Breast Cancer Conversations

Send us a text! What happens when you give yourself one year to “get through breast cancer” — only to realize that the timeline is much longer and more complicated than you imagined? In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, I’m joined by Jessica Thomas, who was diagnosed with ER/PR-positive, stage 2B breast cancer with lymph node involvement. After finding a lump herself, Jessica moved through the overwhelming sequence of imaging, biopsies, chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction delays, implant complications, DIEP flap reconstruction, tamoxifen, and Verzenio. But as Jessica shares so honestly, one of the hardest parts was not only the treatment itself. It was the waiting: waiting for results, waiting for a plan, waiting to know what came next, and trying to live inside the uncertainty. This conversation is for anyone who has ever thought, “I just need a plan.” It is for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by the number of medications, appointments, side effects, and decisions that come with breast cancer. And it is especially for anyone who has reached the end of active treatment only to realize there is still so much more to navigate. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! Hair loss during chemotherapy is often talked about as if it is expected, inevitable, or even superficial. But for many people diagnosed with breast cancer, losing your hair can affect identity, privacy, confidence, and the way others see you. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura talks with Jen Fernandez about her experience being diagnosed with breast cancer twice. The first time, Jen lost her hair. The second time, after a local recurrence, she decided to try cold capping. Jen shares what the process was really like: the prep, the discomfort, the time commitment, the shedding, the hair care changes, and why she would do it again. Listen now for an honest conversation about cold capping, chemo hair loss, and finding small ways to feel like yourself during treatment. In This Episode, We Discuss Jen’s initial breast cancer diagnosis at age 39 What it felt like to be fast-tracked into chemotherapy Finding a new lump and dimple three years later Navigating a local recurrence of HER2-positive breast cancer Why Jen decided to try cold capping the second time How long cold capping added to infusion appointments The physical discomfort of cold capping Hair shedding, bald spots, and regrowth How hair loss affects identity, work, confidence, and privacy The emotional difference between looking sick and feeling like yourself Why cold capping is a personal decision, not a vanity decision Support the show Listener Feedback If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang speaks with Annick Pyfferoen about her experience being diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer and navigating several lines of treatment including targeted therapy, chemotherapy, a clinical trial attempt involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, Enhertu, and Xeloda. She speaks openly about what it felt like to experience rapid progression and why having a plan, even one that may change, helps her navigate uncertainty. This episode is a reminder that metastatic breast cancer care is not only about what is happening on scans. It is also about communication, side effect management, informed decision-making, emotional support, and helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang speaks with Kacie Flaherty and Joyce Dini about life with oligometastatic breast cancer. They share how their diagnoses unfolded, what treatment decisions looked like, and how they’ve learned to navigate uncertainty while staying grounded in what matters most. Together, they discuss: The differences between metastatic and oligometastatic breast cancer. What curative-intent treatment can look like in practice. How diagnosis and treatment affect relationships, fertility, and identity. The mental health challenges of living with cancer day to day. The importance of boundaries, advocacy, and choosing joy. Kacie and Joyce also reflect on the support they’ve found in community, the language that helped them better understand their disease, and the ways they continue to reclaim agency in the face of something they cannot fully control. This episode is especially meaningful for patients, caregivers, and anyone seeking an honest conversation about breast cancer, treatment complexity, and emotional survival. Topics covered: oligometastatic breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, curative intent, treatment decisions, cancer and relationships, fertility loss, mental health, grief, resilience, patient advocacy, community support, choosing joy. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Virginia Rodriguez, who was diagnosed with stage 4 de novo metastatic breast cancer after experiencing progressive weakness, digestive issues, dehydration, and a dramatic decline in her ability to walk and function. Virginia shares what it was like to go from hiking the Camino de Santiago to struggling to climb the stairs in her own home, the emotional experience of finally receiving a diagnosis after months of unanswered symptoms, and how her care team identified breast cancer that had spread to multiple areas, including her brain, spine, liver, spleen, and bones. Virginia was placed on Verzenio, also known as abemaciclib, as part of her first line of treatment. Verzenio is an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor used in certain HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancers, including in combination with endocrine therapy depending on a person’s treatment history and clinical situation Support the show Listener Feedback If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! Jennifer Tipton was in her mid-forties, running a yoga business in California, teaching indoor cycling classes, and training clients when she was diagnosed with stage 3 estrogen-positive breast cancer at the start of 2021. Her entire year — AC chemotherapy, then Taxol, then a lumpectomy, then a double mastectomy with a DIEP flap reconstruction, then 33 rounds of radiation — was consumed by treatment. By the end of it, she was exhausted in a way most people can't quite imagine. And then her oncologist told her about Verzenio (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor prescribed to help reduce the risk of recurrence in certain patients. We discuss: • what it felt like transitioning from active treatment to long-term medication • how movement and exercise helped her maintain energy and resilience • strategies she used to manage GI side effects during daily life • the emotional complexity of long-term cancer therapy • what improved after completing treatment • advice for patients deciding whether Verzenio is right for them Support the show Listener Feedback If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! Every breast cancer treatment plan is highly personalized, and understanding potential side effects can help patients feel more prepared, informed, and empowered throughout care. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Debbie Ciak, a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with Stage 2B ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with lymph node involvement. Due to features associated with a higher risk of recurrence, Debbie’s care team recommended treatment with Verzenio (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor commonly prescribed alongside endocrine therapy for certain HR+, HER2- breast cancers. During treatment, Debbie experienced significant gastrointestinal symptoms and later developed respiratory symptoms that were ultimately identified as drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD), also known as pneumonitis. Debbie also shares how integrative support resources and survivorship programming helped her continue moving forward after treatment. Her story underscores the importance of individualized care, ongoing monitoring, and open communication between patients and healthcare providers when incorporating newer therapies into treatment plans. While every patient responds differently to therapy, conversations like this help support more informed discussions between patients and their care teams. Topics Covered • Stage 2B ER/PR+ breast cancer diagnosis • understanding recurrence risk factors • treatment decision-making • why Verzenio was recommended • managing common CDK4/6 inhibitor side effects • Debbie’s experience with ILD/pneumonitis • recognizing respiratory symptoms early • coordinating care across oncology and pulmonology • survivorship and ongoing monitoring • exercise and recovery • patient empowerment and advocacy This episode is part of an ongoing series sharing real-world patient experiences on various therapies, highlighting the importance of education, communication, and personalized treatment decisions in breast cancer care. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! What happens when the person trained to care for others suddenly becomes the patient? In this deeply meaningful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura speaks with Bron Watson — a registered nurse, educator, and entrepreneur whose life changed dramatically after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, followed by a blood cancer diagnosis in 2023. Bron brings a powerful perspective shaped by both clinical expertise and lived experience. As someone who spent nearly two decades caring for patients, she suddenly found herself navigating fear, uncertainty, identity shifts, and the emotional complexity that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Through her personal journey, Bron created The Serenity Project, an initiative designed to help others find calm, clarity, and self-compassion in the midst of the overwhelming experience of cancer. Together, Laura and Bron explore: What it feels like when the caregiver becomes the patient How a cancer diagnosis can challenge identity, control, and confidence The emotional impact of facing cancer more than once Why learning to slow down can be one of the hardest lessons The role of self-compassion in healing How Bron’s nursing background shaped her cancer experience The inspiration behind The Serenity Project How community and reflection can support survivorship Why resilience does not mean pushing through everything alone About Bron Watson Bron Watson is a registered nurse with over 17 years of clinical experience and more than a decade as an educator and business owner. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2018 and blood cancer diagnosis in 2023, she founded The Serenity Project, a platform designed to help individuals navigate cancer with greater calm, clarity, and self-compassion. Bron combines evidence-based knowledge with lived experience to help others feel less alone and more empowered during and after diagnosis. You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member!

Send us a text! What does it really mean to support your body during and after breast cancer treatment? In this episode I am joined by returning guest Dr. Amy Comander and Meg McSherry, a breast cancer patient under Dr. Comander's care, for a thoughtful conversation about lifestyle medicine and breast cancer survivorship. Together, we explore the very real physical and emotional toll of treatment, including fatigue, weight gain, loss of taste, joint pain, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and the fear of recurrence. Dr. Comander explains how lifestyle medicine offers an evidence-based, whole-person approach to survivorship, grounded in six key pillars: physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, social connection, stress resilience, and reducing risky substances. She also shares how questions from patients led her to create the PAVING the Path to Wellness Program, now offered in group format to support breast cancer survivors with trusted, practical guidance. Meg offers an honest patient perspective on going through intensive HER2-positive breast cancer treatment, how hard it was to focus on nutrition and movement in the middle of chemotherapy, and how the PAVING program helped her feel more empowered as she moved toward survivorship. You do not have to do everything perfectly to support your health after a breast cancer diagnosis. This episode is a reminder that survivorship is not about perfection. It is about rebuilding with evidence-based tools, compassion, and community. Resources: Paving the Path to Wellness https://www.pavingwellness.org/ Support the show Latest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content?

Love the podcast? Send us a text! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also click the link in the show notes that says “Love this episode? Send us a text” to share your thoughts. Messages are completely anonymous, but you are welcome to include your name and where you’re listening from if you’d like a shout-out in a future episode. If you have a question or would like us to follow up directly, please include your email addre...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What happens when breast cancer leaves behind more than physical scars? In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura sits down with Dr. Jim Jackson to explore the hidden emotional impact of cancer, including medical trauma, PTSD, fear, triggers, and healing. Dr. Jackson is a licensed psychologist, neuropsychologist, and Director of Rehabilitation and Recovery at Vanderbilt’s Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center, where he works...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! Cancer treatment is hard enough — but dealing with insurance denials and medical bills can make it even harder. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with board-certified patient advocate Jenni Nolan to uncover the hidden financial challenges cancer patients face when navigating insurance, billing, and prior authorizations. Jenni has spent more than two decades working inside the healthcare system and now helps patients...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the focus naturally centers on the patient. But behind every diagnosis is another story — the story of the caregiver. In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang steps aside from the microphone as her husband William Laferriere hosts a deeply personal conversation about caregiving. William is joined by Dr. Eswar Shankar, a cancer researcher and faculty member at The Ohio State University Wexner...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! When Breast Cancer Changes Everything — What Do You Build Next? What happens when a breast cancer diagnosis strips away your identity — and forces you to rebuild from the inside out? In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Christine Handy and Christine Anastos — two breast cancer survivors who turned trauma into transformation. Christine Handy, former international model and author of Walk Besi...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang speaks with Kathy Giusti, a two-time cancer survivor who has lived with multiple myeloma for 30 years and later faced a breast cancer diagnosis as well. Diagnosed at 37 after what she thought was a routine visit, Kathy was told she had a fatal blood cancer and would live “three years at best.” Instead of accepting that prognosis, she helped change the trajectory of cancer research by found...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What if part of what makes cancer so hard isn’t just the diagnosis—but the spaces where care happens? In this eye-opening episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang explores how hospital design, architecture, and the built environment directly shape the cancer experience, often in ways patients never realize—but deeply feel. Laura is joined by Abbie Clary, Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth for Health for All, and a nationally...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What happens when a breast surgeon becomes a breast cancer patient—and then faces a second diagnosis years later? In this deeply personal and illuminating episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by Dr. Anne Peled, a board-certified breast, reconstructive, and plastic surgeon who has treated thousands of patients—and also navigated her own early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, followed years later by a new primary DCIS diagnosis. To...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What happens when you’re diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer, start a new job, and are asked to lead a COVID response—all at the same time? In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Samira Daswani, founder and CEO of Manta Cares, to talk about what it really means to navigate cancer when the system isn’t built for you. Diagnosed at 30 and undergoing chemotherapy during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandem...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What does it really mean to be diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)—often called “stage zero” breast cancer? In this in-depth episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by a breast surgical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a patient advocate to unpack why DCIS can be both reassuring and deeply complex. While survival rates are excellent, treatment decisions often involve difficult trade-offs between reducing recurren...

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What happens when breast cancer comes back — even after doing “everything right”? In this deeply honest conversation, Laura Carfang sits down with Teresa Baglietto, a four-time cancer survivor, author, and podcast host, to talk about what it really means to live with cancer recurrence, fear, and long-term survivorship. Teresa shares what it felt like to discover her first breast cancer lump (“it was like a block of cement”), how she navigated a recurrence aft...