Archive for August 2022

Women are often the gatekeepers of the family’s health and the ones responsible for ensuring their family members stay on top of health information and screenings. Because of this, it can be helpful for them to understand that certain inherited gene mutations may increase the risk of breast cancer in both women and men in their family. These inherited gene mutations may also increase the risk of other cancers such as ovarian cancer (in women) and prostate cancer (in men). Therefore, it is important for family members with inherited gene mutations to share their test results with both men and women in their families, since they all may benefit from talking to their doctors about how these mutations impact their risk for breast, prostate and other cancers as well as exploring options for genetic counseling and testing. Here today to help us specifically understand the relationship between breast cancer and prostate cancer is medical oncologist, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director for the Program for Breast Cancer in Men at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Jose Pablo Leone. Dr. Leone, welcome to the show!

Breast cancer screening can help find breast cancer early when the chances of survival are highest. In this episode, we are going to learn more about Komen’s Screening & Diagnostics Program, which provides no-cost breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for people of all ages and genders who meet income guidelines in select cities. I am excited to be joined by Jade Gibson, a patient navigator at Komen, and Morgan Barnes, a Wellness Program Coordinator at the Center for Black Women’s Wellness in Atlanta, to learn more about the Screening & Diagnostics Program. Welcome to the show, Jade and Morgan!

Every person’s experience with mastectomies is different. Some people might experience extreme body dysmorphia following their surgeries and others might find the healing process easier. Concerns about body image and sexuality are common and can be especially hard for young breast cancer survivors, who find that regaining body confidence after a mastectomy can be difficult. Today’s guest was diagnosed at age 36 with stage IIIC triple-negative breast cancer and because of ongoing treatments, has not yet been able to have a breast reconstruction or even have expanders put in. Here today to talk about how that has affected her physically, emotionally and mentally is LaToya Bolds-Johnson.

A cancer diagnosis is never easy, especially on the children of the family. Today’s guest a friend of host Adam Walker — Sindhu Giedd. Her mother was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer when she was in ninth grade. Now as a mother herself and near the age that her mother was when she was diagnosed, Sindhu reflects on her experience with her mother’s diagnosis, how she thinks about her health and the health of her family, and gives us some advice for how families can include their older children in the breast cancer conversation.

When something feels off, it’s important to pay attention to it. Sometimes that might mean having to stand up to your healthcare team when your needs are not being met, which is not always easy. Asking questions or pushing can be difficult when you’re feeling overwhelmed, scared, or want to be seen as a good patient.However, you know your body best and self advocating really boils down to listening to your body and speaking up for it. Today’s guest was having warning signs that something was wrong, but dismissed them at first because she could not feel a lump. She knew her body and despite doctors telling her that it was no big deal, she pushed for further testing, which ultimately led to her diagnosis. Here today to tell her story and why it is so important to advocate for yourself until you get the answers you need is Laurie Potz.