Real Pink Podcast Episodes

We are happy to welcome back the Honorary Vice Chair of Susan G. Komen, Paula Schneider, and today she is also joined by her two daughters Zoe and Chloe. Paula faced a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in 2007 – after losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer years before. It goes without saying that Paula’s work is beyond personal. Since joining Komen in 2017, Paula has helped the organization usher in new programs, support services and policies that are helping families have a better chance of survival and a greater quality of life. This year, Paula has also published a children’s book inspired by her own breast cancer experience – which drops THIS WEEK on Sept. 2nd. Love Stays Strong is a book about the strength of a family’s love, especially during times of illness – designed to help parents or caregivers talk to young children about any kind of serious illness in the family.

Donna Wentz is marking a remarkable milestone — 10 years with no evidence of breast cancer. Her journey began at just 39 years old, when she received the life-changing diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Faced with fear and uncertainty, Donna leaned on the unwavering support of her family, friends, and colleagues. Their encouragement carried her through the challenges of surgery, treatment, and recovery, helping her find strength she didn’t know she had. Today, she reflects not only on surviving, but on the resilience, gratitude, and deeper connections that emerged from her experience.

If your doctor is recommending that you get a mastectomy, you will likely have some choices about how the surgery is performed. Your breast cancer treatment, your body, your breast shape and your lifestyle affect not only your options, but also the pros and cons of your options. There’s no one method that works best for everyone because each person is unique.

Today we are going to be exploring one specific type of mastectomy – the nipple-sparing mastectomy. This is a skin-sparing mastectomy that leaves the nipple and areola intact and usually improves the overall look of the reconstructed breast. Joining us on the show today are two very special guests: Dr. Mara Piltin, a Breast and Melanoma Surgical Oncologist and Physician Assistant, Maddie Beiswanger, both from Mayo Clinic. They are going to tell us more about nipple-sparing mastectomy procedures, current research that is being conducted around the use of minimally invasive robotic surgery to assist in these procedures and the possible benefits that these innovations can provide.

Susan G. Komen stands alongside the rest of the cancer community with deep concern about proposed cuts in the federal budget in addition to significant policy changes which could impact access to high-quality, affordable health care. It is hard to weed through the information and to know where things stand at any moment in time so joining us on the show today is Molly Guthrie, Komen’s Vice President of Policy and Advocacy. Molly has intimate knowledge of what is happening at all levels of government and is going to share some insight with us about what is truly going on, as well as what we can all do to bring change to end breast cancer.

If you’re struggling with issues affecting your sexuality, you’re not alone. Sex and intimacy can be difficult for many women after a breast cancer diagnosis. Joining us today is Amy Rowan, a Certified Clinical Sexologist and Intimacy Coach. She’s known as the Suburban Sexologist because she is just like so many of you – a busy, working mom and breast cancer survivor who just gets it. She makes talking about sex seem like the most comfortable thing in the world and she is here today to acknowledge just how hard intimacy after breast cancer can be and to give us some tips on how to deal with emotions and regain intimacy after treatment.

Everyone is at risk of breast cancer. Some are more at risk than others due to hereditary factors – such as a family history of cancers – and lifestyle choices that affect our overall health. Knowing your risk of breast cancer can help you decide what steps to take to lower your risk.
Joining me today is Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, a Susan G. Komen Scholar and Komen grantee, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Senior Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an expert on the impact of lifestyle factors, cancer risk and outcomes. Through more than a dozen lifestyle intervention trials, Dr. Ligibel has evaluated the impact of exercise, weight loss, fitness, body composition and quality of life in cancer patients and survivors.

Just before her 38th birthday, Lauren Yerkes learned she had breast cancer. Genetic testing would reveal she had the BRCA2 inherited gene mutation that made her at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Her experience made her want to educate people about inherited genetic mutations because she had no idea at the time that she was at risk. Lauren is here today to share her story, the preventative measures she has taken for her health and how she is giving back to the breast cancer community.