Breast Cancer Briefing, hosted by Sara Nunnery, MD, MSCI, a breast medical oncologist and the director of Breast Cancer Research at Tennessee Oncology in Nashville, is a podcast series that breaks down the latest news in breast cancer research, one conversation at a time.

In this episode, Nunnery sat down with Annie Bond, a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate.

Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 26, Bond shared how her initial concerns about a breast lump were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals who cited her youth and lack of a family history of breast cancer. It took months of persistence before she received a diagnosis, at which point the cancer had already spread to her liver.

Bond emphasizes the necessity of self-advocacy and the value of seeking second or third medical opinions. Regarding fertility preservation, her first oncologist discouraged her from freezing her eggs, but her third oncologist provided a more personalized approach, using CDK4/6 inhibitors rather than immediate chemotherapy based on her luminal A disease subtype.

A significant portion of the conversation focused on the mental health toll of cancer. Bond discusses the "warrior" stereotype, the guilt and shame she felt, and her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. She says she found critical support in community and support groups, which helped normalize her feelings and provided a sense of belonging.

Regarding physical adverse effects, Bond detailed the challenges of medical menopause, including "menopause brain" and joint pain, which she manages through walking and stretching. She expressed frustration with health education that focuses on diet or alcohol as "blame" factors, noting that cancer can often develop regardless of lifestyle.

Bond explained how she advocates for metastatic breast cancer research funding and the use of artificial intelligence risk assessment models to account for factors like breast density. Her mission is to increase early detection and ensure patients with metastatic disease are viewed with hope.