Love the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when breast cancer survivors and thrivers come together to celebrate 300 episodes of Breast Cancer Conversations?In this special milestone episode, host Laura Carfang welcomes members of the SurvivingBreastCancer.org community for an honest, heartfelt discussion about diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, metastatic breast cancer, advocacy, and finding connection after cancer.Together, they reflect on the stories that shaped them, the support that carried them through difficult moments, and what they wish every newly diagnosed patient knew.Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with metastatic breast cancer, supporting a loved one, or navigating survivorship, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone.💜 Topics include: Finding community after diagnosis  Support groups and survivorship  Living with metastatic breast cancer  Storytelling and emotional healing  Life after treatment  Patient advocacy and self-advocacy  Managing long-term side effects  What breast cancer survivors wish they knew sooner Thank you for helping us reach 300 episodes.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when you give yourself one year to “get through breast cancer” — only to realize that the timeline is much longer and more complicated than you imagined?In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I’m joined by Jessica Thomas, who was diagnosed with ER/PR-positive, stage 2B breast cancer with lymph node involvement. After finding a lump herself, Jessica moved through the overwhelming sequence of imaging, biopsies, chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction delays, implant complications, DIEP flap reconstruction, tamoxifen, and Verzenio.But as Jessica shares so honestly, one of the hardest parts was not only the treatment itself. It was the waiting: waiting for results, waiting for a plan, waiting to know what came next, and trying to live inside the uncertainty.This conversation is for anyone who has ever thought, “I just need a plan.” It is for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by the number of medications, appointments, side effects, and decisions that come with breast cancer. And it is especially for anyone who has reached the end of active treatment only to realize there is still so much more to navigate.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!Hair loss during chemotherapy is often talked about as if it is expected, inevitable, or even superficial. But for many people diagnosed with breast cancer, losing your hair can affect identity, privacy, confidence, and the way others see you.In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura talks with Jen Fernandez about her experience being diagnosed with breast cancer twice. The first time, Jen lost her hair. The second time, after a local recurrence, she decided to try cold capping.Jen shares what the process was really like: the prep, the discomfort, the time commitment, the shedding, the hair care changes, and why she would do it again.Listen now for an honest conversation about cold capping, chemo hair loss, and finding small ways to feel like yourself during treatment.In This Episode, We Discuss Jen’s initial breast cancer diagnosis at age 39  What it felt like to be fast-tracked into chemotherapy  Finding a new lump and dimple three years later  Navigating a local recurrence of HER2-positive breast cancer  Why Jen decided to try cold capping the second time  How long cold capping added to infusion appointments  The physical discomfort of cold capping  Hair shedding, bald spots, and regrowth  How hair loss affects identity, work, confidence, and privacy  The emotional difference between looking sick and feeling like yourself  Why cold capping is a personal decision, not a vanity decisionSupport the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang speaks with Annick Pyfferoen about her experience being diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer and navigating several lines of treatment including targeted therapy, chemotherapy, a clinical trial attempt involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, Enhertu, and Xeloda. She speaks openly about what it felt like to experience rapid progression and why having a plan, even one that may change, helps her navigate uncertainty.This episode is a reminder that metastatic breast cancer care is not only about what is happening on scans. It is also about communication, side effect management, informed decision-making, emotional support, and helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible. Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang speaks with Kacie Flaherty and Joyce Dini about life with oligometastatic breast cancer. They share how their diagnoses unfolded, what treatment decisions looked like, and how they’ve learned to navigate uncertainty while staying grounded in what matters most.Together, they discuss:The differences between metastatic and oligometastatic breast cancer.What curative-intent treatment can look like in practice.How diagnosis and treatment affect relationships, fertility, and identity.The mental health challenges of living with cancer day to day.The importance of boundaries, advocacy, and choosing joy.Kacie and Joyce also reflect on the support they’ve found in community, the language that helped them better understand their disease, and the ways they continue to reclaim agency in the face of something they cannot fully control.This episode is especially meaningful for patients, caregivers, and anyone seeking an honest conversation about breast cancer, treatment complexity, and emotional survival.Topics covered: oligometastatic breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, curative intent, treatment decisions, cancer and relationships, fertility loss, mental health, grief, resilience, patient advocacy, community support, choosing joy. Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Virginia Rodriguez, who was diagnosed with stage 4 de novo metastatic breast cancer after experiencing progressive weakness, digestive issues, dehydration, and a dramatic decline in her ability to walk and function.Virginia shares what it was like to go from hiking the Camino de Santiago to struggling to climb the stairs in her own home, the emotional experience of finally receiving a diagnosis after months of unanswered symptoms, and how her care team identified breast cancer that had spread to multiple areas, including her brain, spine, liver, spleen, and bones.Virginia was placed on Verzenio, also known as abemaciclib, as part of her first line of treatment. Verzenio is an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor used in certain HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancers, including in combination with endocrine therapy depending on a person’s treatment history and clinical situationSupport the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!Jennifer Tipton was in her mid-forties, running a yoga business in California, teaching indoor cycling classes, and training clients when she was diagnosed with stage 3 estrogen-positive breast cancer at the start of 2021. Her entire year — AC chemotherapy, then Taxol, then a lumpectomy, then a double mastectomy with a DIEP flap reconstruction, then 33 rounds of radiation — was consumed by treatment. By the end of it, she was exhausted in a way most people can't quite imagine.And then her oncologist told her about Verzenio (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor prescribed to help reduce the risk of recurrence in certain patients.We discuss: • what it felt like transitioning from active treatment to long-term medication • how movement and exercise helped her maintain energy and resilience • strategies she used to manage GI side effects during daily life • the emotional complexity of long-term cancer therapy • what improved after completing treatment • advice for patients deciding whether Verzenio is right for themSupport the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!Every breast cancer treatment plan is highly personalized, and understanding potential side effects can help patients feel more prepared, informed, and empowered throughout care.In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Debbie Ciak, a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with Stage 2B ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with lymph node involvement.Due to features associated with a higher risk of recurrence, Debbie’s care team recommended treatment with Verzenio (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor commonly prescribed alongside endocrine therapy for certain HR+, HER2- breast cancers.During treatment, Debbie experienced significant gastrointestinal symptoms and later developed respiratory symptoms that were ultimately identified as drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD), also known as pneumonitis.Debbie also shares how integrative support resources and survivorship programming helped her continue moving forward after treatment.Her story underscores the importance of individualized care, ongoing monitoring, and open communication between patients and healthcare providers when incorporating newer therapies into treatment plans.While every patient responds differently to therapy, conversations like this help support more informed discussions between patients and their care teams.Topics Covered• Stage 2B ER/PR+ breast cancer diagnosis • understanding recurrence risk factors • treatment decision-making • why Verzenio was recommended • managing common CDK4/6 inhibitor side effects • Debbie’s experience with ILD/pneumonitis • recognizing respiratory symptoms early • coordinating care across oncology and pulmonology • survivorship and ongoing monitoring • exercise and recovery • patient empowerment and advocacyThis episode is part of an ongoing series sharing real-world patient experiences on various therapies, highlighting the importance of education, communication, and personalized treatment decisions in breast cancer care.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when the person trained to care for others suddenly becomes the patient?In this deeply meaningful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Bron Watson — a registered nurse, educator, and entrepreneur whose life changed dramatically after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, followed by a blood cancer diagnosis in 2023. Bron brings a powerful perspective shaped by both clinical expertise and lived experience. As someone who spent nearly two decades caring for patients, she suddenly found herself navigating fear, uncertainty, identity shifts, and the emotional complexity that comes with a cancer diagnosis.Through her personal journey, Bron created The Serenity Project, an initiative designed to help others find calm, clarity, and self-compassion in the midst of the overwhelming experience of cancer. Together, Laura and Bron explore: What it feels like when the caregiver becomes the patient  How a cancer diagnosis can challenge identity, control, and confidence  The emotional impact of facing cancer more than once  Why learning to slow down can be one of the hardest lessons  The role of self-compassion in healing  How Bron’s nursing background shaped her cancer experience  The inspiration behind The Serenity Project  How community and reflection can support survivorship  Why resilience does not mean pushing through everything alone About Bron WatsonBron Watson is a registered nurse with over 17 years of clinical experience and more than a decade as an educator and business owner. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2018 and blood cancer diagnosis in 2023, she founded The Serenity Project, a platform designed to help individuals navigate cancer with greater calm, clarity, and self-compassion. Bron combines evidence-based knowledge with lived experience to help others feel less alone and more empowered during and after diagnosis.Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!What does it really mean to support your body during and after breast cancer treatment?In this episode I am joined by returning guest Dr. Amy Comander and Meg McSherry, a breast cancer patient under Dr. Comander's care, for a thoughtful conversation about lifestyle medicine and breast cancer survivorship. Together, we explore the very real physical and emotional toll of treatment, including fatigue, weight gain, loss of taste, joint pain, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and the fear of recurrence. Dr. Comander explains how lifestyle medicine offers an evidence-based, whole-person approach to survivorship, grounded in six key pillars: physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, social connection, stress resilience, and reducing risky substances. She also shares how questions from patients led her to create the PAVING the Path to Wellness Program, now offered in group format to support breast cancer survivors with trusted, practical guidance. Meg offers an honest patient perspective on going through intensive HER2-positive breast cancer treatment, how hard it was to focus on nutrition and movement in the middle of chemotherapy, and how the PAVING program helped her feel more empowered as she moved toward survivorship.You do not have to do everything perfectly to support your health after a breast cancer diagnosis. This episode is a reminder that survivorship is not about perfection. It is about rebuilding with evidence-based tools, compassion, and community.Resources: Paving the Path to Wellnesshttps://www.pavingwellness.org/Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the podcast? Send us a text!If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says “Love this episode? Send us a text” to share your thoughts. Messages are completely anonymous, but you are welcome to include your name and where you’re listening from if you’d like a shout-out in a future episode. If you have a question or would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Body Image After Breast Cancer: Reclaiming Identity, Intimacy, and ConfidenceLong after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation end, many people find themselves navigating complex questions around identity, confidence, femininity, intimacy, and what it means to feel at home in their body again.Host Laura Carfang is joined by Susan Smaellie, a certified holistic sexuality educator, and Anna Jensen, a breast cancer survivor and advocate, to explore the emotional and psychological impact of breast cancer beyond the clinical experience.Together, they discuss how survivorship can influence body image, relationships, sexuality, and sense of self and why these conversations are essential, yet often overlooked in traditional medical settings.In this episode, we discuss: How breast cancer impacts body image and self-identity  The emotional and psychological effects of treatment  Why conversations about sexuality and intimacy are often missing in cancer care  The connection between physical healing and emotional healing  Fear of recurrence and how it can show up years after diagnosis  The importance of community in survivorship  The role of vulnerability in healing  How cultural expectations shape how women process illness  Finding meaning and growth after cancer  Resources for connection and supportAbout Our GuestsSusan Smaellie is a certified holistic sexuality educator and social worker who focuses on helping individuals understand the interconnected relationship between mind, body, and emotional wellbeing. Anna Jensen is a breast cancer survivor and advocate who shares her lived experience to help others feel less alone in their survivorship journey. Resources MentionedImage Reborn Foundation Retreats and educational programs supporting emotional healing after breast cancerSurvivingBreastCancer.org Free programs, expert-led education, support groups, and community for individuals impacted by breast cancer Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the episode? Send us a text!What happens when breast cancer leaves behind more than physical scars?In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura sits down with Dr. Jim Jackson to explore the hidden emotional impact of cancer, including medical trauma, PTSD, fear, triggers, and healing. Dr. Jackson is a licensed psychologist, neuropsychologist, and Director of Rehabilitation and Recovery at Vanderbilt’s Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center, where he works with people facing life-threatening and chronic medical conditions. Together, Laura and Dr. Jackson unpack why the experience of breast cancer can feel traumatic long after diagnosis or treatment begins. They discuss how medical trauma can develop not only from cancer itself, but also from the difficult encounters, procedures, scans, uncertainty, and dismissive moments that can leave a lasting emotional mark. Dr. Jackson explains why he prefers the term medical trauma over medical PTSD, noting that people may experience PTSD, but also anxiety, depression, OCD, and a wide range of other emotional effects.In this episode, we discuss: What medical trauma is and why the term matters  The difference between medical trauma and medical PTSD How breast cancer can trigger fear, anxiety, and emotional distress long after diagnosis  Why caregivers and loved ones can experience trauma too  The importance of dignity, humanity, and being truly heard in healthcare  Dr. Jackson’s upcoming book, Reclaiming Your Life from Medical TraumaSupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

Love the episode? Send us a text!Cancer treatment is hard enough — but dealing with insurance denials and medical bills can make it even harder.In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with board-certified patient advocate Jenni Nolan to uncover the hidden financial challenges cancer patients face when navigating insurance, billing, and prior authorizations.Jenni has spent more than two decades working inside the healthcare system and now helps patients resolve denied insurance claims, correct billing errors, and navigate complex medical bills so they can focus on their care instead of paperwork. Together, they discuss the biggest insurance pitfalls cancer patients face — and what you can do to protect yourself financially during treatment.If you’ve ever received a confusing medical bill or had insurance deny a treatment your doctor recommended, this episode will help you understand what’s happening behind the scenes.Topics Covered:• Cancer treatment insurance coverage • Medical billing errors and insurance denials • Prior authorization delays in cancer care • Financial toxicity and the cost of cancer • How to appeal an insurance denial • Why coding errors can impact coverageJenni Nolan is a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and founder of Clear Healthcare Advocacy, where she helps patients resolve complex insurance claims and medical billing issues. With more than 20 years of healthcare administration experience, Jenni specializes in helping patients navigate the financial side of medical careSupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the focus naturally centers on the patient.But behind every diagnosis is another story — the story of the caregiver.In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang steps aside from the microphone as her husband William Laferriere hosts a deeply personal conversation about caregiving.William is joined by Dr. Eswar Shankar, a cancer researcher and faculty member at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Shankar shares his personal experience caring for his late wife through cancer — navigating treatment, fear, uncertainty, and ultimately grief.Together they explore the emotional realities caregivers face, including:• How caregivers navigate fear and uncertainty • The emotional burden of supporting someone through treatment • Why caregivers often suppress their own feelings • The importance of empathy and presence during illness • What life looks like after losing a loved one to cancer • Turning grief into purpose and meaningDr. Shankar reflects on the lessons caregiving taught him — about compassion, resilience, and what it means to truly show up for someone you love.This conversation shines a light on the often unseen role caregivers play in the cancer journey.Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!When Breast Cancer Changes Everything — What Do You Build Next?What happens when a breast cancer diagnosis strips away your identity — and forces you to rebuild from the inside out?In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Christine Handy and Christine Anastos — two breast cancer survivors who turned trauma into transformation.Christine Handy, former international model and author of Walk Beside Me, opens up about:Undergoing multiple mastectomy surgeriesBreast implant illnessReturning to the runway as a “breastless model”Turning her book into the award-winning film Hello BeautifulReclaiming worth beyond appearanceChristine Anastos (christine@connect-and-thrive.com), environmental engineer and founder of Connect & Thrive (CAT)  shares:Being diagnosed with DCIS while caregiving for her motherCancer’s financial toxicity and hidden barriersWhy 90% of breast cancer cases may be environmentally influencedLaunching a public benefit corporation to bridge gaps in survivorship careTogether, these women explore:Identity after a cancer diagnosisFaith and post-traumatic growthThe myth of “doing it alone”Why collaboration is more powerful than competitionWhat it really means to be a “cancer disruptor”Welcome to the conversation. Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang speaks with Kathy Giusti, a two-time cancer survivor who has lived with multiple myeloma for 30 years and later faced a breast cancer diagnosis as well.Diagnosed at 37 after what she thought was a routine visit, Kathy was told she had a fatal blood cancer and would live “three years at best.” Instead of accepting that prognosis, she helped change the trajectory of cancer research by founding the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)—a model that brought scientists, clinicians, biotech, and the FDA together to accelerate treatments.This conversation explores survivorship, advocacy, and what patients and caregivers can do when the science is moving fast—but the system isn’t.In This Episode, We DiscussGetting a shocking diagnosis after a “routine” appointmentWhy multiple myeloma was once considered a “silent killer”How Kathy helped build a research engine that accelerated drug developmentThe difference between fast-moving science and slow-moving systemsHow Kathy’s identical twin impacted her breast cancer risk and screeningDCIS decisions and why “there’s no right or wrong—only what’s best for you”Why “looking healthy” can cause people to underestimate what you’re carryingHow to set boundaries when you’re in treatment or survivorshipWhy you shouldn’t rely on only one or two caregivers—and how to “invite people in”Kathy’s book: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical SystemResources & LinksFollow Kathy: @kathy.giustiBook: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical SystemSurvivingBreastCancer.org: Free programs, support groups, and communityDownload the SBC App: Search SurvivingBreastCancer.org in the App Store or Google PlaySupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!What if part of what makes cancer so hard isn’t just the diagnosis—but the spaces where care happens?In this eye-opening episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang explores how hospital design, architecture, and the built environment directly shape the cancer experience, often in ways patients never realize—but deeply feel.Laura is joined by Abbie Clary, Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth for Health for All, and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare architecture and experience design. With millions of square feet of cancer and healthcare facilities in her portfolio—including projects at Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab—Abbie pulls back the curtain on how hospitals are designed, who they’re designed for, and why women are so often treated as the “outlier.”Together, they discuss trauma-informed design, survivorship-centered care, caregiver inclusion, gender bias in medical spaces, and why healing doesn’t only happen through medicine—it happens through dignity, control, and environment.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why hospitals and medical spaces are often designed for a “default male”How architecture impacts anxiety, trauma, and healing for cancer patientsWhat trauma-informed design actually looks like in practiceWhy cancer patients experience healthcare differently than other patientsThe importance of designing for repeat visits, not one-time careHow caregivers and loved ones should be treated as part of the care teamWhy dignity, control, and privacy matter as much as efficiencyGender bias in medical design—from gowns to equipment to workflowsWhy women’s pain and discomfort are often minimized in healthcareDesigning cancer centers for survivorship, not just treatmentAbout Today's GuestAbbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA, is the Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth — Health for All. Her work spans some of the most ambitious healthcare projects in the world, including Memorial Sloan Kettering’s new Cancer Care Pavilion, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 2030 facilities master plan, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.A nationally sought-after speaker and TEDx presenter, Abbie’s work focuses on transforming healthcare through strategic, human-centered design—bridging architecture, culture change, patient experience, and health equity. Her mission is simple but radical: design healthcare spaces that actually support healing, dignity, and belonging. Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!What happens when a breast surgeon becomes a breast cancer patient—and then faces a second diagnosis years later?In this deeply personal and illuminating episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by Dr. Anne Peled, a board-certified breast, reconstructive, and plastic surgeon who has treated thousands of patients—and also navigated her own early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, followed years later by a new primary DCIS diagnosis.Together, Laura and Dr. Peled unpack what patients are rarely told about DCIS (stage zero breast cancer), the difference between recurrence and a second primary cancer, and how advances in surgery are transforming survivorship—including sensation-preserving mastectomy.This conversation bridges clinical expertise and lived experience, offering clarity, compassion, and permission to choose the path that aligns with your body and values.In this episode: What DCIS really is—and why “stage zero” can be misleadingRecurrence vs. second primary breast cancer: why biology mattersLumpectomy vs. mastectomy and why survival outcomes are often the sameHow guilt and self-blame show up after a second diagnosisBeing diagnosed with breast cancer as a physicianNavigating treatment when your colleagues are your caregiversThe evolution of oncoplastic surgery and patient-centered careWhy loss of breast sensation is under-discussed—but life-changingHow sensation-preserving mastectomy worksWhat questions to ask your surgeon about sensation, nerves, and recoveryMaking decisions based on your priorities—not fear or pressureAbout today's guestDr. Anne Peled is a board-certified plastic, reconstructive, and breast surgeon in private practice in San Francisco and Co-Director of the Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center Breast Cancer Center of Excellence. Trained at Amherst College, Harvard Medical School, and UCSF, Dr. Peled completed a unique fellowship combining breast oncologic surgery and reconstruction.Her clinical and research work focuses on oncoplastic surgery, preserving and restoring sensation after mastectomy, improving patient outcomes, and breast cancer risk reduction. She is also a breast cancer survivor herself, bringing rare dual insight to patient care. Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!What happens when you’re diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer, start a new job, and are asked to lead a COVID response—all at the same time?In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Samira Daswani, founder and CEO of Manta Cares, to talk about what it really means to navigate cancer when the system isn’t built for you.Diagnosed at 30 and undergoing chemotherapy during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Samira shares how she worked through treatment, wrestled with impossible decisions about hormone therapy, and struggled with the loss of control that so many cancer patients feel—but rarely name.Out of a sleepless night during chemo, Samira created a simple paper planner just to survive her own care. That tool would eventually become Manta Cares: a personalized, cancer-specific platform designed to give patients and care partners the thing most people never get—a map.In this candid, founder-to-founder conversation, Laura and Samira explore:Being diagnosed with breast cancer during COVIDWorking through chemo and surgery while leading critical healthcare programsDeciding whether to stay on hormone therapy—and living with that choiceWhy cancer care feels like being dropped into a hike without a mapHow patient-built tools can restore agency, clarity, and peace of mindThe emotional cost of fixing a system that failed youWhat’s next for Manta Cares, including mobile tools and AI companionsThis episode is for anyone who has ever thought: There has to be a better way.Understanding Hypophosphatemia: Recognition, Diagnosis, and TreatmentEndocrine experts distinguish Hypophosphatemia from osteoporosis & osteomalaciaListen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Love the episode? Send us a text!What does it really mean to be diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)—often called “stage zero” breast cancer?In this in-depth episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by a breast surgical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a patient advocate to unpack why DCIS can be both reassuring and deeply complex. While survival rates are excellent, treatment decisions often involve difficult trade-offs between reducing recurrence risk and preserving long-term quality of life.The panel explores how advances in tumor biology, radiation techniques, and genomic testing—particularly the DecisionRT test—are helping clinicians and patients personalize care. Together, they discuss when radiation may meaningfully reduce recurrence risk, when it may be safely avoided, and how shared decision-making empowers patients to choose treatment paths based on information rather than fear.Guests:Dr. Erica Giblin, a breast surgical oncologist in Indianapolis and Director of Breast Surgical Oncology at Ascension, who brings a surgeon’s perspective on balancing effective treatment with long-term survivorship.Dr. Fleure Gallant, a nationally recognized leader in breast radiation oncology and Radiation Medicine Lead for the Breast Disease Management Team at Northwell Health Cancer Institute, whose work focuses on delivering highly personalized, quality-of-life-centered care.And Dr. Leona Hamrick, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at PreludeDx, a board-certified physician associate with decades of experience in internal medicine and oncology diagnostics—and an 11-year stage III breast cancer survivor who brings the patient voice into every scientific conversation.Topics Discussed:What DCIS is—and why it’s considered non-invasive breast cancerWhy DCIS is classified as stage zero, regardless of sizeHow DCIS differs from invasive breast cancer and LCISWhy a DCIS diagnosis can still be emotionally traumaticStandard treatment approaches: lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation, and hormone therapyWhen and why radiation therapy is recommended after DCISHow radiation schedules have evolved (5 days vs. 3–6 weeks)What DecisionRT measures and how it helps predict recurrence riskWhy tumor biology matters more than age aloneShared decision-making vs. fear-based decision-makingQuality-of-life considerations, especially for younger patientsWhy more options can sometimes feel more overwheUnderstanding Hypophosphatemia: Recognition, Diagnosis, and TreatmentEndocrine experts distinguish Hypophosphatemia from osteoporosis & osteomalaciaListen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.