Real Pink

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Episode 324: I’m Number Nine in my Family with Breast Cancer Mar 24, 2025

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Today, we’re honored to share the story of Nancy Pickett, a woman whose breast cancer journey is not just her own — it’s part of a long family history. Nancy is the ninth person in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, making her path one of both personal resilience and advocacy.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize that every woman’s breast cancer journey is unique. That’s why personalized care is so important — ensuring that every patient gets the right support, resources and treatment for their specific needs.

Episode 323: Real Talk: Cancer Genes Impacted Our Family Mar 17, 2025

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Breast cancer risk looks different for everyone. Our guests today have an inherited genetic mutation that increased their risk of breast cancer. Without knowing it, they may have passed this gene onto their children. Genetic mutations can increase risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women, and prostate cancer in men. About 10% of breast cancers are genetic – knowing if you have a gene mutation can help you take steps to lower your risk. It can also cause fear and anxieties and force tough conversations with family members about their genes and cancer risk.

Shanise Pearce learned in 2020 that she has two inherited gene mutations and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She also has two daughters. Natalie Gutierrez was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and learned afterward that she carries an inherited gene mutation. She has twin sons.

Shanise and Natalie are both living with no evidence of breast cancer and have turned their attention to supporting their children and helping them navigate their cancer risk.

Episode 322: "Las Tres Sisters": Latina Storytelling Meets Breast Cancer Awareness Mar 10, 2025

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Welcome to the Real Pink Podcast by Susan G. Komen. I’m Adam Walker, and each week we take a look at the stories of real people affected by breast cancer. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce our special guest host, three-time Emmy Award winner, author and breast cancer survivor Gaby Natale! Gaby is a proud Komen Ambassador, using her voice to educate, empower and uplift communities—especially the Latino community—about the importance of breast health. She’ll be leading today’s conversation with two of the talented actors and producers behind the film “Las Tres Sisters,” Valeria Maldonado and Marta Cross. This powerful film explores family, resilience and the conversations we need to have about our breast health.

Episode 321: Personalizing treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Mar 03, 2025

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It is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day – an annual opportunity to bring more awareness to this aggressive type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat because it lacks an estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptor. It primarily affects younger women and Black women and can spread quickly and be deadly if left untreated for too long.

Treatment for TNBC used to include the toughest forms of chemotherapy, with debilitating side effects – but we’ve come a long way in how we treat patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer so their outcomes are better.

Today, we are speaking with Dr. Heather McArthur of UT Southwestern. She is a former Susan G. Komen grantee, Professor and the Komen Distinguished Chair in Clinical Breast Cancer Research. Dr. McArthur has been working on a Phase 3 clinical trial called KEYNOTE-522, which is testing whether a specific immunotherapy drug improves overall survival for people with high-risk early Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Dr. McArthur, along with her colleagues, are trying to determine if all people with this type of breast cancer truly need the drug, and if not, who would most benefit from taking it.

Episode 320: Black Bodies, Black Health: Transforming Breast Cancer Care Feb 24, 2025

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Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month, we invite in patients, community organizations, health care providers, researchers and policy advocates to discuss strategies and solutions that drive the health equity revolution forward for multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities.

In honor of Black History Month, this Komen Health Equity Revolution episode of the Real Pink podcast takes a deep dive into the unique challenges and disparities Black women face in breast cancer care. Joining me is Komen Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Lisa Newman, a trailblazing breast surgical oncologist and researcher. In this episode, we’ll explore the lack of representation of Black bodies in the medical space and its impact on care and treatment. We’ll also discuss culturally responsive care, the transformative role of diverse health care providers, and ways to advocate for yourself as a patient. Let’s dive into this important conversation.

Episode 319: Is Personalized Medicine the Key to Better Quality of Life and Treatment? Feb 17, 2025

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Breast cancer treatment today is becoming more personalized and more precise. Precision medicine is rapidly expanding the options patients have for treating their cancer while helping them maintain a desired quality of life. A common mutation in breast cancer called PIK3CA affects more than 1 in 3 people with breast cancer, making it harder to treat. This mutation often leads to worse outcomes for these patients compared to others. Scientists are now developing new treatments that target this mutation specifically, aiming to reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes, such as shrinking tumors or preventing disease progression.

Today, we are speaking with Dr. Sarah Sammons of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to explore the exciting new possibilities brought by personalized medicine, including whether it can help slow disease progression and how it can it improve patients’ abilities to potentially live more active and productive lives while on treatment.

Episode 318: Real Talk: Sexual Health & Vaginal Dryness Feb 10, 2025

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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 the effect treatment has on sexual health and unwanted side effects women face during breast cancer treatment and life thereafter. Joining us today are Jenn Smith and Nisha Jaime. Jenn is 42 years old, and a 3-year breast cancer survivor. She and her husband have been married for 17 years. Nisha is 45 years old and a 1-year breast cancer survivor. She is also married with 3 school-aged children.

Both women are learning to live with the impact breast cancer treatment is having on their bodies, their intimacy and their overall wellbeing.

Episode 317: The Importance of Taking an Active Role in Your Treatment Feb 03, 2025

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As we kick off Black History Month here on Real Pink, we’re excited to highlight guests who have been affected by breast cancer and are using their experiences to make an impact. Today’s guest advocated for herself to ensure that she was receiving the best, most personalized treatment for her after her diagnosis, and in the process learned the staggering fact that less than 10% of clinical trial participants are members of racial or ethnic communities who often face higher breast cancer or mortality rates. This fueled Tina Pickett to get involved. She is passionate about educating women on early detection, health equity and representation in research and her team was at the top of the fundraising board at her local Race for the Cure.

Episode 316: A Pathway to Health Equity in Breast Cancer Jan 27, 2025

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Tune into the latest episode of Real Pink for a vital conversation about the transformative impact of personalized care, its role in addressing disparities and how it can empower patients in their breast cancer journey. Dr. Ezinne Ihenachor, a diagnostic radiologist and passionate health equity advocate, helps us understand how personalized care can address systemic inequities and improve outcomes for all.

Thanks to Merck for supporting the Real Pink Podcast.

Episode 315: Making Tamoxifen Work for You Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Tamoxifen is a medication used to block estrogen, which is needed for some breast tumors to grow. Many survivors are prescribed tamoxifen to lower the risk of having a recurrence of breast cancer, usually after breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Tamoxifen can also be used for breast cancer risk reduction in women who do not have breast cancer but who are at higher risk, which was the case with today’s guest. Twenty years after her mother passed away from breast cancer, Colleen Boraca learned she had two conditions that increase her chances of developing breast cancer. At the recommendation of her oncologist, she began her five-year, daily journey with Tamoxifen and is here today to share about her experience, what helped her get through struggles and how she was able to work with her doctor along the way to get the personalized care that was right for her.

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