What happens when breast cancer comes back — even after doing “everything right”?

In this deeply honest conversation, Laura Carfang sits down with Teresa Baglietto, a four-time cancer survivor, author, and podcast host, to talk about what it really means to live with cancer recurrence, fear, and long-term survivorship.

Teresa shares what it felt like to discover her first breast cancer lump (“it was like a block of cement”), how she navigated a recurrence after bilateral mastectomy, and the treatment decisions that ultimately saved her life — including why she chose not to take chemotherapy or tamoxifen.

Together, Laura and Teresa explore the emotional and practical realities of survivorship: fear of recurrence, making medical decisions without complete information, balancing career and health, and finding purpose after cancer.

This episode is for anyone newly diagnosed, living with metastatic or recurrent disease, or learning how to live after cancer — when the world expects you to “move on,” but your body and mind remember everything.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

What a breast cancer lump can actually feel like
Being diagnosed after delaying a mammogram
Breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy
Radiation vs chemotherapy and treatment decision-making
Oncotype DX testing and personalized care
Saying no to tamoxifen after severe side effects
Fear of recurrence and how it shows up years later
How cancer reshapes career, identity, and purpose
Why having a plan can help you survive the unknown
Finding meaning and community after diagnosis

About Our Guest
Teresa Baglietto is a four-time cancer survivor, author of The Ripple Effect, and host of the podcast InShok. Her work focuses on resilience, leadership, and navigating life’s hardest moments with intention and courage.

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