What would you do if you were diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant?

In this powerful first installment of our two-part conversation, Jamie sits down with two-time breast cancer survivor Mara Langer and her husband, David, to share their extraordinary journey through not one, but two, breast cancer diagnoses.

Mara opens up about growing up with a strong family history of breast cancer, how that shaped her decisions about screening and prevention, and the life-changing moment she discovered a new lump while pregnant with her second child, even after having a bilateral mastectomy.

Together, Mara and David discuss the fear, uncertainty, and difficult decisions they faced, including navigating cancer treatment during pregnancy, leaning on one another through every step, and the importance of community support throughout their journey.

This episode is a powerful reminder that breast cancer impacts more than just the person diagnosed, it affects entire families, and no one should have to walk through it alone.

• Mara's incredible journey through two breast cancer diagnoses.
• Why understanding your family history matters.
• What it was like to undergo breast cancer treatment while pregnant.
• David's perspective as a husband and caregiver.
• How communication strengthened their marriage during one of life's greatest challenges.
• The importance of accepting help and building a strong support system.
• Why community can make all the difference during a cancer diagnosis.

Be sure to join us next week for Part 2, where Mara and David share practical advice on early detection, self-advocacy, family health history, survivorship, and what they wish every patient and caregiver knew from the very beginning.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mblanger

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mblanger2/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marablanger/

🌐 Website: https://testthosebreasts.org

🎧 Subscribe to the Test Those Breasts® Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

💗 Follow us on social media for breast health education, survivor stories, and resources that empower you to recognize warning signs, understand your risk, and advocate for your health.

Find it early. Change the outcome.

What role can technology play in helping detect breast cancer earlier?

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Bob Foley and Brendan Foley to discuss the evolution of breast imaging, the importance of dense breast awareness, and how innovations like automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) and artificial intelligence (AI) are helping improve early detection.

Together, they explore:

• Bob's role in developing groundbreaking breast imaging technologies
• Why dense breast tissue matters
• The limitations of mammography for some women
• How ABUS and AI support earlier detection
• Why younger women need to know their breast health
• The importance of self-advocacy and listening to your body
• Why community education plays a critical role in early detection

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @myevewellness
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanmpfoley/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyEveWellness

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @QViewMedical
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-foley-3738103/

Eve Wellness

• www.myevewellness.com

QView Medical

• www.qviewmedical.com

• ABC: https://abc7news.com/post/san-francisco-ultrasound-clinic-using-fda-approved-ai-to-help-detect-types-of-breast-cancer-faster/14644197
• CBS: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/ai-powered-breast-screening-helps-women-detect-breast-cancer-early/
• KRON 4: https://youtu.be/_nRvlAY3s6M?si=S_oRa3n76lzK9dlB

QView Medical

• https://www.itnonline.com/content/qview-medical-announces-fda-pma-approval-3-d-automated-breast-ultrasound-cad

GE ABUS

• https://www.itnonline.com/content/fda-clears-somo%E2%80%A2v-automated-breast-ultrasound-abus-system

Learn more about Test Those Breasts® at https://testthosebreasts.org.

In this episode of Test Those Breasts, Jamie sits down with Kia Lee, a Stage III breast cancer survivor, author, speaker, and survivorship mentor who helps women navigate the emotional and psychological challenges of life during and after cancer.

Kia shares her diagnosis at age 38, her treatment journey, and how cancer ultimately led her to a new purpose—helping other women heal beyond the physical. Together, Jamie and Kia discuss advocacy, survivorship, setting boundaries, finding purpose, and why healing is about so much more than finishing treatment.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, in survivorship, or supporting someone you love, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and encouragement.

• Kia's Stage III breast cancer journey
• Advocating for yourself during treatment
• Why survivorship is more than physical healing
• Finding purpose after cancer
• Supporting women through the emotional side of survivorship

🌐 Website: kia-lee.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @LighthouseSurvivor
🎵 TikTok: @kialee_lighthouse
💼 LinkedIn: Kia-Lee
📰 Substack: kialeelighthouse.substack.com

📖 Lighthouse: The Path Through Cancer – The Power of Becoming
https://kia-lee.com/lighthouse-the-path-through-cancer-the-power-of-becoming/

📝 Free Reflection Guide
https://kia-lee-lighthouse.kit.com/259c635299

🌐 https://testthosebreasts.org
📸 https://www.instagram.com/test.those.breasts
🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@testthosebreasts
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@TestThoseBreasts

Surviving breast cancer is only the beginning. For many survivors, the emotional, mental, and physical healing continues long after treatment ends.

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Crystal Yang, RN, Board Certified Nurse Coach and co-founder of Perky, to explore the often-overlooked challenges of survivorship. Crystal shares how nurse coaching provides a safe, supportive space for breast cancer survivors to process life after treatment, navigate identity shifts, improve relationships, prioritize their well-being, and create a personalized path toward healing.

Whether you're struggling with loss of identity, intimacy, anxiety, lifestyle changes, or simply wondering, "What's next?" after treatment, this conversation offers hope and practical guidance.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What nurse coaching is and how it differs from therapy
• Why survivorship can be one of the hardest parts of the breast cancer journey
• How coaching empowers survivors to take ownership of their health and well-being
• The importance of being truly seen and heard
• How Perky is helping survivors not just survive, but thrive

Website
https://helloperky.com

Book Your Complimentary Discovery Coaching Session
https://helloperky.com/nursecoaching

Phone
(210) 712-9765

Email
[email protected]

Instagram
@weareperky

If you haven't listened to my first conversation with Crystal and Courtney from Perky, be sure to check it out!

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/2sIOeeAV_Hc?si=XJoGZILW4j0t54o2
▶️ Watch the previous Perky episode on YouTube

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating life after breast cancer. Every conversation helps bring hope, healing, and education to more survivors.

Remember: Early detection saves lives. Healing doesn't end when treatment does.

In this episode of Test Those Breasts, Jamie sits down with fellowship-trained breast radiologist, Navy veteran, and founder of MammoLink, Dr. Ryan Polselli, for an important conversation about the future of breast cancer screening, access, and education.

Ryan shares how his frustration with the traditional screening model led him to create one of Florida’s fastest-growing mobile breast imaging companies — bringing mammography directly to workplaces, schools, and communities to eliminate barriers and save lives.

Together, Jamie and Ryan discuss:

• Why nearly 50% of eligible women skip annual mammograms
• The biggest barriers making breast cancer screening harder than it should be
• Why mobile mammography alone is not enough — and what truly makes screening patient-centered
• How Mammolink is partnering with school districts and organizations to improve access
• The dangerous misinformation around mammograms “causing cancer”
• Why ultrasound should never replace mammography
• The truth about dense breasts and supplemental imaging
• The concerning rise of breast cancer in younger women (ages 35–40)
• Whether it’s time to reconsider the recommended age for screening
• Why annual screening matters — and what can happen when you delay, even by one year
• The insurance and policy implications of the new USPSTF biennial screening recommendations

This conversation is packed with practical education, myth-busting, and a fresh perspective on how we can improve outcomes through earlier detection and better access.

One of the biggest takeaways:
Mammograms detect cancer. They do not cause it.
And when paired with education and supplemental imaging when needed, they save lives.

🌐 Website: Ryan Polselli
🚐 Mammolink: Mammolink
📘 Facebook: Facebook – Dr. Ryan Polselli
💼 LinkedIn: LinkedIn – Dr. Ryan Polselli
📸 Instagram: Instagram – @ryanpolselli
🐦 X: X – @rpolsel

For most people, breast cancer starts and ends as a women’s conversation. But for Dave Catron, it became deeply personal.

In this powerful and deeply important conversation, Jamie sits down with Dave, a firefighter, husband, father, and male breast cancer survivor, to talk about what it’s like to face a diagnosis that so few men ever see coming and even fewer talk about openly.

Dave shares the story of finding a lump and the uncertainty that followed. Like many men, breast cancer wasn’t on his radar. The path to diagnosis came with confusion, delayed answers, and the hard reality that awareness around male breast cancer is still dangerously low.

But what came after diagnosis was just as eye-opening.

From treatment to survivorship, Dave opens up about navigating a world of breast cancer support largely built for women, and what that felt like as a man trying to find his place in it.

One of the most unforgettable moments in this episode comes when Dave shares the now-famous line he uses when people ask about the pink bracelet on his wrist:

"If someone sees my pink bracelet and asks, ‘Does your wife have breast cancer?’ I say, ‘No… her husband does.’"

That one sentence captures the assumptions so many people still make.

Dave also shares a moment that stopped Jamie in her tracks: being invited to a Tai Chi class for breast cancer patients, only to arrive and be told it was for women only.

His response?

"The sisterhood wouldn’t let me play."

It’s a line that is both humorous and heartbreaking, and it shines a light on the very real gaps male survivors face when it comes to inclusion, support, and visibility.

Jamie and Dave talk openly about:

• The signs and symptoms Dave noticed
• Why men often don’t think breast cancer can happen to them
• The delays and disbelief that can come with a male diagnosis
• How breast cancer impacts marriage, family, and identity
• The emotional isolation of being a man in female-centered cancer spaces
• Why education and awareness must include everyone
• The importance of knowing your body and speaking up early

At 34 years old, Katelyn Armstrong was living what many would consider a healthy lifestyle. As a wellness influencer, she exercised regularly, prioritized nutrition, and focused on overall well-being. Breast cancer was the last thing she expected to hear.

In this powerful conversation, Katelyn shares her journey through a triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and the often-overlooked mental health challenges that follow. She opens up about advocating for herself when she knew something wasn't right, navigating the impact cancer had on her marriage, and making the deeply personal decision to remain flat after a double mastectomy.

Katelyn also discusses how social media became a lifeline during treatment, helping her find connection, community, and ultimately a new purpose. Today, she uses her experience as both a survivor and mental health professional to support others facing the emotional realities of cancer.

This episode is an honest conversation about identity, healing, survivorship, self-acceptance, and why mental health deserves a seat at the table in every cancer journey.

• Being diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer at age 34
• The importance of trusting your instincts and advocating for yourself
• Mental health challenges during and after treatment
• How cancer impacted her marriage and relationships
• Choosing to remain flat after a double mastectomy
• Finding connection and community through social media
• The realities of survivorship and identity after cancer
• Supporting other survivors through mental health coaching
• Why young women should pay attention to breast health
• The importance of open conversations and early detection

Find Kate on TikTok and IG: @k8armstr0ng/

What if you’re considered “too young” for breast cancer… but your risk says otherwise?

In this episode of Test Those Breasts, Jamie sits down with Ashley Flurry, registered mammography technologist and founder of Breast Imaging Matters Outreach, to talk about one of the biggest gaps in breast health: helping women understand their breast cancer risk before age 40.

Together, they discuss:

🍋 Why family history isn’t the whole story
🍋 Breast cancer risk assessments — and why most women don’t know they exist
🍋 Why younger women need breast health education and advocacy
🍋 Mammogram myths, radiation fears, and what’s actually true
🍋 How to advocate for yourself when it comes to screening and prevention

If you’ve ever thought:

“I’m too young.”
“No one in my family has breast cancer.”
“My doctor would tell me if I was high risk.”

…this episode is for you.

📍 Connect with Ashley Flurry

📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://www.breastimagingmatters.org
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyflurry

Bridging gaps in breast cancer risk awareness through education and guided assessment.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jake Messier, we go deeper into the realities of living with stage 4 male breast cancer.

Jake opens up about metastatic breast cancer, scanxiety, survivorship, mental health, and the emotional rollercoaster of receiving good news… followed by an “and then.” We talk honestly about toxic positivity, advocacy, purpose, and what it means to keep moving forward when cancer doesn’t follow a straight path.

Jake also shares how he turned his own diagnosis into a platform for awareness and support, using social media to educate others about the reality that men get breast cancer too—and why inclusion in breast cancer conversations matters.

We also discuss:

• Living with stage 4 breast cancer and the uncertainty of scans
• The emotional toll of “scanxiety” and survivorship
• Toxic positivity vs. allowing yourself to feel hard emotions
• Supporting caregivers and family during cancer
• Why men are still left out of many breast cancer conversations
• Jake’s advocacy work and role in changing awareness around male breast cancer
• Inclusion, representation, and underserved voices in cancer spaces
• Susan G. Komen’s metastatic steering committee and national advocacy work
• Why awareness matters: men get breast cancer too

Jake Messier:
📧 [email protected]
📱 Instagram & TikTok: @theguywithstage4breastcancer
🌐 Website: www.theguywithstage4breastcancer.com

Male Breast Cancer Organizations Mentioned:
• Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance: https://mbcglobalalliance.org/
• Male Breast Cancer Happens: https://malebreastcancerhappens.org/
• HIS Breast Cancer Awareness (for men with hereditary/genetic risk): https://www.hisbreastcancer.org/

In this powerful first part of my conversation with Jake Messier, we discuss the reality that men get breast cancer too, and why so many people still don’t know it. Jake shares his personal diagnosis story, the emotional impact of navigating a disease often viewed as “only for women,” and the isolation many men experience in breast cancer spaces.

We also talk about:

• Male breast cancer awareness
• Feeling excluded in pink-centered spaces
• Advocacy and representation
• The emotional side of diagnosis
• Support groups and community
• Why language and inclusion matter
• The need for more awareness, research, and education for men

This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and incredibly important.

Part 2 will continue Jake’s story as we discuss treatment, stage 4 breast cancer, mental health, survivorship, and finding purpose through advocacy.

Jake Messier:

[email protected]

@theguywithstage4breastcancer on TikTok and Instagram

www.theguywithstage4breastcancer.com