Returning to life cancer-free hasn’t been easy, but Tita stays positive and isn’t letting anything take her spirit down. 

Her chest is healing, and she doesn’t feel like any less of a woman without breasts. Rather, it reminds her that she's alive and kicking.

She continues with regular immunotherapy, and it's doing wonders. Feeling more like herself, she’s working out without any joint pain, and her hair is growing back. 

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

When she first looked down after her double mastectomy, Tita didn’t panic. But adjusting to life without a bra has been strange. 

Nothing could prepare her for the emotions of losing a part of her body. But her tumor is gone, and no cancer was found before it was removed. 

Tita reflects that while chemo saves your life, it takes a piece of your life with it. She finds peace by focusing on her spiritual side to heal.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Tita's finally starting to feel like herself again after six grueling months of chemo. With no more nausea, she can actually enjoy pizza and pasta without feeling sick.

Her mastectomy is coming up soon, and her oncologist is calling for radiation. She's not exactly thrilled about it, but she’s determined to never have to deal with this cancer again.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Tita's latest MRI shows her tumor is shrinking. She's planning a butterfly tattoo after her double mastectomy to symbolize her metamorphosis. 

She shares what keeps her strong and optimistic: a job focused on helping others and a supportive circle of friends and family. She believes the key to staying positive is surrounding yourself with people who lift you up and share laughter.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. 

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Tita’s white blood count drops so low she has to reduce her chemo infusions to every other week. Zarxio injections and immunotherapy help keep it in a healthy range.

The new schedule extends her treatments through May, leaving her mentally drained. Always perceived as strong and optimistic, it’s tough to be in tears. Empathy from her doctor is a huge help.

Although the lump is shrinking, it's still cancerous, so a double mastectomy is the plan. Tita remains positive, grateful for her support system, faith, and otherwise great life.

Learn more about Invitae genetic testing

Check out Pink Lotus Breast Center

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Feeling worse than usual and suspecting her chemo dosage might be too high, Tita asks her doctor for another mammogram and ultrasound to check visually for signs of cancer.

Dismayed to find out she needs two more months of chemo than expected, she schedules an appointment with a surgeon to discuss whether a double mastectomy can remove any remaining cancer.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

After her second triple infusion of chemo, Tita is feeling worse than ever—no appetite, headaches, achy joints, the whole side effect shebang.

The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping it stays gone.

Emotionally drained, she cuts all her hair off herself and thinks through her reasoning for wanting a double mastectomy when the time comes.

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Triple negative breast cancer means aggressive chemo, and for Tita, dealing with everyone else's worry on top of it is too much.  With her first chemo session completed, she's determined not to let cancer overshadow her gratitude for the good things in her life.

After her mom's death and some family issues, Tita found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to [email protected] if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Following the loss of her mother and some traumatic family drama that came with it, Dr. Tita Gray discovered a lump in her breast.

Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s worse than initially thought, so her doctor recommends aggressive chemo ASAP. 

Links

How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger 

Breast Cancer Stories is a podcast about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Dr. Tita Gray shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.

Connect with us

Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.

Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.

Co-Host: Kristen Vengler & Dr. Tita Gray
Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Assistant Producers: Hannah Burkhart & Mary Ellen Clarkson
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

The results of Kristen's PET scan showed two lymph nodes lighting up, one in the gastro-hepatic area of her abdomen and the other in the lining of her esophagus.

While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but the earliest appointment is almost two months away.

Puzzling through the scenarios (as if she has a choice), Kristen hopes for a second, new kind of cancer rather than stage four, metastasized breast cancer.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS