Breastcancer.org Podcast

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Ian Tattersall, an oncodermatologist, was part of a panel focusing on body image, hair loss, and skin health after breast cancer treatment.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Tattersall explain:

The 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium featured four days filled with new research findings, poster presentations, and educational sessions. Marisa Weiss, MD, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org, offers her take on the top results.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Weiss explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Justin Johnson, PhD, presented a poster detailing the final results from three groups of people in a phase I trial on a vaccine to prevent triple-negative breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Johnson explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, presented research on the Young, Empowered & Strong (YES) mHealth tool designed to better meet the emotional and physical health needs of young people who’ve received breast cancer treatment.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Partridge explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Jun Mao, an integrative medicine specialist and licensed acupuncturist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented research showing that both real and sham acupuncture can help improve cognitive function in women treated for breast cancer. Sham acupuncture mimics real acupuncture, but no needles pierce the skin.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Mao explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Whitney O’Connor, a two-time breast cancer survivor, licensed professional counselor, and founder of the Boobie Queen Company, presented a poster on the mental health tools she developed to help young women address any mental health and body image challenges they may have.

Listen to the episode to hear Whitney explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Megan-Claire Chase, known online as Warrior Megsie, a fierce and funny breast cancer advocate, presented a poster on real-world patient and caregiver experiences with breast cancer risk of recurrence in the United States.

Listen to the episode to hear Megan-Claire explain:

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), Dr. Tara Sanft, associate professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Survivorship Clinic, moderated a session called “Balancing Act: Hormone Replacement Therapy in Breast Cancer Care.”

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sanft explain:

After surgery, many people with stage I to stage III hormone receptor-positive breast cancer take tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for five to 10 years. This has been the standard of care for the last 25 years.

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, UCLA scientist Dr. Aditya Bardia presented results on giredestrant, a new oral selective estrogen degrader/downregulator (SERD) that offered better disease-free survival — how long people live without the cancer returning – than tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Bardia explain:

This bonus episode is the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠⁠webinar.

Managing breast cancer treatment can be a long, complex process with unexpected obstacles. Some people experience a cosmetic or medical issue with their breast reconstruction that occurs soon after surgery or years later.

If you’re unhappy with the cosmetic results of reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy — or you’re feeling pain, tightness, or changes in implant position — a corrective procedure may be beneficial for you. 

In this webinar, three highly specialized breast surgeons discuss what to do when issues develop after getting i...

Male breast cancer makes up about 1% of all breast cancer cases. The numbers are small, but it does happen. Jake Messier is living with metastatic breast cancer after first being diagnosed with stage II disease in 2023. Jake has very active Tik Tok and Instagram accounts (theguywithstage4breastcancer) detailing his experience with breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Jake explain:

This bonus episode is the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠webinar.

Hair loss. Fatigue. Forgetfulness. Vomiting. Weight changes. Neuropathy. The possible side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer can be concerning — especially because there’s no way to predict exactly how each person will react to treatment. It can feel overwhelming to manage it all, but there are steps you can take to help yourself.

Watch this webinar to learn from experts about what to expect and how to prepare for short and long-term side effects. You’ll hear how to manage changes to your body and m...

Dr. Andrei Goga and his colleagues found that triple-negative breast cancer cells build molecular tunnels called gap junctions into nearby fat cells and use the fat cells’ energy for fuel. When the scientists blocked the gap junctions, the tumors stopped growing.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Goga explain:

This bonus episode is the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠webinar.

For many people, life after breast cancer isn't as easy as just moving on. Physical side effects may linger, and the emotional healing is ongoing. Fear of recurrence can affect our mental health and relationships even when we are doing our best to live in the moment.

Listen to this webinar for an honest conversation between breast cancer survivors about realistically managing anxiety and stress, staying active, and finding a balanced healthy lifestyle.

You’ll also hear from medical experts about survivorship care...

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, nearly everyone worries that the cancer will come back. But for some people, this fear is overwhelming and interferes with their ability to function and live their lives.  Clinical health psychologist Dr. Shelly Johns is studying the effect fear of breast cancer recurrence has on people’s lives and how they cope with that fear. 

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Johns discuss:

This bonus episode is the audio of a Breastcancer.org webinar.

When life is interrupted by breast cancer at a young age, there are distinct challenges and quality-of-life issues to manage. 

It’s important to understand all the possible ways a diagnosis can impact the future, including fertility decisions, pregnancy care, career disruptions, parenting young kids, long-term survivorship concerns, sexuality, and more.

This webinar is for patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare providers who want to understand and support the unique experiences of people diagnosed before age 45. Hear powerful personal stories, get expert insights, and...

According to a KFF poll, about one in eight, or 12%, of adults in the United States have used a GLP-1 medicine like Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Mounjaro, Wegovy, or Zepbound. These drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes, but quickly started being prescribed for weight loss and other uses.

While they seem like wonder drugs, GLP-1 medicines do cause side effects and have risks. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common side effects. The drugs also can cause dizziness, headaches, and elevated heartbeat. 

Dr. Neil Iyengar is a breast medical oncologist who studies how diet and e...

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠webinar⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive subtype of breast cancer that can be harder to treat and is more likely to come back. But new research into understanding TNBC is helping some patients find more precise treatment options. 

Learn about innovations in immunotherapy, genetic testing, and targeted therapies, why TNBC is different compared to other types of breast cancer, and what gives doctors hope about the future of care for people with TNBC.

You’ll also hear from two inspiring breast ca...

Many people feel supported by Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities and pink merchandise. Others feel the month focuses on people who’ve been cured and leaves out people with metastatic disease. Some men with breast cancer feel the overwhelming pinkness of the month silences their experience. And others feel the pink labels on products linked to higher breast cancer risk, such as alcohol and cosmetics with ingredients like triclosan, are hypocritical. 

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the episode to hear:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠⁠webinar⁠⁠⁠.

If you’ve struggled with anxiety, fear, depression, anger, loneliness, or felt overwhelmed by the emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, this webinar is for you. 

You’ll learn about a variety of approaches to treat and manage mental health issues from counseling to complementary therapies, lifestyle changes, medication, meditation, and much more.

Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer can benefit from mental health support. Watch the video to hear what the experts recommend.

Discussion topics include:

Triple-negative breast cancer is negative for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. So, it’s hormone receptor-negative. People diagnosed with this type of breast cancer aren’t offered hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back) because it’s thought that they wouldn’t be effective. 

Dr. Lisa Newman and colleagues published research that found that among people diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, nearly 33% of the recurrences or second primary breast cancers were hormone receptor-positive. This means the hormone receptor status had changed when the cancer came back or when there was a new cance...

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠webinar⁠⁠.

Making decisions about breast reconstruction is personal. Hours of research can go into your choice about restoring the shape and size of one or both breasts. It’s also important to think carefully about how you want to look and feel in your body. 

Implants, flap reconstruction, fat grafting, going flat, immediate or delayed, breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, risks, benefits, costs — there’s a lot to consider.

Whether you’re planning for reconstruction, having a corrective procedure, or recovering from surgery, watch th...

A medical assistant at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Upstate New York, Chelsea Vangrol had seen young women diagnosed with breast cancer. But she never expected to be one of them. She shares her experience of being diagnosed with DCIS at age 25 so other people in a similar situation will know they’re not alone.Listen to the episode to hear Chelsea discuss:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠webinar⁠.

Whether you’re adjusting to changes to your body, experiencing weight fluctuation, hair loss, hot flashes, or just trying to feel “like yourself” again, this webinar will give you a toolkit of style strategies to try.

Dr. Weiss and Emma John discuss their personal stories, and how self-expression through style has helped them after breast cancer. They’ll share practical, affordable ideas to help you feel comfortable, confident, and stylish—no matter where you are in your treatment for breast cancer. 

Topics includ...

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a relatively new type of medicine for breast cancer. Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) and Dato-DXd (brand name: Datroway) are two ADCs used to treat breast cancer.

Dr Benjamin Schrank and colleagues have developed a new type of ADC that combines an antibody with a toxin — called an antibody-toxin conjugate — that teaches the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Schrank explain:

At the start of her second trimester, Rafaela Dreisin was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. Listen to the episode to hear Rafaela discuss:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org webinar.

It’s normal to experience emotional challenges after a cancer diagnosis. From body image to managing relationships, heightened stress, the fear of recurrence, and so much more. 

In this webinar, you’ll learn about a variety of ways to cope with the anxiety and doubts that can take hold. 

Breast cancer patients and survivors will share what helps them manage their mental health struggles. They discuss candidly how they find strength and hope even on their most difficult days.  

We'll...

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Support Group meetup featuring guest moderator Joanna Doran.

Listen to the podcast to hear Joanna and Community members discuss:

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Support Group featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly and Community members discuss:

Four years after giving birth to her son, Jaci Field was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39.

Listen to the episode to hear Jaci discuss:

her breast cancer experience and her advocacy work

the  discrimination she’s faced, both because of her race and whom she chooses to love

how she finds joy

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Hope Rugo, MD, chaired a session on managing the side effects of new breast cancer treatments and also presented information on how to manage the side effects of hormonal therapy medicines, which are used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Rugo explain:

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At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Fumiko Chino, MD, summarized her presentation on how doctors can help the people they care for overcome financial issues. She also offered some strategies for patients.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Chino explain:

some specific resources for people with cancer

why people with breast cancer may have the most financial issues

her top three recommendations for people having financial hardship

The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting featured five days of presentations and educational sessions on all types of cancer. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, a board-certified medical oncologist at the Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Paramus, NJ, summarizes the top breast cancer research.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Teplinsky discuss:

The SERENA-6 trial, which found that if metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer develops ESR1 mutations during first hormonal therapy treatment, switching to camizestrant from an aromatase inhibitor before the cancer grows improves outcomes.

Results from the DESTINY-Breast09...

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Katie Schmitz chaired a session on ways to ensure that exercise is part of every cancer treatment plan. She also talked about how results of the CHALLENGE trial in colon cancer might apply to breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Schmitz explain:

strategies doctors can use to make exercise an integral part of cancer care

how people can afford and stay motivated to exercise

the results of the CHALLENGE trial, which found that three years of exercise...

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Dr. Samantha El Warrak presented the results of her research on how five lifestyle factors affect the risk of dying from breast cancer. 

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. El Warrak explain:

By 2030, researchers estimate that about 246,000 people will be living with metastatic breast cancer. METAvivor is the first organization dedicated to raising awareness of, and funding research on, stage IV breast cancer. Dr. Kelly Shanahan, current METAvivor president, has been living with metastatic disease for 11 years.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Shanahan explain:

how METAvivor started funding research

the funding process

why private funding is so important in today’s political climate

what she’s most fearful of

Ashton Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer during gender-affirming top surgery. He faced some unique challenges and situations during and after treatment.

Listen to the episode to hear Ash explain:

the emotions he felt when diagnosed

how he decided to become an outspoken advocate

how he lives authentically in the face of adversity

how he finds joy, especially today

Can people diagnosed with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and take a CDK4/6 inhibitor instead? Do people diagnosed with DCIS need to have surgery? Will there soon be another oral selective estrogen degrader available?

Breastcancer.org medical advisor Dr. Kevin Fox explains the details of the studies and what they mean for you.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Fox discuss these studies:

It’s been known for many years that Black women are twice as likely as white women to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. If diagnosed with this type of breast cancer, Black women are also more than twice as likely to die from the disease than women of other races and ethnicities. Researchers have been studying a number of factors that may play a role in these disparities.

Dr. Sanchita Bhatnagar’s research has found that cells that have too much TRIM37 protein are much more likely to become cancerous. She and her coll...

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are the largest funder of cancer research in the world. A January 2025 executive order froze NIH funding and cut indirect cost payments. Another executive order halted all public communications by a number of federal agencies. Challenges to the orders are winding through the courts. 

Dr. Donald McDonnell, who studies and develops drugs to treat breast and prostate cancer, explains how these actions are affecting breast cancer research and what it might mean for people diagnosed with the disease.

Listen to the episode to h...

About 10% to 15% of breast cancers are triple-negative. This means they don’t have receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone, and don’t have too many HER2 proteins. So, hormonal therapy medicines and medicines that target the HER2 protein aren’t effective against triple-negative breast cancer. 

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are commonly used to treat triple-negative disease. But scientists are working diligently to develop new treatments that are more precise and targeted. 

Triple-negative breast cancer expert Dr. Lisa Carey explains the latest research.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Carey discuss:

In January 2025, the U.S. Surgeon General put out an advisory on alcohol and cancer risk, calling for cancer risk-warning labels on alcoholic beverages. The advisory said alcohol contributes to nearly 100,000 cases of cancer each year, and about 20,000 deaths each year. 

The advisory also cited a 2019 study showing that alcohol is more closely linked to breast cancer than any other cancer. More than 44,000 breast cancer cases in 2019 were related to drinking alcohol, which was about 16% of the total number of breast cancer cases that year.

Lifestyle medicine researcher Dr. Tracy Crane discusses alcohol and breast c...

Hormonal birth control increases breast cancer risk in women with a BRCA1 mutation, but not women with a BRCA2 mutation. Levonorgestrel IUDs increase risk, but how much? The long-term risk of breast cancer coming back — recurring — as metastatic disease has gone down in the last 20 years, but younger women still have a higher risk than older women.

What does all this mean? Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board member Dr. Kathy Miller discusses the details of these studies and how they may affect you.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Miller discuss these studies:

In cancer, biomarkers are features of the tumor, such as a genetic mutation or the presence of a certain protein. These biomarkers affect how the cancer behaves. Doctors use the results of biomarker testing to make treatment recommendations.

Several organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the LUNGevity Foundation, through the No One Missed campaign, are working to pass laws to require insurance coverage for biomarker testing for people with cancer.

Joanna Fawzy Doran, CEO of Triage Cancer, discusses some of the issues people face getting biomarker testing covered by insurance and how the new...

Five patient advocates share what they like and what they’re excited about at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The advocates are:

Listen to the episode to hear the advocates:

The 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium featured five days of research presentations, educational sessions, and advocacy meetings.

Dr. Marisa Weiss, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org, breaks down the research that will have the most immediate impact for people diagnosed with breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Weiss discuss:

At the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Aditya Bardia, director of the Breast Oncology Program and Translational Research Integration at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, presented results from the DESTINY-Breast06 study, showing that Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki), also called T-DXd, was better than chemotherapy for metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low or -ultralow breast cancer that grew after one or more hormonal therapy medicines.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Bardia explain:

Cases of breast cancer in young women have been increasing dramatically in the last eight years. Dr. Matteo Lambertini, whose research focuses on breast cancer in young, especially fertility and pregnancy after a breast cancer diagnosis, chaired a session on breast cancer in the young at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. He also presented the results of a study that found young women with a BRCA mutation and a history of breast cancer had better survival and a lower risk of recurrence – the cancer coming back – if they had risk-reducing surgery to remove their healthy ovaries and fallopian tube...

Andrea Hans was diagnosed with stage II triple-negative breast cancer when she was 28. With expertise in public health and health policy, she began working as an advocate to empower young women to understand their breast cancer risk factors. Andrea received an Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation Advocate Scholarship to attend the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Listen to the episode to hear Andrea explain:

At the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Dr. Don Dizon, professor of medicine and professor of surgery at the Brown University Cancer Institute, was part of a panel entitled “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll.” His presentation focused on sexual health after breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Dizon discuss:

New research suggests that estrogen plays a role in allowing hormone receptor-negative breast cancer to grow. This is because estrogen limits the ability of the immune system to attack cancer cells; it also makes immunotherapy medicines, like Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab), less effective. Dr. Donald McDonnell, senior author of the study, explains the results and how they might make a difference for people with breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. McDonnell explain:

In the THRIVE trial, sexual side effects caused by hormonal therapy led to lower mental quality of life in both Black and white women, but caused lower physical quality of life only in Black women. Sexual side effects were also linked to Black women being less likely to take hormonal therapy as prescribed, but not white women.

Dr. Janeane Anderson, who analyzed the THRIVE data, explains why it’s so important for anyone who’s received breast cancer treatment to talk to their doctors about any and all sexual health problems they’re having.

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Being diagnosed with breast cancer at any age is frightening and unexpected. But if you’re diagnosed in your 20s – before any type of screening starts – you face different challenges than if you’re diagnosed later in life.

LaShae Rolle, who studies cancer disparities, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 at age 26. When she found a lump in her breast she wasn’t concerned because no one in her family had ever had breast cancer. But a mammogram and ultrasound found at least eight cancer tumors in different quadrants of her breast.

...

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer; only about 1% to 5% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States are inflammatory. This type of breast cancer tends to be diagnosed in younger women and has very different symptoms than other types of breast cancer; it can be mistaken for an infection.

Dr. Filipa Lynce, director of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Center at Dana-Farber, explains what you need to know about inflammatory breast cancer.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Lynce explain:

A breast cancer diagnosis is a trauma, both physically and emotionally. You may find yourself wondering why no one is calling you one day and wishing you could just be left alone the next. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly and Community members discuss:

A number of breast cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and some targeted therapy medicines, like Herceptin (trastuzumab), can cause oral side effects, including mouth sores, dry mouth and infections.

Dr. Sollecito explains why these side effects happen and how they’re treated.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sollecito explain:

While preparing for breast cancer surgery and reconstruction, Erica Neubert Campbell was understandably scared and anxious. She also had no idea what her reconstructed breasts would look like. Then a colleague shared that she had been through the same experience and showed Campbell her results. The information gave Campbell hope and strength, and she hopes to offer the same to other women with her new book, The Mastectomy I Always Wanted.

Listen to the episode to hear Campbell discuss:

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its screening mammogram recommendations. Having a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast doesn’t lower the risk of dying from the disease. Certain types of exercise can reduce the risk of metastatic recurrence and neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. 

What does all this mean? Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board member Dr. Holly Pederson discusses the details of these studies and how they may affect you.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Pederson discuss these studies:

Certain breast cancer treatments, including the aromatase inhibitors – medicines that stop the body from making estrogen – and certain chemotherapy medicines can compromise bone health and lead to osteoporosis.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Shahane explain:

Carly Fauth was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2024. Scheduled to start chemotherapy in May, Carly decided to start a podcast called Chemo Coffee Talk, which she records from her chemo chair during her twice-monthly infusions at the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.

Listen to the episode to hear Carly discuss:

Palliative care is often confused with hospice care, but the two are very different. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Dr. Joe Straton.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Straton discuss:

In late 2019, Meredith’s routine mammogram showed an area of concern. Both her doctor and AI – an artificial intelligence program -- read her mammogram. Her doctor looked at the images and knew she had cancer, while the AI reading wasn’t so clear.

Listen to the episode to hear Meredith explain:

how AI is taught to read and interpret a mammogram

the factors a doctor considers when making a diagnosis versus the factors an AI considers

how bias is introduced into AI

why she wa...

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO) in June, an entire poster session was dedicated to treatment-related side effects.

Listen to the episode to hear:

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Fumiko Chino, MD, presented the results of research she conducted with Breastcancer.org on how doctors’ communication skills affected how well breast cancer patients stuck to their treatment plants.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Chino explain:

why she wanted to do the study

the results

how to have good conversations with your doctor

The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting featured five days of presentations and educational sessions on all types of cancer. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, a board-certified medical oncologist at the Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Paramus, NJ, summarizes the top breast cancer research.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Teplinsky explain:

the DESTINY- Breast06 study on Enhertu compared to chemotherapy for metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer

how circulating tumor DNA may help predict recurrence

descalating treatment to reduce the risk of side effects

Black women have a higher risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer at a young age than white women. At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Holly Pederson, of the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Elisha Hughes, of Myriad Genetics, presented their research on how a polygenic risk score can help predict the risk of early-onset triple-negative breast cancer in Black women.

Listen to the episode to hear Drs. Pederson and Hughes explain:

what a polygenic risk score is

the results of their research

how the results are being...

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Brooklyn Olumba was part of ASCO Voices, a program that gives people in the oncology a community an opportunity to tell their stories. Her talk was entitled “Genetic Testing Saved My Life.”

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Olumba explain:

how she came to have genetic testing at age 25

when she started breast cancer screening

how she advises young women about screening

There are many reasons women don’t get annual mammograms, including the distance to a mammogram facility, lack of transportation, or not having a primary care doctor. 

Licensed, certified genetic counselor Rena Vanzo wants to overcome those barriers. She’s started The Boob Bus, a mobile mammography bus that also offers genetic testing and cosmetic procedures, to make getting a mammogram feel more like going to a spa.

Listen to the podcast to hear Rena discuss:

how she came up with the idea for The Boob Bus

the services offered on The B...

Pain is a common side effect of breast cancer. The cancer itself may cause pain and nearly all breast cancer treatments may cause some type of pain. If breast cancer is metastatic – meaning it’s spread to parts of the body away from the breast, such as the bones or liver – it may cause pain in those areas.

There are many medicines that can ease cancer pain. Opioids are narcotic drugs that are commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain caused by breast cancer or its treatments. While effective, opioids can be habit-forming, which can be a prob...

If early-stage breast cancer has a high risk of recurrence – coming back after treatment – nearly all doctors recommend radiation after mastectomy. But when a woman wants to have reconstruction, the timing of radiation after surgery is tricky because radiation can cause changes in the reconstructed breast’s appearance and up the risk of complications, such as delayed healing. So many women have a tissue expander placed during mastectomy surgery and then receive radiation. Once the area has recovered from radiation, reconstruction surgery is done, usually about six or 12 months after radiation is completed.

In the Ap...

That being diagnosed with breast cancer is stressful is an understatement. It may be difficult to accept the diagnosis. You may feel overwhelmed by making so many decisions at once: Which doctor should you see? Which treatments should you have? Where should you have treatment? You may have concerns about how you’re going to keep up with your responsibilities at home and at work.

At the 2024 Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer, Dr. Ginsberg will be discussing the psychological effects of metastatic breast cancer. During this podcast, she talked about to...

After a breast cancer diagnosis, many people want to eat more healthfully. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Hillary Sachs.

Listen to the podcast to hear Hillary discuss:

how sugar and protein affect cancer cells

foods and supplements that can help ease fatigue

alcohol and cancer

soy and breast cancer

Living with metastatic breast cancer can bring many changes, including to what you find important. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly and Community members discuss:

how to live in the “right now”

acknowledging and accepting feelings, but not justifying them

the importance of being true to yourself and letting go of things that don’t make you feel good

celebrating what brings you joy

Many people struggle with being intimate during and after breast cancer treatment. Surgery can change the way you look and feel about yourself, as well as change the sensations your breasts feel. Hormonal therapy can lower your libido and make sex painful. You may be afraid that having your breasts or other areas touched will be painful. And you may be fatigued and feeling exhausted. Talking to your partner about all this can feel overwhelming.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Ross discuss:

how people can get more comfortable talking about sex

...

At the European Society for Medical Oncology 2023 Congress, Dr. DeMichele presented results from the CLEVER study, which looked at ways to treat inactive breast cancer cells that remained in people who were previously treated for breast cancer. The results suggest that it might be possible to find and treat these inactive breast cancer cells, which could help prevent breast cancer recurrence (the cancer coming back).

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DeMichele explain:

how inactive breast cancer cells survive chemotherapy

how the inactive cells wake up and cause a...

Tai chi is described as meditation in motion. But what does that mean, exactly? 

Listen to the podcast to hear Judith explain:

what tai chi is and its history

what a typical tai chi class consists of

the benefits tai chi offers people with breast cancer

Marián Castanondo has been with Breastcancer.org since the Spanish language discussion forums launched 11 years ago.

Listen to the podcast to hear Marián discuss:

how she came to be a moderator

what she’s learned from community members

why it’s important for Breastcancer.org to have a Spanish site and a Spanish community

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is the preferred term for many of the symptoms that menopause can cause, including vaginal dryness and irritation, urinary tract infections, and incontinence.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Rojas explain:

why many people still use the term vaginal atrophy rather than genitourinary syndrome of menopause

the symptoms GSM encompasses

treatments for GSM symptoms

The 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium featured five days of research presentations, educational sessions, and advocacy meetings.

Dr. Matthew Goetz, noted breast cancer researcher at the Mayo Clinic, explained the top research presented that will make an immediate difference for people diagnosed with breast cancer.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Goetz explain:

In 2022, the American Society of Clinical Oncology released guidelines on exercise for people being treated for early-stage cancer. But when those guidelines were developed, there wasn’t enough research on exercise in people with metastatic cancer. So Dr. Anne May decided to do that research.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. May explain:

The Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score test is used to help people and their doctors make decisions about whether radiation after lumpectomy surgery to remove DCIS would offer more benefits than risks.

At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Seema Khan presented results from the E4112 study, evaluating the ability of the Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score to accurately predict which women would benefit from radiation after DCIS surgery and which women could safely skip radiation.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Khan explain:

the...

Dr. Kelly Shanahan, trained as an OB/GYN, has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 10 years. For many years, she tried to join a clinical trial. In 2021, she finally did. At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she told us about her experience.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shanahan explain:

Dr. G. Thomas Budd, an oncologist and Dr. Justin Johnson, an immunologist, are collaborating on research looking at a vaccine to prevent triple-negative breast cancer. At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, they presented a poster on the encouraging first results from three small studies.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Johnson explain:

At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Hatem Azim presented a new analysis of information from the POSITIVE trial, which found that younger women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer could safely pause hormonal therapy to try to become pregnant. His new analysis looked at whether the women could use fertility preservation and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) without increasing the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence).

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Azim discuss:

Scalp cooling can help people keep some or quite a lot of their hair when receiving a chemotherapy regime that can cause hair loss.

At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman Scalp Cooling, explained the updated patient assistance programs his company offers. Listen to the podcast to hear Richard explain:

Breast cancers that are lymph node-positive are usually treated with chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy). If those cancers become lymph node-negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, there’s been a debate about whether to treat the nodes or not.

A new study has practicing-changing results: Nodal radiation isn’t need.

Dr. Marisa Weiss, Breastcancer.org chief medical officer and founder, and radiation oncologist, explains the findings.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:

CDK4/6 inhibitors are used to treat both early-stage and advanced-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. 

The CDK4/6 inhibitors are:

At the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Stephanie Graff moderated an educational session to help people and their doctors decide on treatments after a CDK4/6 inhibitor has stopped working.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Graff explain:

Living with metastatic breast cancer can bring many losses: not being able to ride bike, missing events, losing friends, just to name a few. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly and Community members discuss:

Lobular breast cancer is cancer that starts in the lobules, the glands in the breast that produce milk. Lobular breast cancer is the second most common breast cancer, accounting for about 10% of breast cases in the United States. Lobular breast cancer doesn’t always form a lump and can spread to areas of the body different from ductal breast cancer, such as the abdominal lining or the tissue around the kidneys or the eyes.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Jochelson explain:

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2023 Congress Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, chaired a session titled, “Pregnancy After Breast Cancer: Is It Safe?”

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Partridge discuss:

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2023 Congress in Madrid, Spain, Dr. Henry Kuerer presented results from a study looking at whether some women diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer or early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer could skip surgery if they had a pathologic complete response to chemotherapy before surgery.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Kuerer explain:

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At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2023 Congress Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, presented results from the TROPION-Breast01 trial, which is comparing a new antibody-drug conjugate, datopotamab-deruxtecan (dato-DXd), to doctors’ choice of chemotherapy for inoperable or metastatic, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that had grown while being treated with hormonal therapy and also had been treated with chemotherapy.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Bardia explain:

Finding the words to talk to children about metastatic breast cancer can be very difficult. This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly explain:

Biomarkers are molecules that help doctors distinguish breast cancer cells from healthy cells. In general, there are three broad categories of breast cancer biomarkers:

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Tripathy explain:

Many people diagnosed with breast cancer decide to use cannabis to ease side effects such as pain, nausea and vomiting. 

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Weiss explain:

There are several genomic tests -- also called genomic assays -- that analyze a sample of a breast cancer tumor to see how active certain genes are. The results of these tests help people and their doctors decide if more treatments after surgery would offer more benefits than risks.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:

At the 2023 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Dr. Christina Dieli-Conwright gave a presentation entitled “Resistance exercise is medicine: Applications to improve health and cancer outcomes.”

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Dieli-Conwright explain:

Dianne Hyman founded Sister Will You Help Me, a breast cancer support group for women of faith and color, nearly 22 years ago. 

Listen to the episode to hear Dianne talk about:

The 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting featured five days of research presentations, educational sessions, posters, and networking events. The amount of research presented can be overwhelming, so we asked Dr. Stephanie Graff to break down the key takeaways for people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Graff explain:

Hormonal therapy can cause a number of troubling issues for women, including loss of libido, hot flashes, and pain during sex. At the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Dr. Kristin Rojas chaired a session called “A Juggling Act: Managing the Toxicity of Estrogen Deprivation for Patients With Breast Cancer.”

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Rojas explain: