Lisa Cassenti was diagnosed at 43 with Stage II breast cancer.  She carries both the BRCA2 and BRIP1 gene mutations.  Lisa is a special educator, author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The Breast Connection.  In this episode Lisa reads her essay “Intimacy Without Nipples” from the 2023 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  This is a piece about finding pleasure after cancer.  April and Lisa will discuss how Lisa arrived at the place of being able to share a vulnerable story, tips on starting to write your story, and how Lisa found her way back to sexual pleasure after cancer.  April and Lisa will also talk about Lisa’s work with The Breast Connection support community, and the importance of sharing stories.

Please note, this episode contains references to intimacy and sexual assault.

More about Lisa: https://www.lisacassenti.com 

Watch The Breast Connection Youtube video featuring April: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dYnEfpyPHHA

Check out the “Love & Intimacy” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/love23

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

If you liked this episode, you'll enjoy these as well:

“Dating After a Mastectomy” with Juni Bucher https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

“Remember Who The F! You Are” with Dana Roske https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b1004f69-74a0-411b-9dd1-045e26ed6fdd

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: dhttps://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions