Archive for July 2022

The path to care is daunting and complex under the best of circumstances. But it is further complicated for underserved populations, particularly women of color, who experience significant barriers throughout the continuum of care. Komen is focused on ensuring all people receive the care they need through our Patient Care Center, which seeks to remove barriers and serve as a dedicated care partner, helpful guide, and support resource throughout the breast health care journey.
Host Adam Walker is joined by Rick Aranson, Komen’s Senior Director of Patient Care Services and Krista Park Berry, Director of the Breast Care Helpline, to share more about how the Patient Care Center helps black patients overcome barriers to care.

On today’s podcast, we talked to Dr. Fred Singer from American Bone Health to discuss the link between breast cancer and bone health. You will learn about how to assess your risk of bone fractures, how to improve your overall bone health, and the different screenings available to integrate. Obtaining a baseline bone scan coupled with knowing your bone health risks can offer you a plan for maintaining strong, healthy bones, which is important to your overall health.

This episode originally aired on September 20, 2021.

In any healthcare situation, it is important to be your own best advocate. No one knows more about your body than you do. Not your partner, not your family, not even your doctor. So when you talk with medical professionals about your health, remember that you have important information they can use. You know about changes in your body and about any problems you are having. You know what your breasts normally look and feel like. Trust your own experience and talk honestly about it with your doctor to make sure you get the care you deserve. Demand more tests when you know something isn’t quite right, understand your disease, be involved in medical care decisions, ask questions and reach out for support. Today’s guest did just that and is here to share the importance that standing up and being heard has played in her breast cancer journey. Mary Ann, welcome to the show!

When you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, your life can literally change in an instant.  It is important to know that you are not alone.  The support of friends and family is crucial, but a patient navigator can also be an invaluable part of your support team.  Patient navigators are trained to help to guide you through the healthcare system, to work with you to find the resources and support you need and to help keep you on course with your treatment plan. They are there to check on you, to lend support and let you know that you are not alone. Today’s guest was laid off from her job within a week of the time that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Here today to tell her story and why it was so crucial to have a patient navigator to help maneuver through the many life changes that she was experiencing is Melissa Jones.  Melissa, welcome to the show!