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.

Bone and joint pain are some of the most common side effects of aromatase inhibitors, medicines for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The official name for this is aromatase inhibitor associated — or sometimes induced — musculoskeletal syndrome, also called AIMSS. Many people report pain in the knees, ankles, and hips while taking an aromatase inhibitor, but the hands and the wrists also might be affected.

Hand expert Dr. David Bozentka discusses how AIMSS can affect the wrists and hands, including symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and tendonitis.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Bozentka explain:

the theories why aromatase inhibitors cause joint and bone pain, or AIMSS

how to decrease the risk of AIMSS

how carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and tendonitis are treated

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

Follow-up care after breast cancer is essential. Getting good follow-up care can make a big difference in your long-term health and quality of life. In this Breastcancer.org webinar, you’ll find out how often you should see your oncologist after your treatment ends and get other practical advice from our expert panelists and patient advocates.

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

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

Hoda Badr, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Fumiko Chino, MD
Radiation Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Evelyn Robles-Rodríguez, DNP, APN, AOCN
Director of Outreach, Prevention, and Survivorship, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper

Erin Roesch, MD
Breast Medical Oncologist, Cleveland Clinic

Megan-Claire Chase
Breast Cancer Program Director, SHARE Cancer Support
Patient Advocate

Amanda Helms
Patient Advocate

Kate Rosenblum
Patient Advocate

Loriana Hernandez-Aldama
Two-Time Cancer Survivor, Award-winning Journalist, Author

The CHALLENGE trial found that a three-year, structured exercise program after chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer reduced the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence risk) and also led to people living longer overall. Dr. Kerry Courneya, the lead researcher, thinks the results can be applied to people with other types of cancer, including breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Courneya explain: