Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful

Latest Episodes:

What to Do When Sex Becomes Painful After Breast Cancer with Dr. Kristin Rojas, Breast Surgeon and Director of the OASIS Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

This episode is part of Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer, a series focused on helping breast cancer survivors reclaim their sexual health, confidence and intimacy.

Painful sex after breast cancer is common, but that doesn't mean it is something women should be expected to accept.

Too often, we're told to use more lubricant or assume vaginal dryness is the entire problem. But pain during sex can have several different causes, including changes to the vulvar and vaginal tissue, loss of elasticity, irritation and pelvic-floor muscle tension.

Where the pain occurs - at the vaginal opening or deeper during penetration - may also offer important clues about what is causing it.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Dr. Kristin Rojas, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon, board-certified gynecologist and Director of the OASIS (Onco-menopause and Intimacy Specialists) Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Rojas explains how an examination can help identify the cause of painful sex and walks listeners through the four-step approach she uses with patients: eliminating irritants, moisturizing the tissue, choosing the right lubricant and addressing the pelvic floor.

She also discusses why pushing through painful sex can make the problem worse, when pelvic-floor physical therapy or vaginal dilators may help, and how nonhormonal and hormonal treatment options can be tailored to a patient's individual needs.

If sex has become painful, you are afraid to try again or you have started believing that comfortable intimacy is no longer possible, this episode will give you a clear place to begin.

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use the content for medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Please consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This disclaimer also applies to all of my guests.

The information shared on Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual medical care and treatment decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cancer Fashionista.

Thank you to Lilly, Daiichi Sankyo and Novartis for making this episode of Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer possible.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) – Find a certified sex therapist, sexuality counselor or educator, including professionals with experience in cancer-related sexual health.

The Menopause Society - Find a menopause-trained healthcare professional in your area.

OASIS Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center - Learn more about the Onco-menopause and Intimacy Specialists Program directed by Dr. Kristin Rojas.

Connect with Dr. Kristin Rojas Instagram: @kristinrojasmd

How I've Learned to Live with Metastatic Breast Cancer for Over a Decade with Tami Eagle Bowling, Metastatic Breast Cancer Thriver and Advocate Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Living with metastatic breast cancer can mean carrying uncertainty into everyday life. There is always another scan, another appointment or another stretch of waiting, and it can be hard not to let fear take up too much space in between.

This is the first episode of Between the Scans: Navigating Life With Metastatic Breast Cancer, a lived-experience series exploring what it really means to live with metastatic breast cancer between appointments, scans and treatment decisions - including the emotional, practical and everyday realities that don't always get talked about.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Tami Eagle Bowling, who has been living with metastatic breast cancer for more than a decade, to talk about what she actually does when fear starts to take over.

Tami shares how she has learned to navigate scan anxiety, what she does when her mind goes to the worst-case scenario and how she redirects her attention toward what she can control. She explains how practices like her "Gratitude Machine," her "Faith Over Fear" mindset and what she calls "cancer clarity" help her cope with the emotional weight of living with MBC.

They also talk about motherhood, the importance of connecting with others who understand what it's like to live with MBC, and how community and advocacy can help reduce isolation and create a greater sense of support and purpose.

If you've ever found yourself putting your life on hold until the next scan, struggling when your mind races to the worst-case scenario, or wondering how to live alongside uncertainty without letting it take over, this conversation is for you.

The information shared on Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

Thank you to Novartis and Genentech for making this episode of Between The Scans possible.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Light Up MBC Learn more about the annual Light Up MBC campaign, find participating landmarks, and get information about Light Up MBC Live. lightupmbc.org

METAvivor Learn more about METAvivor and its work funding research specifically for metastatic breast cancer. metavivor.org

Faith Over Fear Bracelet Created in collaboration with Tami Eagle Bowling and Little Words Project, the Faith Over Fear bracelet is a reminder to keep your faith stronger than your fear. $5 from every bracelet purchased is donated to METAvivor to support metastatic breast cancer research.

Shop the Faith Over Fear bracelet at Little Words Project.

The Eagle Method Created by Tami Eagle Bowling, The EAGLE Method is a five-step framework for building resilience, embracing uncertainty, and making each day meaningful.

Learn more about The EAGLE Method here.

Connect with Tami Eagle Bowling Instagram: @EagleMethod LinkedIn: Tami Eagle Bowling

How to Ask for Help and Accept Support After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis Dr. Allison Applebaum, Clinical Psychologist, Caregiving Scientist, and Author of Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

One of the most unexpected challenges of breast cancer is suddenly needing help with the parts of life you have always managed yourself.

Treatment, surgery, and recovery can make everyday responsibilities like working, cooking, cleaning, parenting, driving, and caring for others feel overwhelming or even impossible. Yet knowing you need help and allowing yourself to receive it are two very different things.

Dr. Allison Applebaum is a clinical psychologist and caregiving scientist whose work focuses on supporting family caregivers. She is Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and Director of the Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

In this conversation, she shares practical guidance for women who are struggling to accept support. Together, we explore where to begin, how to identify what help is actually needed, what to delegate, who to ask, and how to communicate those needs clearly.

We also discuss how to navigate guilt, preserve a sense of choice and independence, set boundaries when help begins to feel like taking over, and reframe the fear of becoming a burden.

Most importantly, this episode gives listeners practical tools, helpful language, and small steps they can use to make asking for and receiving support feel more manageable.

To learn more about Dr. Applebaum's work, visit her website and explore her book, Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving, a practical guide for patients, caregivers, and families navigating serious illness.

Dr. Applebaum did not receive any funding for participating in this sponsored educational podcast episode.

The information shared on Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual medical care and treatment decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cancer Fashionista.

Thank you to Novartis for making this episode of the Signature Series possible.

The Fertility Conversation Every Woman Needs Before Breast Cancer Treatment with Dr. Ann Partridge, Breast Oncologist and Young Adult Cancer Specialist Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

For many young women diagnosed with breast cancer, some of the most important decisions they will ever make happen within days of hearing the words, "You have cancer." While treatment planning begins immediately, patients may also be faced with urgent questions about fertility, future family-building, and preserving options they may not have expected to think about so soon.

These conversations often happen during a period of fear, uncertainty, and information overload, leaving many patients feeling overwhelmed and unprepared.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ann Partridge, Vice Chair of Medical Oncology and Chief Clinical Strategy Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she also serves as co-founder and director of the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer. A professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Partridge is a leading breast oncologist and researcher whose work focuses on improving care and outcomes for young adults with breast cancer.

Together, we discuss how breast cancer treatment can affect fertility, why these conversations need to happen early, the options available today, and how patients can make informed decisions while balancing the urgency of cancer treatment with hopes and plans for the future.

We also reinforce the hopeful message that having children after breast cancer is often possible - and that preserving future options begins with having the right conversations early.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that patients deserve information, support, and compassionate guidance when facing life-changing decisions at diagnosis.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

For additional information and support, visit the Young and Strong Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which offers resources and practical guides for young adults with breast cancer, including those who are newly diagnosed, in treatment, or in survivorship, as well as caregivers.

The program also provides trusted information about fertility preservation, pregnancy after breast cancer, and breastfeeding.

Thank you to Daiichi Sankyo and Novartis for making this episode of the Signature Series possible.

After Losing Her Mother to Metastatic Breast Cancer, She Chose Prevention with Ashley Dedmon, BRCA2 Previvor and Advocate Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

For many families, cancer doesn't affect just one person. It can shape generations.⁣ When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, children often carry more than memories. They may inherit questions, uncertainty, increased risk, and life-changing decisions of their own.⁣ ⁣ In this conversation, Ashley Dedmon shares her experience of losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer, learning she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, and ultimately making the decision to undergo a preventive mastectomy.⁣ ⁣ Together, we discuss hereditary cancer risk, genetic testing, prevention, family planning, and how understanding your family history can empower you to make informed decisions for yourself and future generations.⁣ Ashley also shares how her personal experience inspired her work as a national public health leader, patient advocate, and children's book author helping families navigate conversations about cancer and family health history.⁣ ⁣ Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that while we cannot change our family history, we can make informed decisions that help shape what comes next.⁣ ⁣ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:⁣ ⁣ To learn more about Ashley Dedmon's work, follow her on Instagram at @PinkLegacy5050 and explore her children's books, The Big Discovery and The Big Family Trip, which help families navigate conversations about cancer and family health history.⁣ ⁣ For additional education and support, visit Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) or follow @LivingBeyondBC on Instagram.⁣ ⁣ The information shared on Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual medical care and treatment decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cancer Fashionista.

The Truth About Hormones and Menopause After Breast Cancer with Dr. Corinne Menn, Breast Cancer Survivor, OB/GYN, and Menopause Specialist Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

For many women, one of the most challenging parts of life after breast cancer isn't something they expected at all: menopause.

Whether caused by chemotherapy, ovarian suppression, surgery, or hormone-blocking therapies, treatment-induced menopause can arrive suddenly and bring significant physical and emotional changes that impact nearly every aspect of daily life. Yet many survivors say they were never fully prepared for what comes next.

In this conversation, Dr. Corinne Menn shares both her professional expertise as an OB/GYN and menopause specialist and her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor who has faced many of these challenges herself.

Together, we discuss why menopause after breast cancer can feel so different from natural menopause, the symptoms that often catch us off guard, the confusion surrounding hormones after cancer, and how survivors can advocate for the support and quality-of-life care they deserve.

This episode of the Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful Signature Series was made possible by Novartis and Daiichi Sankyo.

Breast Cancer & Divorce: You Are Not Alone in Starting Over with Asha Miller, Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Divorce after breast cancer is rarely talked about openly, even though many people quietly navigate this reality, and that silence is part of what makes the experience feel so isolating.

In this conversation, Asha Miller shares her experience of living through breast cancer within a long-term marriage and what it was like when that marriage later ended. Her story reflects a layered and often unacknowledged grief: the end of a relationship, the aftershocks of illness, and the process of rebuilding identity from both.

Together, we discuss how breast cancer can affect communication, connection, and self-perception within a relationship, the challenges of starting over after divorce, and the strength it takes to rebuild a life after multiple losses.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone in starting over after everything changes.

The Registry That Puts Cancer Patients First and Takes the Guesswork Out of Asking for Help with Elissa Kalver, Metastatic Breast Cancer Thriver and Founder of We Got This Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

When Elissa Kalver was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer just days before her daughter's first birthday, she was thrown into a reality no one is ever fully prepared for. Alongside the shock and fear came something many patients experience but rarely talk about: not knowing how to ask for help or what support actually looks like in real life.

In this episode, Elissa shares what those early days were really like, raising a young child while navigating treatment and the emotional weight that comes with it. She opens up about the moments that felt overwhelming and the realization that there had to be a better, more human way for patients and caregivers to get the support they need.

That realization led to the creation of We Got This, a first of its kind registry designed to take the guesswork out of asking for help. We discuss how the platform works and how it allows patients to request exactly what they need to make day to day life more manageable and enjoyable.

This conversation highlights how "We Got This" helps patients and caregivers move beyond just getting through cancer and toward feeling supported, seen, and empowered. Elissa also shares the impact the registry is already having and what she envisions for the future, along with key takeaways from her book that offer guidance for anyone navigating cancer.

This episode is for patients, caregivers, and anyone who wants to better understand how to show up in a way that truly helps.

Celebrating 5 Years of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful With Guest Host Dana Donofree, Breast Cancer Survivor and Founder of AnaOno Intimates Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful turns 5 this year! To celebrate, Dana Donofree joins me as guest host for this special milestone episode. Dana is a breast cancer survivor, fashion designer, and founder of AnaOno Intimates, creating chest-inclusive lingerie, loungewear, and post-surgery essentials that help women feel confident and supported after breast cancer surgery.

In this episode, Dana and I reflect on the past five years of the podcast. We talk about why it started, unforgettable moments, lessons learned from incredible guests, and what's ahead. It's a heartfelt celebration of the community, stories, and strength that continue to inspire us all.

To learn more about Dana and shop the AnaOno collection, visit AnaOno.com. To celebrate this milestone episode, use this link or enter code CANCERFASHIONISTA at checkout for an additional 15% off.

Your Menopause Can't Be Ignored - A Guide for Survivors and Previvors with Rachel Frankenthal, Gynecologic Oncology PA-C Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Breast cancer and its risk can dramatically disrupt hormones and often trigger early or surgical menopause, yet menopause care is still too often treated as an afterthought. In this episode, Rachel Frankenthal, PA-C and gynecologic oncology specialist, makes the case that menopause should be a non-negotiable part of every cancer care plan from the very beginning.

She explores how survivors and previvors can navigate hormonal changes, manage menopause safely, and protect long-term gynecologic health. From understanding genetic risk and prevention options to taking control of your body and choices, Rachel offers clear, practical guidance and expert strategies to help women feel empowered, informed, and confident in advocating for care that addresses their whole health, not just the cancer.

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