The Doctor Is In

What does whole-person breast cancer support look like? In this episode of The Doctor Is In, Hayley Brown Buxton-Punch speaks with Sue Weldon, Valerie Worthy, Dean Johnson, Eugenia Millender, Samirah Baylor, Tia Neuman, and Dr. Monique Gary about Care for HER—a collaboration between Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and Unite for HER.

They discuss how integrative services—including nutrition resources, wellness support, and patient navigation—can help address the emotional and practical challenges of treatment. Patient and navigator perspectives highlight the value of culturally responsive care, survivor connection, and support beyond the clinic. The conversation also covers community outreach, advocacy, and plans to share program outcomes.

Learn how Care for HER brings organizations, clinicians, navigators, and patients together to support Black women through breast cancer care.

For more information, visit TouchBBCA.org, UniteForHER.org, or Navtrials.com to learn how you can get involved.

In this conversation hosted at New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD, breast cancer survivors, clinicians and advocates discuss breast and prostate cancer in the black community. Panelists Dr. Regina Hampton, Janelle Mattox Regis, Rhonda Brunson and Professor Clayton Yates share personal experiences and practical information about family health history, screening, treatment decisions and clinical trials. Moderators Marc Clarke and Ricki Fairley guide the discussions.

The panel explores why knowing your family history matters, how screening recommendations can vary with individual risk, and why patients should ask their care teams about their options—including whether a clinical trial may be appropriate. The conversation also covers prostate cancer risk for Black men, PSA testing, shared decision-making and advances in treatment.

This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional. Screening and treatment decisions should be discussed with your care team.

What comes after breast reconstruction? In this conversation, Kristin Peck, founder of the Arc Method Academy, and breast and cervical cancer survivor Pamela Price discuss 3D areolar restoration—an often-overlooked option some people explore as a final step in their reconstruction journey.

They talk about what the procedure involves, how a personalized and clinically informed experience can differ from a typical tattoo appointment, and why patients may want to discuss timing and scar healing with their medical team. Pamela shares how the experience helped her feel more complete as she moved forward after cancer treatment. The conversation also explores awareness, insurance questions, and efforts to develop consistent training and a clearer access pathway for patients.

This episode is for education and awareness, not medical or insurance advice. Talk with your care team and insurer about your individual needs and coverage.

What does it take to make cancer advocacy more inclusive—and to direct more attention and resources toward metastatic breast cancer?

Host Ricki Fairley talks with Rachel Burns, Beth Love, and Nikki “Trip” Tripplett of Cancer Culture about the personal experiences that brought them together and their mission to create a welcoming platform for people affected by breast cancer. They discuss representation in advocacy, the funding gap in metastatic research, support for patients’ everyday needs, and why collaboration and sharing research findings matter.

The conversation also explores Cancer Culture’s events, including its New York Fashion Week runway, and the guests’ call for bold, disruptive advocacy that makes overlooked voices heard.

Learn more or support Cancer Culture: https://cancerculture.org

What is a clinical trial, and could it improve your chances of beating metastatic breast cancer? In this episode, Touch BBCA CEO Ricki Fairley and breast surgical oncologist Dr. Monique Gary talk with medical oncologist and clinical trialist Dr. Reva Basho about the INAVO123 study.

The guests also discuss informed choice, why patients can ask about trials at any point in their care, and the Care for Her program’s practical and emotional support for participants. Dr. Basho encourages patients to bring questions to their oncologist and approach trial participation as a partnership with their care team.

People interested in learning more about the study can contact [email protected]. For educational resources about clinical trials, visit whenwetrial.org. Study eligibility and treatment decisions should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.

What does it take to lead, challenge convention, and create lasting change? In this Women of Dartmouth and Geisel School of Medicine roundtable, moderator Soledad O’Brien speaks with trailblazing leaders Ricki Fairley, Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, Geeta Anand, Dr. Antonia Novello, and Lacey Horn about leadership, legacy, and lessons learned.

The panel explores the history of women’s exclusion from medical research, persistent gaps in women’s health research and clinical trials, and disparities affecting Black and Native communities. Speakers share personal experiences navigating bias and building careers, and discuss healthcare equity, late diagnosis, patient advocacy, mentorship, AI in medicine, vaccine policy, and the challenges of balancing motherhood and medical careers. Their candid stories offer inspiration and practical perspective for the next generation of leaders in healthcare, research, journalism, and public service.

Cancer and Finances: What Patients Need to Know About Insurance, Work, and Medical Bills

The Real Cost of Cancer: Health Insurance, Disability Benefits, and Workplace Rights

Cancer Financial Toxicity: Understanding Your Insurance and Protecting Your Income

Working Through Cancer: Job Protections, Accommodations, and Financial Choices

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Cancer can bring major financial and legal challenges—but patients don’t have to navigate them alone. In this episode of The Doctor Is In, cancer rights attorney Monica Bryant, co-founder and chief mission officer of Triage Cancer, explains how to make informed decisions about health insurance, medical bills, employment, and finances after a cancer diagnosis.

Learn the basics of health insurance—including premiums, deductibles, cost sharing, and out-of-pocket maximums—and why it’s important to understand what your plan covers. Monica also clarifies the difference between income benefits and job protection: short-term disability, sick time, and vacation time may replace income, while laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may offer workplace protections.

The conversation covers reasonable workplace accommodations, privacy when discussing a diagnosis with an employer, disability insurance, insurance denials and appeals, and the value of planning ahead. Monica shares free resources from Triage Cancer, including its legal and financial navigation program and online education. Visit triagecancer.org to learn more.

In this episode of The Doctor Is In, Ricki Fairley is joined by prostate cancer survivors and advocates Roy Johnson, Alvin Fields, James Williams Jr., and John Cash for an honest conversation about prostate cancer—especially its impact on Black men and their families.

The guests share personal experiences with diagnosis, PSA testing, biopsies, radiation, hormone therapy, prostatectomy, recovery, and life after treatment. They discuss the importance of knowing your family history, asking questions, advocating for yourself, and seeking a second opinion when you need one. The conversation also addresses the stigma and family silence that can make it harder to talk about health, as well as the need for broader participation in clinical trials and more inclusive cancer research.

This episode is for anyone seeking candid perspectives on prostate cancer awareness, screening conversations, patient advocacy, survivorship, and supporting loved ones. It is a personal discussion, not medical advice; consult a qualified health professional about your individual screening and care options.

Oncology NP Dr. Wendy Garvin Mayo joins to discuss mental health and cancer—stigma, caregivers, faith, self-care, and her affordable survivorship support program.

Visit www.wenwellwellness.com to learn more about Dr. Wendy's practice.

A Women's Health Conversation