Best Breast Cancer Stories Podcasts (2024)

1
Abigail Johnson: Young Mom Diagnosed with Metastatic DeNovo Breast Cancer #metastaticbreastcancer 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

Abigail Johnston was diagnosed with de novo Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) in 2017 at the age of 38, while she was tandem breastfeeding her children12. “De novo” means that her cancer was metastatic from the start, without an earlier stage diagnosis2. Since her diagnosis, Abigail has become a dedicated patient advocate, focusing on support…

1
Day 326: It’s a Reminder I’m Alive [Dr. Tita Gray] 26:31

1M ago26:31

26:31

Returning to life cancer-free hasn’t been easy, but Tita stays positive and isn’t letting anything take her spirit down. Her chest is healing, and she doesn’t feel like any less of a woman without breasts. Rather, it reminds her that she's alive and kicking. She continues with regular immunotherapy, and it's doing wonders. Feeling more like herself…

1
Day 233: I'm the Most Happy & the Least Happy [Dr. Tita Gray] 27:33

2M ago27:33

27:33

When she first looked down after her double mastectomy, Tita didn’t panic. But adjusting to life without a bra has been strange. Nothing could prepare her for the emotions of losing a part of her body. But her tumor is gone, and no cancer was found before it was removed. Tita reflects that while chemo saves your life, it takes a piece of your life …

1
Day 220: The Pizza and Pasta Phase [Dr. Tita Gray] 22:10

2M ago22:10

22:10

Tita's finally starting to feel like herself again after six grueling months of chemo. With no more nausea, she can actually enjoy pizza and pasta without feeling sick. Her mastectomy is coming up soon, and her oncologist is calling for radiation. She's not exactly thrilled about it, but she’s determined to never have to deal with this cancer again…

1
Day 178: I’ll Be Replacing My Breasts With Tattoos [Dr. Tita Gray] 33:18

3M ago33:18

33:18

Tita's latest MRI shows her tumor is shrinking. She's planning a butterfly tattoo after her double mastectomy to symbolize her metamorphosis. She shares what keeps her strong and optimistic: a job focused on helping others and a supportive circle of friends and family. She believes the key to staying positive is surrounding yourself with people who…

1
Day 117: It Is What It Is [Dr. Tita Gray] 28:36

3M ago28:36

28:36

Tita’s white blood count drops so low she has to reduce her chemo infusions to every other week. Zarxio injections and immunotherapy help keep it in a healthy range. The new schedule extends her treatments through May, leaving her mentally drained. Always perceived as strong and optimistic, it’s tough to be in tears. Empathy from her doctor is a hu…

1
Day 73: One of Those Mondays [Dr. Tita Gray] 23:18

3M ago23:18

23:18

Feeling worse than usual and suspecting her chemo dosage might be too high, Tita asks her doctor for another mammogram and ultrasound to check visually for signs of cancer. Dismayed to find out she needs two more months of chemo than expected, she schedules an appointment with a surgeon to discuss whether a double mastectomy can remove any remainin…

1
Day 45: It’s Too Much [Dr. Tita Gray] 23:21

3M ago23:21

23:21

After her second triple infusion of chemo, Tita is feeling worse than ever—no appetite, headaches, achy joints, the whole side effect shebang. The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping it stays gone. Emotionally drained, she cuts all her hair off herself and thinks through her reasoni…

1
Day 25: Stop Asking Me How I’m Feeling [Dr. Tita Gray] 29:55

4M ago29:55

29:55

Triple negative breast cancer means aggressive chemo, and for Tita, dealing with everyone else's worry on top of it is too much. With her first chemo session completed, she's determined not to let cancer overshadow her gratitude for the good things in her life. After her mom's death and some family issues, Tita found a lump in her breast, leading t…

1
Day 1: A Horrifying Diagnosis [Dr. Tita Gray] 37:29

4M ago37:29

37:29

Following the loss of her mother and some traumatic family drama that came with it, Dr. Tita Gray discovered a lump in her breast. Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s worse than initially thought, so her doctor recommends aggressive chemo ASAP. Links How Not to Die by…

1
Kristen Update: I’d Prefer to Have a 2nd Type of Cancer 25:21

4M ago25:21

25:21

The results of Kristen's PET scan showed two lymph nodes lighting up, one in the gastro-hepatic area of her abdomen and the other in the lining of her esophagus. While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but the earliest appointment is almost two months away. Puzzling through the scenarios (as if she has a c…

1
Kristen Update: Shouldn’t I Be in the Hospital? 30:25

5M ago30:25

30:25

After a fiasco in Escondido involving multiplying rodents and toxic air quality, Kristen’s on the move again. The pulmonologist found ground glass lungs and an enlarged heart, then Dr. Ali found an enlarged lymph node between her liver and stomach and asked for a PET scan. With recurrence always lurking, we play the old, familiar waiting game. ====…

1
Terri Sterk Interview Breast Cancer Thriver, Author & Speaker 43:14

10M ago43:14

43:14

Terri Sterk is a two-time breast cancer survivor, health and wellness coach, and author. She spent seven years facilitating support groups and coaching women diagnosed with breast cancer. She now uses her story to serve women who have experienced trauma, including breast cancer and family discord, by inspiring them to thrive by healing their body, …

1
Natasha Update: Recurrence is a Nonstop Obsessions 27:12

1y ago27:12

27:12

About to turn 60, Natasha is in a dark place thinking of other things that can go wrong with her health if she’ll have to go it alone. Even though a routine MRI is clear, she obsesses about cancer spreading to other areas that aren’t being checked. Following her mother’s recent lung cancer diagnosis, Natasha worries more for her than she did for he…

1
Alicia’s DIEP Flap Reconstruction [Part 2 - After Surgery] 34:37

1y ago34:37

34:37

5 months after her DIEP flap reconstruction surgery, Alicia returns with an update. Although the original plan was to do a DIEP flap on both sides, it didn’t turn out that way and she still has an expander on the other side. Still unsure what to do next, Alicia is taking her time to decide. If she had known things would go the way they did, she bel…

1
Alicia’s DIEP Flap Reconstruction [Part 1 - Before Surgery] 26:51

1+ y ago26:51

26:51

With the BRCA mutation and a family history of breast cancer, the “clock” started ticking for Alicia with biannual screenings at age 30. She tried to keep up with the screening schedule, but had young children and decided to go to nursing school. Nine uneventful years went by until she was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER2 negative hormone positive breas…

1
Interview with Jenni Davis: First Patient to Receive the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine 37:39

1+ y ago37:39

37:39

#Pinkvaccine #ClevelandClinicBreastCancerVaccine #TNBC #triplenegativebreastcancer #SurvivingBreastCancer #BreastCancerStory #BreastCancer #breastcancerawareness #SABCS #AARC #ASCO #PinkVaccine #Preventionisthecure #Sisters4Prevention #VincentTuohy Jennifer Davis, 41, became the first person to get a breast cancer vaccine not yet approved for wides…

1
Natasha Update: Out, Dang Port! 30:54

1+ y ago30:54

30:54

Natasha’s port is out and is huge, resembling a miniature computer mouse. She still believes getting a port was the best decision she’s ever made and now that it’s gone, she can wear her old clothes again. While she enjoys living alone and is back at work five days a week, advice from her oncologist has her rethinking her relationship with alcohol.…

1
Defeating Stage 3 Breast Cancer: Kristen Vengler’s Courageous Battle on Cancer U Thrivers with Andrea Wilson Woods 41:59

1+ y ago41:59

41:59

In this episode of Cancer U Thrivers, hear Kristen’s interview with author, speaker, entrepreneur, and patient advocate Andrea Wilson Woods on her podcast Cancer U Thrivers. Kristen walks Andrea and her audience through her experience with stage 3 breast cancer, from finding her tumor in the shower, to chemo, her mastectomy and reconstruction, to r…

1
Cancer Survival Strategies: An Integrative Approach 48:04

1+ y ago48:04

48:04

NCI/NIH Complementary Cancer Care and Integrated Medicine National Cancer Institute Series. Breast Cancer: Tips from a Survivor Who Cares. Who am I? My name is Judy Fitzgerald. Since my breast cancer diagnosis fourteen years ago, I have been dedicated to sharing information to support breast cancer patients and survivors. My channel shares diet and…

1
Kristen Update: The Last of the Post-Treatment Horrors and Indignities (We Hope) 33:09

2y ago33:09

33:09

After a hard fall, Kristen breaks several ribs and at a scan to check for a ruptured implant, the radiologist sees a Skittle-sized spot near her breast implant just in time for the two year anniversary of her diagnosis. On the heels of a brand new set of post-treatment horrors and indignities, Kristen returns to share the good, the bad, and the ugl…

1
Day 295: The Trauma Has Made Me Softer [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 32:59

2y ago32:59

32:59

Natasha adjusts to post-treatment daily life, continuing with hormone blockers and finally seeing a mental health professional. While working with less fortunate patients who don't have mittens or cold caps, Natasha looks back with gratitude on how privileged her treatment experience was. At work, she finds herself pushing patients much harder to a…

1
Day 246: Here, Have Another Biopsy [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 32:08

2y ago32:08

32:08

After a scan shows a 1.2 cm nodule on her thyroid, Natasha goes for a biopsy which comes back with complicated results. Not wanting any more surgery or radiation right now means there’s a difficult decision to make. Three and a half weeks of radiation end without any terrible burns or skin issues, but celebrating feels phony because it’s never real…

1
Day 203: I Still Choose to Show Up [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 32:46

2y ago32:46

32:46

The radiation oncologist sends Natasha to a psycho-oncologist (did you know that was a thing?) because her antidepressants aren’t working, making self-care too hard. This forces her to confront the mental health struggles caused by the abrupt end of her time in Malawi, the surprise end of her 25-year marriage, and a cancer diagnosis all happening a…

1
Day 175: Healthcare Nonsense and Red Tape [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 42:08

2y ago42:08

42:08

Natasha is given three options for radiation treatment, but it’s a challenge since everyone has been making decisions for her up to this point. She decides on three and a half weeks of radiation to the breast and the lymph nodes in the armpit. Down to just 104 pounds, she feels like a scarecrow in her clothes. Hoping to gain 10 pounds by the end of…

1
Day 160: Cancer Free But Now What? [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 33:08

2y ago33:08

33:08

It’s been two weeks since Natasha’s lumpectomy and because no evidence of cancer was found during surgery, she has been declared “cancer free” by her surgeon. The day of surgery was long and a little emotional from the anesthesia, but recovery has been less painful than expected. Food has flavor again and in her words, “it’s about bloody time!” The…

1
Reduce Chemo and Radiation Side Effects 55:57

2y ago55:57

55:57

Natural Ways to Reduce Chemo and Radiation Side Effects. Reduce Chemo and Radiation Side Effects #reducechemosideeffect #helpcancersideeffects #survivechemo #survivingcancer #chemosideeffects #breastcancer # Helpful Supplements to Reduce Chemo Side Effects Ginger can help you manage nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. But it may also thin your b…

1
Day 146: Covid Ruins Everything Again [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

After Natasha and friends travel to Mexico to celebrate the end of chemo, it’s her turn to catch COVID which delays her lumpectomy surgery for a week. Her nerves are shot from constant fear of the unknown. Because there’s nothing visible on her most recent mammogram, she worries they’ll find all kinds of horrors during surgery and with chemo behind…

1
Day 111: Covid Ruins Everything [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 29:19

2y ago29:19

29:19

Thanks to the incredible cold cap technology, Desert Essence shampoo, and seldomly using a brush, after six rounds of chemo Natasha still has her hair. Meanwhile, everything else is falling apart. Plans to celebrate at a fancy restaurant are wrecked when her date gets COVID and none of her friends can go. An insurance snafu just 2 days before her l…

1
Day 100: Fake Celebrations & IV Hydration [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 22:09

2y ago22:09

22:09

With five sessions down, Natasha feels less like a nurse and more like a patient. Her final chemo treatment is next Wednesday, and the planned end-of-chemo celebration feels fake because surgery and radiation are still ahead. Because food tastes even worse than before, she lives off rice and beans. To keep the weight loss from further eroding her s…

1
Things You Need For Surgery with Dana Donofree 46:06

2y ago46:06

46:06

Dana Donofree & Kristen outline the essential shopping list for surgery and recovery, from what to bring to the hospital through the different stages of recovery. Support the podcast by ordering your AnaOno favorites through our links! As an affiliate of AnaOno, we earn a few dollars if you purchase any items and our listeners also get 15% off with…

1
Breast Cancer: What I Wish I Had Asked My Doctor. What Doctors Don't Tell You! 44:51

2y ago44:51

44:51

Breast Cancer Prevention News. What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You. Ann Fonfa founder of the AnnieAppleseedProject speaks on topics doctors should cover and questions we wish we had had the answers too when we were diagnosed and going through treatment. "From its inception, the Annie Appleseed Project decided to challenge the existing treatment parad…

1
Day 79: How to Win Yourself a Trip to Urgent Care [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 25:44

2y ago25:44

25:44

After her 3rd chemo, Natasha is too tired to eat. All food loses its flavor and only texture remains, so peaches and sushi taste the same. She becomes so dehydrated that she wins herself a trip to urgent care for fluids. Wondering if she metabolizes chemo more slowly than others, she plans to set a hydration date after the next infusion. She used t…

1
Day 43: Things Are Unraveling [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 32:46

2y ago32:46

32:46

Natasha attempts a somewhat normal life by continuing to work and dating someone new. But behind the scenes, things are unraveling. She receives news about the alarming masses on her liver and thyroid. After her second chemo, unusual and disturbing side effects lead her to wonder how many other unexpected surprises are headed her way. Links Support…

1
Day 20: Oh Wait, It Might Be Stage 4 [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 36:19

2y ago36:19

36:19

Horrific acid reflux is keeping Natasha up at night. None of the remedies recommended by her doctors make a difference, except for handy dandy marijuana. Radiology detects spots on her liver and thyroid and calls her in for an emergency MRI. The oncologist explains that if the liver lesions are looked at and she actually has stage four, her chemo t…

1
Day 1: Chemotherapy and Cold Caps [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 35:07

2y ago35:07

35:07

On the eve of her first chemotherapy infusion, Natasha hauls a pile of new prescriptions home and questions why so much harm must be done to be “healthy” again. After meeting her oncologist Dr. Chen, a specialist in HER-2 positive breast cancer, the clinical trial that originally sounded promising turned out not to be a good fit, leading to a much …

1
Day 0, Part 2: The Pathologist Never Calls With Good News [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 40:26

2y ago40:26

40:26

As a nurse, it was easy for Natasha to think of all the things the almond-sized lump in her armpit could be other than cancer, so she moved along with her busy life. When she realized it was not going away, her doctor sent her for a mammogram. It took six weeks to get there and then her busy schedule delayed it again. The mammogram saw nothing in e…

1
Day 0: I Found My Own Tumor and Ignored It [Natasha Curry, RN, NP] 24:51

2y ago24:51

24:51

While leading a Doctors Without Borders mission in Malawi, Natasha’s husband of 25 years blindsided her by ending their marriage in a text message. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lu…

1
Day 549: If This Is What Kills Me, At Least I Lived a Good Life [Kristen Vengler] 26:39

2+ y ago26:39

26:39

Persistent foot pain caused by chemo forces Kristen to spend hours each day on physical therapy, taping, and stretching her feet at home. Wowing her friends with her ingenuity, she reveals that flesh-colored socks with the toes cut out are the trick to wearing flip flops to a wedding. A few weeks before her final reconstructive surgery in a moment …

1
Judy Fitzgerald - A Warrior in Pink: The Christy Adams Show 26:26

2+ y ago26:26

26:26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NYJOXgZOBs&t=1047s Support the showBy Judy Fitzgerald

1
Breast Cancer Prevention News: Special Guest: Ann Fonfa: The Dangers of Processed Foods. 1:14:17

2+ y ago1:14:17

1:14:17

Breast Cancer Prevention News. Ann Fonfa founder of the AnnieAppleseedProject speaks on the dangers of processed foods to wellness especially for cancer patients. "From its inception, the Annie Appleseed Project decided to Challenge the Existing treatment paradigm, to Question the existing research methods and subjects, and to Propose new direction…

1
Day 526: The Last Night Before The Last Surgery [Kristen Vengler] 27:14

2+ y ago27:14

27:14

On the eve of the final reconstructive surgery, which coincides with the 1-year anniversary of her mastectomy, Kristen reflects on how far she’s come and how many things are different from what she expected. Finally relenting to the damage in her feet, she applies for a handicapped placard and shares her relief over no longer having to schlep acros…

1
Day 463: Porn Star Sized Breast Implants Were Never On My Bucket List [Kristen Vengler] 18:38

2+ y ago18:38

18:38

Six weeks after the (evil) expanders are out and new 700cc “porn-star-sized” breast implants are in, Kristen shares what it feels like to be on the other side of the painfully long process of stretching her skin to make room for the permanent replacements. After falling into the bushes while climbing the path to her beloved apartment near the beach…

1
Two Nurses Turned Patients: Author Theresa Brown, RN & Natasha Curry, NP 37:53

2+ y ago37:53

37:53

As a nurse, you never truly understand the level of terror your patients are experiencing until you become one yourself. New York Times best-selling author Theresa Brown, RN, shares her breast cancer treatment journey along with details about her new book, “Healing.” Diagnosed with breast cancer in fall of 2017, Theresa underwent a lumpectomy and f…

1
Natasha’s Story: Nurse Becomes Patient [Season 2 Trailer] 6:13

2+ y ago6:13

6:13

Natasha Curry is not your everyday average nurse. As a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, she cares for the poorest and most vulnerable at what is often the most challenging time of their lives. Many patients are homeless and also struggling with substance abuse and mental illness, in addition to cancer and other …

1
The Importance of Breast Cancer Advocacy: Special Guest Ann Fonfa: Annie Appleseed Project. 1:00:09

2+ y ago1:00:09

1:00:09

The Importance of Breast Cancer Advocacy: Special Guest Ann Fonfa: Annie Appleseed Project. What are the challenges of Breast Cancer Advocacy? Why are breast cancer advocates so important? Tips for cancer survivors on how to follow a path to wellness! Ann Fonfa was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 1993. She was suffering from extreme Multipl…

1
Beating Lymphedema with Lymphatic Massage Expert Christine Galione, MSPT, CLT 39:59

2+ y ago39:59

39:59

When and if lymph nodes have to be removed in the course of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is a persistent aftereffect that must be treated and cared for following surgery, sometimes for many years. Special guest and lymphedema specialist Christine Galione, MSPT, CLT is a physical therapist and expert lymphatic massage practitioner at Scripps …

1
Things You Need for Radiation with Jen Delvaux 47:28

2+ y ago47:28

47:28

To help make radiation go a little better, Kristen teams up with guest Jen Delvaux to talk about their radiation experiences and share the little things that made them more comfortable. Most women head into radiation not knowing the process or what to expect. Intimidating machines, tattoos, buzzing noises, orders about how to move (or not move) are…

1
Interview with Ann Fonfa founder of the AnnieAppleseedProject 1:02:27

2+ y ago1:02:27

1:02:27

Ann Fonfa was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 1993. She was suffering from extreme Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a still not recognized illness. She avoided chemotherapy, hormonal and radiation treatments using surgery and natural strategies to survive. Told she was stage IV in 1997, Ann added personalized Chinese herbal prescriptions to h…

1
Day 422: The Weight is Off My Chest [Kristen Vengler] 22:23

2+ y ago22:23

22:23

It’s the day after Kristen’s surgery to replace her expanders with permanent breast implants, and she’s already feeling much better. For the last 33 weeks, Kristen lived with a constant 2-4 pain level from the uncomfortable and awkward expanders. Today her chest looks normal again, even if it will never feel the same. Kristen trusted her plastic su…

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