In this episode of our Symptoms Spotlight series, hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston tackle a topic many cancer patients experience but few feel comfortable discussing—constipation. From understanding what constipation really looks like (hint: it's not always what you think) to practical remedies you can try at home, this episode breaks down the stigma around bowel health.

Melanie, a nurse and cancer patient on CDK4/6 inhibitors, shares her go-to over-the-counter solutions like MiraLax and Colace, plus an often-overlooked remedy: movement. Abigail introduces the "prune juice slider"—a surprisingly effective trick shared by her chemo nurse—and opens up about the challenge of swinging between constipation and diarrhea.

Whether you're dealing with medication side effects, reduced mobility, or just trying to understand your symptoms better, this episode offers honest, practical advice. Learn when to troubleshoot on your own, when to reach out to your care team, and why talking to a GI specialist might be the missing piece of your symptom management puzzle.

Key Topics:

• Recognizing the signs of constipation beyond straining
• Over-the-counter remedies and natural solutions
• The role of movement in digestive health
• Avoiding the pendulum swing between constipation and diarrhea
• When to seek help from your medical team

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

Join hosts Victoria Goldberg and Dr. Jill Tirabassi for a special episode where they take a break from their usual metastatic breast cancer discussions to dive deep into their latest obsession: the HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry."

In this fun and heartfelt conversation, Victoria and Jill explore why this hockey romance has captured their hearts and become the perfect escape during difficult times. They discuss their favorite episodes (especially that emotional tunnel scene in episode 5), the powerful representation of LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports, and the cultural complexities of the story.

Victoria brings a unique perspective as a native Russian speaker, sharing personal reflections on language, cultural differences, and what it means to hear certain words for the first time. The hosts also draw parallels between the tight-knit bonds of sports teams and the MBC community, finding unexpected connections between elite athletes and their own experiences with metastatic breast cancer.

Whether you're already obsessed with the show or curious about what all the buzz is about, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that we all need joy, distraction, and a little romance in our lives—especially during the hardest times.

Content Note: This episode contains spoilers for the HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry."

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In this candid episode of Symptoms Spotlight, hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston tackle one of the most disruptive yet often under-discussed side effects of cancer treatment: diarrhea caused by cancer medications.

Melanie and Abigail share their personal experiences managing different grades of diarrhea, from mild disruptions to severe grade three episodes that can mean seven to 10 extra bathroom trips per day. They discuss the real impact on quality of life, including the embarrassment and isolation that can come with this challenging symptom.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Understanding diarrhea grades and what they mean for your daily life
• Practical management strategies including diet modifications, over-the-counter medications, and prescription options
• The importance of staying hydrated and managing skin breakdown
• When to seek help from specialists like gastroenterologists and pharmacists
• How to advocate for yourself with your medical team
• The role of probiotics and prophylactic treatment approaches
• Resources available through symptom management clinics

Whether you're dealing with CDK 4/6 inhibitors, Herceptin, Enhertu, or other cancer medications, this episode offers honest, practical advice from two women who understand the challenges firsthand. Melanie brings her nursing perspective while Abigail shares insights from working with specialists at Mayo Clinic and beyond.

Remember: you don't have to suffer in silence. Your quality of life matters, and there are solutions available when you know where to look and how to ask for help.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In this episode of our Podcasters Roundtable series, we sit down with Melissa Berry, the voice behind "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful" and founder of Cancer Fashionista.

Before her Stage 1 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis at 42, Melissa was a fashion and beauty publicist working with Vogue editors and celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker. When she couldn't find beauty and fashion resources for cancer patients all in one place, she created them herself—starting with a simple list that has grown into a thriving blog, social media presence, and podcast.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why Melissa chose the name Cancer Fashionista and how her podcast got a different name
• The transition from blogging to podcasting and why evergreen content matters
• Her most memorable episodes, including the emotional interview with her father
• How she selects topics and manages a publishing schedule of 2-4 episodes per month
• The importance of inclusive language when addressing both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer communities
• Financial toxicity and the challenges of maintaining identity during ongoing treatment
• What keeps her connected to advocacy years after her own diagnosis
• Working with sponsors and promoting podcasts through social media

We also discuss step therapy (fail first policies), the emotional toll of losing your sense of self during treatment, and why resources around intimacy and sexual health are so critically needed in the cancer community.

Special segment: Learn about Ana Ono Intimates, the chest-inclusive lingerie brand founded by breast cancer survivor Dana Donofree, now available at Victoria's Secret after a decade in business. Fun fact: they have a bra named after Melissa!

Whether you're a podcaster, advocate, patient, or supporter, this conversation offers valuable insights into building community, creating lasting resources, and helping people feel like themselves again.

Connect with Melissa Berry:

• Podcast: "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful" (available on all platforms)
• Follow Cancer Fashionista on Instagram and social media

Hosted and produced by Victoria Goldberg and Abigail Johnston

Note: We do not accept payment for product placements. Resources are shared because they matter to our community.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

Join hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston as they shine a light on the real experiences of managing cancer symptoms. In each episode of the Symptoms Spotlight series of short episodes, we explore different symptoms caused by cancer or its treatment, sharing practical insights and hard-won wisdom directly from patients who've been there.

This isn't just medical information—it's peer-to-peer support at its finest. Melanie and Abigail believe that patients learn best from each other, and that we're stronger together. Each episode features candid conversations about symptom management strategies, what works, what doesn't, and the collective knowledge of the cancer community.

In this episode, Melanie and Abigail Johnston tackle one of cancer's most challenging side effects: fatigue. With 5-8+ years of experience managing treatment-related exhaustion, they share practical strategies that have helped them maintain quality of life. Topics include structured exercise programs (LiveStrong at YMCA, 2Unstoppable, Cancer Wellness for Life), Medicare fitness benefits like Silver Sneakers, medication interventions including Ritalin for severe fatigue, and the value of palliative care specialists. They also emphasize basics like proper nutrition, hydration, and monitoring blood work for underlying issues like low hemoglobin or vitamin deficiencies.

Whether you're navigating treatment side effects, managing ongoing symptoms, or supporting someone who is, Symptom Spotlight offers the kind of practical, patient-centered guidance you won't find in a textbook. Have a symptom you'd like us to cover? Let us know—this series is driven by what matters most to you.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

Welcome to the first episode of 2026! Join host Victoria Goldberg in conversation with Dr. Francisco Esteva, a prominent board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the research and treatment of breast cancer, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, and Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, as they dive deep into the groundbreaking research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

In this comprehensive discussion, Dr. Esteva shares his expert insights on the latest advances transforming metastatic breast cancer treatment across all subtypes:

HER2-Positive Disease:

• DESTINY-BREAST09 approval: trastuzumab deruxtecan plus pertuzumab as the new first-line standard with unprecedented 40-month progression-free survival
• HER2CLIMB-05: Tukatinib's promise for preventing brain metastases
• PATINA trial: Adding CDK4/6 inhibitors to maintenance therapy
• The evolution from CLEOPATRA to combination approaches

Hormone Receptor-Positive Disease:

• Oral SERDs revolutionizing treatment: imlunestrant, elacestrant, and camizestrant
• SERENA-6 trial: Using liquid biopsies to detect ESR1 mutations and switch therapy before radiographic progression
• Personalized treatment strategies based on molecular profiling

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer:

• Sacituzumab govitecan establishing itself as the preferred first-line option
• Combining antibody drug conjugates with immunotherapy
• Expanding HER2-targeted therapy to HER2-low and HER2-ultralow patients

Dr. Esteva also discusses the role of artificial intelligence in pathology, the importance of real-world evidence, and how treatment personalization is becoming the cornerstone of modern oncology. From his early work on trastuzumab and the PI3K pathway to today's cutting-edge ADCs, Dr. Esteva provides both historical context and forward-looking perspectives on where the field is headed.

Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode offers valuable insights into how 2025 is shaping up to be a year of continued innovation and hope in metastatic breast cancer treatment.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare team about your specific treatment options.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In this episode, co-hosts Victoria Goldberg and Martha Carlso are joined by Josh Newby, Founder and Executive Director of Theresa’s Research Foundation (TRF), for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of metastatic breast cancer research and advocacy. Josh shares the origins and mission of his foundation, the challenges faced in funding and organizing medical conferences, and the shift toward curative approaches for metastatic breast cancer. The discussion covers the impact of recent funding cuts, the importance of collaboration among institutions and industry partners, and the critical role of patient advocates. The group also explores the realities of grant funding, the effects of political and economic changes on research, and the need for credible information and community support for patients. Throughout, the conversation highlights the resilience and determination required to push forward in the face of uncertainty, emphasizing the message: we can’t turn back now.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

What happens when one person’s story becomes a beacon of hope for thousands? In this powerful episode, host Victoria Goldberg sits down with Tami Bowling, creator of LightUp MBC Live, to explore her path from a shocking metastatic breast cancer diagnosis to becoming a passionate advocate and fundraiser.
Tami opens up about her early days navigating uncertainty, the emotional impact on her family, and how she transformed adversity into action. Discover the inspiring origins of LightUp MBC—a campaign that now lights up hundreds of landmarks worldwide, raises millions for research, and unites communities in support and education.
You’ll hear about the campaign’s global reach, the importance of advocacy, and the many ways people can get involved—from lighting up their own towns to supporting vital research grants. Plus, Tami shares stories of resilience, the power of community, and her vision for the future of metastatic breast cancer awareness.
Tune in for an episode filled with hope, actionable inspiration, and a reminder that one person truly can make a difference.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In this episode we get urgent and personal: with deep cuts to NIH and NCI funding threatening labs, jobs, and future treatments, what happens to science — and to patients — when the pipeline is squeezed?

To make that real, we’re talking with Na Zhao, a research assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. We  follow Na’s experience as she navigates a pivotal moment in her research career. Facing institutional financial challenges and limited startup support, Na remains undeterred, leveraging multiple foundation grants and the potential activation of her NIH career grant to continue her groundbreaking work. 

 Through resilience and determination, Na exemplifies the spirit of scientific progress in the face of adversity, offering hope for the future of cancer research and patient care.

This episode drops on the first day of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, where thousands including Dr. Zhao gather to share breakthroughs even as funding uncertainty looms. In this episode, we dive deep into the real-world impact of research funding cuts on scientists, patients, and the future of cancer care.
Wee’ll explore the struggles junior scientists face, the importance of advocacy, and why supporting research is crucial for everyone touched by cancer.
Whether you’re a patient, advocate, or simply passionate about science, this conversation will open your eyes to the human stories behind the headlines—and remind us all why the fight for research funding matters.
Let’s get started.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

Join us for a powerful conversation with Dr. Rebecca Shatsky, Director of Breast Medical Oncology at UC San Diego, as she shares her experiences fighting for patients with breast cancer. In this episode, Dr. Shatsky discusses the growing challenges clinicians face—from insurance denials and funding cuts to the emotional toll of burnout and the spread of cancer misinformation.

Hear real stories about advocating for life-saving treatments, navigating the complexities of clinical trials, and the importance of patient empowerment. Dr. Shatsky also offers hope, highlighting the latest breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer research and the progress being made in treatment options.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode delivers candid insights, practical advice, and a message of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

Tune in to “Live from Stage 4” for an honest look at the realities of modern cancer care—and the people who refuse to give up the fight.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

 Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.