast Surgery and Reconstruction During COVID-19 Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

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

COVID-19 and Breast Cancer Treatment Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

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

Facing the End of Life Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

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

Managing the Emotions of Metastatic Breast Cancer Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

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

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Cancer Diagnosis Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

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.

Medical Records: Privacy and Access Rights Granted by HIPAA Mar 19, 2020

Show notes

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

Managing Loneliness and Anxiety During This Time of Social Distancing Mar 19, 2020

Show notes

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

COVID-19: What We Know Now Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

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

Becoming Your Own Advocate Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

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

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