Real Pink

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Episode 294: Finding Comfort and Strength in Creativity Sep 02, 2024

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Women with a very high risk of breast cancer due to genetic mutations, such as BRCA, may consider risk-reducing bilateral mastectomies to lower their risk of breast cancer. While these prophylactic mastectomies do not completely protect a woman from breast cancer, they lower the risk in women at high risk by at least 90%. When today’s guest learned that she was a carrier of the BRCA1 mutation at only age 31, she began preparing for her surgery and found both an escape and a sense of confidence through romance novels where women were embracing self-confidence, self-love and their bodies. Reading romance novels carried her through her recovery and this year, she published her own romance novel, Four Weekends and a Funeral, with a lead character who has also just undergone a double mastectomy. Ellie Palmer is here today to share her story and how a genre of books helped not only bring her joy, but also gave her a language to help discuss her body and what she feared losing.

Episode 293: Managing Lymphedema Symptoms During Treatment Aug 26, 2024

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1 in 5 women who have had breast cancer surgery and treatment are at risk for developing a potentially detrimental side effect of breast cancer – breast cancer-related lymphedema – a condition in which lymphatic fluid gets trapped in lymph vessels and causes chronic arm swelling leading to reduced quality of life for many. We are joined today by Tina Tsan, a certified lymphedema therapist and the Founder of Harmony Lymphatics. Tina is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to her patients and is excited to be here today to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise about managing lymphedema during and after breast cancer treatment.

Episode 292: Recurrence After a Double Mastectomy Aug 19, 2024

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Most people diagnosed with breast cancer will never have a breast cancer recurrence. However, everyone who’s had breast cancer is at risk of recurrence. Today’s guest is Nikki Panico, the Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Wisconsin. Nikki is unfortunately no stranger to breast cancer. Her mother and aunt both died from the disease 14 years ago, the same year that Nikki was diagnosed for the first time. Now, she is dealing with a second diagnosis, despite undergoing a double mastectomy and 5 years of hormone treatment and having no evidence of disease for over a decade. Nikki is here today to share the physical symptom that led her back to her doctor and how she is feeling amidst this new fight.

Episode 291: Real Talk: A Mastectomy Isn’t A Boob Job Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we’re digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We’re talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about mastectomies and how they aren’t boob jobs.
Asha Miller was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2-negative breast cancer at age 33. She was in great physical shape and never suspected the lump she found in her armpit. She underwent chemotherapy and surgery for a double mastectomy, followed by radiation that left severe burns on her skin. She thought she was finally finished with her treatment but a recall on her breast implants sent her back to the hospital for another surgery.

Dr. Stephanie McCoy is a passionate advocate for health equity and a qualitative research professional at Susan G. Komen. With her extensive experience in public health, Stephanie works to ensure the work Komen does across various Mission programs is responsive to the communities we serve toward breast health equity for all.

Episode 290: Talking Chemo – Understanding the Role of Preventative Chemo Aug 05, 2024

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Chemotherapy or “Chemo” is often associated with cancer treatment and hair loss, but what do you know about it? The term preventative chemotherapy has been mentioned in the media recently in relation to Princess Kate’s cancer journey, leaving many people wondering exactly what that means. We are joined today by Komen Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Lisa Carey, who will help us understand the evolving role of chemotherapy, preventative chemotherapy, and more in the treatment of breast cancer.

Episode 289: Breast Cancer: Keeping It Real Jul 29, 2024

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Today’s guest is a mom of three young girls, a firefighter and a contestant from season 36 of “The Amazing Race”, who first found out that she had lumps in her breast from a pre-taping required physical for the show. After competing on “The Amazing Race” and returning home, 36-year-old Bizzy Smith had a long road of self-advocacy ahead of her before finally receiving the breast MRI that diagnosed her breast cancer. Bizzy is here today to help raise breast cancer awareness for younger women and to keep it real with topics like talking to her daughters about the changes in her body, still wanting to feel sexy, and how she’s been able to stay connected to her husband. Her positive spin on life has made all the difference and we are thrilled to have her here today to share her story.

Episode 288: The Difference Care Makes Jul 22, 2024

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How do you navigate breast cancer when you know the health care system is stacked against you? And, how, as a health care provider, can you best support marginalized people going through the experience of breast cancer? Let’s find out.

In this episode, Jasmine Samuel, a TNBC survivor and Black nurse shares how her experience of suboptimal care in Jackson, Miss., encouraged her to actively seek out a better care experience from MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. We’ll also hear from Komen Scholar Dr. Mariana Chavez MacGregor, a breast medical oncologist and professor at the Breast Medical Oncology Department of MD Anderson Cancer Center who will discuss how she provides compassionate care and focuses research on improving outcomes for underserved patients.

Episode 287: Advocating for Your Health Jul 15, 2024

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When something feels off, it is important to pay attention. You know your body best and self-advocating means listening to your body and speaking up for it. Today’s guest had to fight to be taken seriously when she found a lump in her breast at age 26 because she was told that she was too young for breast cancer. Then at multiple other points throughout diagnosis and treatment, she had to advocate for her health by asking for scans and second opinions, which turned out to be necessary because she received an incorrect diagnosis.

Episode 286: Real Talk - Why Didn't Someone Tell Me? Jul 08, 2024

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In today’s episode, we’re calling ALL listeners – young and old – to have conversations with trusted health professionals about their risk of cancer. While breast cancer is most common in older women, today’s guests remind us that young women get breast cancer, too. And knowing if you have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer could save your life.

Dani Alderman is 30 years old and a 1-year survivor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Her maternal grandmother had breast cancer at a young age, so Dani is proactive about her health and gets screened every 6 months. Her mom has not had breast cancer and doesn’t carry a genetic link to breast cancer. But Dani didn’t know that a history of ovarian cancer on her dad’s side of the family could make her at greater risk of breast cancer.

Kasey Lipinski is 38 years old and living with metastatic breast cancer. Prostate cancer has affected her father and grandfather, but nobody in her family has had breast cancer. Kasey didn’t know that a prevalence of prostate cancer on her paternal side was a warning sign that she might be at risk of breast cancer.

Episode 285: Supporting Someone With Breast Cancer Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

When a friend or loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may wonder how to best support them, and it may be difficult to know what to say or do. Today’s guest has been a Komen Patient Navigator for the last 4 years and spends her days talking to people diagnosed with breast cancer – helping to support and guide them through their every need, whether financial, emotional, physical or mental. Laura Grueser is truly sunshine in human form, and she is here today to help us understand we can best support our friends and family members when they are diagnosed so that they feel loved and cared for.

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