[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.
[00:00:17] Welcome to the Real Pink Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month, we invited patients, community organizations, health care providers, researchers, and policy advocates to discuss strategies and solutions that drive the health equity revolution forward for multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities.
[00:00:37] I’m your host Adam Walker. Today, we’re honored to share the story of Nancy Pickett, a woman whose breast cancer journey is not just her own, it’s a part of a long family history. Nancy is the ninth person in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, making her path one of both personal resilience and advocacy.
[00:00:56] As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize that every woman’s breast cancer journey is unique. That’s why personalized care is so important, ensuring that every patient gets the right support, resources, and treatment for their specific needs. Nancy, thanks for joining us on the show today to share your story.
[00:01:16] Nancy Pickett: Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for having me.
[00:01:21] Adam Walker: All right. So let’s start with your experience. When did you first learn about your family history with breast cancer and how did that impact your approach to your own health?
[00:01:31] Nancy Pickett: So I was aware that there were members of my family who have breast cancer.
[00:01:38] Both of my maternal grandparents had breast cancer. I had, uh, several cousins that had breast cancer. And once I got diagnosed, Uh, I found out that there were other family members who had breast cancer that I was unaware of.
[00:01:57] Adam Walker: Wow. And so, uh, so how was your breast cancer found?
[00:02:01] Nancy Pickett: So it was done, it was found through the normal mammogram process.
[00:02:06] I did not feel a lump in my breast. I do self breast examinations every time I take a shower. But I have, uh, density in my breast, so it was found through my annual mammogram.
[00:02:23] Adam Walker: Wow. That’s great. I mean, it’s not great that they found it. It’s great that the preventative tests helped you, helped you find and identify it.
[00:02:32] So, so now, now, as the ninth person diagnosed with breast cancer in your family, with no evidence of genetic mutation. It sort of feels like there’s a missing link somewhere that could explain why it’s so prevalent in your family tree, especially since there have been two cases of male breast cancer, I understand.
[00:02:49] So what do you think that says about health data collection for members of the black community?
[00:02:55] Nancy Pickett: So I believe there is It’s clearly some type of disconnect between science, medicine, and just everyday life. Um, you would think that having such a strong family history, all on my maternal side, that that BRCA gene would have popped up like flashing light, but it didn’t.
[00:03:23] It came back negative, so I’m not sure how we make medicine, uh, science meet everyday life. Um, I would just encourage Anyone that has a history of breast cancer absolutely get tested for that BRCA gene, but letting it come back negative should not deter you for following the process to ensure you do not have breast cancer.
[00:03:59] Adam Walker: Yeah, that’s right. That’s really, really good advice. And you’re right. There’s, there’s, I like the way, I think the way you phrased it was like the tests don’t necessarily meet real life, right? Like, like there’s a disparity there, uh, that you’re seeing. Yeah. That was a really good way to phrase that. Uh, so, so where do you see opportunities for improvement with that?
[00:04:20] Nancy Pickett: So in, in opportunities for improvement within families is communication. A lot of times we keep our medical history secret. Or we keep it within our nucleus family, but if that information is shared and dispersed among family, it could help prevent some of these things or cause early detection. I know with myself, once I was diagnosed with cancer, my doctor immediately said that my daughter, who is 34 years old,
[00:05:03] needed to be tested for breast cancer, though. She didn’t fall within the normal age group of having tests.
[00:05:11] Adam Walker: Yeah. And just talking about it more, right? Like I mean, like you said, like just being open, being vulnerable, being transparent with what’s going on across your sort of greater family unit makes a huge impact, right?
[00:05:25] Nancy Pickett: Yes, absolutely. And not just with your family unit, but you got to be honest with your doctors and your medical profession. I know a lot of times when I go to the doctor, they asked me to fill out forms regarding my medical history. You just have to be on it and be vulnerable. It could maybe save your life in the future.
[00:05:49] Adam Walker: Yeah. I love the way you put that. Like I haven’t, I don’t know that I’ve really thought about it quite like that, but you’re completely right. Like being accurate in those medical histories, the family medical histories can, can dramatically impact the quality of the healthcare that you receive and impact your outcomes longterm.
[00:06:05] So yeah, it’s great advice. Absolutely. So, so I’m curious, you know, you’ve, you’ve obviously got a large Family medical history. You’ve traced this to nine different people in your family. Um, I’m curious, like what method do you use for keeping track of your family history since it’s so extensive and could easily become overwhelming?
[00:06:25] Nancy Pickett: So, so during my breast cancer journey, I kept a journal and inside that journal, I wrote every single person down that had breast cancer, where the breast cancer was located, what surgery was done, what year they got diagnosed, um, if they are deceased, did they die of the breast cancer? So that my immediate family would have that information, but I’ve also shared that information with my extended family.
[00:07:04] So that they know there is a rolling record of our family history of breast cancer. And I share that information with my medical professionals.
[00:07:15] Adam Walker: That’s good. Love that. And, and, and why? Like, I’m curious, like, why are you on this show? Why are you telling your story? Why is it so important to you to get this message out to the broader community?
[00:07:29] Nancy Pickett: There is so Many people who have no idea of how important it is first to have your annual mammogram. It is a must. A lot of people feel like, uh, you know, this is something that I don’t really need. We don’t have breast cancer in our family. And just because I have an extensive history of breast cancer.
[00:07:57] Someone else can actually be the first person in their family to have breast cancer. So it’s important that we talk about, um, annual mammograms, doing your self examination. And those are the things that may possibly help someone in the future. I don’t want someone else ending up being number nine in their family.
[00:08:21] And fortunate for me, it was caught early. And it was not metastasized, so it hadn’t spread. It was localized and it could be removed with a lumpectomy. Um, we just have to be proactive with our own health. We are our own best advocate. We just have to do it.
[00:08:44] Adam Walker: That’s right. That’s right. That’s right. All right.
[00:08:46] Well, Nancy, last question for you. What advice would you give someone who has a family history of breast cancer but isn’t sure how to approach their own risk? We know that some of these conversations with family and health providers are tough. So, you know, what should they, what should they do? What should they think of thinking about?
[00:09:03] Nancy Pickett: So I would encourage people to be vulnerable. Just take the opportunity to share your story with your family members. You might be surprised that your story is not unique to maybe someone in your family who is very close to you. We have to have that conversation, um, again, advocating for annual breast examination and self exams.
[00:09:34] It could be your life or someone else’s life that is saved by doing that.
[00:09:42] Adam Walker: That’s right. That’s right. So so important. Uh, Nancy Thank you for the advocacy the work that you’re doing for sharing With your family and for sharing with uh with this podcast family as well.
[00:09:54] Nancy Pickett: Thank you I’m trying to spread the awareness of breast cancer at all goals.
[00:10:00] Adam Walker: That’s right That’s right as as you should as you and we’re thankful. We’re thankful for that your journey Is a powerful reminder of the importance of knowing your family history and advocating for yourself. And thank you listeners for tuning in to another episode of the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series.
[00:10:17] We will continue to galvanize the breast cancer community to support multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities to advance and achieve breast health equity for all. To learn more about health equity at Komen and to get resources and support, please visit Komen. org forward slash health equity.
[00:10:35] Until next time, stay informed, stay proactive and take care.
[00:10:39] Thanks for listening to Real Pink, a weekly podcast by Susan G Komen. For more episodes, visit realpink. komen. org. And for more on breast cancer, visit Komen. org. Make sure to check out. at Susan G Komen on social media. I’m your host, Adam. You can find me on Twitter at AJ Walker or on my blog, adamjwalker.
[00:11:01] com.