On today’s episode, I am speaking with Kelly Crump. Kelly is an illness influencer, patient advocate and model who is living and thriving with metastatic breast cancer. Kelly focuses on showing others that you do not have to be defined by your disease and that you can “live your life” and “do what you dream”. She was the first person to pose in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine with active breast cancer and the first to ever show their mastectomy scar in the publication. Kelly has trekked across the Sahara desert and climbed a 4,167m mountain in Morocco all whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the disease. Kelly is American but permanently resides in London, England.

On today’s episode, Kelly shares her story, the advocacy work she is doing, what living with metastatic breast cancer is really like, not putting on life on hold for cancer, her treatment for HER2+ breast cancer and more. You can follow her journey on Instagram and on Facebook.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Jen Delvaux. Jen is the host of the podcast “Not Today Cancer” and the author of “Not Today Cancer: A non-typical guide for the girl who wants to thrive, not just survive.” She is an integrative health practitioner, mother of two and a wife to her husband, Darren, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009. Several years after her husband completed treatment, Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer. On today’s episode, Jen shares her story, the lifestyle changes she has made, what it has been like being both a caregiver and then a patient, and the work she is doing now to empower others. Jen founded “The Reset and Rise Community” for women touched by cancer to offer support, tools and resources to regain control over one’s personal well being, and feel feel heard, held and good again. You can find Jen on her website or on Instagram.

This is a bonus podcast episode where I share an Instagram Live I had with Dr. Corinne Menn several weeks ago. Dr. Menn is a board certified gynecologist and a leading expert on menopause management. She herself is a breast cancer survivor and was diagnosed at the age of 28 in the middle of her OB/GYN residency and focuses on the female health concerns of cancer survivors and thrivers with empathy, knowledge and expertise. She takes an inclusive, evidence-based approach to health care with a focus on holistic care and mind-body medicine with the goal of investigating the root causes of female health problems, rather than just treating symptoms. In this conversation, we talk all about breast cancer survivorship and thrivership, menopause symptoms and management, bone health, cardiovascular health, patient advocacy, hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer and much more. This is not a conversation to miss! Follow Dr. Menn on Instagram or on her website. You can follow Dr. Teplinsky on Instagram or @drteplinsky on all other social media platforms.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Leeanna Gantt. Leeanna was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer
who turned her treatment experience into a mission to simplify medication management. During chemotherapy, she struggled to keep track of the many medications that were all in different forms and on different schedules. Realizing there was a need for an easy tracking solution, Leeanna invented Tooktake, a simple label system that allows people to keep track of their medications and supplements without removing them from their original packaging. Leeanna’s goal is for Tooktake to help others on their health journeys, making it easier to stay on track, one dose at a time. We talk about Leeanna’s treatment and survivorship and what it’s like being a patient and navigating healthcare with all the unknown and changes. You can find out more about Tooktake here!

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany. Dr. Ghofrany is a board-certified OB/GYN who has been in private practice for 25 years. She is the co-creator of TRIBE CALLED V and her intention is to help and guide women and people with vulvas and ovaries while addressing the mindset of fear surrounding health issues. Dr. Ghofrany has also experienced the health system as a patient through miscarriages, endometriosis, and ovarian cancer – it is these experiences combined with her professional expertise that make her an incredible advocate for women’s health. On today’s episode, we talk all about ovarian cancer – including her personal experience, gynecologic care (what happens during a pelvic exam and why you still need one even if you don’t need a Pap smear), cancer screening, menopausal hormone therapy after gynecologic cancer and much more. You can find Dr. Ghofrany on Instagram or on her website.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Dr. Abby Bales. Dr. Abby Bales, PT, DPT, CSCS is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City where she specializes pelvic health and orthopedics. She is an expert in pregnancy and postpartum pelvic health and sports rehabilitation, as well as strength and conditioning and run programming. Dr. Bales has served as a medical advisor for health and tech start-ups, notably The Mirror and Odela Health, and as scientific advisor for the Olympya app (NIKE Valiant Labs). She has been a speaker at multiple industry conferences and a guest lecturer at both her alma mater, New York University, and Columbia’s physical therapy programs. Dr. Bales loves running and working out, but loves spending time with her two young children and husband even more. On this episode, we talk all about the pelvic floor, menopause, strength training and so much more. You can find Dr. Bales on Instagram or at Reform Physical Therapy.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Kelsey Mora. Kelsey is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who specializes in supporting children and families impacted by medical illness, injury, and grief. She has extensive experience providing individual and group services to children who have a parent with cancer. Kelsey both guides parents and caregivers on how to best support their children and teens as well as creates unique opportunities to help youth make connections, and increase coping and communication throughout a cancer experience. Kelsey works in private practice, is the author of The Dot Method: an interactive tool to teach kids about cancer, and is the Chief Clinical Officer of Pickles Group: a non profit that provides free support and resources to children and teens impacted by their parent’s cancer. On today’s episode, we talk about all aspects of guiding and helping children throughout cancer- this discussion is truly an invaluable resource for anyone with children impacted by cancer.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Alison Tierney, MS, RD, CD, CSO. Alison is a board certified oncology dietitian and cancer thriver who empowers those affected by cancer to conquer fears, take back control, and fully support their body before, during, and after cancer treatment. In 2022, Alison was diagnosed with breast cancer at age of 33. On today’s episode, she talks about how her background and oncology nutrition knowledge base helped her throughout treatment. We talk all about nutrition in general and touch on alcohol and cancer as well. Alison provides excellent tips and advice for those navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. You can find Alison on Instagram or on her Website.

On today’s episode, I am answering your questions! Here is what we cover:

1. Signatera (circulating tumor DNA) in Breast Cancer (1:45)
2. POSITIVE trial (interrupting endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy) and any info on long term risks (12:08)
3. What to do if feeling breast lumps while breastfeeding or after breast cancer surgery (16:41)
4. Genetic testing in people who are adopted (20:32)
5. Lumpectomy versus mastectomy in breast cancer (24:30)
6. Do athletic pants and sports bras cause breast cancer? (27:22)
7. Do I need a hysterectomy after breast cancer? (30:48)
8. Do breast implants melt in saunas? (34:54)
9. What is difference between different forms of vaginal estrogens? (35:50)
10. Can you tell us how to stay motivated? (38:37)

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Tara Jones. Tara was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 12 years ago at the age of 35. She talks about the treatment that she has received and she now has no evidence of cancer recurrence! She talks about living with breast cancer, fertility, mental health and coming to acceptance with her diagnosis and its long term impact.

On today’s episode, I am speaking with Michelle Cleave. Michelle Cleave was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in December 2022 and she is about to enroll on a TNBC vaccine clinical trial. I will be sharing her experience throughout the trial on the podcast and today is Part 1 where Michelle talks about how she found the trial, her decision to explore it, what happened when she went to the Cleveland Clinic for the trial and some hurdles that have occurred along the way.