Podcast
Breast Cancer Conversations
Hosted by SurvivingBreastCancer.org · EN
Breast Cancer Conversations is a podcast produced by Survivingbreastcancer.org where we inject positivity into the very fabric of a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast Cancer Conversations provides education, and inspiration, and offers hope. You will hear stories from those diagnosed with breast cancer, interviews with medical professionals, and thought-leadership emerging from the oncology field. Welcome to our breast cancer community! Welcome to the conversation.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
288. Insurance Denied My Cancer Treatment: What Every Cancer Patient Should Know About Medical Bills
Mar 1500:33:19Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!Cancer treatment is hard enough — but dealing with insurance denials and medical bills can make it even harder.In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with board-certified patient advocate Jenni Nolan to uncover the hidden financial challenges cancer patients face when navigating insurance, billing, and prior authorizations.Jenni has spent more than two decades working inside the healthcare system and now helps patients resolve denied insurance claims, correct billing errors, and navigate complex medical bills so they can focus on their care instead of paperwork. Together, they discuss the biggest insurance pitfalls cancer patients face — and what you can do to protect yourself financially during treatment.If you’ve ever received a confusing medical bill or had insurance deny a treatment your doctor recommended, this episode will help you understand what’s happening behind the scenes.Topics Covered:• Cancer treatment insurance coverage • Medical billing errors and insurance denials • Prior authorization delays in cancer care • Financial toxicity and the cost of cancer • How to appeal an insurance denial • Why coding errors can impact coverageJenni Nolan is a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and founder of Clear Healthcare Advocacy, where she helps patients resolve complex insurance claims and medical billing issues. With more than 20 years of healthcare administration experience, Jenni specializes in helping patients navigate the financial side of medical care Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →287. What No One Tells Partners About Cancer: A Husband’s Honest Story of Love, Caregiving, and Grief
Mar 800:42:24Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the focus naturally centers on the patient.But behind every diagnosis is another story — the story of the caregiver.In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang steps aside from the microphone as her husband William Laferriere hosts a deeply personal conversation about caregiving.William is joined by Dr. Eswar Shankar, a cancer researcher and faculty member at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Shankar shares his personal experience caring for his late wife through cancer — navigating treatment, fear, uncertainty, and ultimately grief.Together they explore the emotional realities caregivers face, including:• How caregivers navigate fear and uncertainty • The emotional burden of supporting someone through treatment • Why caregivers often suppress their own feelings • The importance of empathy and presence during illness • What life looks like after losing a loved one to cancer • Turning grief into purpose and meaningDr. Shankar reflects on the lessons caregiving taught him — about compassion, resilience, and what it means to truly show up for someone you love.This conversation shines a light on the often unseen role caregivers play in the cancer journey. Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →286. Breastless & Fearless: Two Breast Cancer Survivors Rewriting Film, FemTech, and Survivorship
Mar 200:42:19Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!When Breast Cancer Changes Everything — What Do You Build Next?What happens when a breast cancer diagnosis strips away your identity — and forces you to rebuild from the inside out?In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Christine Handy and Christine Anastos — two breast cancer survivors who turned trauma into transformation.Christine Handy, former international model and author of Walk Beside Me, opens up about:Undergoing multiple mastectomy surgeriesBreast implant illnessReturning to the runway as a “breastless model”Turning her book into the award-winning film Hello BeautifulReclaiming worth beyond appearanceChristine Anastos (christine@connect-and-thrive.com), environmental engineer and founder of Connect & Thrive (CAT) shares:Being diagnosed with DCIS while caregiving for her motherCancer’s financial toxicity and hidden barriersWhy 90% of breast cancer cases may be environmentally influencedLaunching a public benefit corporation to bridge gaps in survivorship careTogether, these women explore:Identity after a cancer diagnosisFaith and post-traumatic growthThe myth of “doing it alone”Why collaboration is more powerful than competitionWhat it really means to be a “cancer disruptor”Welcome to the conversation. Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →285. Told She Had 3 Years to Live—Then Changed Cancer Research Forever withKathy Giusti
Feb 2200:43:11Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang speaks with Kathy Giusti, a two-time cancer survivor who has lived with multiple myeloma for 30 years and later faced a breast cancer diagnosis as well.Diagnosed at 37 after what she thought was a routine visit, Kathy was told she had a fatal blood cancer and would live “three years at best.” Instead of accepting that prognosis, she helped change the trajectory of cancer research by founding the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)—a model that brought scientists, clinicians, biotech, and the FDA together to accelerate treatments.This conversation explores survivorship, advocacy, and what patients and caregivers can do when the science is moving fast—but the system isn’t.In This Episode, We DiscussGetting a shocking diagnosis after a “routine” appointmentWhy multiple myeloma was once considered a “silent killer”How Kathy helped build a research engine that accelerated drug developmentThe difference between fast-moving science and slow-moving systemsHow Kathy’s identical twin impacted her breast cancer risk and screeningDCIS decisions and why “there’s no right or wrong—only what’s best for you”Why “looking healthy” can cause people to underestimate what you’re carryingHow to set boundaries when you’re in treatment or survivorshipWhy you shouldn’t rely on only one or two caregivers—and how to “invite people in”Kathy’s book: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical SystemResources & LinksFollow Kathy: @kathy.giustiBook: Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical SystemSurvivingBreastCancer.org: Free programs, support groups, and communityDownload the SBC App: Search SurvivingBreastCancer.org in the App Store or Google Play Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →284. Hospitals Weren’t Designed for Women: How the Built Environment Shapes Cancer Care with Abbie Clary
Feb 1500:39:22Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!What if part of what makes cancer so hard isn’t just the diagnosis—but the spaces where care happens?In this eye-opening episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang explores how hospital design, architecture, and the built environment directly shape the cancer experience, often in ways patients never realize—but deeply feel.Laura is joined by Abbie Clary, Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth for Health for All, and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare architecture and experience design. With millions of square feet of cancer and healthcare facilities in her portfolio—including projects at Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab—Abbie pulls back the curtain on how hospitals are designed, who they’re designed for, and why women are so often treated as the “outlier.”Together, they discuss trauma-informed design, survivorship-centered care, caregiver inclusion, gender bias in medical spaces, and why healing doesn’t only happen through medicine—it happens through dignity, control, and environment.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why hospitals and medical spaces are often designed for a “default male”How architecture impacts anxiety, trauma, and healing for cancer patientsWhat trauma-informed design actually looks like in practiceWhy cancer patients experience healthcare differently than other patientsThe importance of designing for repeat visits, not one-time careHow caregivers and loved ones should be treated as part of the care teamWhy dignity, control, and privacy matter as much as efficiencyGender bias in medical design—from gowns to equipment to workflowsWhy women’s pain and discomfort are often minimized in healthcareDesigning cancer centers for survivorship, not just treatmentAbout Today's GuestAbbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA, is the Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth — Health for All. Her work spans some of the most ambitious healthcare projects in the world, including Memorial Sloan Kettering’s new Cancer Care Pavilion, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 2030 facilities master plan, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.A nationally sought-after speaker and TEDx presenter, Abbie’s work focuses on transforming healthcare through strategic, human-centered design—bridging architecture, culture change, patient experience, and health equity. Her mission is simple but radical: design healthcare spaces that actually support healing, dignity, and belonging. Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →283. She Invented Sensation-Preserving Mastectomy—Then Needed It Herself: The Truth About DCIS, Recurrence, and Surgery
Feb 800:37:59Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when a breast surgeon becomes a breast cancer patient—and then faces a second diagnosis years later?In this deeply personal and illuminating episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by Dr. Anne Peled, a board-certified breast, reconstructive, and plastic surgeon who has treated thousands of patients—and also navigated her own early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, followed years later by a new primary DCIS diagnosis.Together, Laura and Dr. Peled unpack what patients are rarely told about DCIS (stage zero breast cancer), the difference between recurrence and a second primary cancer, and how advances in surgery are transforming survivorship—including sensation-preserving mastectomy.This conversation bridges clinical expertise and lived experience, offering clarity, compassion, and permission to choose the path that aligns with your body and values.In this episode: What DCIS really is—and why “stage zero” can be misleadingRecurrence vs. second primary breast cancer: why biology mattersLumpectomy vs. mastectomy and why survival outcomes are often the sameHow guilt and self-blame show up after a second diagnosisBeing diagnosed with breast cancer as a physicianNavigating treatment when your colleagues are your caregiversThe evolution of oncoplastic surgery and patient-centered careWhy loss of breast sensation is under-discussed—but life-changingHow sensation-preserving mastectomy worksWhat questions to ask your surgeon about sensation, nerves, and recoveryMaking decisions based on your priorities—not fear or pressureAbout today's guestDr. Anne Peled is a board-certified plastic, reconstructive, and breast surgeon in private practice in San Francisco and Co-Director of the Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center Breast Cancer Center of Excellence. Trained at Amherst College, Harvard Medical School, and UCSF, Dr. Peled completed a unique fellowship combining breast oncologic surgery and reconstruction.Her clinical and research work focuses on oncoplastic surgery, preserving and restoring sensation after mastectomy, improving patient outcomes, and breast cancer risk reduction. She is also a breast cancer survivor herself, bringing rare dual insight to patient care. Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →282. Diagnosed at 30— This Bio Engineer Built the Tool She Needed to Survive—Meet Samira
Feb 100:30:25Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!What happens when you’re diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer, start a new job, and are asked to lead a COVID response—all at the same time?In this powerful episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Samira Daswani, founder and CEO of Manta Cares, to talk about what it really means to navigate cancer when the system isn’t built for you.Diagnosed at 30 and undergoing chemotherapy during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Samira shares how she worked through treatment, wrestled with impossible decisions about hormone therapy, and struggled with the loss of control that so many cancer patients feel—but rarely name.Out of a sleepless night during chemo, Samira created a simple paper planner just to survive her own care. That tool would eventually become Manta Cares: a personalized, cancer-specific platform designed to give patients and care partners the thing most people never get—a map.In this candid, founder-to-founder conversation, Laura and Samira explore:Being diagnosed with breast cancer during COVIDWorking through chemo and surgery while leading critical healthcare programsDeciding whether to stay on hormone therapy—and living with that choiceWhy cancer care feels like being dropped into a hike without a mapHow patient-built tools can restore agency, clarity, and peace of mindThe emotional cost of fixing a system that failed youWhat’s next for Manta Cares, including mobile tools and AI companionsThis episode is for anyone who has ever thought: There has to be a better way.Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →281. DCIS Isn’t “Nothing”: Stage Zero Breast Cancer and the Decisions No One Explains
Jan 2500:51:20Tap to summarizeLove the podcast? Send us a text!What does it really mean to be diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)—often called “stage zero” breast cancer?In this in-depth episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang is joined by a breast surgical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a patient advocate to unpack why DCIS can be both reassuring and deeply complex. While survival rates are excellent, treatment decisions often involve difficult trade-offs between reducing recurrence risk and preserving long-term quality of life.The panel explores how advances in tumor biology, radiation techniques, and genomic testing—particularly the DecisionRT test—are helping clinicians and patients personalize care. Together, they discuss when radiation may meaningfully reduce recurrence risk, when it may be safely avoided, and how shared decision-making empowers patients to choose treatment paths based on information rather than fear.Guests:Dr. Erica Giblin, a breast surgical oncologist in Indianapolis and Director of Breast Surgical Oncology at Ascension, who brings a surgeon’s perspective on balancing effective treatment with long-term survivorship.Dr. Fleure Gallant, a nationally recognized leader in breast radiation oncology and Radiation Medicine Lead for the Breast Disease Management Team at Northwell Health Cancer Institute, whose work focuses on delivering highly personalized, quality-of-life-centered care.And Dr. Leona Hamrick, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at PreludeDx, a board-certified physician associate with decades of experience in internal medicine and oncology diagnostics—and an 11-year stage III breast cancer survivor who brings the patient voice into every scientific conversation.Topics Discussed:What DCIS is—and why it’s considered non-invasive breast cancerWhy DCIS is classified as stage zero, regardless of sizeHow DCIS differs from invasive breast cancer and LCISWhy a DCIS diagnosis can still be emotionally traumaticStandard treatment approaches: lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation, and hormone therapyWhen and why radiation therapy is recommended after DCISHow radiation schedules have evolved (5 days vs. 3–6 weeks)What DecisionRT measures and how it helps predict recurrence riskWhy tumor biology matters more than age aloneShared decision-making vs. fear-based decision-makingQuality-of-life considerations, especially for younger patientsWhy more options can sometimes feel more overwhelmingThe importance of second opinions and patient self-advocacyHow DCIS care is moving toward personalization and de-escalation Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →280. Breast Cancer Recurrence After Mastectomy with Teresa Baglietto
Jan 400:44:35Tap to summarizeLove the episode? Send us a text!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 likeBeing diagnosed after delaying a mammogramBreast cancer recurrence after mastectomyRadiation vs chemotherapy and treatment decision-makingOncotype DX testing and personalized careSaying no to tamoxifen after severe side effectsFear of recurrence and how it shows up years laterHow cancer reshapes career, identity, and purposeWhy having a plan can help you survive the unknownFinding meaning and community after diagnosisAbout Our GuestTeresa 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.Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
Transcribe →279. Breast Cancer Stopped My Life—Music and Meditation Helped Me Breathe Again
Dec 2200:57:11Tap to summarizeLove the episode? Send us a text!Breast Cancer Stopped My Life—Music and Meditation Helped Me Breathe Again: How Music and Meditation Support Healing During Breast Cancer TreatmentA breast cancer diagnosis can abruptly stop life in its tracks—canceling plans, disrupting careers, and forcing an unfamiliar stillness. In this deeply moving episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, Ed.D. sits down with Elizabeth Borowsky, a professional pianist and composer, and Jesika Harmon, a meditation coach and wellness guide, to explore how music and meditation became powerful tools for healing during cancer treatment.Together, they tell the story of an unexpected reconnection that led to a creative collaboration: Sonisah Meditation—a unique fusion of live piano music and guided meditation designed to help people move through illness, grief, and life’s hardest moments with greater clarity and compassion.This conversation is a reminder that healing is not only physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and creative. Whether you’re living with breast cancer, supporting someone you love, or navigating another season of uncertainty, this episode offers permission to slow down, listen inward, and discover new ways to heal beyond medicine.Resources:Elizabeth Borowsky and Jesika Harmon co-created Inner Harmony, a meditation album combining live piano composition with guided mindfulness practices. Their work introduces Sonisah Meditation—from sonus (sound) and niseion (experience through trial)—a new approach to healing through sound and stillness.📍 Available on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6KmlM20xrcRU9qQfGnkXEb?referral=labelaffiliate&utm_source=1011lBVpP95B&utm_medium=Indie_Distrokid&utm_campaign=labelaffiliate Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/inner-harmony/1846165188?uo=4YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-JylYyr_EELearn more about our guests: Elizabeth Borowsky: https://www.elizabethborowsky.com/inner-harmonyJesika Harmon:https://www.meditationwithjesika.com/s-projects-basicSupport the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.
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