Breast Cancer Conversations

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What happens when breast reconstruction doesn't go as planned? And what if the symptoms you're experiencing after surgery aren't being fully explained?

For many people diagnosed with breast cancer, decisions about surgery and reconstruction come at an already overwhelming time. Implants or reconstruction using your own tissue? One surgery or several? What does recovery actually look like? And what happens if complications arise months or even years later?

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang welcomes Dr. Robert Whitfield...

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When we hear that a new breast cancer treatment has received FDA approval, we often see the headline, but rarely the years of research, difficult decisions, and clinical trials that made that milestone possible.

So what actually happens behind the scenes?

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang, EdD, Founder and CEO of SurvivingBreastCancer.org, welcomes Brian Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of Celcuity, for an inside look at the science and development process behind new breast cancer treatments.

Brian shares how his...

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What if one of the most important breast cancer warning signs isn't a lump at all?

When filmmakers Shelby and Nathan Slager discovered how few people knew about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), they decided to do something unexpected: make a movie.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Shelby, Nathan, and Shelby's mother, Mary, to explore the intersection of breast cancer, hereditary cancer risk, family relationships, and the power of storytelling to create change.

Mary was...

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A breast cancer diagnosis brings far more than medical decisions. There are emotional challenges, treatment side effects, financial pressures, questions about clinical trials, and the ongoing need for trusted information and community. Yet many of these needs fall outside the traditional healthcare system.

So who's filling those gaps? And how can we make sure people diagnosed with breast cancer can find the right resources when they need them?

In this special roundtable episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, co-founder and CEO of SurvivingBreastCancer.org...

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Many people turn to CBD hoping for relief from pain, nausea, anxiety, sleep problems, and other side effects of cancer treatment. But CBD isn’t risk-free, and “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean harmless. It can be biologically active, product quality varies widely, and it may interact with medications used during breast cancer treatment.  magic-episode-02

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we take an evidence-focused look at CBD and breast cancer: what research currently tells us, where evidence is still limited, and what patients should know before adding CBD to th...

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For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, taking a daily medication like tamoxifen can become part of life for years. But what does it actually feel like to live with the side effects day after day?

In this candid episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Lindsey, who was diagnosed with DCIS at age 37 after finding a lump herself. Following surgery and radiation, Lindsey began taking tamoxifen—and quickly discovered that the experience involved much more than simply taking a pill every morning.

...

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Your scans came back. The portal posted results before anyone called. There are four appointments on the calendar and a vocabulary nobody taught you — and underneath it all, the feeling that you're already behind.

Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval spent 25 years treating women's breast and gynecologic cancers, much of it at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Her first piece of advice is the one nobody expects: slow down. Breast cancer treatment is urgent, she says, but it is not an emergency. It does not have to be solved in the next thirty-seven se...

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When Vic Clevenger's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, he and his brother had a thought that many men probably share:

At least we're not women. We don't have to worry about breast cancer.

Years later, Vic learned firsthand just how wrong that assumption can be.

It started with what looked like a stain on his shirt. When Vic realized fluid was coming from his nipple, he initially assumed it was probably a cyst, pimple, or something minor.

His fiancée...

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What happens emotionally after you've spent months—or years—focused on simply surviving cancer?

Treatment may end. Scans may look good. Life may begin moving forward again. But that doesn't necessarily mean you've processed what happened to you.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with visual artist, therapeutic arts practitioner, author, and cancer survivor Nerissa Balland for an honest conversation about the emotional aftermath of cancer—and why healing and surviving aren't necessarily the same thing.

Nerissa was diagnosed with m...

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Listen to hear three very different perspectives on what radiation for metastatic breast cancer can really look like and what these women want others to know before starting treatment.

Radiation can play a very different role in metastatic breast cancer than it does in early-stage disease.

It may be used to treat a specific metastatic site, help control cancer in the brain, liver or bones, relieve pain, or—as you'll hear in this episode—become part of a much larger treatment strategy.

In t...

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What if a blood test could detect signs of breast cancer at the molecular level?

Circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, is generating growing interest among people diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly those wondering about recurrence, treatment response, and what may be happening in the body before something appears on conventional imaging.

One test you may have heard about is Signatera.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang talks with Shannon and Erin, two women...

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What does life really look like five—or even ten—years after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis?

For many people, the initial diagnosis is filled with uncertainty, fear, and countless unanswered questions. But thanks to advances in treatment, more people are living longer with metastatic breast cancer than ever before, and with that comes an important conversation about what it means to continue living while navigating an incurable disease.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by Paula Bouckhuyt and...

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Somewhere between the diagnosis and the last appointment, most of us stopped breathing all the way down. Not on purpose. The body braces, the jaw clenches, the shoulders come up — and then treatment ends, everyone tells you congratulations, and nobody mentions that your nervous system never got the memo that the emergency is over.

In this episode, host Laura Carfang sits down with Brett Aldrich — Ayurvedic health counselor, breathwork facilitator, and former social services practitioner specializing in trauma awareness and domestic violence — for a conversation about what it takes...

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When you're living with breast cancer, the medical team treats the cancer — but who takes care of everything else? The fear that won't quiet down at 2 a.m. The diarrhea you're not sure is "bad enough" to call about. The FMLA paperwork, the school pickup, the light bill, the strange grief that shows up right when everyone expects you to feel grateful.

In this episode, host Laura Carfang sits down with Dr. Julia Frydman, palliative care physician and medical director at Thyme Care, and Dr. Stephanie Broussard, director of...

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Palliative care is one of the most misunderstood parts of cancer care. Many people hear the term and think it means hospice, end-of-life care, or giving up. But palliative care, also called supportive care, can be offered alongside active cancer treatment and is focused on improving quality of life.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we hear from Kacie Flaherty, Joyce Garber, Paula Bouckhuyt, Hillary Stackpole, and Aimee Hoes, who are living with metastatic breast cancer about their unique experiences with palliative care.  Some were o...

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When many people hear the words "clinical trial," they immediately think of a last resort.

But that's one of the biggest misconceptions in breast cancer care.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Dr. Ada Waks, breast medical oncologist and clinical investigator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to demystify clinical trials and explain how they are shaping the future of breast cancer treatment.

Dr. Waks cares for patients across all stages of breast...

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When you're diagnosed with breast cancer, your first thought is often survival.

But what about everything that comes after?

For many young adults diagnosed with breast cancer, questions about fertility, family planning, hormone health, identity, and future possibilities quickly become part of the conversation. Yet too many patients never learn about their options until after treatment has already begun.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Kara Bendle, RN, MSN, CPN, CNL, Fertility Preservation and Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA...

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Getting a mammogram should not feel complicated.

Yet many women face delays, confusion, long wait times, and unanswered questions when navigating breast cancer screening and follow-up care.

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang and William Laferriere sit down with Dr. Ryan Polselli, radiologist, entrepreneur, and founder of Mammolink, a mobile breast cancer screening company designed to bring mammography directly to women while reducing barriers to care.

Dr. Polselli shares how his own experience as a medical student facing a potential cancer...

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What happens when breast cancer survivors and thrivers come together to celebrate 300 episodes of Breast Cancer Conversations?

In this special milestone episode, host Laura Carfang welcomes members of the SurvivingBreastCancer.org community for an honest, heartfelt discussion about diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, metastatic breast cancer, advocacy, and finding connection after cancer.

Together, they reflect on the stories that shaped them, the support that carried them through difficult moments, and what they wish every newly diagnosed patient knew.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with metastatic breast...

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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 s...

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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...

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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 i...

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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:

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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 h...

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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 h...

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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- br...

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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 emo...

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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 a...

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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 with people facing life-threatening and chronic medical conditions. 

Together, Laura and Dr. Jackson unpack why the experience of breast can...

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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 resolve denied insurance claims, correct billing errors, and navigate complex medical bills so they can focus on their ca...

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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 Medical Center. Dr. Shankar shares his personal experience caring fo...

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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 Beside Me, opens up about:

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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 founding the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)—a model that brought scientists, clinicians, biotec...

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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 recognized leader in healthcare architecture and experience design. With millions of squ...

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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.

Together, Laura and Dr. Peled unpack what patients are rarely told about DCIS (stag...