Real Talk About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects everyone differently, but It is common for people diagnosed with breast cancer to experience depression, anxiety and mental or emotional distress. The support of family, friends, and others can help as you go through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Here today to help us navigate the toll that a breast cancer diagnosis can have on your mental and sexual health are two experts from City of Hope Chicago – Behavorial Health Therapist, Alexandria Callahan, and Sexual Health/Intimacy Nurse, Cindy Ingram.

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer and is a breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body. Metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured today, but it can be treated with a focus on extending and maintaining quality of life. For those living with metastatic breast cancer, taking care emotional, social and spiritual needs through the support of friends, family and counseling can improve your well being. Today's guest had her life turned upside down in January when she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the young age of 35 with no family history.

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month we invite patients, community organizations, health care partners, researchers, and policy advocates to spark conversations about strategies and solutions that drive the health equity revolution forward for multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities. In this episode, breast cancer advocate Michelle Anderson Benjamin shares her inspiring story of living with metastatic breast cancer. Joined by licensed professional oncology counselor and breast cancer survivor Dr. Chalice Rhodes, they delve into the importance of cultural connections, the power of advocacy, and the necessity of prioritizing mental health during a breast cancer diagnosis. Tune in during National Minority Health Month as we explore how to improve breast health outcomes. Through culture communities and connections welcome Michelle and Dr. Chalice

[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 podcast conversation where we’re digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors…

[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] Support for The Real Pink Podcast comes from Menarini Stemline. No two breast cancers are the same, and researchers…

We still have a long way to go to conquer breast cancer, but we have made some big advances that are saving lives and making a difference. A new modeling study has recently published that the mortality rate for U.S. women with breast cancer decreased an estimated 58 percent between 1975 and 2019. Joining us on today’s show is Jennifer Caswell-Jin, MD who is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Standford Medicine, a former Komen grantee specializing in breast cancer care and research and a lead author on the study that published these findings. Dr. Caswell-Jin will help us understand why the mortality rate has gone down, the barriers that exist in getting the rate down further and what the future of breast cancer advancement looks like from her perspective.