← The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Wellness Unmasked: Faith, Resilience, and Survival: Tudor Dixon’s Breast Cancer Journey
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Kal Penn
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Kal Penn
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Ed Helms
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Kal Penn
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- [01:56]
Abercrombie Advertiser
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- [02:36]
Dr. Nicole Saffire
Welcome Back to wellness en masse. I'm Dr. Nicole Saffire. I'm a mom. I'm a physician. And not only do I diagnose breast cancer as my day job, I'm also an advocate for my patients. And that's honestly how I've gotten involved into health policy, on TV and even this podcast, because I truly believe that patients know their body better than anyone else, and I want to make sure people are listening to them. Well, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, those pink ribbons carry urgency because the numbers are shifting in unsettling ways. Breast cancer cases are on the rise. And I'm not talking about our grandmas or our great grandmas. I'm talking about younger women getting breast canc. Over the past decade, incidence in women under 50 has climbed over 1.4% every single year among women ages 20 to 49. A recent study showed invasive breast cancer rates increasing nearly 1% annually, even steeper rises since 2013. Now, I know those numbers may sound small to you, but 1 to 2%, we're talking thousands more people being diagnosed with breast cancer. What's more, younger women tend to face more aggressive disease and, unfortunately, a worse prognosis when they're diagnosed. Now, these trends underscore an uncomfortable truth. Breast cancer is no longer a problem that, you know, starts later. In that light, I am absolutely honored to welcome Tudor Dixon to Wellness Unmass. You probably know her from all of her work. You may have heard her on the Clay and Buck podcast network as well. She's part of the family, but she is first and foremost a mom, and. And she's also a breast cancer survivor. Her journey through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is a powerful example of courage, resilience, and now she is being an advocate for others. Together, we're going to peel back the layers when it comes to early detection, navigating life after cancer, and how motherhood and survivorship interweave.
- [04:36]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
Because while I can sit and tell you all of the facts and statistics about cancer, breast cancer as we are in Breast Cancer Awareness month, for me, sometimes I think the most valuable thing is actually talking to someone who's been through it before. Because when you talk about cancer in such a broad term, talking about the statistics and giving some things you can do to try and avoid it, try to avoid it happening in the first place or for coming back at the end of the day by talking to people who have already been through it. It humanizes it and almost normalizes it. And so you can take that information, that advice and kind of take it with you along the way, because cancer is very common. Breast cancer, as I've mentioned, one in eight women. So invariably, you will know someone who is diagnosed. So, Tudor, thank you so much for being on today. Would you mind just talking to us a little bit about when you were diagnosed and your story?
- [05:32]
Tudor Dixon
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for having me. So I was diagnosed in 2015, August of 2015. And my girls at that point were 6, 4, and then my twins were 2. So I was actually still breastfeeding, just going to the doctor's office for a random annual checkup, and the physician's assistant did my breast exam, and she said, how long have you had this lump? And I remember thinking, I mean, I'm breastfeeding. You know, everything is different, weird. And so. Everything? No idea, right? Exactly. Exactly. I'm like, hey, who cares? You know? And so she said, I think we should get this checked out. And I didn't think. Didn't think anything of it. Like, that was the farthest thing from my mind. And then, you know, the crazy thing is because I had never considered having cancer before, even after she said it, I was like, that can't be what cancer feels like. It just felt like I would really know. And it wasn't. It wasn't so pronounced that I would have understood that as cancer. So then I went in for. They scheduled me for a mammogram and an ultrasound, and I had the mammogram, and the woman came in, and she looked at me, and she was like, you know, the mammogram is totally clear. I mean, we don't really need to do this ultrasound, but your doctor ordered it, so if you want to go ahead and do it, we will. And I said, yeah, I think we should. Thank goodness I did, because we went into the ultrasound. I was like, at the beginning of the ultrasound, there were, like, two texts in there, and the doctor and the two texts were asking me how, you know, how many kids do you have and what are their ages? That's so exciting. Oh, what fun ages. And then they did the ultrasound, and literally the whole room changed. And I'm not kidding you, the one nurse looked at me, and she was like, how many kids did you say you have? And I was like, ooh, that was a weird change of tone. And I had no idea what was happening. And the doctor came in, and he was like, you know, why don't you. If you have time, why don't you stay and we'll do a biopsy right now? And I was still kind of like, wow, what is happening? Like, they're going to do this biopsy. It's going to be fine. They're not going to see anything there. And they did the biopsy. And I still didn't know that. The doctor was just kind of like, okay, we'll send the results to your doctor, and she'll call you. So a few days later, I went into my gynecologist's office and sat down, and she said, well, okay, so these are the things that we talk about when we look at cancer. And I said, what do you mean when we look at cancer? And she was like, didn't they tell you when you had the biopsy? I was like, no. And then that. I think that was the last thing I heard her say.
- [08:20]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
Yeah, sure. First of all, this'll be. We have to talk another time about this. I am mortified by your entire experience and the way that it was handled. But what you experienced, you know, they're like, well, it's nothing. We don't see it. Maybe we'll do more imaging, maybe we won't. Kind of like putting it on you to make a decision, which is great. You always want to involve the patient, but come on, guys. Like, you have to take charge there a little bit. And obviously, if you have someone breastfeeding with a new lump, you always would do an ultrasound. But that tone change that you just described, I can't tell you how many times people say that that happens. To be honest, I have been accused of not having a very good poker face myself when I talk to patients about some of their results. But, you know, as you're saying, you went in. In no way, shape, or form did you think you actually had. And specifically, when it comes to breast cancer, that's probably one of the most jarring parts, because you go in. You go in getting your mammogram or your ultrasound or your mri, and you're completely healthy. You know, you don't feel sick.
- [09:30]
Tudor Dixon
Yeah, right. Exactly. No, that was. And I just said to my mom the other day when I would go. So I. After my cancer journey, I was kind of. I think I was atypical because I refused to just take the first person's word for it as to what I had to do. I went into Grand Rapids. I live in Michigan. So I went in from where I am to Grand Rapids, and the first doctor there was like, yeah, so we're just gonna cut it out on Tuesday. We'll just take off both breasts, and then, you know, you can talk about reconstruction after that heals. And I was like, wow, wow, that sounds really awful. And I'm not sure that that's. I'm comfortable with that. So then I started doing some research, because you go, I don't like that. I have to figure out if there's another option. So I went to MD Anderson after that, and I met a doctor there. She was like the number one doctor in her field. And she was a great surgeon. She had all these great recommendations, but she was not al. She was also not pleasant. And that's like, you know, I know that seems silly, but there is a difference. When someone actually takes you seriously and cares about you as a patient. Because she may see a million breast cancer patients a day, but I'm the only one that knows how I feel, and I want her to actually give a crap that I'm there, to be honest. So she was like, you know, I said, well, what would you do? Would you have the lumpectomy or would you have the double mastectomy? And she was like, I can't tell you what I do. It's up to you. And I said, I mean, I kind of feel like you're a woman too. Can't you, like, give me an idea of how you feel about. She said, that would be unprofessional. But I can do another biopsy and we can see if there are micro calcific. If the micro calcifications in your breasts are also pre. Cancerous. So we did that. That came back that they were. And she was like, so listen, we can lop off that breast, and then in 20 years, you can come back and have the other one removed, because in 20 years, you're going to likely have cancer too. But if we're thinking about that, then obviously you're probably going to be going through your daughter's weddings at that time. And do you want to be going through having one of your breasts removed? So we could just do them both now and then you can have reconstruction. It just felt like I was not a person. And I said, well, what will my girls see if I have reconstruction? Like, explain to me what my daughters will see, because, you know, I want them to know what it's like to develop as a woman. But are they going to look at me and I'm going to look really different or if I'm going to look. Look really scarred? And she was like, what's gonna happen is you're gonna wear a robe for the next few years, and when your daughters get old enough to See you without a robe on. They're gonna go, what are those scars? And you're gonna say, listen, Mommy had cancer. And I was like, oh, gosh, that's just not my family. You know, Like, I. We are open about everything. And so I say it was atypical because I was also refusing to take her response as the way it had to be. So I went to Johns Hopkins after that, and it was amazing. The doctors there, they took so much time with me. And the one, the breast surgeon who I met with was like, look, if it were my wife or my daughter, I would say, you don't want to take the chance of dealing with this in 10 or 20 years. We want to get rid of it now. We want to take care of you now. And then the plastic surgeon I met with at the same time, he was like, I want you to be able to feel like you can wear a bikini again. I want you to feel like a woman when you go on the beach. I want you to feel like you still have that feminine body, which I think is incredibly important to a woman going through this because you're going into the doctor's office and they're saying, the thing that makes you feminine, that makes you feel feminine, that that has been a part of motherhood for you, that you have used to feed your children. This part of you that is very special and special to your husband and special in your intimate relationships, we're cutting that off. What? You want to know what the outcome of that is? Well, what am I going to be like afterward? And they said, you know, we have these new procedures. We're going to try to spare the skin, we're going to try to spare the nipple, we're going to try to make it seem as normal as possible. And they both got teary eyed when they talked to me. I was 38 years old. They said, we were devastated that this happened to you at 38. That was like, amazing to me to have two men sit there and look at me as a person. Understand that after this, I want to still feel like a woman. I'm scared. I don't know what my girls are going to think. I don't know what my husband's going to think. All these things going through my mind, I don't even know if I'm going to live at this point. But if I do live, what do I look like afterward? All these major questions that I wanted to ask that were very personal and hard to ask, you know, will I actually have breasts? Will I have my own Nipples. I mean, things that are hard to ask. And they were willing to go through in great detail for me. And so that's how I ended up going to Johns Hopkins at the end of the day.
- [14:38]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
I mean, I am so glad you went for that third opinion, because I am beyond mortified at your first two experiences. I'll be honest. I mean, this is what, this is my day job. I am the person who, I read the images, I find the cancer, I biopsy the cancer, I tell patients their diagnosis, and I help get them plugged in. So all of those questions that you're mentioning right now, you know, why would I do a double mastectomy versus a single mastectomy? What is the future? All. I mean, I. These are questions that I face every single day. And when I hear how poorly other people handle those questions, sometimes it breaks my heart. Because as you're saying, this is, this is more than just cancer. Not cancer. I mean, you're talking about especially a woman. I mean, this is part of our identity, you know, having breasts, I mean, I'm sorry, it is. Having breasts is part of a woman's identity. Having a mastectomy with reconstruction, it's not like going and getting a boob job. And it's very different. And, you know, people kind of don't realize that. So you were, you said 38 when you were diagnosed.
- [15:46]
Tudor Dixon
Yes, 38.
- [15:47]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
You had never even gone and had your routine mammogram yet. Cuz, you know, we recommend starting at age 40 for people who are average risk.
- [15:54]
Tudor Dixon
Right, right, exactly. And no risk. In my family, there was no reason, you know, people. That was another thing. Everybody's like, well, why don't you want to know why? I'm like, I don't think I'll ever know why, you know, so what's the point in me, like, pouring over, why could, why could this have happened to me? I don't know, but it's my story. It was, It's a big part of my life with my girls now is to make sure they're healthy and figure out like, you know, what are we, what are we doing to stay healthy and why it's important to take care of yourself. You know, it was interesting at the time. So with my first daughter, I breastfed on both sides. With my second daughter, I breastfed mostly on the one side. She just didn't wanna breastfeed. On the cancer side, they said they thought it was very slow growing. And they said they thought it probably started five years before I had even found it. So that's that was the blessing in that because, you know, when you're young and you have cancer, usually it's fast growing. But mine was slow. But I actually have read so many breastfeeding women since then have said they had the same situation where the babies stopped wanting to breastfeed on the cancer side. So by the time I had the twins, it was like I was just one. One uniboob because, like, the one boob was doing all of the breastfeeding and the other one they didn't want to breastfeed on at all. And I never, it never dawned on me, like, why don't they want. I was like, I guess that's just not their thing. And the doctor didn't know why. Like, oh, there's no reason. But many women who I've read since then on these chat groups and things for women with breast cancer is that women who were breastfeeding when they were diagnosed with breast cancer, the baby didn't want to feed off of the cancer side.
- [17:42]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
You know, I've, I've actually heard people say that. It's not really documented in the literature, but sometimes I just don't think can be explained by studies. And I think you, I mean, there is an innate sense of a mother, an innate sense of a baby. And I just think that sometimes you can't explain things and we just, you know, people know, even babies know.
- [18:04]
Dr. Nicole Saffire
You're listening to Wellness en Masse.
- [18:06]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
We'll be right back with more.
- [18:11]
Ed Helms
Hey, everyone. Ed Helms here.
- [18:14]
Kal Penn
And hi, I'm Kal Penn, and we're the hosts of Irsay, The Audible, and iHeart Audiobook Club.
- [18:21]
Ed Helms
This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?
- [18:42]
Tudor Dixon
You know what? I can see you as Mr. Darcy.
- [18:45]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
You got a little Colin first.
- [18:47]
Ed Helms
Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here, listen to earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [19:07]
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- [20:09]
Propane Energy Advertiser
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- [20:35]
Abercrombie Advertiser
Learn more@propain.com Sunday Scaries are officially canceled. Abercrombie's new Sunday sets collection is taking their place. Made from their iconic Soft AF fabric, these matching sets will give you that cozy Sunday feeling every day of the week. But we can't forget the OG the A and F Essentials collection. Specifically their Viral Essential Popover hoodie that just came out in tons of new colors and prints. Permission to start living in Sweatshop Abercrombie in the app, online and in stores.
- [21:08]
Tudor Dixon
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- [21:42]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
You know, as you kind of just alluded to, breast cancer that develops when we call peripartum, either while you're pregnant or, you know, in that year or two after being pregnant, oftentimes while breastfeeding. Those tend to be incredibly aggressive and fast Moving breast cancers. And unfortunately, because your breasts are so lumpy, bumpy to begin with, people kind of just say, oh, it's nothing. And they don't actually go in. So I'm so happy that the person that you saw found that lump. Still appalled that the radiologist said, you don't need an ultrasound. That is just appalling to me. But I. For women listening, first of all, you know your breasts better than anyone else. That's true. But any new lump, any new rash, any new nipple discharge, let me tell you that it's nothing. Don't. Don't minimalize it in your own brain. Because as women, we tend to do that. How many times is something going on with your body and you're like, it's nothing. I need to go focus on my kids. I need to go focus on something else.
- [22:44]
Tudor Dixon
We put ourselves. I don't have time. I'm like, oh, there's no way. I can take time to go to a doctor's appointment and then have to go to the lab and all of this. I'm just gonna focus on the kids. I mean, as a, as a mom, I think so often you put your kids ahead of. I mean, you always put your kids ahead of yourself. So you just don't. Even if I had even felt it, I probably wouldn't have done anything because I'd been like, eh, it's fine. I'll find. I'll talk to them about it at the next appointment. But that's so important not to do that. Because honestly, I mean, if you think about it, the best thing you can do for your kids is to put that oxygen mask on you first. You know, make sure you're taking care of yourself because you want to be there. That moment of finding out I had cancer and getting to the car afterward, I was by myself. I had just left the appointment. I remember driving home and starting to cry and thinking, because everything starts going through your head. You're like, okay, my oldest is six. Will she remember enough to tell the four year old and the two year olds what I was like, will we be able to take enough pictures? Can we have things around the house? Because you. Cancer's such a scary word. I'm not living through this, you know? And then I had this, like, overwhelming sense from God. It was just this. You're not alone. You don't need to cry. This is a journey. I'm on it with you. And I was the last time. It was the last time I shed a tear. The whole time through the surgery, everything it was just like, this is part of my story. This is part of my journey. God has me on, and whatever happens, he's with me and he's with the girls. And this is going to end in a. Whatever. However the ending is, he will be there and it will be good. And it was a crazy journey to go on. But I never felt overwhelmed because of my faith.
- [24:37]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
And faith is so important, you know, whether you're a Christian, you're a Jew, or you, you don't even believe in a particular God, but you just believe in something greater. Just knowing that there is something bigger than you truly does provide comfort during times of struggle when you were feeling those kind of, that almost, I guess, anxiety of will. My children remember me. I mean, that is something very common for women to feel. Was there anything that you did during that time? Some people say I'm going to start writing a journal, I am going to start doing video diaries. Did you have any of those thoughts of things that you wanted to do?
- [25:14]
Tudor Dixon
I think that was. Those thoughts were there. It was like, okay, once I get through this, because I had to go through the surgery to find out how really what stage it was at. So I was like, okay, once I get through this surgery, the videos, like, I'll make the videos and we'll have those ready. And then after the surgery. So I got diagnosed on August 14th. I had my surgery on October 15th. And after the surgery, they, they told me, we've got it, we got it all. You're not going to have to do chemo, we're not going to do radiation. We feel like you're in good shape. I mean, it was really a blessing. So I fortunately didn't have to go through that. But when I did have the surgery, I'd never left the girls before. I'd never even gone on vacation before. So having the surgery in Baltimore, I knew I would have to stay there for 10 days. I had the surgery, had to stay there for 10 days in, in the Baltimore area and then go back for my follow up. And I couldn't travel between times, so I, I stayed away from the girls for 10 days. And that was really hard. And I remember I had talked to my oldest about, I have cancer. And this is what this means. But you know, we're gonna go and we're gonna try to get healed and, and it's going to be okay. And then when I was, the night before I was leaving, I was tucking her in that night to bed and I said, okay, Mommy's going to be gone. For two weeks. But when we get back. When I get back, we're going to do something really fun. And she said, where are you going? And I said, remember, Mommy has cancer, so I have to go have surgery. And her eyes, I will never forget. It was like it had never struck her what that actually meant. And her eyes welled up with tears. And she looked at me, she said, you have cancer. And it was so. Oh, my gosh. I was like, it's okay. God's got me. We're good. I'm gonna get through this. I'm gonna be back in two weeks. And she was. It was just like, you could see her little heart breaking. I wanted her to know. I wanted her to be involved in that, because I knew when I got home, it was gonna be a lot different. I wouldn't be able to lift them up. I wouldn't be able to. To hug them tight. I was going to be in recovery for such a long time. And she was so strong. She was so incredible. Knowing that she was the oldest sister to these other three little babies was just such a comfort. God just had a really strong plan with the way he built my family and built my family for this and was very blessed.
- [27:46]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
That story is just so heartbreaking. You know, when I talk to patients and I talk to them about having breast cancer, that's immediately the first thing that they think of when they have young children at home is just, what about my babies? And, you know, my kids probably hear more about cancer than the average child, because that's my husband and I talk about it all the time. You know, it's our work, But I try to normalize it to my children. God forbid, you know, if I were to ever get breast cancer. And, you know, statistically speaking, you know, there's a realistic chance that I'm gonna get some sort of cancer, because it's just. We do, unfortunately. And I want to not. I want my children to not feel that. Being terrified in that moment. And so I think I almost try to normalize it a little. Probably a little too much for my young children, because I don't want to see that welling up in their eyes that you're describing, because that I would probably just break my heart.
- [28:47]
Tudor Dixon
It's so. I mean, you're right. It's so common now. The girls come home, and they just. Earlier this week, they came home and said, we added a new person's grandparent to the prayer list because they have cancer. And we lost my dad in 2022 to pancreatic cancer. Terrible, terrible cancer. That one is, I think, one of the worst. And they watched. They watched that. They watched him go through that. Honestly, I think that had they not known what my. What I had gone through and my struggle, it would have been quite a bit harder to watch my dad go through what he was going through. And there was a process of letting go and letting God and. And all of that. And. But, I mean, it is true that it's something that we want to avoid. It's so ugly. And when you haven't had, when it's not your job and when it's not the family business, you know, you don't want to talk about it. You don't want to ever scare your kids. But it's so common now. I mean, now I think that one of the reasons that when you talk about my diagnosis process, one of the reasons that there was that change in tone was because I think going in at 38, 10 years ago, it was not as common. I think that was just the kind of the beginning of them starting to see a lot of younger women with breast cancer. And I think they were as stunned as I was. It was like, oh, my gosh, how can this be happening? I just don't feel like I'm old enough to be the person with breast cancer now. It's happening more and more. You know, I don't know. I don't know why. I mean, I actually hope that this administration comes to some conclusions of what we're doing differently that is causing this. But I do think that it's important to talk to your kids about the fact that health is important. Taking care of your health is important. There are things that happen that you can't control, regardless of how you take care of your health. But I also think that we are in a culture now. When we were kids, there was this culture of never talk to your daughters about health because that was potentially going to cause an eating disorder. If you talked about health, you were essentially saying, you have to be fit, you have to be healthy, you have to. You have to be thin. But I don't think that's what it is. I think we should talk to our daughters about being healthy and the importance of. Of using your body to exercise and be strong. That I think that there were a good 10 years where people were afraid to talk to girls about a healthy lifestyle because they thought it was incriminating and they thought it was shaming women. But it's not shaming women to say, you have one body. We have to take care of it.
- [31:24]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
More coming up on Wellness unmasked with Dr. Nicole Safire.
- [31:32]
Ed Helms
Hey everyone. Ed Helms here.
- [31:34]
Kal Penn
And hi, I'm Kalpen and we're the hosts of Irsay The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.
- [31:42]
Ed Helms
This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?
- [32:02]
Tudor Dixon
You know what? I can see you as Mr. Darcy.
- [32:05]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
You got a little call in Firth.
- [32:08]
Ed Helms
Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here. Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [32:28]
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- [33:24]
Dr. Nicole Saffire
Guarantee.
- [33:24]
Meaningful Beauty Advertiser
All of that available@meaningfulbeauty.com.
- [33:29]
Propane Energy Advertiser
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- [33:56]
Abercrombie Advertiser
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- [34:29]
Eat Colipower Advertiser
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- [35:03]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
So going forward, I mean, you're right, by the way, because people are worried about, you know, body dysmorphic disorder, young girls in the era of COVID social isolation, digital media, online bullying and all of that, you know, we are coddling our younger generations and on one hand you kind of want to because you want to shield them from some of this. But you are absolutely right because if you are not talking to young girls about some of this stuff, they don't realize. You know, a lot of the cancer we're seeing in younger people is from lifestyle factors. Some we can control, you know, like our weight, some of the foods we're consuming and exercise and not smoking and drinking, you know, minimal if none alcohol. But on top, there are some things we can't avoid, like microplastics and hormones in our food and all of that. After having gone through it yourself and having so many little girls. Moving forward, what is kind of your message to your girls as they're growing up about trying to live their healthiest lives?
- [36:05]
Tudor Dixon
Actually, we just talked about this the other day with my daughter and it's, it's kind of stunning because I think that you don't realize how much as a kid life was different for us. We had gym every day. There were strength tests. You had to be able to pass the strength tests when we were young. And that is just not the case in our schools today. So as parents, I think we even have to go, what is the difference between our childhood and how and the healthy lifestyle that we had and what our kids have and how do we take care of that outside of school? Because I think my parents were somewhat spoiled in that we would just go out and ride bikes after school. But during school we had strength tests. I mean, I remember having to climb the rope to the top of the gym, having to do sit ups and having to do pull ups. And my girls don't do that. So there is a conversation that we've recently had. My daughter the other day was saying, My 16 year old was saying, I have such bad posture, mom, I've got to do something about my posture. And I said, you know, a lot of that has to do with your core strength, so why don't we start doing some sit ups? And she could not do a sit up. I was stunned. And I feel, I feel really horrible about this. But I said, what do you mean you can't do? She's like, mom, I can't do what you're doing. And I think that to me is something that we haven't actually been prepared for as parents because we were, we did have such active lifestyles as kids and that was a part of school and it's not now. So that is a conversation we just recently had in our home that you have to build your strength because what you build on now, your body has muscle memory, it will remember that your whole life and you have a better chance of being able to stay strong. And just being strong is so important in my mind. And so I was talking to some of my girlfriends about this. I'm like, I'm stunned that my 16 year old can't do a sit up. And they said, we just had the same experience. We had no idea how little weight training they're doing, how little strength training they're doing. So I think for girls especially that conversation is not about, about your size jeans you're wearing or how much food you're consuming. It's the fact that you have to be consuming the right foods. And you should be concerned about your strength, you should be concerned about your muscles and your ability to hold your own body up. I mean, if you have feel concerned that your posture is bad and you can't hold your body up in a sit up, well, we have some work to do. And it's not an embarrassing thing to do. It's just a part of being healthy and taking care of the, the body that God gave you.
- [38:37]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
Well, I mean, you're absolutely right. And by the way, strength training and being in shape, this is, you know, this isn't something for cosmesis. We're talking about long term health.
- [38:46]
Tudor Dixon
Yes.
- [38:47]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
And I mean I'm perimenopausal myself and that is one of the most important things. And you know when to bring it back to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Listen, at the end of the day, the risks for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older. Um, and I'm sorry, you can't do anything about that. However, there are modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. One of them absolutely being the fat, the number of fat cells in your body. Because those fat cells actually create estrogen and estrogen drives estrogen sensitive cancers, like some breast cancers, endometrial cancers, liver cancers and others. So the more fat you have on your body, the higher your risk of cancers. So that is one way you can decrease your risk. And exercising. I'm not talking about being a gym rat and being a fitness model. I'm just talking about taking a walk around, you know, your building and being able to do some sit ups and doing some of those other things directly linked to a decreased cancer risk if you get your body moving. And it is just crucial that we instill these messages in our younger generations, because cancer is on the rise. It's not just we're diagnosing more, more people are truly getting cancer and we have to make a difference, make America healthy again. Making some changes. They're bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test. I'm all for it.
- [40:06]
Tudor Dixon
And that's actually something that my daughter and I have been doing. So my oldest and sometimes the younger ones tag along. We've been trying to do a nightly walk around the neighborhood. And I have to say, it's like this is so much bigger than just exercise and getting out and doing something and breathing fresh air. It's getting out of the house, it's neither of us have a device. We're both totally focused on each other. We're talking about school, we're talking about friends. We get this time alone. That's just the two of us where we are doing something healthy and we are learning about each other. And my girls lately have really reminded me, I mean, I keep hearing all these things about get your kids off of phones, get your kids off of devices. And I think, you know, I get that. But I also think that this generation of kids has, we as kids never saw our parents on devices. So it's us getting off to us spending that quality time together as well and showing them this is the lifestyle that I want you to be able to enjoy. And I should be a part of that too. I should not be the one said, I've got work, I've got to be on the phone and I'm guilty of it. So I'm trying really hard to show them that part of a healthy lifestyle is conversation and togetherness and that intimacy of family.
- [41:20]
Breast Cancer Specialist / Host
Amen. Tudor, I'm so grateful that you came on today and you shared your story. We could all learn from you, your experience, and I'm just in awe of you. So thank you so much for being so open with us.
- [41:32]
Tudor Dixon
Absolutely. Thank you for having me.
- [41:33]
Dr. Nicole Saffire
That was such an amazing conversation with Tudor. Just her honesty, strength, voice. That is what we need to hear. Because, you know, as I have continued to say, I can give you all the statistics in the world, but hearing from someone who has lived through it truly can help anyone who may be going through it as well. Now, I don't want everyone leaving here today thinking this is a doomsday kind of conversation. When it comes to breast cancer awareness, it's all about early detection, getting your mammograms, making sure you know your normal lumps and bumps in your breasts. But there are some things that you can do to decrease your risk of breast cancer. Yes, being a woman getting older, those are our biggest risk factors. You can't really do anything about that. But there are some things you can do that will absolutely lower your risk of not just breast cancer, but other cancers as well. Maintain a healthy weight. Having excess fat cells produces more estrogen and stress hormones in your body. That directly increases your risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, even liver cancer. Being physically active. I know I sound like a broken record, but, yes, you have to move your body more. We all do. And I'm not talking about just doing the peloton or just running on the treadmill. You have to be lifting weights. Make sure you're building muscle. It's really good. Not for just lowering your cancer risk, but it also helps your bones, it increases your immune system, and also helps your brain. Limiting alcohol intake. I get it. I love champagne and tequila. Those are my jam. Some may say. But the reality is there really is not any health benefit to drinking alcohol. In fact, study after study says even moderate intake of alcohol can increase your risk of cancer. Now, some of that is correlative because the more you drink, maybe the more fat you have in your body. But the reality is, if you drink alcohol, maybe try a little bit less. If you're working on decreasing your risk of cancers and also knowing your personal risk, the reality is, most people diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history. So if you find a new lump in your breast, don't just think it's absolutely nothing because you don't have a family history. The reality is you should always let a doctor tell you and image you before some lump or a rash or nipple discharge or whatever it may be. Always make sure you're seeing a doctor. For those if you have a family history of breast cancer, you have known genetic mutations, you're at an increased risk. And maybe you need more than just a mammogram. Maybe you need an ultrasound. Maybe you even need an mri. Bottom line, everyone is different. And so just because your sister, just because your neighbor, they do this, something else might be right for you. The best thing you can do? Have a conversation with your doctor. You can also reach out to me on social media. I'm happy to try and field as many questions. If you send messages about topics you want to hear on Wellness and mask, I'll do that too. But it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Let's all do our diligence. If you haven't had your mammogram and you're 40 years or older, go get it. I promise you early detection matters and finding your cancer early may just save your life. I'm Dr. Nicole Safire. Thanks so much for listening to Wellness on Mass. Make sure you listen to Wellness on Mass on iHeartRadio or anywhere that you listen to your podcast and we'll see you next time.
- [44:57]
Kal Penn
Hey audiobook lovers, I'm Cal Penn.
- [45:00]
Ed Helms
I'm Ed Helms.
- [45:01]
Kal Penn
Ed and I are inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with our new podcast, Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.
- [45:10]
Ed Helms
Each week we sit down with your favorite iHeart podcast hosts and some very special guests to discuss the latest and greatest audiobooks from Audible.
- [45:19]
Kal Penn
Listen to hearsay on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow earsay and start listening on the free iHeartradio app today.
- [45:29]
Eat Colipower Advertiser
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- [45:55]
Tudor Dixon
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- [46:27]
Meaningful Beauty Advertiser
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- [46:29]
Tudor Dixon
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- [47:01]
Dr. Nicole Saffire
Oral.
- [47:01]
Luma Nutrition Advertiser
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