Real Pink

Losing your hair is a hard and often emotional part of a breast cancer journey. As with breast surgery, it affects a part of your body often tied to your identity. Today’s guest has an incredibly uplifting perspective as it relates to losing her hair during chemo and she is here today to share how to not only prepare for this side effect, but to embrace it with courage and grace and to allow yourself to feel beautiful despite the unwelcomed changes.

Many of us grew up with the philosophy that the relationship between a patient and healthcare provider was very straight forward. The patient presented symptoms, the doctor made a diagnosis and recommended treatment and the patient underwent that treatment. Medicine is changing and patients are beginning to take a more active role in their healthcare, understanding risks and benefits, and choosing treatments that fit best for them as  individuals. This can also mean demanding more tests when you know that something just isn’t quite right. It is you that knows your body best.  As a self-advocate it is important to understand your disease, be involved in medical care decisions, ask questions, and reach out for support. Today’s guest was diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age and is here to share the importance that standing up and being heard has played in her breast cancer journey.

Special Guest: Sabrina Wright-Hobart.

Sex and intimacy can be difficult for many women after a breast cancer diagnosis. You may feel your body has betrayed you. And, after treatment, you may feel detached or disconnected from the pleasure your body once gave you. Body image issues may also affect how you view your sexuality and some side effects of breast cancer treatment can impact your sex life. Here today to discuss her breast cancer experience and to share some tips and insight about this very real survivorship topic is Shangra-La Jones.

A breast cancer diagnosis isn’t easy. It’s difficult for the person diagnosed and for the loved ones of that person. Often significant support is needed, but difficult to accept. My guest on the show today is Kelly Wright. Kelly has had cancer twice, but through the support of her family, and broader community is still here with an upbeat personality and a spirit of that just won’t quit. Kelly was willing to say yes to support and community, and continues to bring that spirit of support and to others! Kelly, welcome to the show! I’m so glad to have you.

Special Guest: Kelly Wright.

From Susan G Komen, this is Real Pink, a podcast exploring real stories, struggles, and triumphs related to breast cancer. We’re taking the conversation from the doctor’s office to your living room. Having a family member or friend with metastatic breast cancer is challenging. For people who love and care for the person with the metastatic breast cancer, it can be difficult to know what to say and how to help. There is no easy way to adjust to a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Shock, disbelief, anxiety, fear, anger, grief, and a sense of loss of control are common emotions, but there are some things you can do to help. To tell us more I’m happy to introduce Michael Allio. Michael, welcome to the show.

Special Guest: Michael Allio.

Support for the Real Pink podcast comes from Pfizer's Get It Done initiative. Cancer screenings and follow-up appointments had decreased significantly due to COVID-19, which is why Pfizer created Get It Done, which aims to empower cancer survivors to speak with their doctors and keep their cancer screenings and follow-up appointments by providing resources to help start conversations and prepare for their next visit. Learn more at getcancerscreened.com.

Special Guest: Kanesha.

Sixteen-year-old Isabel Rosario is dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer, and that it affects men, too. Her grandfather, Leandro Montalvo, was diagnosed in 2019, and it came as a shock to their family.

Since Leandro’s diagnosis, Isabel has worked to educate and create awareness around breast cancer in men. She has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and her Gold Award, the highest recognition a Girl Scout can earn – is “The One Percent: A Human Race Breast Cancer Awareness Project.” She created a ribbon that is 1% blue, 99% pink. Isabel is also working with the Puerto Rican government to get an official day in October recognized as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

Leandro started treatment in December 2019. It’s included chemotherapy, a right breast mastectomy and radiotherapy. “My grandfather is a warrior and a survivor,” Isabel said.

Special Guest: Isabel Rosario.

Breast cancer is not just one disease - there are many different types of breast cancer. HER2- positive breast cancer is one of the more common types, making up about 10-20 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers. Today, we are talking to Dr. Ian Krop, Associate Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Krop is a physician-scientist that treats patients and conducts clinical trial research in breast cancer. He is a leading expert on HER2-positive breast cancer and a Komen Scholar.

Special Guest: Dr. Ian Krop.

Advocating for a patient is an integral part of a patient's healthcare journey. However, many family members are unexpectedly thrown into this overwhelming situation with no idea of how to be an influential patient advocate. Not to mention, patients also should understand how to advocate for themselves (when possible). After losing her sister to cancer, today’s guest was determined to make something good come out of something tragic. That is why she spent most of 2019 writing a book called Badass Advocate: Becoming The Champion Your Seriously Ill Loved One Deserves, which was published in March 2020.  Here today to share some of her strategies to become a Badass Advocate for either yourselves or a loved one is Erin Galyean. Erin, welcome to the show!

Special Guest: Erin Galyean.