On today’s episode, I am speaking with Anyssa Lucena. Anyssa has been rock climbing and guiding for over 15 years and strongly believes that climbing is a means to deeper healing and self knowledge. Anyssa was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and she used her love and passion for rock climbing to navigate her recovery and rediscover her strength. She was inspired to turn her challenging experience into something that can help other women and is the founder of the nonprofit, Genuine Climbing, whose mission is to empower women through climbing. Genuine Climbing is dedicated to uplifting women both physically and emotionally by offering free rock climbing experiences for those affected by cancer. On today’s episode, Anyssa speaks about her diagnosis and treatment and really emphasizes the power of community and the healing power of rock climbing. Genuine Climbing will be hosting free climbing retreats (and day programs) for women affected by cancer and will truly be a transformative experience in women’s lives. For more information about the organization and how to sign up for programs and retreats, visit Genuine Climbing or check out Genuine Climbing on Instagram.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Allison Rosen, a 12-year early-age onset colorectal cancer survivor who shares her story from diagnosis to advocacy. Allison talks about her symptoms, her diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. She opens up about the complex, often taboo, aspects of cancer treatment, including issues related to fertility, sexual health, and living with a permanent ostomy. Allison talks about the power of connection and advocacy. By sharing her story publicly, she has become a vocal advocate for colorectal cancer awareness, focusing on breaking stigmas and educating others through social media. Her posts, often infused with humor, aim to make difficult conversations about symptoms and screenings more approachable, encouraging younger people to advocate for their health. Allison shares incredible advice for those looking to step into advocacy, emphasizing authenticity and vulnerability as core to effective storytelling. Whether through social media or involvement in organizations, Allison illustrates how sharing one’s story can save lives and truly highlights the significant role of patient advocacy in improving survivorship, quality of life and cancer outcomes.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Gila Pfeffer. Gila is a 15-year breast cancer previvor turned survivor, a writer and author of the newly published memoir “Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer and Other Inconveniences.” Gila shares her experience of losing family members to cancer including her mother who passed away from breast cancer, finding out she carried the BRCA1 mutation, deciding to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, discovering breast cancer at the time of the surgical pathology, and her subsequent cancer treatment journey. She talks about the writing process and what it was really like! Her memoir is a raw, vulnerable and beautiful story of family, parenting, love, loss, and perseverance that will make you laugh and cry.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Deana Jean. Deana was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer in 2016 when she was a mom of 2 boys and 5 months pregnant with her third child – her daughter, Aubrey (who is now 8!). On today’s episode, Deana talks about her initial diagnosis and how she had to advocate for herself during the time, the decisions and choices she made surrounding her treatment, what it was like getting treatment during and after pregnancy and what the past 8 years of her life have looked like. She talks about parenting, survivorship, mental health, the importance of feeling seen and heard as a patient and so much more.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Elissa Kalver. Elissa was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 34 one year after giving birth to her daughter. During treatment, she had the idea to create We Got This, the first gift registry to bridge the needs of cancer patients and their supporters. Elissa calls herself a cancer thriver and believes that even during treatment and difficult times, it’s possible to live your best life. Elissa shares her story today. She talks about her treatments, decisions she has had to make to focus on quality of life and thriving, how We Got This came to be and the incredible work she is doing. Follow Elissa and her journey on Instagram.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Kelly Crump. Kelly is an illness influencer, patient advocate and model who is living and thriving with metastatic breast cancer. Kelly focuses on showing others that you do not have to be defined by your disease and that you can “live your life” and “do what you dream”. She was the first person to pose in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine with active breast cancer and the first to ever show their mastectomy scar in the publication. Kelly has trekked across the Sahara desert and climbed a 4,167m mountain in Morocco all whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the disease. Kelly is American but permanently resides in London, England.

On today’s episode, Kelly shares her story, the advocacy work she is doing, what living with metastatic breast cancer is really like, not putting on life on hold for cancer, her treatment for HER2+ breast cancer and more. You can follow her journey on Instagram and on Facebook.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Jen Delvaux. Jen is the host of the podcast “Not Today Cancer” and the author of “Not Today Cancer: A non-typical guide for the girl who wants to thrive, not just survive.” She is an integrative health practitioner, mother of two and a wife to her husband, Darren, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009. Several years after her husband completed treatment, Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer. On today’s episode, Jen shares her story, the lifestyle changes she has made, what it has been like being both a caregiver and then a patient, and the work she is doing now to empower others. Jen founded “The Reset and Rise Community” for women touched by cancer to offer support, tools and resources to regain control over one’s personal well being, and feel feel heard, held and good again. You can find Jen on her website or on Instagram.

This is a bonus podcast episode where I share an Instagram Live I had with Dr. Corinne Menn several weeks ago. Dr. Menn is a board certified gynecologist and a leading expert on menopause management. She herself is a breast cancer survivor and was diagnosed at the age of 28 in the middle of her OB/GYN residency and focuses on the female health concerns of cancer survivors and thrivers with empathy, knowledge and expertise. She takes an inclusive, evidence-based approach to health care with a focus on holistic care and mind-body medicine with the goal of investigating the root causes of female health problems, rather than just treating symptoms. In this conversation, we talk all about breast cancer survivorship and thrivership, menopause symptoms and management, bone health, cardiovascular health, patient advocacy, hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer and much more. This is not a conversation to miss! Follow Dr. Menn on Instagram or on her website. You can follow Dr. Teplinsky on Instagram or @drteplinsky on all other social media platforms.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Leeanna Gantt. Leeanna was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany. Dr. Ghofrany is a board-certified OB/GYN who has been in private practice for 25 years. She is the co-creator of TRIBE CALLED V and her intention is to help and guide women and people with vulvas and ovaries while addressing the mindset of fear surrounding health issues. Dr. Ghofrany has also experienced the health system as a patient through miscarriages, endometriosis, and ovarian cancer – it is these experiences combined with her professional expertise that make her an incredible advocate for women’s health. On today’s episode, we talk all about ovarian cancer – including her personal experience, gynecologic care (what happens during a pelvic exam and why you still need one even if you don’t need a Pap smear), cancer screening, menopausal hormone therapy after gynecologic cancer and much more. You can find Dr. Ghofrany on Instagram or on her website.