Breastcancer.org Podcast

In Caitlin Shetterly’s latest novel, the main character has been diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast. Six months after sending in her draft, Shetterly was diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast. Breast cancer had broken the fourth wall between Shetterly, her characters, and her readers. Listen to the episode to hear Caitlin explain: how she came up with the idea of her character Alice being diagnosed with breast cancer why she thought Alice would be the only person who could understand what she was going through how breast cancer changed her as a person and as a writer

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves that run to your hands, feet, arms, and legs. Neuropathy can cause burning pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the areas that are affected. Chemotherapy, especially medicines called taxanes – Taxol, Taxotere, and Abraxane – are common causes of neuropathy in people receiving breast cancer treatment. While there are treatments that may help ease the symptoms of neuropathy, there is nothing available that can repair the damaged nerves. So studies are looking at ways to prevent neuropathy in the first place. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, head of breast and gynecological medical oncology at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care in Paramus, New Jersey, is the principal investigator at her institution of the ICE COMPRESS study, which is looking at cooling mitts and socks and compression to prevent neuropathy during chemotherapy. The study is being done at more than 20 sites across the United States. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Teplinsky explain: risk factors for neuropathy the rationale for the ICE COMPRESS study her advice to people who want to try icing and compression on their own during chemotherapy

Twenty years ago, seven people diagnosed with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer received a cancer vaccine as part of a clinical trial. Today, they’re all still alive. This prompted Zachary Hartman to study the immune systems of the people in the trial to see what was happening. He found that the women had immune cells that continue to recognize the cancer and keep it under control. Now his goal is to make that vaccine even more effective and make it work on other types of breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Hartman explain: how the original study was done how he’s working to make the vaccine even more effective how the vaccine might be modified to work on hormone receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer

The changes to federal- and state-run health insurance programs can be confusing, especially since some of the changes haven’t been implemented yet and others are being challenged in court. How will these changes affect people with metastatic breast cancer? This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Support Group featuring guest moderator Joanna Doran. Listen to the episode to hear Joanna explain: what short-term health insurance plans are and what they may not cover what Medigap plans are and how they’re purchased Medicaid work requirements and required documentation differences between Medicare parts A, B, C, and D

Bone and joint pain are some of the most common side effects of aromatase inhibitors, medicines for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The official name for this is aromatase inhibitor associated — or sometimes induced — musculoskeletal syndrome, also called AIMSS. Many people report pain in the knees, ankles, and hips while taking an aromatase inhibitor, but the hands and the wrists also might be affected. Hand expert Dr. David Bozentka discusses how AIMSS can affect the wrists and hands, including symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and tendonitis. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Bozentka explain: the theories why aromatase inhibitors cause joint and bone pain, or AIMSS how to decrease the risk of AIMSS how carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and tendonitis are treated

The CHALLENGE trial found that a three-year, structured exercise program after chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer reduced the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence risk) and also led to people living longer overall. Dr. Kerry Courneya, the lead researcher, thinks the results can be applied to people with other types of cancer, including breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Courneya explain: why the study asked people to exercise for three years why he thinks the results may spur insurance companies to cover exercise-related costs, like equipment and gym memberships the reasons why the results also could apply to people diagnosed with breast cancer

This podcast is the audio from a Breastcancer.org webinar. In this candid conversation, Marisa Weiss, MD, Michele Ley, MD, FACS, Pamela Munster, MD, and Rachel Swart, MD, PhD share what they each experienced when they went from the role of healthcare provider to patient. Despite their medical training, many years of helping patients, and deep knowledge about breast cancer, they too felt their life come to a screeching halt when they were diagnosed. They spoke honestly about how they managed treatment decisions, returning to work, how the experience changed their interactions with their own patients, what everyone can learn about advocating for yourself, and much more. Their hope is that by sharing their stories, they can help others coping with the same challenges, and empower everyone affected by breast cancer. Featured speakers: Marisa Weiss, MDChief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org Michele Ley, MD, FACSBoard-Certified Breast Surgical Oncologist and Founder, Tucson Breast Health Specialists Pamela Munster, MDDirector, Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit, Co-leader of the Center for BRCA Research, and Co-Leader, Molecular Oncology Program, University of California San Francisco Rachel Swart, MD, PhDMedical Oncology and Hematology, Arizona Oncology

The 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium featured four days filled with new research findings, poster presentations, and educational sessions. Marisa Weiss, MD, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org, offers her take on the top results. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Weiss explain: how giredestrant, a new oral SERD for early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, may change practice a new use for Tukysa (chemical name: tucatinib) in metastatic HER2-positive disease the lifestyle factors that can affect breast cancer risk and steps people can take to keep their risk as low as possible

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, presented research on the Young, Empowered & Strong (YES) mHealth tool designed to better meet the emotional and physical health needs of young people who’ve received breast cancer treatment. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Partridge explain: how people access the tool and how it works the specific symptoms the tool helped improve what’s next for the tool

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Whitney O’Connor, a two-time breast cancer survivor, licensed professional counselor, and founder of the Boobie Queen Company, presented a poster on the mental health tools she developed to help young women address any mental health and body image challenges they may have. Listen to the episode to hear Whitney explain: the phases of cancer survivorship framework she developed how the retreats her company sponsored used the framework to help young women heal emotionally how she plans to integrate healthcare providers into the framework

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), Dr. Tara Sanft, associate professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Survivorship Clinic, moderated a session called “Balancing Act: Hormone Replacement Therapy in Breast Cancer Care.” Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sanft explain: the difference between systemic and local HRT why HRT decisions need to be nuanced and individualized for anyone with a history of breast cancer – there is no one-size-fits-all her advice to people with a history of breast cancer who are considering HRT

This bonus episode is the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠⁠webinar. Managing breast cancer treatment can be a long, complex process with unexpected obstacles. Some people experience a cosmetic or medical issue with their breast reconstruction that occurs soon after surgery or years later. If you’re unhappy with the cosmetic results of reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy — or you’re feeling pain, tightness, or changes in implant position — a corrective procedure may be beneficial for you. In this webinar, three highly specialized breast surgeons discuss what to do when issues develop after getting implants or having a flap reconstruction – which is using your own tissue to rebuild a breast. They explain possible complications, how to find the right doctor for revision surgery, techniques to fix reconstruction issues, and paying for a corrective procedure. Listen to the webinar to learn about options for managing discomfort, changes in shape, size, positioning of the breast, asymmetry, implant rupture, capsular contracture, fat necrosis, and more. And remember, If you notice symptoms that concern you, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible and ask if what you’re experiencing is normal for the type of reconstruction you had and other health factors that are specific to you. Learn more about corrective breast reconstruction surgery. Featured Speakers: Marisa Weiss, MDChief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org Anne Peled, MDBoard-certified Plastic Surgeon Co-director, Breast Care Center of ExcellenceSutter Health Dhivya Srinivasa, MD, FACSDouble Board-certified General and Plastic SurgeonFounder, The Institute for Advanced Breast Reconstruction Sarosh Zafar, MDDouble Board-certified General and Plastic SurgeonCenter for Restorative Breast Surgery