Real Pink Podcast Episodes

Dr. Jennifer Ligibel is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Senior Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is also the Director of the Leonard P. ZAkim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living and the Director of the Center for Faculty Well-Being at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She joins us today to discuss the impact of lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and nutrition, on breast and bone health and how the decisions that we make may affect our long term health and quality of life. Dr. Ligibel, welcome to the show!

Breast cancer can be overwhelming and you may face many physical and emotional struggles both during your treatment and in the months and years after. It’s hard to know what to expect. As many survivors will tell you, there is no normal when it comes to cancer. Figuring out life after treatment can be hard, feeling like yourself in your own skin can be hard, relationships might feel different, and your view of life may even shift.

Today’s guest was living a life of service and was volunteering in Rwanda when she learned she likely had breast cancer at the age of 25. She immediately returned to the US, where tests confirmed a diagnosis of stage two triple-negative breast cancer. Here today to share her story and the impact that breast cancer had on her life and her wellbeing is Robyn Segal. Robyn, welcome to the show!

Today we are going to talk about biomarkers, genetics, genomics, and how they can assist both doctors and patients in determining the best course of treatment. Here today to help us understand the basics and complexities associated with biomarkers and genetics is Dr. Payal Shah. Dr. Shah is a medical oncologist and clinical researcher who studies triple-negative breast cancer and cancer genetics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the recipient of a Komen Career Catalyst grant. Dr. Shah, welcome to the show!

During Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Susan G. Komen is encouraging Asian American women to prioritize their breast health and get regular screenings. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Asian American and Pacific Islander women. Although Asian American women in the U.S. have similar screening mammography rates as Black, white and Hispanic women, they have more delays in follow-up care after an abnormal mammogram than white women. Today’s guest, like many people, never imagined that receiving a breast cancer diagnosis was something that could happen to her. Eating healthy and being aware of risk factors and overall health has always been a part of her lifestyle and she and even serves as the General Counsel of Susan G. Komen, with no breast cancer in her family history. Yet, in April 2021, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Here today to share her story and the importance of regular screenings and mammograms is Eunice Nakamura. Eunice, welcome to the show!

Patient navigators empower and guide patients to overcome barriers during cancer treatment, helping to ensure a seamless, high-quality breast cancer journey. They help allow the patient to focus on treatment and recovery, by helping to take care of a whole host of other things such as research for supportive and funding services available. Today’s guest had a personal experience with stage III ovarian cancer at the age of 16, which inspired her to pursue a career as a patient navigator. She wanted to help people like her find their way through a fragmented health care system and provide the guidance that she never received during her own experience with cancer. Here today to share more about her role as a patient navigator as part of Susan G. Komen’s patient navigation program in support of Stand for H.E.R – a Healthy Equity Revolution, and the ways that it can help support patients is Jade Gibson. Jade, welcome to the show!

Tune into a special Mother’s Day episode of Real Pink to hear multi-platinum singer/song writer Andy Grammer share the impact that losing his mom to breast cancer had on his life and how he honors her by inspiring the world through his music.

After treatment for breast cancer ends, staying involved in the breast cancer cause will make a difference in your own life and can also benefit many other people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families, now and in the future. Today, as we gear up for Mother’s Day, we are joined by a mother/daughter duo – Mary Ellen & Emily Davis. Mary Ellen was diagnosed in 2010 with Stage III Triple Negative Breast Cancer when she was 44 years old. Her daughter, Emily, was a teenager when her mom was diagnosed and has dedicated her career to the oncology world. Together, they have been a Komen 3-Day top fundraising team and are now participating in Komen More than Pink Walks. Here today to share their story are Mary Ellen and Emily – welcome to the show!

Susan G. Komen will host their annual 2022 Advocacy Summit at the end of this month, culminating in a day of action on Wednesday, April 27. The Advocacy Summit is Komen’s only national advocacy event that provides advocates from across the country the opportunity to come together as one voice for those impacted by breast cancer. Advocates will hold hundreds of meetings with their Congressional offices virtually and call on them to support our priority policies.

Joining us today is John Scoblick, a Komen Leadership Council member and advocate whose daughter died of metastatic breast cancer at the age of 36. Before she died, Melissa was a staunch advocate for breast cancer patients, survivors and anyone at risk of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. John has continued on her legacy through his work with Komen and is using his voice to advocate for policies that will help us save lives and put an end to breast cancer. John, welcome to the show!

Anyone who’s ever had breast cancer knows what it feels like to hear the words “You have cancer.” You may feel angry, afraid, overwhelmed or unsure about the future. These feelings are normal and allowing yourself to express your emotions can help you begin to cope, which is a process that requires time, acceptance and support. Today’s guest is someone who is accustomed to feeling fully in control of her life – in her late 30’s, she was independent, working in a fast paced career in healthcare media relations and was extremely active and fit. Yet she became one of the 1 in 8 women to hear those words “You have cancer” and suddenly things started to feel out of her control. Deb Song is the Senior Director of National Public Relations and Communications at Susan G. Komen and is here today to share her story and to tell us how her experience with breast cancer redefined what strength meant to her and how she’s learned to embrace life as a team effort. Deb, welcome to the show!

The signs and symptoms of breast cancer are not the same for everyone. It is important to know your normal and to see your doctor if you notice any changes in your body. Today’s guest has undergone treatment for two different types of breast cancer, being diagnosed the first time in 2007 and again in 2018. Each time she was the one to find a lump and each time she wondered if she was just being paranoid. She is passionate about sharing her story to encourage others to go for their screenings and to listen to that inner voice that might be telling you that something is just not quite right. Here today to share her story is Elizabeth Braun.