Breast Cancer Conversations

By SurvivingBreastCancer.orgScience Medicine Health & Fitness Nutrition Life Sciences

Breast Cancer Conversations episodes

February 22285. Told She Had 3 Years to Live—Then Changed Cancer Research Forever withKathy Giusti
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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, biotech, and the FDA together to accelerate treatments.
This conversation explores survivorship, advocacy, and what patients and caregivers can do when the science is moving fast—but the system isn’t.
In This Episode, We Discuss
Getting a shocking diagnosis after a “routine” appointment
Why multiple myeloma was once considered a “silent killer”
How Kathy helped build a research engine that accelerated drug development
The difference between fast-moving science and slow-moving systems
How Kathy’s identical twin impacted her breast cancer risk and screening
DCIS decisions and why “there’s no right or wrong—only what’s best for you”
Why “looking healthy” can cause people to underestimate what you’re carrying
How to set boundaries when you’re in treatment or survivorship
Why you shouldn’t rely on only one or two caregivers—and how to “invite people in”
Kathy’s book: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical System
Resources & Links
Follow Kathy: @kathy.giusti
Book: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical System
SurvivingBreastCancer.org: Free programs, support groups, and community
Download the SBC App: Search SurvivingBreastCancer.org in the App Store or Google Play
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44 min
February 15284. Hospitals Weren’t Designed for Women: How the Built Environment Shapes Cancer Care with Abbie Clary
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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 square feet of cancer and healthcare facilities in her portfolio—including projects at Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab—Abbie pulls back the curtain on how hospitals are designed, who they’re designed for, and why women are so often treated as the “outlier.”
Together, they discuss trauma-informed design, survivorship-centered care, caregiver inclusion, gender bias in medical spaces, and why healing doesn’t only happen through medicine—it happens through dignity, control, and environment.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
Why hospitals and medical spaces are often designed for a “default male”
How architecture impacts anxiety, trauma, and healing for cancer patients
What trauma-informed design actually looks like in practice
Why cancer patients experience healthcare differently than other patients
The importance of designing for repeat visits, not one-time care
How caregivers and loved ones should be treated as part of the care team
Why dignity, control, and privacy matter as much as efficiency
Gender bias in medical design—from gowns to equipment to workflows
Why women’s pain and discomfort are often minimized in healthcare
Designing cancer centers for survivorship, not just treatment
About Today's Guest
Abbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA, is the Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth — Health for All. Her work spans some of the most ambitious healthcare projects in the world, including Memorial Sloan Kettering’s new Cancer Care Pavilion, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 2030 facilities master plan, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.
A nationally sought-after speaker and TEDx presenter, Abbie’s work focuses on transforming healthcare through strategic, human-centered design—bridging architecture, culture change, patient experience, and health equity. Her mission is simple but radical: design healthcare spaces that actually support healing, dignity, and belonging.

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41 min
February 08283. She Invented Sensation-Preserving Mastectomy—Then Needed It Herself: The Truth About DCIS, Recurrence, and Surgery
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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 (stage zero breast cancer), the difference between recurrence and a second primary cancer, and how advances in surgery are transforming survivorship—including sensation-preserving mastectomy.
This conversation bridges clinical expertise and lived experience, offering clarity, compassion, and permission to choose the path that aligns with your body and values.
In this episode:
What DCIS really is—and why “stage zero” can be misleading
Recurrence vs. second primary breast cancer: why biology matters
Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy and why survival outcomes are often the same
How guilt and self-blame show up after a second diagnosis
Being diagnosed with breast cancer as a physician
Navigating treatment when your colleagues are your caregivers
The evolution of oncoplastic surgery and patient-centered care
Why loss of breast sensation is under-discussed—but life-changing
How sensation-preserving mastectomy works
What questions to ask your surgeon about sensation, nerves, and recovery
Making decisions based on your priorities—not fear or pressure
About today's guest
Dr. Anne Peled is a board-certified plastic, reconstructive, and breast surgeon in private practice in San Francisco and Co-Director of the Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center Breast Cancer Center of Excellence. Trained at Amherst College, Harvard Medical School, and UCSF, Dr. Peled completed a unique fellowship combining breast oncologic surgery and reconstruction.
Her clinical and research work focuses on oncoplastic surgery, preserving and restoring sensation after mastectomy, improving patient outcomes, and breast cancer risk reduction. She is also a breast cancer survivor herself, bringing rare dual insight to patient care.

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40 min
February 01282. Diagnosed at 30— This Bio Engineer Built the Tool She Needed to Survive—Meet Samira
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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 pandemic, Samira shares how she worked through treatment, wrestled with impossible decisions about hormone therapy, and struggled with the loss of control that so many cancer patients feel—but rarely name.
Out of a sleepless night during chemo, Samira created a simple paper planner just to survive her own care. That tool would eventually become Manta Cares: a personalized, cancer-specific platform designed to give patients and care partners the thing most people never get—a map.
In this candid, founder-to-founder conversation, Laura and Samira explore:
Being diagnosed with breast cancer during COVID
Working through chemo and surgery while leading critical healthcare programs
Deciding whether to stay on hormone therapy—and living with that choice
Why cancer care feels like being dropped into a hike without a map
How patient-built tools can restore agency, clarity, and peace of mind
The emotional cost of fixing a system that failed you
What’s next for Manta Cares, including mobile tools and AI companions
This episode is for anyone who has ever thought:
There has to be a better way.
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32 min
January 25281. DCIS Isn’t “Nothing”: Stage Zero Breast Cancer and the Decisions No One Explains
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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 recurrence risk and preserving long-term quality of life.
The panel explores how advances in tumor biology, radiation techniques, and genomic testing—particularly the DecisionRT test—are helping clinicians and patients personalize care. Together, they discuss when radiation may meaningfully reduce recurrence risk, when it may be safely avoided, and how shared decision-making empowers patients to choose treatment paths based on information rather than fear.

Guests:
Dr. Erica Giblin, a breast surgical oncologist in Indianapolis and Director of Breast Surgical Oncology at Ascension, who brings a surgeon’s perspective on balancing effective treatment with long-term survivorship.
Dr. Fleure Gallant, a nationally recognized leader in breast radiation oncology and Radiation Medicine Lead for the Breast Disease Management Team at Northwell Health Cancer Institute, whose work focuses on delivering highly personalized, quality-of-life-centered care.
And Dr. Leona Hamrick, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at PreludeDx, a board-certified physician associate with decades of experience in internal medicine and oncology diagnostics—and an 11-year stage III breast cancer survivor who brings the patient voice into every scientific conversation.

Topics Discussed:
What DCIS is—and why it’s considered non-invasive breast cancer
Why DCIS is classified as stage zero, regardless of size
How DCIS differs from invasive breast cancer and LCIS
Why a DCIS diagnosis can still be emotionally traumatic
Standard treatment approaches: lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy
When and why radiation therapy is recommended after DCIS
How radiation schedules have evolved (5 days vs. 3–6 weeks)
What DecisionRT measures and how it helps predict recurrence risk
Why tumor biology matters more than age alone
Shared decision-making vs. fear-based decision-making
Quality-of-life considerations, especially for younger patients
Why more options can sometimes feel more overwhelming
The importance of second opinions and patient self-advocacy
How DCIS care is moving toward personalization and de-escalation
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51 min
January 04280. Breast Cancer Recurrence After Mastectomy with Teresa Baglietto
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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 after bilateral mastectomy, and the treatment decisions that ultimately saved her life — including why she chose not to take chemotherapy or tamoxifen.
Together, Laura and Teresa explore the emotional and practical realities of survivorship: fear of recurrence, making medical decisions without complete information, balancing career and health, and finding purpose after cancer.
This episode is for anyone newly diagnosed, living with metastatic or recurrent disease, or learning how to live after cancer — when the world expects you to “move on,” but your body and mind remember everything.

In This Episode, We Talk About:
What a breast cancer lump can actually feel like
Being diagnosed after delaying a mammogram
Breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy
Radiation vs chemotherapy and treatment decision-making
Oncotype DX testing and personalized care
Saying no to tamoxifen after severe side effects
Fear of recurrence and how it shows up years later
How cancer reshapes career, identity, and purpose
Why having a plan can help you survive the unknown
Finding meaning and community after diagnosis

About Our Guest
Teresa Baglietto is a four-time cancer survivor, author of The Ripple Effect, and host of the podcast InShok. Her work focuses on resilience, leadership, and navigating life’s hardest moments with intention and courage.

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46 min
December 22, 2025279. Breast Cancer Stopped My Life—Music and Meditation Helped Me Breathe Again
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Breast Cancer Stopped My Life—Music and Meditation Helped Me Breathe Again: How Music and Meditation Support Healing During Breast Cancer Treatment
A breast cancer diagnosis can abruptly stop life in its tracks—canceling plans, disrupting careers, and forcing an unfamiliar stillness. In this deeply moving episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, Ed.D. sits down with Elizabeth Borowsky, a professional pianist and composer, and Jesika Harmon, a meditation coach and wellness guide, to explore how music and meditation became powerful tools for healing during cancer treatment.
Together, they tell the story of an unexpected reconnection that led to a creative collaboration: Sonisah Meditation—a unique fusion of live piano music and guided meditation designed to help people move through illness, grief, and life’s hardest moments with greater clarity and compassion.
This conversation is a reminder that healing is not only physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and creative. Whether you’re living with breast cancer, supporting someone you love, or navigating another season of uncertainty, this episode offers permission to slow down, listen inward, and discover new ways to heal beyond medicine.
Resources:
Elizabeth Borowsky and Jesika Harmon co-created Inner Harmony, a meditation album combining live piano composition with guided mindfulness practices. Their work introduces Sonisah Meditation—from sonus (sound) and niseion (experience through trial)—a new approach to healing through sound and stillness.
📍 Available on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6KmlM20xrcRU9qQfGnkXEb?referral=labelaffiliate&utm_source=1011lBVpP95B&utm_medium=Indie_Distrokid&utm_campaign=labelaffiliate
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/inner-harmony/1846165188?uo=4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-JylYyr_EE
Learn more about our guests:
Elizabeth Borowsky:
https://www.elizabethborowsky.com/inner-harmony
Jesika Harmon:
https://www.meditationwithjesika.com/s-projects-basic
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59 min
December 14, 2025278. You’re Not Lazy: The Real Science Behind Cancer Fatigue with Dr. Landmann
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Cancer related fatigue is one of the most persistent and frustrating symptoms. In this deeply validating and informative episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, Ed.D., sits down with Dr. Jessa Landmann, naturopathic doctor and integrative oncology specialist, to unpack why fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, joint pain, and sleep disruption linger long after chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.
Too often, those diagnosed with breast cancer are told to “give it time,” “exercise more,” or “push through.” This conversation reframes fatigue as a treatable, understandable consequence of cancer and its therapies—and offers compassionate, practical strategies to reclaim quality of life.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, in active treatment, living with metastatic disease, or years into survivorship, this episode reminds you: you’re not broken—and you don’t have to live exhausted.
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43 min
November 30, 2025277. Exposing the Hidden Crisis in Cancer Care—Why Supportive Care Matters More Than Ever
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In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, Ed.D. sits down with philanthropist Sheri Biller of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation to explore the often overlooked—but absolutely essential—role of supportive cancer care.
After losing her two closest friends to breast cancer over 35 years ago, Sheri made a promise: if she ever had the resources, she would dedicate her life to improving the emotional, psychological, and practical support available to everyone facing cancer. That promise became the Biller Family Foundation and later the national coalition Together for Supportive Cancer Care.
This episode dives deep into:
Why the words supportive care matter—and how they differ from palliative and hospice care
How siloed hospital systems leave millions without access to emotional and psychosocial support
Why cancer is becoming an elitist disease—and how technology and policy can fix it
Caregiver burnout and why Sheri believes we need a “Teach for America” for caregivers
The shocking lack of trust, education, and information in underserved and rural communities
Why supportive care should be a standard of care for all life-threatening illnesses
If you’re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or advocate for equity in cancer care, this conversation is a must-listen.
Topics We Cover
✔️ Sheri’s personal story and the loss that inspired her life's work
✔️ Early challenges in cancer language, communication, and stigma
✔️ Why patients “shut down” the moment they hear the word cancer
✔️ Supportive care vs palliative care—what’s the difference?
✔️ Breaking barriers for rural, underserved, and Spanish-speaking communities
✔️ Why caregivers are the next major crisis in healthcare
✔️ The need for culturally competent engagement in faith communities
✔️ Financial toxicity and the real-world burdens families face
✔️ AI and the future of early diagnosis and survivorship support
✔️ How hospitals, pharma, policy, and nonprofits are finally working together
Why This Matters
Supportive care is more than comfort—it’s critical to surviving and living with cancer. From mental health to financial navigation to caregiver support, Sheri explains how integrating supportive care into every diagnosis could transform outcomes for millions.
Resources:
The Biller Family Foundation:
https://billerfamilyfoundation.org/
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29 min
November 23, 2025276. Clear Margins, One Surgery: Inside Perimeter’s Game-Changing Breast Cancer Technology
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In this powerful conversation, host Laura Carfang, founder of SurvivingBreastCancer.org, sits down with Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter Medical Imaging, and Dr. Allison DiPasquale, breast surgical oncologist and technology innovator. Together, they unpack one of the most anxiety-provoking moments after breast cancer surgery: “Did we get clear margins?”
Today, surgical innovation is radically changing that question.
Dr. DiPasquale walks listeners through the current challenges surgeons face with breast surgery, why 20–25% of patients traditionally require a second surgery, and how new real-time imaging tools are dramatically lowering that number. Mendes shares how Perimeter’s groundbreaking optical coherence tomography (OCT) and AI-powered margin assessment technology enables surgeons to visualize tissue in the operating room with near-microscopic detail—helping them achieve clear margins the first time.
In this episode we discuss:
What “clean margins” really mean and why they matter
Why many patients still face additional surgeries — and how that’s changing
How OCT imaging works
What AI can detect that the human eye can’t
How this technology reduces repeat surgeries and emotional burden
What patients should ask their surgeon before going into the OR
The upcoming FDA review and when patients can expect wider availability
How rural and community hospitals could benefit from AI-assisted surgical tools
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38 min

About Breast Cancer Conversations

From the publisher's feed

Breast Cancer Conversations is a podcast produced by Survivingbreastcancer.org where we inject positivity into the very fabric of a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast Cancer Conversations provides…