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

When life is interrupted by breast cancer at a young age, there are distinct challenges and quality-of-life issues to manage. 

It’s important to understand all the possible ways a diagnosis can impact the future, including fertility decisions, pregnancy care, career disruptions, parenting young kids, long-term survivorship concerns, sexuality, and more.

This webinar is for patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare providers who want to understand and support the unique experiences of people diagnosed before age 45. Hear powerful personal stories, get expert insights, and learn about resources that can help you. 

Featured Speakers:

Jeanelle Adams
Breast Cancer Advocate, @elleviews

Allie Brumel
Chief Operating Officer, The Breasties

Brooks Fuentes
Community Support, Young Survival Coalition

Hayley Gullen
Author, Illustrator, and Breast Cancer Survivor

Melissa Jenkins
Community Director, Breastcancer.org

Athena Jones
Award-winning Journalist and Breast Cancer Advocate

Jasmine McDonald, PhD
Associate Professor, Columbia University

Mackenzie McGrath
VP, Programs, First Descents

Megan Tesch, MD, MPH
Breast Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dani Trops
Breast Cancer Advocate, @dani_trops

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

According to a KFF poll, about one in eight, or 12%, of adults in the United States have used a GLP-1 medicine like Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Mounjaro, Wegovy, or Zepbound. These drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes, but quickly started being prescribed for weight loss and other uses.

While they seem like wonder drugs, GLP-1 medicines do cause side effects and have risks. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common side effects. The drugs also can cause dizziness, headaches, and elevated heartbeat. 

Dr. Neil Iyengar is a breast medical oncologist who studies how diet and exercise can improve quality of life for people with breast cancer. He’s also prescribed GLP-1 medicines for the people he cares for.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Iyengar explain:

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

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive subtype of breast cancer that can be harder to treat and is more likely to come back. But new research into understanding TNBC is helping some patients find more precise treatment options. 

Learn about innovations in immunotherapy, genetic testing, and targeted therapies, why TNBC is different compared to other types of breast cancer, and what gives doctors hope about the future of care for people with TNBC.

You’ll also hear from two inspiring breast cancer advocates who created TNBC resources for patients after their own diagnosis.

Read more about triple-negative breast cancer.

Featured Speakers:

Maimah Karmo
Breast Cancer Advocate and Founder, Tigerlily

Roberto Leon-Ferre, MD
Co-Leader of the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Working Group and Associate Professor at Mayo Clinic

Evelyn Taiwo, MD
Hematology and Oncology at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Associate Professor at Cornell University

Kelly Thomas
Breast Cancer Advocate and Founder, TNBC Thrivers

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Many people feel supported by Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities and pink merchandise. Others feel the month focuses on people who’ve been cured and leaves out people with metastatic disease. Some men with breast cancer feel the overwhelming pinkness of the month silences their experience. And others feel the pink labels on products linked to higher breast cancer risk, such as alcohol and cosmetics with ingredients like triclosan, are hypocritical. 

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the episode to hear:

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

If you’ve struggled with anxiety, fear, depression, anger, loneliness, or felt overwhelmed by the emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, this webinar is for you. 

You’ll learn about a variety of approaches to treat and manage mental health issues from counseling to complementary therapies, lifestyle changes, medication, meditation, and much more.

Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer can benefit from mental health support. Watch the video to hear what the experts recommend.

Discussion topics include:

The webinar also features a calming 10-minute meditation.

Learn more about taking care of your mental health after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Featured Speakers:

Bethany Adair
Mindset Coach, Author, and Stage IV Cancer Thriver

Ting Bao, MD, MS
Co-Director of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Susan Glaser, LCSW
Senior Clinical Social Worker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Rhonda Schaller, MPS, MBSR
Assistant Vice President; Co-Lead of The Mindfulness Collaboratory, Pratt Institute

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Triple-negative breast cancer is negative for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. So, it’s hormone receptor-negative. People diagnosed with this type of breast cancer aren’t offered hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back) because it’s thought that they wouldn’t be effective. 

Dr. Lisa Newman and colleagues published research that found that among people diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, nearly 33% of the recurrences or second primary breast cancers were hormone receptor-positive. This means the hormone receptor status had changed when the cancer came back or when there was a new cancer. The results raise this question: Should people with triple-negative disease be offered hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence?

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Newman explain:

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

Making decisions about breast reconstruction is personal. Hours of research can go into your choice about restoring the shape and size of one or both breasts. It’s also important to think carefully about how you want to look and feel in your body. 

Implants, flap reconstruction, fat grafting, going flat, immediate or delayed, breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, risks, benefits, costs — there’s a lot to consider.

Whether you’re planning for reconstruction, having a corrective procedure, or recovering from surgery, watch this webinar to learn from experienced plastic surgeons. 

Marisa Weiss, MD, interviewed Clara Lee, MD, MPP, FACS and Sarosh Zafar, MD to ask them questions from our community about reconstruction decisions after lumpectomy and mastectomy, expectations for the procedures and recovery time, side effects, symmetry, nipple reconstruction, and much more. 

Read more about breast reconstruction.

Featured Speakers:

Clara Lee, MD, MPP, FACS
Plastic Surgeon and Professor of Surgery, University of North Carolina

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Sarosh Zafar, MD
Plastic Surgeon, Center for Restorative Breast Surgery

A medical assistant at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Upstate New York, Chelsea Vangrol had seen young women diagnosed with breast cancer. But she never expected to be one of them. She shares her experience of being diagnosed with DCIS at age 25 so other people in a similar situation will know they’re not alone.Listen to the episode to hear Chelsea discuss:

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

Whether you’re adjusting to changes to your body, experiencing weight fluctuation, hair loss, hot flashes, or just trying to feel “like yourself” again, this webinar will give you a toolkit of style strategies to try.

Dr. Weiss and Emma John discuss their personal stories, and how self-expression through style has helped them after breast cancer. They’ll share practical, affordable ideas to help you feel comfortable, confident, and stylish—no matter where you are in your treatment for breast cancer. 

Topics include: 

This episode is for anyone who wants to reclaim your sense of self, or develop a whole new style that feels right for you. Remember, style is not about chasing trends or fitting into someone else’s idea of beauty. It’s about honoring your story, embracing your body as it is today, and finding moments of joy. 

Featured Speakers:

Emma John
Personal Stylist and Founder, Sisterhood of Style

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a relatively new type of medicine for breast cancer. Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) and Dato-DXd (brand name: Datroway) are two ADCs used to treat breast cancer.

Dr Benjamin Schrank and colleagues have developed a new type of ADC that combines an antibody with a toxin — called an antibody-toxin conjugate — that teaches the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Schrank explain:

Episode image photo credit: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center