Today’s podcast guest, Dr. Jenn Simmons, is a true pioneer in the field of breast health. She’s a breast cancer surgeon turned functional medicine practitioner, and after finding herself with a breast cancer diagnosis a few years ago, her life-changing experience from ‘doctor’ to ‘patient’ really opened her eyes to who she was, and what she believed in. As someone who was surrounded by breast cancer and losing loved ones to this disease while growing up, she knew breast cancer was her life’s purpose. Ultimately, she wanted to pursue health, rather than simply treat illness, and she’s now on a mission to do just that.  

I personally have a family history of breast cancer, so this conversation left me feeling empowered, and much more knowledgeable as I navigate my own breast health journey moving forward. Advocating for yourself and choosing to be proactive with your health is vital; at the end of the day, please know that you have to make the best decision for YOU, with the information you have available. This episode will most definitely have you rethinking the ‘typical’ preventative measures when it comes to breast cancer, so I hope you enjoy!

Episode Recap: 

• How breast cancer dramatically impacted Dr. Jenn growing up and became her life’s purpose + her own, life-changing experience navigating breast cancer and finding functional medicine {3:54}
• The role your genetics play in regards to breast cancer {14:49}
• Dr. Jenn’s thoughts on testing in estrogenic cancers + how to best approach genetic testing and get the most value from doing so {17:13}
• When patients typically come to work with Dr. Jenn + the alarming rates at which cancer is increasing in the population {22:24}
• The ‘invisible’ toxin that seems to have the greatest detrimental effect on our health today + the cortisol-dominant state most of us are living in {25:13}
• Examples of doing what we’ve been told is best by experts, but has actually negatively impacted our health over time {34:37}
• Lifestyle ways to prevent breast cancer and really optimize your health {37:44}
• Various screening tools used in early detection of breast cancer + understanding that breast cancer is neither linear, nor predictable {46:28}
• Why regular self-breast exams matter + why mammography and MRI shouldn’t be used as the go-to imaging and screening tools for breast cancer {53:14}
• Ultrasound and thermography in breast screening + the 3 instances where breast cancer actually is considered an emergency {58:19}
• Dr. Jenn’s incredible QT imaging experience + why it’s going to change the future of breast cancer screening {1:07:16}

**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Complete show notes (including all links and resources mentioned in this episode): https://margaretpowell.com/podcast/episode38

Check out Dr. Jenn’s new book (available May 2024): The Smart Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer

Connect with Dr. Jenn on Instagram @drjennsimmons

Learn more about working with Dr. Jenn by visiting her website

Connect with me on Instagram @margaretannpowell and @fueledandfreenutrition

For questions or suggestions about the podcast, send us an email at [email protected]