Real Pink Podcast Episodes

Today we are excited to introduce ShareForCures, Komen’s groundbreaking research initiative that puts patients at the center of scientific breakthroughs. We’ll explore how ShareForCures is making waves by harnessing the power of data, empowering patients to share their health information to expedite the search for cures and better treatments for diseases like breast cancer that touch us all. Here today to tell us more about this extraordinary platform, why they are participants and the importance of diversity in research are ShareForCures Chief Scientist Dr. Melissa Bondy and two-time breast cancer survivor and Komen Scholar Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vasquez. 

Advances in diagnostic imaging have the potential to personalize care for the MBC community. This is because these more disease-specific or target-specific imaging agents can more precisely measure cancer activity and burden at multiple time points starting at the time the patient is diagnosed and is commonly used to determine whether a therapy has been effective. On today’s show we will be discussing diagnostic imaging and its role in breast care to help enable patients to understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Joining us to share their knowledge and experience with diagnostic imaging and self-advocacy are Dr. Hannah Linden, a medical oncologist, and Gwen Manchion, who is currently living with metastatic breast cancer.

Self-advocacy is an important and ongoing part of a breast cancer journey. It can begin as soon as you have an inkling that something is wrong and should continue through follow-up care and treatment. It can be as simple as asking your healthcare team more questions and letting them know how you’re feeling, or finding support by connecting with other people going through a similar experience as you. No one should face breast cancer alone. Knowing what to expect can help and getting support is important for your well-being. Here today to tell us her story and the importance of trusting her voice throughout her breast cancer experience is Melissa Oakes.

A breast cancer diagnosis can bring a wide range of emotions, including shock, fear, sadness and anger. These feelings are normal. Some people find joining a support group or talking to a counselor or therapist helpful in coping with these feelings. Today’s guest is a Komen staff member and a licensed clinical social worker with experience helping patients through the transitions that they face through their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here today to talk to us about the impact of diagnosis on mental health and some helpful strategies to help cope is Amy Culver.

[00:00:00] Adam Walker: Support for The Real Pink Podcast comes from Merck, from Susan G. Komen. This is Real Pink, a podcast exploring real stories, struggles, and triumphs related to breast cancer. We’re taking the conversation from the doctor’s office to your living room. Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month…

The breast health inequities that Black women in the U.S. experience are a social imperative that calls for collective action. Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. To help address these inequities in Indianapolis, a group of community organizations recently came together to host a discussion about community-based resources that service breast cancer patients, to identify resource gaps and to discuss how they can work collectively to ensure Black women have access to the breast health care and support they need in their community. Lisa Hayes, the Director of Women’s Health at Gennesaret Free Clinic and Executive Director of Pink-4-Ever Ending Disparities, is here today to tell us about this initiative and how this community is coming together to collectively use their resources to support the women in their area.

[00:00:00] Adam Walker: From Susan G Komen, this is Real Pink, a podcast exploring real stories, struggles, and triumphs related to breast cancer. We’re taking the conversation from the doctor’s office to your living room. This is Real Talk, a new podcast series where we’re going to break down the stigmas and feelings of embarrassment…

Current law requires insurance companies to cover the cost of annual mammograms for women over the age of 40, without any cost to the woman. Unfortunately, individuals at a higher risk of breast cancer or those requiring follow-up imaging due to an abnormal mammogram result will likely be facing hundreds to thousands of dollars in patient cost sharing. Komen strongly supports policies that eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of these medically necessary tests. Today’s guest was diagnosed with breast cancer after having to pay nearly $2,000 out-of-pocket for diagnostic tests, all before she even got to treatment. She was grateful she could afford it, but now wants to help other women to make sure they have the resources they need to get their appropriate diagnosis. Renee Williams White is here today to share more about her story, the importance of screening and how she recently played a part in helping Susan G. Komen’s Center for Public Policy pass legislation in Maryland to do just that.

Breast cancer screening and early detection play an important role in your health. Screening tests can help detect breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are highest. In this episode, we will dive into the importance of screening and how that can help with early detection. As part of this conversation, we will also discuss why genetic counseling and testing is so important, along with the importance of having discussions about family health history, especially in Black families. Joining us for this discussion is Sharon Anderson, who is living with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer.

Dr. Elizabeth Morris, M.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of California Davis. She is a clinician and specializes in high-risk breast cancer screening. A pioneer in the field of breast imaging, she is at the cutting edge of research using advanced screening techniques like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in conjunction with artificial intelligence to identify people at higher risk for breast cancer earlier, so they can receive more screening and catch breast cancer earlier. Her Komen work combines screening images, patient health information, genomics, and uses artificial intelligence to predict individuals at higher risk for breast cancer, in hopes of making a better model to identify those who would benefit from earlier or more frequent breast cancer screening. Dr. Morris is here today to talk to us about her passion for early detection and to help us understand when we should be getting screened for breast cancer.