In this episode, Rosalina and Shauna are joined by Andrea, a young breast cancer survivor and healthcare advocate of Mexican-German descent (her mother is Mexican, and her father is German). The conversation explores Andrea's personal journey with breast cancer, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic while she was studying for her Masters in Budapest, Hungary. She shares the challenges she faced in managing her diagnosis in a foreign country where she didn't speak the language, and the complexities of returning to the US due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Upon her return to the US, Andrea faced some significant challenges with her healthcare insurance, and she found that the support she was hoping to receive from her parents during the early stages of her diagnosis fell short, leaving her to navigate the diagnosis alone.

As she acclimated to life back in the US, she became involved in a health literacy project aimed at improving patient outcomes in the Latino community. The episode highlights Andrea's contributions to the health literacy project in Orange County, California, which aimed to educate the Latino community, especially Latinas, about women's health and the importance of mammograms, and other related health topics. Both Rosalina and Andrea, who are both Latinas and first-gens, shed light on cultural barriers, healthcare disparities, and the stigma surrounding cancer and preventative care within the Latino community.

You can follow Andrea at @andreahansoc

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:19] Housekeeping Items/Updates

[00:05:04] Getting Diagnosed in a Foreign Country

[00:10:08] Coping Mechanism

[00:13:49 ]Insurance is Such a Bitch

[00:19:08] Andrea's Relationship with Parents

[00:30:00] Health Literacy Project

[00:32:51] Why Aren't Latinas Getting Mammograms?

[00:37:10] Cultural Barriers & The Latino Community

[00:44:35] Fear of Discrimination

[00:49:07] How The Kelly Clarkson Show Impacted our Parents

[00:49:07] Health Literacy Project & Cafecito Session

[00:58:54] Nutritionist Strategies To Encourage Healthier Choices

[01:01:41] Why Health Equity Is Important

[01:04:53] Health Equity: Affordability and Access

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Please consider donating to our “Buy Me A Coffee” page. Your generous support will greatly assist us in continuing to produce quality content for our listeners. Every donation will get a shoutout on our podcast, as well as a free TYFTS sticker.www.buymeacoffee.com/tyftspodcast

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, visit the link below:: Submit A Quote

To kick off breast cancer awareness month, Shauna and Rosalina sit with cancer survivor Trish Michelle. They ladies discuss Trish’s impact as an advocate in the breast cancer community, her rise to Chief Community Officer with the Breasties, and her continued fight against pinkwashing through her initiative “Reclaim October.” which had raised thousands of dollars in funding for research and non-profit organizations. Together they touch on life after diagnosis, balancing being an advocate in the breast cancer space, and the importance of community throughout it all.

You can find Trish on Instagram @trish_newyorkcity

Resources:Pink Is Not The Problem Campaign

Reclaim October IG

Click here to leave us a voicemail about what it is like to be a Stage 4 Thriver?

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Please consider donating to our “Buy Me A Coffee” page. Your generous support will greatly assist us in continuing to produce quality content for our listeners. Every donation will get a shoutout on our podcast, as well as a free TYFTS sticker..www.buymeacoffee.com/tyftspodcast

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month highlights the importance of advocacy, Rosalina and Shauna discuss the diverse forms of advocacy one can take, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. They touch upon how individuals can become advocates, from sharing their stories on social media to supporting friends and loved ones through their breast cancer journeys.

They also share their advocacy work together, including participation in panels for non-profit organizations, being on the Kelly Clarkson Show, and supporting communities. Lastly, they provide important insights into the challenges and responsibilities of public advocacy and the importance of setting boundaries to prioritize self-care.

If you are looking to make a difference and become an advocate, we invite you to visit our resources page. You'll find a comprehensive list of organizations we support and a program designed to empower anyone to become an advocate.

Visit https://tyftspodcast.com/breast-cancer-resources-aya-podcast

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:01] Housekeeping Items/Updates

[00:02:13] How Was Breast Cancer Awareness Month Developed?

[00:04:20] What Does Advocacy Mean To Us

[00:12:24] Community Host Breasties Meetings

[00:15:10] Camp Breastie - Speaking Engagement

[00:16:21] Kelly Clarkson Show

[00:18:24] Check Out My Rack Webinar

[00:19:50] Setting Healthy Boundaries

[00:25:46] Small Actions, Big Impact

[00:28:29] Making Donations That Matter

Click here to leave us a voicemail about what Is It like to be a Survivor?

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

We’ll post your quote on our Instagram page, and you'll have the opportunity to connect with fellow community members, where we invite our community to share their own quotes. This platform is a valuable space for you to express yourself and let others know they are not alone in their personal journeys.

Cancer Magazines to submit your story:

Wildfire Magazine

Elephants & Tea Magazine

Visit our link.tree to access the Kelly Clarkson segment, and any media outlets about our story.

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Rosalina shares the impact she’s facing from the breast reconstruction, including scarring, healing concerns, and the need for revisions. She opens up about the uncertainties during her breast reconstruction process, her relationship with her plastic surgeon, and the struggle to find closure in her reconstruction journey.

Shauna shares her decision to pursue a second revision, focusing on achieving symmetry and considering fat grafting on her non-cancer side. She also touches on contemplating the LAT tissue flap option and the factors that influenced her decision.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:27] Let's Talk Foobs

[00:04:14] Shauna’s Decision on Revision Surgery

[00:09:53] Nipple Tattoos: Yay or Nay

[00:11:44] Rosalina's Reconstruction Journey

[00:19:55] Feeling Uncertain About Your Plastic Surgeon

[00:25:49] I am Wonderwoman

[00:30:27] Surgery Surprises

[00:32:22] In Pursuit of a Female Doctor

[00:33:52] Tape the Titties And It's Still Not Right

[00:41:20] Never Wanting a Boob Job

[00:44:57] Sunscreen For Protection

Click here to leave us a voicemail about what is it like to be a Previvor?

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Visit our website and check out our resources: https://tyftspodcast.com/

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

In this episode of "Tit Talk," Rosalina explores the challenge posed by the federal government agency CMS, and the significant development in 2019 that affected one of the most popular breast reconstruction surgery options, the DIEP Flap Reconstruction.

She examines how this surgery was no longer 100% covered by insurance due to changes in policy, creating challenges for patients and surgeons alike and potentially resulting in financial difficulties, particularly for underserved communities who would be burdened with out-of-pocket costs. Rosalina addresses the financial hardships faced by individuals diagnosed with breast cancer and emphasizes the critical need for equitable access to appropriate treatment options.

The episode wraps up by highlighting the efforts of the Community Breast Reconstruction Alliance (CBR), Dr. Elizabeth Potter, various patient-driven advocacy organizations, and individuals who tirelessly advocated for the reversal of the billing code changes. Their successful initiatives led to CMS reversing its decision by August 2023.

Rosalina encourages listeners to reflect on the broader implications of this issue and stresses the importance of ensuring fair access to breast reconstruction choices for all cancer patients.

Resources:

• https://cbralliance.org/https://www.lbbc.org/news/women-who-rebuild-both-breasts-with-diep-flap-surgery-see-more-issues
• https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Other-Insurance-Protections/whcra_factsheet
• https://www.lbbc.org/news/stop-new-limits-on-breast-reconstruction
• https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/breast-cancer/cost-of-breast-cancer-treatment
• https://www.breastcancer.org/news/diep-flap-surgery-cms-code-change
• https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Group-letter-to-CMS-re-DIEP-flap-surgery-code-4-3-23.pdf
• TRAM Flap: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/types/autologous-flap/tram
• CPT Billing Codes For DIEP Flap:S2066, S2067, and S2068

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You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

In this two-part journey, Shauna and Rosalina detail the mental, emotional, financial, and physical struggle of hormone therapy through — and following — treatment. At points, Shauna felt like she was one continuous experiment, fighting fire with fire and piling on medications that put her in a dark place for the better part of a year. Rosalina and Shauna are on their five-year medication regimen, with Rosalina having experienced menopausal-like symptoms of insomnia, hot flashes, brain fog, and joint pain that lasted over a year and a half.

With the help of a new workout regimen, Rosalina no longer experiences joint pain, but her other symptoms vary from week to month. She has found other coping mechanisms to help with insomnia and shared them with Shauna, who has also been having sleepless nights and hot flashes. Shauna shifted gears with a new oncologist at the end of 2022, who — along with a newfound support group — guided Shauna with empathy and compassion as she navigated the oftentimes treacherous lanes of hormonal therapy.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:35] Housekeeping Items/Updates

[00:02:18] Rosalina’s Update - Side Effects of Hormone Therapy

[00:07:19] Rosalina’s Brain Fog and Fatigue

[00:11:28] Shauna’s Joy of Having a Period Again

[00:15:39] Shauna’s Update - Revisiting Hormone Therapy

[00:20:13] Starting Verzenio

[00:24:52] Diarrhea and It's Many Joys

[00:28:54] To Guinea Pig or Not To Guinea Pig

[00:35:59] Side Effects and Symptoms

[00:39:51] Advice to Your Former Self

Listen to Our Hormone Therapy Part 1 episode in S2

Click here to leave us a voicemail about what advice would you give to individuals or organizations who are considering supporting breast cancer awareness and research efforts through donations or other means?

Resources:

The Monarch Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32954927/

Verzenio Copay Assistance: https://www.verzenio.com/savings-support

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Please consider donating to our “Buy Me A Coffee” page. Your generous support will greatly assist us in continuing to produce quality content for our listeners. Every donation will get a shoutout on our podcast, as well as a free TYFTS sticker.

www.buymeacoffee.com/tyftspodcast

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

There has been a continuation of appointments, scans, and findings for Shauna and Rosalina. Shortly after Season 2 wrapped, Shauna underwent a CAT scan of her abdomen due to gut upset from cancer treatment, and she shares the emotions that came from finding a mass on her liver. Rosalina went for her annual check-ups but found a suspicious mass from the ultrasound results. She describes the feelings surrounding her need for further testing and an MRI, the fear and confusion of how this seemed to be happening all over again, and remembering the last time she was told she was too young for this.

Shauna also made the decision to switch oncologists following the end of her treatments, a tough but necessary lesson in advocating for herself after feeling dismissed time and again. Her choice was validated by friends like Rosalina and members of her support group, who encouraged loyalty to self over her former oncology department.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:28] Housekeeping Items/Updates

[00:05:52] Start of Show

[00:06:42] Liver Mass Scare

[00:13:30] Breaking Up with Your Oncologist

[00:24:26] Not Too Young for Routine Screenings

[00:27:57] Stress of Annual Screenings After Cancer

[00:40:12] Celebrate the Little Victories

[00:44:22] Cancer and PTSD

[00:50:01] Finding Peace With Our Grandmothers

Click here to leave us a voicemail about what advocacy means to you.

Resources:

Fat necrosis info: BreastCancerNow.Org

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Please consider donating to our “Buy Me A Coffee” page. Your generous support will greatly assist us in continuing to produce quality content for our listeners. Every donation will get a shoutout on our podcast and a free TYFTS sticker.www.buymeacoffee.com/tyftspodcast

If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

We need your feedback! Please take 5 minutes of your day to complete our end of Season 2 survey. Your feedback is important and will allow us to improve future podcast episodes for our listeners.

Survey link: bit.ly/tyftssurvey

Shauna and Rosalina have finally had their exchange surgeries! In this episode, the ladies share their feelings and experiences on surgery day. They discuss how they are healing post-surgery, what they found helpful during recovery, and their thoughts and expectations about their final results. While Shauna is loving her new foobs, Rosalina is still getting used to them.

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at [email protected]

Visit our website, and check out our resources: https://tyftspodcast.com/