Dr. Dipali Sharma and her team published two papers that found links between bacteria, including F. nucleatum, the bacterium that causes periodontal disease, and the development of breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sharma explain:

Dr. Brock Hewitt is a surgeon who specializes in treating cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the liver and other internal organs. One of the techniques he uses is histotripsy. He’s published a number of papers on the procedure and its effectiveness.Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Hewitt explain:

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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:

For some people a breast cancer diagnosis can bring on a rush of feelings: grief, anxiety, fear, hope, resentment, and anger. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the episode to hear Kelly explain:

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:

Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 is a protein that helps cancers grow by supporting the formation of new blood vessels, stopping cancer cells from dying, and weakening immune cells that should recognize and attack cancer cells. Dr. Nancy Klauber-DeMore is developing an antibody that blocks this protein. Early research suggests the antibody may halt the growth of triple-negative breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Klauber-DeMore explain:

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:

This bonus episode is the audio from a Breastcancer.org webinar.

There are steps you can take to help prevent treatment-related hair loss, promote hair regrowth, and find confidence again. In this Breastcancer.org webinar, learn how different treatment types affect hair, preventing or reducing hair loss, what to expect for regrowth, tips for coping, and advice for finding and wearing a wig that's right for you.

Listen to the webinar to get expert advice from the panelists, including: 

Marisa C. Weiss, MD 
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org 

Mario E. Lacouture, MD
Director, Oncodermatology Program, Research Director, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Alicia Giglio
Chief Experience Officer, Wigs.com

Breast cancer advocate, Tirzah Cooper has bravely shared her experience of hair loss. Watch her story and hear about the impact it had on her self-esteem and daily life.

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:

This bonus episode is the audio of Breastcancer.org webinar.

Exercise could change your life — at any age.

Physical activity can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, and it may lower the risk of the cancer coming back if you've been diagnosed. Exercise also has many benefits for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

While evidence shows there are many ways exercise can boost your mental and physical health, we know it isn't always easy to do. This webinar will help inform and motivate you to get moving.

Patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare providers can watch this webinar to:

Understand how much exercise you really need to get the benefits of working out

Learn what types of exercise are safe and recommended

Hear the latest guidelines on lymphedema and exercise

Discover simple ways to begin or return to physical activity

Hear answers to common exercise concerns

Get tips on equipment, sneakers, and low cost exercise resources

You can also try a free guided workout led by a certified cancer trainer at the end of the webinar.

Learn more about exercise and breast cancer, and try our series of workout videos.

Featured Speakers:

Sami Mansfield

Founder, Cancer Wellness for Life

Thank you to AstraZeneca for making this program possible.