What do 700 slang words, strip clubs and breast cancer surgery have in common? They all reveal how society — and medicine — views women’s breasts. In this episode, host Dr. Denise Millstine dives into Sarah Thornton’s provocative book Tits Up: The Top Half of Women’s Liberation with author Sarah Thornton and breast cancer surgeon Dr. Barbara Pockaj. Together, they explore the cultural baggage surrounding breasts, the language we use, and the deeply personal decisions women face in breast health and reconstruction.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.

We talked with:

• Sarah Thornton is a sociologist and author of four critically acclaimed books, including the international bestseller Seven Days in the Art World. A scholar-in-residence at University of California, Berkeley, for three years while writing Tits Up, she lives in San Francisco, California.
• Barbara Pockaj, M.D., is a surgical oncologist who has a strong clinical and research interest in breast cancer and malignant melanoma. Dr. Pockaj's research focuses not only on clinical studies but also translational science. Dr. Pockaj is also the chair of the Breast Cancer Interest Group, which is a partnership with researchers at Arizona State University. The cooperation focuses on using the state-of-the-art genomics infrastructure and a high-quality breast cancer tumor biorepository. 

Purchase TITS UP.

• From Bookshop.org.
• From Barnes & Noble.

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The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.