Real Pink

Latest Episodes:

Episode 264: Mitigating Breast Cancer Risk in the Black Community Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, at later stages and with more aggressive types of breast cancer than white women. This underscores the importance of learning about your personal risk of breast cancer. Dr. Kameelah Phillips joins us today to share her insights on the value of understanding breast cancer risk in the Black community, how to advocate for yourself as a younger patient and how lifestyle changes can contribute to lowering your risk of breast cancer.

Episode 263: A Personal Journey Through Breast Cancer: Advocacy, Family, and Survival Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

This episode of "Real Pink" presents an intimate and powerful conversation with Lauren Velarde, whose life was deeply affected by breast cancer. Lauren, shares her compelling story, from the early diagnosis at the age of 26, following a BRCA gene test, to her courageous decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. The episode delves into the complexities of facing such a life-altering condition as a young mother, and the impact it had on her family life. Lauren's journey is not just about her struggle with cancer, but also about the importance of genetic testing, being one’s own advocate in healthcare, and the vital support of loved ones. The episode also touches upon how her experience influenced her mother's decision to undergo genetic testing, ultimately leading to early detection and treatment of her own breast cancer.

Episode 262: Healing Women One Scar at a Time Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

Tune into the latest episode of Real Pink to hear Corina Klein share how complications after surgery led her to starting a non-profit organization that provides tattoos for breast cancer survivors who lose their nipples from breast cancer, to help them feel whole again.

Episode 261: Real Talk: Nipple Loss From Breast Cancer Jan 15, 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 living life after treatment ends.    

In today’s episode, we’ll hear the personal stories of two women who had to make decisions about their nipples because they both needed surgery to treat their breast cancer. Syreeta Coleman opted for a surgical technique that spared her nipples in the surgical process.

Corina Klein also chose nipple-sparing surgery but experienced complications and ultimately lost her nipples in a later surgery. She now has tattoos in place of where her nipples would be and has started a non-profit organization that provides tattoos for breast cancer survivors who lose their nipples.

Episode 260: Repeat: Finding Empowerment After Breast Cancer Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

On this show, we often talk about how lives are changed after breast cancer, how a survivor’s life takes on a new normal. There can be many challenges that come along with that – from self-esteem to navigating relationships, and even sometimes the shifting of life priorities. Today’s guest has been through a whole host of changes in the decade since her breast cancer diagnosis, including a divorce and a career shift that brought her to Komen to make a difference in the lives of others facing breast cancer. Here today to share how she was able to find empowerment following her breast cancer diagnosis is Nikki Panico. Nikki exemplifies the power of living as her truest self and believing that she can do anything…and she has some great stories of doing just that. She is a shining light and I want to bottle her energy up and share with all of you, so let’s get started. Nikki, welcome to the show!

Episode 259: Should I Do a Breast Self-Exam? Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., but it can be successfully treated. To support screening and early detection, Susan G. Komen promotes breast self-awareness messages. These messages consist of knowing your risk, getting screened, knowing what is normal for you and making healthy lifestyle choices. More than 20 years ago, studies showed that monthly breast self-exams don’t reduce breast cancer mortality. Joining us on today’s show is Komen’s Senior Director of Health Information and Publication, Susan Brown. Susan has lived through these changes in recommendations and is here today to explain them to us and to clear up any confusion on what we are supposed to be doing to best protect ourselves.

Episode 258: Beyond Treatment: Creating a Plan For the Future Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Once breast cancer treatment ends, you can hardly wait to get back to normal life again. But your body may not respond as fast as you expect it to, your relationships may feel different, and you soon learn that you will need to adjust to a whole new normal in your life. Things don’t necessarily go back to the way they were before. These realizations can all be challenging from an emotional and mental perspective and may take some time to accept. Lauren Tarpley is here today to discuss the reality of what survivorship can really look like after treatment and how she was able to move past the disappointment of trying to get her old self back and to create a plan for her future.

Episode 257: Real Talk: Navigating A Diagnosis At The Holidays Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

A time that is often joyous and celebratory may not be – and this episode will give strength to those who find themselves in a tough spot and help families and loved ones better understand how to support and uplift someone who may be struggling this time of year. In today’s episode, we’ll hear from two women who were diagnosed with breast cancer during the holiday season. Shannon Schumacher was diagnosed on December 6, 2022 and had surgery the week after Christmas. She was hospitalized on New Year’s Eve with a collapsed lung. Shannon’s mom is a six-time breast cancer survivor and her grandmother passed away from metastatic breast cancer before Shannon was born. Shannon’s stepdad is living with Stage IV bladder cancer and her brother is currently fighting lymphoma. Patricia Fox found a lump in her breast just days before Thanksgiving in 2013. She had a needle biopsy the day after Thanksgiving and received her breast cancer diagnosis on December 5th that year.Their holidays were far from what they were expecting. They managed their diagnosis and had conversations with health care providers and family members about their treatment plan. It wasn’t exactly the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Episode 256: Surveillance Monitoring for Breast Cancer Recurrence Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

The goal of treating early breast cancer is to remove the cancer and keep it from coming back. When breast cancer returns after treatment, this is called a breast cancer recurrence. Most people diagnosed with breast cancer will never have a recurrence. However, everyone who’s had breast cancer is at risk of recurrence, though that risk varies greatly from person to person. Your health care provider cannot tell you whether or not you will have a recurrence, but they can give you some information about your risk. Joining us today to talk about breast cancer recurrence and the tools available for surveillance monitoring post treatment is Medical Oncologist Angel Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez Komen for the Cure Multidisciplinary Fellowship Grant Recipient.

Episode 255: Healing your Mental and Emotional Health Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

If you’ve heard the words, “You have breast cancer,” you aren’t alone. There are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors and those living with breast cancer in the U.S – more than any other group of cancer survivors. You also likely face unique issues and concerns, such as the stress of living in a new normal and the fear of recurrence. You may still be trying to process everything that you just went through or grieving life plans that had to change. The mental and emotional effects of breast cancer are real and after being diagnosed at the age of 38, today’s guest learned for herself just how important it is to feel all your emotions through it to allow yourself to heal. Ryn Sloane is here to share her story with us and how she is now committed to helping survivors go from surviving to thriving!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected