Breast Friends Cancer Support Radio

Join me as I welcome back Yvonne Nydigger to discuss all things Metastatic Breast Cancer. We will highlight the story of one of our Young Warriors, Pamela George, who was diagnosed metastatic at age 23. She describes herself as thriving and surviving and doing everything she can to kick cancer's ass every day! We will talk stats, #stageIVneedsmore and what we can do to help those we love who are fighting this horrible disease.

Author and woman impacted by cancer, N.M. Charles discussed her book: “Mamas Afro is a Soldier Too – A Mom's Cancer Diagnosis Explained.” The inner strength, drive, and determination of Mamas dealing with cancer are often unseen. That tenacity is much like a soldier going into battle. The Afro Soldier represents that drive. At the same time, it gives young children a visual understanding that Mama is going through a challenging period, but with the assistance of a fierce little warrior that is always by her side. N.M could not find a book to help her children while going through cancer treatment that represented her family, so she wrote one! Join us to learn more about it!

Kristy Tervo, PT, CLT-LANA from Compass Oncology, will walk us through an informative hour all about lymphedema. What is lymphedema? What are the sign sand symptoms? What is a compression garment and what does it do? What is manual lymph drainage? And so much more!

Meet Carrie Madrid, a true rock star who chose to go through treatment with the mantra of “laughter and lip gloss!” She took her own cancer diagnosis and turned it into an organization to help others with support and financial resources, has co-authored a book called “Handle with Care” and hosts a podcast “Handle with CARE: Cancer & Beyond.”

Kelly Grosklags is here to discuss Dying Is Not Giving Up,” an award-winning documentary changing how we have difficult conversations in patient care. In this 35-minute film, a woman shares her experience from her terminal diagnosis to her final days, revealing simple and impactful opportunities for providers to add compassion and empathy to their practice. This poignant documentary features the story of Judy Erdahl, a 57-year old woman dying of breast cancer. Erdahl recounts her experience from diagnosis to her final days, sharing her insights with her end of life therapist Kelly Grosklags. Along with information from her friends, family and oncologist Dr. Paul Zander, we are challenged to rethink our approach to this critical conversation and patient care thereafter.

Life has changed so much since early 2020 when we entered into a global pandemic. How do we handle the emotions of this and ease back into normal life when it is over? Dr. Shani Fox is here to discuss the challenges we have faced, especially those relating to cancer patients; the loss of physical and emotional connection, uncertainty of moving forward and the lessons we have learned. She will address the anxiety and possible dread for going back out in the world and the fear which accompanies it.

Yvonne Nydigger joins to talk about life after cancer, breast or any kind. How does life go on when your body and your mind are forever changed? This 3 part series will lead us in ways to dip our toes back in the water of every day life, setting goals and making plans for your best future without letting the past rule your life. Part 3 of a 3 part series.

Yvonne Nydigger joins to talk about life after cancer, breast or any kind. How does life go on when your body and your mind are forever changed? This 3 part series will lead us in ways to dip our toes back in the water of every day life, setting goals and making plans for your best future without letting the past rule your life. Part 2 of a 3 part series.

Yvonne Nydigger joins to talk about life after cancer, breast or any kind. How does life go on when your body and your mind are forever changed? This 3 part series will lead us in ways to dip our toes back in the water of every day life, setting goals and making plans for your best future without letting the past rule your life. Part 1 of a 3 part series.

Join Michelle and Sex Educator Gretchen Leigh as they discuss what happens to many women's bodies after cancer treatment. How it can affect intimacy and sex on an emotional and physical level due to many things, lack of hormones, changes in our selves and body image. Then they will discuss how to move forward and light that spark again!

Join Holistic Specialist Krista Zweers of Nurish.Revive.Thrive Holistic Nutrition and Health, as she answers all of the confusing question about medical cannabis. What is it? How does it work with our bodies? What about all of those different letters, THC, CBD, CNB - what do they mean. What the heck are cannabinoids and terpenes? How do we get the best types for our conditions? Krista will give us the lowdown on all of it!

Join Michelle Beck as she highlights other Warrior Women along their cancer journeys. Michelle Caplan joins as a live guest and then Michelle reads the stories of 3 other amazing women as they became Warriors. If you want to be a guest on the show or let Michelle read YOUR Warrior Story, email her at michellebeck@breastfriends.org.

Join Michelle Beck with her husband, Nate, and sister, Cassandra, as they discuss how they handled the two diagnosis of Michelle with breast cancer in 2012 and 2017. A diagnosis of cancer affects everyone in the household and family, not just the patient. What techniques did they use to get through this difficult process while at the same time supporting Michelle?

Join Jill Anderson as she shares her expertise as a Trauma Recovery Coach. She talks about all of the emotions that go with trauma, what IS trauma, the difference between trauma with a capital T and a little t, the types of trauma and how to deal with specific situations such as the death of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis. She will talk about focusing on the present and the future rather than revisiting past events and how trauma-informed coaching starts from the point of acceptance that a trauma occurred and focuses on healing and learning how to move forward.

While Erica and her partner went through infertility for years, then finally decided to try IVF, only to learn she had stage II, triple negative breast cancer at age 35. This journey took Erica many places and let her meet some amazing people. She started a non-profit to give hope of saving hair during chemotherapy, and now finally they became parents of a newborn son.

Allison Schickel, CEO and Founder of Brobe Intl. discusses her revolutionary product that is helping women diagnosed with breast cancer recover more easily, comfortably and beautifully. The Brobe was designed and created for women undergoing a mastectomy, breast reconstruction surgery, breast augmentation and more. It is a unique bra and robe combination that has pockets for post-op fluid drains, a detachable bra with front velcro closures, bra pockets for ice packs or prosthetic breasts and other features to help make life easier for breast cancer survivors and fighters.

Join us as the ladies from the Cancer for Breakfast podcast are here. Amy Dials and Stef LeJeunesse started a cancer podcast that doesn't take itself too seriously. While tackling the most serious of serious subjects, living life with—and after—cancer, Amy and Stef share letters from fellow cancer babes, highlight promising Recent Advances in Treatments and Science (R.A.T.S.!) and discuss their own darkest fears and relatable realizations as they navigate two very different breast cancer experiences. Follow them on Instagram @cancerforbreakfast.Listen to Cancer for Breakfast with Amy and Stef: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-for-breakfast/id1556379623

Please join us as we talk with Katelyn Burrell. Two months after her 2019 miscarriage she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Her world was flipped upside down as she reversed from family planning to survival mode. Now, Katelyn and her husband are seeking surrogacy to begin their family. Katelyn also dreams of having a non-profit to help other families seeking surrogacy, helping to eliminate the financial burden that comes along with it. Overcoming her own health issue has provided her the vulnerability that has allowed her to heal her heart while helping inspire others that they too can be living their dreams.

Myofascial release therapy (MFR) was developed by John F. Barnes, PT to specifically address the fascia, the connective tissue that runs like a three-dimensional web throughout the body. MFR involves applying gentle, sustained pressure into myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. Three main components, structural releases, unwinding, and rebounding combined with an awareness or energy to enable the patient to break through physical and emotional restrictions. By going slowly and waiting for the body's natural rhythm, the fascia responds to your therapist's skilled touch by elongating, rehydrating, and reorganizing. MFR opens space for fluid and energy movement, facilitating greater circulation and communication—allowing the body to heal.

Maren Higbee joins us today to talk about how to manage a successful career while also being a caregiver to her husband during his battle with inoperable Lymphoma. Maren and a team of amazing volunteer creatives created a cancer a la Drunk Histories called Confessions of a Caregiver which you can find on Youtube. Her hopes are that this series raises money to end cancer for good. Learn tips on how to care for your loved one during this time and understand the role of, and the impact on, the caregiver.

Join Yvonne Nydigger, 11 year cancer survivor, lover of all things plants with a certified green thumb, as she teaches us how to create a healing space in your garden and ways to feed our bodies and our spirits through nature. She will share the importance of indoor plants and which ones are “brown-thumb proof”. Finally, the positive effects of engaging all five of our senses while we explore the great outdoors through forest bathing.

Join Author and woman impacted by breast cancer, Stephanie Ewing, as she discusses her books and tells us how changing your habits will change your life! The Shower Habit will teach you how to: Start your day with confidence without getting up earlier. Boost your productivity in meeting your goals. Reduce stress and increase happiness by following this simple morning habit. Her latest book, The Sleep Habit talks about something critical for all of us and the issues many have. Do you have trouble falling asleep? Are your evening routines and bedroom optimized to get the best sleep? The Sleep Habit can help in just 3 days! If you are a serious skeptic, no worries. Your homework is to read this book and take the quiz. Then make ALL of the changes suggested. After that, re-read the book and follow every step. Your mind has to see the possibilities before you begin. This technique of giving yourself time to process the information will help with most habits that you want to start. Sleep is really important for health and being on top of your game. So read The Sleep Habit, and implement the steps because you deserve to feel great!

In this show we will be talking about Camp Kesem and what it does for families effected by cancer. Cole Jensen, the Outreach Coordinator for Camp Kesem at the University of Oregon, will be on to give us insight into Kesem, the programs they provide, and the effect the organization has on both students and families who are dealing with cancer. It will be a wide ranging conversation about all things to do with Kesem. Kesem is a nationwide student run organization that serves children whose parents have been affected by cancer. The flag ship program, Camp Kesem, is a week-long summer camp created to give kids relief and joy in the midst of their struggles with a parent’s cancer. The camp is full of games, songs, and allows kids to build community with other kids going through similar experiences. Though all kids who are at camp have parents who have or once had cancer, the main goal of camp is not to focus on the cancer, but instead focus on all the wonderful and happy things that can happen despite it. Camp Kesem is a place unlike any other and provides an experience for kids going through an unfairly difficult time that they could not find anywhere else.

This week, Sharon Henifin, Co-Founder of Breast Friends, joins us to share stories of Becky Olson, who lost her battle with metastatic breast cancer on April 24, 2021. She will tell us the how and why they started Breast Friends together in 2000. Sharon, a certified Life Coach will then walk us through how to handle the stages of grief. Allison Hancock, Executive Director of Breast Friends, will join us and talk about how to honor Becky's legacy and move forward.

When a person is struck with a serious illness or other trauma, it is easy to fall into a pit of sadness and just watch life move around you. We can become isolated and fearful. Dr. Fox will share with us the concept of staying in the light, and why it is so important mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She helped Becky Olson, the co-host of this show with those very words, and now is here to to share it all with you.

Amy Hartl is a Breast Cancer Recovery Educator, oncology massage and lymphatic drainage therapist, and a woman impacted by breast cancer. We will discuss how you can reclaim your self-reliance and self-confidence by learning to play an active role in your breast cancer recovery and survivorship experience with a focus on reducing your risk of lymphedema.

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can be challenging enough. Add in a global pandemic and now what? We will discuss what has happened to cancer patients in this time of isolation and change. Tips and tools for moving forward will also be provided!

There are a lot of diets out there and many people try out new diets in a new year. On this show, Karen Davis, Certified Nutrition Specialist® will join us and talk about the current popular diets and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Lauren Huffmaster's work in the cancer community, combined with her personal cancer experience, enables her to articulate the emotional impact of cancer. Lauren discusses how she has developed solutions to minimize isolation, fear and shifting identities through her foundation.

Stress is the power YOU give to outside circumstance to define what you believe you are capable of handling successfully. Take it back Learn quick grab and go tips to help you stress less and live more from our guest, Lauren Miller, Googles no 1 stress relief expert.

Michelle Beck, the new co-host of Breast Cancer Support Radio is going to tell a little more about herself and read some of her blog posts so you can get to know her, learn why she is here and how she has handled her cancer journey. The good times, hard moments and funny stories!

Yvonne Nydigger will discuss how she has handled difficult transitions in life, especially those after breast cancer. Transitions are a part of life. It is the grace with which you handle them that truly matters. It was the transitions in life from breast cancer that truly made her look at her life and take a turn into different directions for the better.

Finding JOY in daily living is a choice and something we should all strive for. For those battling cancer, it can be very challenging. Our guest today is a two time survivor who made that choice to take her journey and turn it into something positive, something that brings her JOY. At Breast Friends, we call this the Twinkle. It's that thing that makes you light up when you talk about it. Working with us, Michelle found her twinkle, Listen in today as she shares her story and shares how you can find that special place in your life that brings out the best in you. (This episode is in honor of Kristen Janes, who introduced to us the concept of the Twinkle. We thank her and have been teaching her concept ever since.)

Dr. Larkey will share evidence from the latest research on the lifestyle behaviors one can adopt that reduce risk for cancer as well as reduce risk for recurrence. She will discuss her research about strategies for rebuilding wellness in the wake of a cancer diagnosis and she will share information on a study that is currently open for breast cancer survivors, aged 45-75, that provides free classes, further testing these strategies.

Today we finish a 2 part series called: How to Make Fearless Food Decisions, Conquer Cravings and Eat Foods You Love Without Stress and Guilt. Cathy Leman has been a guest on my show many times. She is a dietitian, nutrition therapist, and certified personal trainer. You can follow her on Instagram at @hormone.breastcancer.dietitian.

Today we start a new 2 part series called: How to Make Fearless Food Decisions, Conquer Cravings and Eat Foods You Love Without Stress and Guilt. Cathy Leman has been a guest on my show many times. She is a dietitian, nutrition therapist, and certified personal trainer. You can follow her on Instagram at @hormone.breastcancer.dietitian.

Our guest today is Rev. Debbie Taylor. Debbie will share powerful stories, research and applications about how unique strategies provide healing and hope in working with illness, cancer, or other terminal diagnoses. The areas she’ll discuss include: rut-thinking in relationship to intention, signs & wonders, optimizing humor, trusting cellular intelligence, and invoking the powerful color of blue.

In this episode, we talk with Dara Kurtz, creator of Crazy Perfect Life and author of I am My Mother’s Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love and Crush Cancer about navigating a cancer diagnosis, what she learned from her experience, and how cancer changed her life. We also hear her remarkable story of finding a bag of letters written to her twenty years after her mom passed away, and how reading these letters helped her feel closer to her mom. Dara is open and honest about her experiences and shares her story in hopes of helping other people who are dealing with their own challenges. Dara understands life can feel hard, has been through her own challenges, and does her best to make the most of each day of her life

We all experience times of transition in our lives. Some are chosen and some are thrust upon us. It can be from a cancer diagnosis, or simply watching our kids grow up and move out. Sometimes divorce, or loss of a loved one will lead to huge transitions. Or choosing to retire can leave us feeling empty. Some transitions we see as positive but sometimes they feel negative. Often referred to as the new norm, we find ourselves struggling with change rather than accepting it for what it is, a new direction. Join show hosts, Becky Olson and Sharon Henifin, in a lively conversation about how to put a positive light on all of it. You will no doubt be inspired as you look at your own new direction.

One thing many cancer patients experience is weight GAIN during treatment. Many of us hope that weight loss might be the silver lining, but it often isn't. We will talk the impact of emotional eating on breast cancer survivor's physical and mental health. Join our repeat guest, Cathy Leman, as we finish up with this necessary topic.

Learn how exercise can help you, not only during cancer treatment, but as a lifestyle. You will learn how exercise can help in many areas of your life, including improve balance, keep muscles from wasting due to inactivity, decrease joint aches, lower the risk of heart disease, lessen the risk of osteoporosis, and much, much more. As we start the new year, especially during these times of Covid, this is your chance to change your life and take control of your health. Join our guests, the co-founders of 2Unstoppable, Michelle Stravitz and Ilana Gamerman as we talk about this fantastic topic at this critical time.

When cancer strikes at the heart of the family, the partner is often the first line of defense. When the host of this show, Becky Olson, was first diagnosed in 1996, her husband, Bill Olson, was there for her. He was there for her through the next 4 battles including her current battle with metastatic disease. Learn tips on how to care for your loved one during this time and understand the role of, and the impact on, the care giver.

Becky Olson, co-founder of Breast Friends, inspirational speaker and author of The Hat that Saved my Life, is in the middle of her 5th breast cancer battle since 1996. This time, her fight is with metastatic breast cancer. She is currently enrolled in a medical trial that includes Immune therapy. Hear her story and how she used three things that have gotten her through each battle.

How patients handle a cancer diagnosis has changed greatly during 2020. How Breast Friends has offered help to patients during Covid has changed as well. Join us with our Executive Director, Allison Hancock, as we discuss what has changed, including additional metastatic services, and what we are doing now, and how we all can be of assistance to those battling this terrible disease.

One thing many cancer patients experience is weight GAIN during treatment. Many of us hope that weight loss might be the silver lining, but it often isn't. We will talk about the cause of emotional eating, who is most likely to struggle with and how we overcome it. Join our repeat guest, Cathy Leman, as we finish up with this necessary topic.

Can we benefit from the use of CBD during cancer treatment, and specifically while using chemotherapy? Join our guest, Ed Chaney of Cannafyl, as we discuss the most common questions around CBD, how to tell the difference in quality, and learn how to discuss this with your doctor.

Holidays are stressful. Add in, a young family, COVID19, and a cancer diagnosis, and it can seem unmanageable. Tune in this week and hear Elizabeth Olson McGarry, the daughter of our host, Becky Olson, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, as she talks about how they have changed the holiday traditions to accommodate the needs of her young family, while finding ways to keep the holidays special.

You just received the news that changes your life forever. It doesn’t matter if it came unexpectedly or you intuitively knew…hearing a life-altering diagnosis or experiencing a death can shatter our foundation. When faced with a potentially devastating situation involving your health or loss, it’s crucial to have a place to turn while navigating disbelief, fear, confusion, anger, sadness, worry, and grief. Listen in as we have Conversations with Kelly ®

One thing many cancer patients experience is weight GAIN during treatment. Many of us hope that weight loss might be the silver lining, but it often isn't. We will talk about the cause of emotional eating, who is most likely to struggle with and how we overcome it. Join our repeat guest, Cathy Leman, as we discuss this necessary topic.

Our host, Becky Olson, will be continuing part 6 of her journey through her book, The Hat that Saved my Life, (in its second printing) along with conversation about the book with her husband Bill Olson. The book can be purchased through Becky's website at www.beckyolson.com, or digitally via Kindle or audiobooks. 25% of all sales will be donated to Breast Friends. Becky has been battling breast cancer since 1996. She has fought this five times, including her most recent battle of metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread from her breasts to her liver, lungs and bones. Bill has been there for her through all of her battles, and is prominently featured throughout her book.

One key way to stay connected in this world is through volunteerism, especially during this time of Covid19. Our guest today, Dianna Bancke, is a long standing volunteer and member of our staff at Breast Friends. She will share her journey with us in her various roles and introduce us to the concept of Me Re-Treats.