Brighter Podcast

Mammograms can bring up a lot of questions, and sometimes a lot of anxiety. In this conversation, Dr. Yazdani, a diagnostic radiologist on the medical staff of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, joined Graci and Helen to break down what to expect, what different findings can mean, and what happens after your mammogram is performed.

Together, they explore:

1. What is the process a woman goes through when getting her mammogram?
2. Why do mammograms hurt some women and not others? 
3. What are the reasons a woman might get called back after a mammogram?
4. How do dense breasts impact the mammogram-reading process?
5. If a radiologist sees something concerning on a mammogram, what happens from there?
6. For the woman listening who has been putting off her mammogram, what do you wish she understood that might make her more comfortable scheduling one?

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

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Cancer can change so much, including intimacy, body image, relationships, and the way you feel about yourself. In this episode, Graci is joined by Heather Nemec, a social worker and breast and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, and Meredith Mitstifer, a clinical psychologist and ovarian cancer survivor, for an honest conversation about intimacy after cancer.

Together, they explore:

1. How does cancer treatment affect your sex life, and is it normal to experience changes?
2. Can intimacy still feel good after cancer changes your body?
3. Why does intimacy feel so emotionally complicated after cancer?
4. What if you don't feel comfortable or confident in your body anymore?
5. What can you do to improve your sexual health during and after cancer?

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

Stephanie Hargis, a mother, social worker, and breast cancer survivor, joined Brighter Magazine and the Ricardo Fisas Foundation to share her story and reflect on the difference their partnership is making in the lives of women affected by cancer. This episode was a special collaboration between the two organizations, centered on education, support, and the power of community. To learn more about them, visit www.brightermagazine.org and www.ricardofisasfoundation.org. 

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

 In this episode, Marissa shares her breast cancer diagnosis story and explains why screenings played such an important role in saving her life. We talk about why so many women fear mammograms and self-checks, how to navigate scanxiety after a diagnosis, and why routine screenings still matter after cancer. She also shares advice for advocating for yourself, asking questions, and making sure your voice is heard in every appointment.

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

At age 23 and just two months before getting married, Katie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Refusing to let cancer define their future, she and her fiancé, Taylor, moved up their wedding, and the two optimistically embarked on the unexpected season ahead. Now, three years later, Katie is cancer-free and the two are expecting their first child in August. Their story is one of faith, resilience, and finding joy even in life’s hardest moments. 

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

Registered Dental Hygienist and founder of the Side Effect Support LLC, Jill Meyer Lippert, and her friend Stephanie Zimmerman, a childhood cancer survivor, pediatric oncology nurse practitioner, and founder of LifeCare Patient Advocacy & Care Coordination LLC joined Graci, Brighter’s Program Manager, on this episode of the Brighter Podcast! 

Together, they explore the critical role of oral care during cancer treatment and survivorship, break down common oral side effects and their impact on overall health, and share practical, easy-to-implement tips for maintaining a healthy mouth before, during, and after treatment.

 Side Effect Support is offering Brighter listeners 20% off their first order at SideEffectsSupport.com using the code BRIGHTER.*

Listeners are also encouraged to visit https://checkyourmouth.org/wp/ to learn more about oral self-checks. 

*No minimum purchase requirement
One use per customer
Can’t combine with other discounts

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

Brighter welcomed four former Brighter Summer Program interns to this month’s episode of the podcast to showcase the opportunities offered through Brighter’s high school summer internship and to give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the illuminate guide, Brighter’s resource focused on cancer prevention, awareness, and early detection. These four young women played a key role in the article development, spread design, and overall mission of illuminate, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work they contributed. If you or someone you know would be interested in reading the illuminate guide, please visit the Resources page at www.brightermagazine.org. 

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

UT Southwestern Medical Center genetic counselors Jana Heady and Cheyla Clark joined the Brighter Podcast to share insight from their work in the Cancer Genetics Program. In this episode, they walked listeners through the value and purpose of genetic counseling and testing, addressing fears and common fears and misconceptions, explaining varying referral rates, and outlining what a genetic counseling and testing process would look like. From their clinical experience, Jana and Cheyla also explored the many reasons individuals choose to pursue genetic counseling, such as assessing personal risk, understanding hereditary trends, taking proactive, preventative steps, and equipping family members with information to make informed decisions of their own. 

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

Join us as we awareness for rare cancers with Katie Coleman, rare cancer survivor, technologist, and nonprofit founder of COA and Lindsay Looney, daughter of Brighter's friend Jennifer who we lost to a rare form of head and neck cancer just over a year ago. They will share with us what it's like to be diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and the need for additional support and further research.

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!

Emily Hammack, Speech Pathologist with Baylor Scott and White in Dallas, helps us understand cancer related cognitive decline ("chemo brain"), dysphasia, and the value of speech therapy to help you regain control and confidence.  

This podcast is particularly helpful for our head and neck cancer friends. 

Brighter Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women affected by cancer and provides magazines at no cost to survivors in need. Brighter Magazine is a 501c3. All donations are tax deductible. Subscribe at BrighterMagazine.org or donate today at give.brightermagazine.org/donate.

Follow us on social @BrighterMagazine!