Cancer for Breakfast

Ring ring! It's Stef on line 2. Treatment line, that is. Sorry to leave you on hold, but we're finally picking this thing back up. Speaking of being backed up, you may wish we'd stayed gone when Stef explains what happens when your digestive system clocks out early. Someone get this massage hating woman a massage already. Lately Amy's been trying to side-step some side-effects, but “Not on my watch!” says…well her watch. And it's been a minute since we complained about hormones—or Trump Supporters—but those topics are evergreen in our book. We've missed you, too. Throw some MSG on it and get dialed in—this episode is ready! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ding dong, The Juice is (still) dead! Of cancer! But speaking of juice: how do steroids work? Afterschool specials didn't prepare us for this. A letter asks how to find a cancer bestie when you're a queer 40-something cancer person. Have we mentioned lately that we have a Facebook group? If you need a pal, we have some excellent candidates. Is an over sharing Cancer Kathy justified in feeling so burned from her radiation techs? See you tomorrow…or next Tuesday, maybe? In still more letters, let's talk partner probs. Lesbianism makes its second appearance in this episode, and this time it's a suggestion. Damn it, dental probs are contributing to colon cancer! Is Amy in a strange water-pick cult? Not again!Here's the article on plaque and colon cancer: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07182-wand an overview of flossing vs waterpik just for fun: https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/waterpik-vs-flossing#flossingWe looked into the steroid thing: https://www.goodrx.com/classes/anabolic-steroids/roid-rage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scans abound in Cancerland. What's up with Stef? (Is a question many ask unrelated to cancer, but this time it's relevant!) Then, is Diet Coke the new menthol cigarette? Let's ask Amy's nurse. That blasted jerk Glioblastoma has a new foe, as does melanoma. How do we know? Three little birds told us! In Letters, a listener asks what's up with Olivia Munn's confusing cancer characterization. Can Luminal B stand on its own when you're dealing with the big C? You know what else is confusing? Colon cancer screenings. Why doesn't someone make it easier? Guess what?? Someone did. Glioblastoma news:https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2024/06/06/new-glioblastoma-treatment-reaches-human-brain-tumor-and-helps-immune-cells-recognize-cancer-cells/ (https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2024/06/06/new-glioblastoma-treatment-reaches-human-brain-tumor-and-helps-immune-cells-recognize-cancer-cells/)Melanoma news: https://www.moffitt.org/endeavor/archive/new-breakthrough-therapy-for-metastatic-melanoma-receives-fda-approval/ (https://www.moffitt.org/endeavor/archive/new-breakthrough-therapy-for-metastatic-melanoma-receives-fda-approval/)Breaking down the molecular subtypes of breast cancer so Olivia Munn doesn't have to: https://www.breastcancer.org/types/molecular-subtypes (https://www.breastcancer.org/types/molecular-subtypes)Colon cancer screening: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna143066 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna143066)Bob Marley's melanoma story: https://www.skincancer.org/blog/bob-marley-should-not-have-died-from-melanoma/ (https://www.skincancer.org/blog/bob-marley-should-not-have-died-from-melanoma/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Extra! Extra! Stef's coming out of the Emetophobia closet—just as Amy's out of the bathroom holding the dreaded bowl. In even more disgusting news, we're telling you about the Portland pathologist whose benign results are anything but. Grab your barf bags for this news report. (Note: the count is now up to 12 patients.) Then, Letters hurls us into the guilt, recurrence fear, and uncertainty of survivorship. One thing is certain, though: RATS have infested Amy's (other) ducts and the only thing stinkier? Getting a second cancer when you're trying to outsmart your first. Take a ride with us, but buckle up. Is CAR T cell therapy safe enough? About the Providence pathologist: https://www.kptv.com/2024/02/29/providence-patients-plan-sue-over-lab-errors/?outputType=ampCAR T cell therapy black box warning: https://www.onclive.com/view/fda-requests-class-wide-boxed-warning-for-car-t-cell-agents-regarding-secondary-t-cell-malignancy-riskCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse and produced by Nathan McGehee. Theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alert! Alert! This is NOT a test of the emergency cancer broadcast system. Tumour has it that the worst club with the best members has a new recruit from across the pond and we're having a chin wag about it. The gals share differing opinions on keeping an illness under royal wraps, but we can all agree that nobody's hiring Kate's PR team. What do other cancer commoners think about all this? Well, we'll tell you. From triggered to intrigued, our listeners' responses run the gamut. And what's the Olivia Munn of it all? We stan a queen who uses her platform to educate. So pull up a tuffet, grab a crumpet, and stay out of the comments sections, babes. Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, you can do that RIGHT HERE! Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastpodEmail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for another Second Opinion! This one features friend of the podcast Flora, a metastatic PNET patient with an unexpected new living situation. First, hear the real deal about PNETs (Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor). She'll tell us just how this wacky cancer functions, where you've heard of it, and why it's an insidious foe. Then, put the mirrors on the ceiling and pop some pink champagne on ice! Flora generously tells us how surprising it is when hospice is (literally AND figuratively) just what the doctor ordered. What is happening to Flora is sad, for sure, but this is not a sad episode; it's a closer look at the human condition, spirituality as medicine, and a chapter of life we will—ready or not—all face. With her humor and wisdom, she's a sage for the ages. May we introduce you to a chaos goblin better known as Flora (and sometimes Fler)? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's the (sacred) dirt! Stef's got a scan update, and it's hard to node what to think! Is it cancer—or just a socially starved coworker? The trials and tribulations never end! Amy's had a (don't worry) breast biopsy (it's not what it sounds like) and boy is this room dimly lit. Perhaps she needs an EMBER to light things up. In RATS, cancer cells in space grow at the figurative speed of light. Hey, some of us go to the moon to study cancer, and some of us just get cancer and go on NPR— guess which ones we are? The NPR ones! Check out Stef and Amy on OPB's Think Out Loud, and then hear us appear again during their end of the year Best of 2023 episode! It was an honor just to be nominated! We'd like to thank our producer Nathan, and YOU for rating us! LA Times on the Chimayo dirt: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-04-13/they-come-to-this-new-mexico-shrine-in-search-of-miracles-and-some-holy-dirtCancer cells in space from the International Space Station: https://www.issnationallab.org/iss-national-lab-cancer-moonshot-initiative/Listen to us on Think Out Loud! https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/30/cancer-for-breakfast-stefanie-lejeunesse-amy-dials/?outputType=ampAnd stream the great round-up of producer faves: https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/21/best-stories-of-2023/?outputType=amp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Close Your BonesIn the final chapter of our ongoing financial roller coaster, a hero arrives—in a white coat, not a cape. It's a bird, it's a plane…actually, is that Air Force One?! Then, a letter from a rectal cancer survivor whose fertility didn't make it. How do we honor that grief and explore closure (literally)? Stef outs herself as a full moon hippie (we knew it, didn't we, listeners?) and Amy's biting on others' cultural rituals? Amy! We've talked about this! Then, a *deeply* touchy topic with major science potential: harvesting hard-to-get tumors. The gals spitball how to help a study find its subjects. It's body talk that no one knows how to broach. Ahem, yes we said BODIES (fair warning). And in RATS, a travel grant took Stef to the Lobular Breast Cancer Symposium and she's back to tell the tale. What happens when you see yourself as a data point on a screen? In this case? It's thrilling! This episode is dedicated to Rach. The full booklet of abstracts from the ILC Symposium is available for free here: http://ilcsymposium.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ILC2023_AbstractBooklet_v2.6_comp.pdfAnd the posters presented are available to download (PDFs) here: http://ilcsymposium.com/ilc-2023-posters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Downward Spiral The cycle continues! Spin™️ Teachers — They're Just Like Us! and Amy's wheels are spinning. Stef's got a twinge of doubt about how her upcoming scan will pan out, but two things are for sure: bills are high and morale is low going into this one. The gals remember a few fallen friends whose losses are looming large. Luckily, a letter writer brings us her ritual to combat scanxiety, along with a few examples of what not to say. RATS discusses new findings about cancer in 9/11 first responders. Now shake your lime green salt shaker over to Apple and leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryze and shine, it's ya gals and we're talking scans, soccer, and sucralose. Maybe it's a rant, but for real: when food is sneaky about taste or ingredients, it just makes us mad. Stef's heading off to the Lobular Breast Cancer Symposium as a patient advocate. Will she see Dr. Otto Metzger and offer him a jar of her famous canned pears? Can he call Fred Hutch about her medical debt? Only time will tell. We're throwing caution to the wind, splashing out and taking the Breast Cancer Caravan to the OL Reign soccer experience, so join us for the 10/1 game! In letters, a listener turns us on to yet another mushroom opportunity. Then, RATS scampers in with a good news/bad news situation. The bad news is that cancer for young people is on the rise. The good news? We're looping in an expert about it.Marusic's starred Booklist review is here: https://www.booklistonline.com/A-New-War-on-Cancer-The-Unlikely-Heroes-Revolutionizing-Prevention-/pid=9777372JAMA's report on the rise in cancer rates among those under 50: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808381And Healthline's take on it: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-rates-increasing-people-under-50#How-to-combat-rising-rates-of-GI-cancersCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee. You can listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and almost all other major platforms. Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastpodEmail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

What's the recommended jail time for therapists who unexpectedly quit on their patients? Asking for Stef, who is in the dumps about being dumped. We hear from listeners about their therapy experiences good and bad (and we mean bad….). Is cancer the answer? Obviously not, but maybe slime is. Speaking of bad experiences, having cancer while fat might just take the cake. In letters, we get an update from Mama Mia's daughter who Adi-poses the question: will Stef cover the protective quality of a little fluff around our organs in a future RATS? Ciao bella! You know it's a si! Not so bella? Media that misrepresents a cancer diagnosis! RATS tell the tale of PNET, a neuroendocrine cancer very different than the pancreatic cancer we know and hate. Celebrities, they're just like us? You decide. https://people.com/health/maria-menounos-reveals-she-survived-pancreatic-cancer-with-a-baby-on-the-way/https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/patient/pnet-treatment-pdqhttps://pancan.org/news/maria-menounos-reveals-pnet-diagnosis-talks-importance-of-early-detection/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastpodEmail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Are you kitting? Stef is off to the YMCA with her locker full of accoutrements, and Amy's off the sauce and full of fast ideas. Letters ask why cancer muggles are always lionizing squeaky clean marathon runners, and we ask back: why are centenarians celebrated for their daily dram of whiskey or pack of smokes while carcinomies are assumed to be sinning lushes?  Finally, our pests remain uncontrolled (sorry Brandon), and they're pumped about Dr Hadiya Nicole Green. Can boiling hot nanoparticles kill solid tumors in humans? Seems like it, but we smell a rat (and that rat is institutional racism). Dr Green's foundation: https://oralee.org/drgreen/The NIH covers Dr Green: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/9138/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux.Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastpodor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

It's a-me, Mario… wait no. It's just us, Stef and Amy. While recovering from surgery—Stef's on a side quest! Her new video game pastime is helping her heal in more ways than one. Another character (Amy) shares listener letters that cover everything from a Molly Shannon cancer flick review to more of that relatable scanxiety. Then, a diagnosing doc's perplexing recommendation to a listener's Italian mama has us hauling out our soapboxes once again. Mamma Mia, indeed! RATS sets aside the deep dive today and instead offers a shallow swim… it's a lighter sprinkling of news and headlines, including a treatment that makes sure cancer kids go into adulthood with full hearts.Our pal Rudy's podcast is here; check it out! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/random-redux-review/id1480112332Here's a list of games about grief from a really cool mental health-focused site (it doesn't list Cozy Grove, however, the game Stef's been playing): https://safeinourworld.org/news/15-games-about-death-and-grief/ and and article from the Guardian about this: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/apr/19/how-video-games-help-people-through-griefFrom RATS: Here's an article about Merck's plan to have a vaccine by 2030: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/04/10/moderna-hopes-to-offer-new-vaccines-for-cancer-heart-disease-by-2030.htmlHere's the NCI blog's piece about protecting heart health in cancer kids: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2023/childhood-cancer-dexrazoxane-protects-heart-doxorubicinHere's the CNN article about the melanoma vaccine (featuring a surprise appearance by Hugh Jackman!): https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/04/17/health/experimental-skin-cancer-vaccine/index.htmlAnd here's a press release from our old friends Systems Oncology about SERA2. Fingers crossed! https://systemsoncology.com/news/systems-oncology-to-present-positive-preclinical-data-for-sera2-at-j-p-morgan-41st-annual-healthcare-conference/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on *Instagram (*we made a new account!) @cancerforbreakfastpod or on Twitter @cancerbreakfastSubmit a letter via e-mail cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comAnd as always, thanks for listening! 

When fate (or 23 and Me) intervenes at the eleventh hour, do you open your heart to new experiences or continue searching for an AirBnB to pass away in? It's the premiere of Second Opinion: our conversations with the cancer people, experts and innovators that excite us. Up first: Holly Raines. A talented photographer, a cool mom, and a woman with end stage cervical cancer, Holly tells Stef about the stunning conversation that made her delay her choice to die with dignity in favor of living with integrity for a few more weeks. Second Opinion bonus episodes will drop right into the regular Cancer for Breakfast feed whenever we have one to share. If you'd like to nominate a guest, drop us a line at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com!Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Second Opinion theme music is by Vyvyvyr. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Want to connect on social media? Instagram @cancerforbreakfastpod Twitter @cancerbreakfastSubmit a letter via e-mail cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comAnd as always, thanks for listening! 

Stef's back from the YSC Summit and Amy has a giggle at the expense of Laughter Yoga. Fun in public really gets Stef's goat. Then, what's the deal with longevity? Perhaps the Seventh Day Adventists can spill the beans…or at least share them? Next, it's our *privilege* to read a letter from a listener that holds a mirror up to cancer spaces and asks why we're all so eager to get back to our old bodies—weren't they trying to kill us?? Here's the skinny; it's time for everyone to start reading the room. The body you're shaming might not (just) be your own. Another letter (that begins at 26:10 for those who need to peace out) breaks our hearts with a request for resources for a kiddo with a terminal brain tumor. Have we mentioned recently that a mere 4% of overall funding goes to childhood cancers? RATS continues the conversation on DIPG, a devastating disease of the brain. We've got books, podcasts, and websites to recommend, but what's really needed is research. Links are below to donate in Walter's memory. https://www.chadtough.orghttps://rallyfoundation.orghttps://curethekids.orgCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on *Instagram (*we made a new account!) @cancerforbreakfastpod or on Twitter @cancerbreakfastSubmit a letter via e-mail cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comAnd as always, thanks for listening! 

The cat's out of the bag and the co-host is in another state (we miss you, Amy!!), but we're making it work with some pals old and new. If you can believe it, we nabbed Thriver Writer, survivor and recent divorcée (keep reading; it's relevant) Meghan McCallum! Joining us too: producer, co-survivor and husband extraordinaire Nathan McGehee. The convo? Relationships of all flavors, with some live letters that brought the house down. How do you get your mojo back when the hormones aren't flowing like they used to? When do you disclose cancer status to a date? And oh yeah: "At leasters"? come here, we just wanna talk. A huge thank you to the brave readers that joined us on stage and the anons that let us share their words, too. RATS come scurrying out of the weed(s) to confront the cannabis problem. Sure, there are some studies, but without legalization and with all these taboos, how's a breastie supposed to get straight answers? We try to help clear the air. A HUGE HUGE mound of gratitude to Young Survival Coalition for having us, and to everyone who stayed to listen, talked to us after, and whom we met over the incredible summit weekend. We love you, YSC!!As promised, here is the link-o-rama! Meghan McCallum's writing can be found at https://www.thriverwriter.com and she's on the ‘gram too: https://instagram.com/thriverwriter?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=For kids of cancer grownups, Camp Kesem offers free summer camps nationwide: https://www.kesem.orgHealing Pines Respite offers free wellness retreats in & around North Carolina: https://www.healingpinesrespite.orgLittle Pink Houses of Hope provides no cost retreats to survivors, thrives, and their families. https://www.littlepink.orgFight Through Flights offers free wellness retreats and travel opportunities for Black survivors and thrivers https://www.fightthroughflights.orgFor The Breast of Us empowers women of color with breast cancer diagnoses! https://breastofus.comYSC's virtual meetups for LGBTQIA folks are so good! https://youngsurvival.org/ysc-private-facebook-group-for-lgbtq-survivors-and-thriversCANNABIS STUFF! The study on anti-tumor effects for ER+ breast cancer: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018723/ & the possible mechanism combined with endocrine disruption: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25177025Antitumor activity of plant cannabinoids with emphasis on the effect of cannabidiol on human breast carcinoma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16728591/http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/68/9_Supplement/Cannabidiol as a novel inhibitor of Id-1 gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18025276 & Full Text: http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.longModulation of the tumor microenvironment and inhibition of EGF/EGFR pathway; novel anti-tumor mechanisms of Cannabidiol in breast cancer https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387115/Modulation of breast cancer cell viability by a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, JWH-015(Synthetic THC), is calcium dependent https://www.dovepress.com/modulation-of-breast-cancer-cell-viability-by-a-cannabinoid-receptor-2-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-BCTTCannabis expert RN doing amazing work: http://www.nursekristin.com

We're on assignment, in the field, and coming to you LIVE…actually, RECORDED from the Young Survival Coalition Summit 2023! Charlotte, North Carolina aka The Queen City is swarming with breast cancer royalty! But wait just a ding dang minute: who's that on the mic? To livestream the episode we're recording at the summit, go HERE at 11am EST on Sunday Feb 19. https://summit.youngsurvival.org/schedule/Can't make it? No prob! The episode will show up in our feed soon! 

Knock Knock, who's there? Intrusive thoughts, and they're living rent free. Amy's brain won't let her break up with breast cancer no matter how many private yoga sessions or massages she has in one day. Time to sublet her space in Cancerland! In letters, the gals read a helpful note from a longtime pal of the podcast who wants to make sure we're giving religious listeners a fair shake. You can take the cancer out of the heathens, but you can't take the heathens out of cancer. A promising science writer gets a shout-out for her work on ovarian cancer…and Parkinson's! RATS offers bundles of POSITIVE news for early stage breasties who are dreaming of the pitter patter of little feet. Not rodents', babies!Join Cancer for Breakfast at the Young Survival Coalition Summit 2023! https://summit.youngsurvival.org/Learn more about the RATS in this episode here:  https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/breast-cancer-patients-who-interrupted-endocrine-therapy-to-pursue-pregnancy-did-not-experience-worse-short-term-recurrence-rates/Marisa Wexler's ovarian cancer writing is here: https://ovariancancernewstoday.com/author/marisa-wexler/page/2/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on *Instagram (*we're still hacked, but will hopefully be back in our account soon!) @cancerforbreakfast or on Twitter @cancerbreakfastSubmit a letter via e-mail cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

It's an update! We‘ve got episodes in the can and an explanation for our absence. Don't worry, everything's stable in cancer land! But Stef's sudden indigestion? There's an explanation for that, too. Young Survivors, assemble! The Summit is straight ahead, and we're strapping on our gear. 2023, you're a formidable opponent already. Meet us at the YSC Summit! https://summit.youngsurvival.org/

Call the paps! Today we've got a smear campaign and it's all about the CervicalCheck scandal. Our leading lady is whistleblower Vicky Phelan. A criminally incompetent lab in Texas and a negligent cover up that's costing lives? Salt in the wound, indeed. And speaking of cancer scams (our Favre-ite kind of gossip), is sodium the cure-all or just another one of Stefano's snake oils? Listener letters ask: why is real support so hard to find in a group? And is replacing a beloved care provider-turned-friend like finding a second needle in a haystack? RATS wonders if a low protein diet can help chemo's efficacy in treating colon cancer. Now that's some refreshing GATOR-aid.More on our Salty Stefano: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2014/03/stanislaw-burzynski-four-decades-of-an-unproven-cancer-cure/Make sense out of House Mice: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2022/10/18/stopping-the-spread-a-revolution-in-how-we-think-about-metastasis/RATS can be found  here and here.Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on *Instagram (*we're still hacked, but will hopefully be back in our account soon!) @cancerforbreakfastSubmit a letter via e-mail cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

It's baaaack…by popular demand! The very jewel of our franchise that drops but once a year, it's the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Escape from October! This time, we've escaped so thoroughly that it's practically December! Gather ‘round: it's time for one whole episode with no evidence of disease. This year we waste no time chilling you to the bone. Is that grandma giving you a jingle from the great beyond? Who is that judgmental presence refusing to let you play model trains in peace? Is that stranger flipping through the yellow pages a specter or something even more terrifying? Go fetch the rifle, Sue; the gentrifiers are building another haunted speakeasy, and those haints ain't down with vaping. Tsk tsk! This years' web of horror is dedicated to Charlotte. Thanks to friends and listeners Kerry, Kelsi, Beth(2), Erika, Leah and Amy's pal with the haunted Irish castle house for making this a spooktacular we won't soon forget! 

Fetch your earbuds! It's time for a new episode of the pupcast—woof, we mean PODcast. But really, our dogs are barkin' and for once that isn't a euphemism for med-induced foot pain. No, we're talking a beautiful Mitzvah, here! Then, Amy gets a wicked case of stage fright as she MyChart dives into some scan results that send her into a panic with nary a disco in sight, while Stef recaps her wedding to that same old guy and her scan with the same old results. Mazel tov! A listener letter has the gals shaking their heads (and fists) at a funeral-goer's tactless question. Then, a pimple-prone cancer honey needs solutions for the problems popping up since starting cancer treatment. RATS has good news for AML patients whose telomeres are just a little Too $hort. Oy vey!Here are the AML articles we used for this RATS: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/acute-myeloid-leukemia-survivor-shows-no-signs-of-cancer-after-clinical-trial.h00-159538167.htmlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5729630/Check us out on The Cancer Pod! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amy-stef-cancer-for-breakfast-cancerinsider/id1584013388?i=1000585608993Here is that site that lets you search trials and check for drug and food/supplement interactions: https://metastatictrialtalk.org/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  e-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Sometimes it's cancer, sometimes it's a bad burrito, y'all! Stef lives to tell the tale of her ascites scare. Turns out having a body is stressful…and expensive!  The gals talk medical debt and financial toxicity. When insurance still makes you pay thousands for necessary care, how do you stay afloat? Speaking of grifts…we mean GRAFTS…Amy took a trip to her fat grafting surgery and all she got was this lousy dysmorphia. Do her boobs look great now, or is she their Only Fan? Then, to really bring down the mood, we take a moment to remember some friends who passed this summer. It never gets easier. In letters, a creative listener rolls radiation into her honeymoon and dishes on an accident prone frenemy, and another deals with a tactless long-lost friend who probably should've stayed lost.  We've rounded up our RATS to talk about glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Is this common weed killer also a PEOPLE killer? Well…just listen. But yes. NPR's piece is here. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/09/1110370391/cost-cancer-treatment-medical-debtTo look back at some of our wonderful friends' lives and stories, here are their IG handles:@bowelbabe@theenlightenedarsehole@wonkyarm@baxlala@coffeedrinkinmamaThat glyphosate info is here:https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/health/us-glyphosate-cancer-study-scli-intl https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383574218300887https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668909001100Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Oh…my…god, Becky! Look at her…tumor? It's the dog days of summer and Amy is fostering an awkward mix up.  Never fear, she fetches her cancer card to pay the price. Letters brings us a manic pixie dream mom—make that MEAN mom—who's tactlessly longing for a listener's old hair. Then, a self sufficient carcinomie admits she is struggling. Does anyone have a spoon? RATS explores a rectal cancer study. (Yes, THAT one.) Then, we celebrate a special grad with a big ol' correction. Send us your letters for Under the Bus 2! That rectal cancer study: https://www.mskcc.org/news/rectal-cancer-disappears-after-experimental-use-immunotherapy?amp=https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2201445https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/05/health/rectal-cancer-checkpoint-inhibitor.htmlWhat is spoon theory? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/spoon-theory-chronic-illness/Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

 Listen, sometimes the summer just gets away from you and people start to be concerned that you've either quit your cancer podcast or died. If that's you, no judgment. Amy and Stef, however, would NEVER abandon their loyal listeners for two months to live their best parasol-twirling, innertubing, redwood hugging, concert-in-the-parking, WNBA gaming (go Storm!!) lives. Salad days, amirite? (Seriously, am I?) So…anyway…the gals are back with new scan results and some dirt to dish. Stef's kids are bunking at Camp Kesem (kesem.org), communing with nature and other children of cancer people. It's free! It's fantastic! We stan! Amy's prepping for fat grafting surgery, but rest assured, her boobs will always turn heads at Trader Joe's. Then, fertility feelings: we've (almost) all got ‘em. We'd love to hear from you, pals, but until then, consider: do our triggers need to take center stage? (….don't say “stage”!) Finally, we take on the ‘warrior' problem, for the honor of ONJ. Maybe some script-flipping is in order! In any case, it's all up…or down…hill from here! Birthday babe Jessica Boudreaux (Summer Cannibals) new album here. Empowered Mastectomy is here.RATS: The WCRF article is hereComparison of Cancer-Related Spending and Mortality Rates in the US the best vs 21 High-Income Countries” by Ryan D. Chow, Ph.D., Elizabeth H. Bradley, Ph.D. and Cary P. Gross, MD, 27 May 2022, JAMA Health Forum. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2792761https://scitechdaily.com/the-us-spends-200-billion-each-year-on-cancer-care-we-might-not-be-getting-our-moneys-worth/

Dad's mad and he's taking it out on…cancer patients? Well, what else is new? The ASCO conference, that's what! They didn't let us report from the red carpet, but you know it was our DESTINY to get the hot goss on the presentations that brought down the house. And that's a RATS. Then, what's a gal to do after cancer derails her well thought out plans? Picking up the pieces can leave some of us feeling a little lost. Maybe we could all benefit from a lesson in habit stacking? In letters, a listener wants to dump her fancy friend. Is bragging a fireable offense? And what to do with a mom prob? Just get your colonoscopies, already!! Wait, you forgot to rate us! We recorded this when the ASCO conference was still happening, but their website has since been updated! Check it out here: https://conferences.asco.org/am/attendJames Clear's website is here: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Inna gadda da vida, baby: Amy's got a sexy cold and a silly new anti-spiral technique, and Stef's nether region is superlative. That's to say the gals are in a good place right now, and we're calling it “on base.” Can we enjoy the break before having to run for our lives (or the car) again? Maybe every cloud really does have a silver lining. Then, it's the season of the con and the cancer community is not immune. From Hollywood hucksters to Facebook fakers, we like the stories but hate the morals. Ding dong—MyChart strikes again! A letter from a brain cancer person (go grey in May!) shares a tale as old as time—getting fobbed off by doctors—and a retreat from the US healthcare system. Another letter practically buzzes with hilarity, awkwardness, and good news about a listener's fertility preservation procedures. RATS are getting hot—boiling hot—and saying hi, F U cancer! We're talking high intensity focused ultrasound and boiling histotripsy for melting tumors away. To learn more about the RATS in this episode, visit:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0173867http://amos3.aapm.org/abstracts/pdf/166-57511-15711646-176302-1805743728.pdf (this is the UW one)And this cool vid about boiling histotripsy for prostate tumors: https://youtu.be/sjkrQoyqnwwHere's that wild Vanity Fair article! https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-truth-lies/ampCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Amy's got some gall! Gall bladder problems, that is…or does she? When Carmen SanDiego isn't available, we attempt to solve our own medical mysteries. Where have our once healthy and simple bodies gone? From channeling Maris to vibing with …her? Turns out we've made a huge mistake (by not getting into webinars sooner!!). Then, Stef just can't wait to die…we mean DYE. The gals talk art therapy, the art of talk therapy, and a sweet scarf gesture for a friend.  Listener letters want to know just what we have against body farming, anyway. Long time listener Rudy (thatcancerlife.com) says it's helpful and economical and ya know what? We agree. He wonders, too: is there a better way of saying “after cancer,” when you're admitted to Club NED? Also, a pair of Lymphomies have weathered ups and downs together all over the globe, but how do you deal when you're on the up and your cancer bestie is still in the sh*t? Survivor guilt is real, but so is real community. RATS has antioxidants on the agenda, with a new supplement called Mito-Q. It's promising and pricey, but there's always money in the banana stand.Here's our friend Lowry!For more info on MitoQ, check out these links:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33499262/https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/6/1516Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Red rover, red rover, send Stef's therapist on over... to the cancer-adjacent club no one wants to be in. When our care providers' loved ones get cancer, do they also get the keys to our kingdom…or is it an excuse to bail? Then: we've got dream fever, dream weavers. Prodromal, premonitions, or plain old nightmares—is this how our unaddressed ailments have tried to reveal themselves? And would you believe we have a Sister Act, too? We're Back in the Habit—of analyzing the complications of cancer-related family drama. Come for the sisterly love and her angel's advocate; stay for the on-air surprise during RATS. Whoopi! Speaking of angels: do Fido and Lassie hold the secret to oncology diagnostics? Only the dog's nose knows. Ruff, ruff! (Thank you, Liz!!)To read about the RATS (and see the cancer sniffing dog vid) in this episode, visit: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/dogs-are-teaching-machines-to-sniff-out-cancer-68469To learn more about prodromal dreams, visit: https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/can-a-dream-warn-you-about-cancerCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Sometimes you just want to take a break from life at the cancer clinic™️, but everything aligns to kill your vibe! What does Stef have to do to get a little cryoablation around here? Luckily, a nurse saves the day by sharing a picture of their crispy lady. Meanwhile, Amy has a very zen beer with a smooth headed spiritual stranger. F/M/K? FML! How messed up IS it that some of us actually…kinda…find comfort in getting treatment? A surprise reunion with the chemo chair has Amy looking back fondly on her old stoop. We say it's normal and talk about why. A listener letter from a real, live thanatologist has a hot tip on how to use cremains. We promise it's lit, light, and not at all creepy. RATS does a deep dive into treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. There's a promising new drug that Amy's mom is graciously testing out for us (just kidding—we love you, Margaret!). For more info on the RATS in this episode: https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/astrazeneca-calquence-cll-2/Susan's letter mentions these folks here.Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts,  you can do that RIGHT HERE!  Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comCatch us soon on Bad with Money with Gaby Dunn.

It's our birthday, and we'll cry (in our nightgowns) if we want to! Happy tears, that is, because today our podcast turns ONE! So grab a slice of cake and cuddle in, dear listeners. We're taking some time to acknowledge just how far we've come, AND offer big gratitude to the Cancer for Breakfast community; y'all put so much gas in our tank. As a present to our producer, we're giving him the day off—that's one day off a year, folks—and this entire episode is coming to you unedited, so pardon the coughs, the rambles and the spontaneous poultry drama. Really, no chickens were harmed in the recording of this podcast, but would it even BE Cancer for Breakfast if we didn't ruffle a few feathers? Then, the theme marches on with a RATS that'll have you mailing friendship bracelets to your cancer besties and support group leaders. Finally, a birthday present to us all? For the first time ever on the podcast, we air our entire theme song—by Vyvyvyr—in full, beautiful glory at the end of the show.And before you head to the mall to buy a bday gift for us, save your Kohl's cash. All we REALLY want is for you to leave us a review here. It makes all the difference.Read the RATS covered in this episode here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170813132716id_/http://www.isdbweb.org/documents/file/1154_10.pdfGet info about signing up for that Keytruda/Lynparza trial here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05156268+     +     +     +     +Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

 Amy's not letting medical trauma ruin her relationship with her ear nose and throat doctor. She has a method to banish the anxiety and intrusive thoughts that now appear at “normal” appointments. And on a related note, if a sinus surgery falls in the forest and it's not cancer, does it even really matter? Move over Ebert, Stef's been dipping toes in some death-themed TV shows and she's ready to share her reviews. Then, what's the deal with the health care money grab of concierge medicine and pay-to-play clinics? We once again are asking, who does it leave out? Two thumbs down. Next: if you're anything like Amy, you'll be blown away (with extra oxygen) when you learn whose dad was a pioneer of the Hyperbaric Chamber. In letters, one listener has a Dan addiction while another just can't get enough chrysanthemum. RATS lands on the Moonshot and the gals are aboard! Is Uncle Joe's big idea legit or just a pet project? In closing, send us your reputable fucodian sources! Right now! Cancer Moonshot info: https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiativeCancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts! 

Alternative Death: it's not just an underground music genre! We're talking death rites, honeys, so cover your mirrors!  Whether you've prepaid for a satin lined coffin or you're a green-curious pre-deceased, we've got hot tips on the right heat for human composting. Stef also has the score on death doulas, aquamation (not just for cadavers anymore!), and a dinner date to detail your death wishes. Pass the salt! Amy's ready to bring her “living graveyard” idea to market—maybe even in her own yard (is that legal? We'll let you know). In any case, there's no escaping the inevitable, so why not learn about options before you're one foot in the grave? There's no sugar coating this one, so if you're feeling death-shy, skip it, with our love. However, we promise this conversation is 0% sad and 100% interesting. Here are some of the things mentioned in the episode:Recompose (human composting)Green Burial CouncilDeath Over Dinner The Guardian on aquamation (and Desmond Tutu)Cancer for Breakfast is hosted by Amy Dials and Stefanie LeJeunesse, and is produced by Nathan McGehee.Our theme music is by Vyvyvyr. RATS theme song is by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Want to support the podcast? We're on BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. We appreciate it so much when you rate, review or subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Follow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastor Twitter @cancerbreakfaste-mail us at cancerforbreakfast@gmail.com

Caregivers: how are you holding up? This one goes out to you. With cancer people, it's nothing but me, me, me (at least on this podcast!), and we guess it's about time our spouses, family, and best friends got their due. But first, Amy is shocked to find out how much her post-chemo hair is worth, and Stef's getting a cancer tattoo for no reason at all. Does the milestone or the money mean more pressure? The gals revisit a part-time bodybuilder, full-time smart guy who's helping to develop ErSO, the MBC miracle drug that's spawned Facebook groups and conspiracy theories. Research fellows: we stalk their social media so you don't have to. Then, we finally hear from the beleaguered co-survivors who fetch our pills and fluff our pillows. As goat amputee-rescuer Kelly Clarkson said, “[our lives] would suck without you.” Here's the grief circle/ring theory we mentioned: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/promoting-hope-preventing-suicide/201705/ring-theory-helps-us-bring-comfort-in?ampYet another update on ErSO—since we recorded this episode, another paper was published! We're finding it hard to find a full linkable version but it's posted in the public Facebook Group ErSO Activism for Breast Cancer, under the files tab. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003821677141066/?ref=share UT's Care for the Caregiver program is here: https://utcaregivers.orgOur Facebook group for Caregivers is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447845883434998/?ref=shareFor more info about St Jude's hoard, listen to our Season 2, episode one: Back on Our Bullsh*t.Buy us a Coffee if you want! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyandstefRate, review, and/or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, won't you? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-for-breakfast/id1556379623Many thanks to our musicians,  Vyvyvyr (theme music), and Jessica Boudreau of Summer Cannibals (RATS theme song)! 

Merry Christmas and F*** Cancer to all who celebrate! Right off the bat, CW: there have been some huge losses in the MBC community and we address this early in the episode; feel free to skip ahead a bit if you need. Then, Amy's talkin' bout Pollyanne from Spokane and her psychic (or just practical?) friend. Speaking of friends, Muggles: they say the darndest things! (And the gals have the letters AND Facebook fights to prove it.) RATS wraps things up with the skinny on Fucoidan—is it too good to be true, or the gift we've been waiting for? Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all (except for you, Dan.) See you next year! Theme music by Vyvyvyr: https://vyvyvyr.bandcamp.com/releasesRATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux: http://jessicaboudreaux.bandcamp.com/Support us by snagging your own bottle of Claws Out's new F*** CANCER color! All of their polishes benefit a different rad cause. Buy us a coffee if you'd like, or support us on Patreon.  And as always, rating, reviewing, and subscribing are free ways to support Cancer for Breakfast.  Thanks!

May the airing of grievances commence, bitches! It's the second edition of Cancer for Bitchfest and our listeners didn't hold their tongues. From chemo's metal mouth to friends who siphon your trauma for likes, this episode is jam-packed with WTF moments. When the hurt goes further than skin deep and you need more than a moisturizer, how do you keep looking in the mirror? And when your treatment spares your hair, who will spare you the imposter syndrome? Then: all hail the patron saint of CfB—the cancer person who survived a bear attack (let us weep). Okay, Ashleys assemble! Are you tired of us dissing you? We're sorry! But speaking of tired: RATS talks fatigue. It's a plague on all our houses. Wow! Now that's what I call Music—I mean Bitchfest— Volume 2To learn more about cancer and fatigue, check out this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4664449/ and don't forget to listen to The Cancer Pod episode on fatigue! Theme music by Vyvyvyr: https://vyvyvyr.bandcamp.com/releasesRATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux: http://jessicaboudreaux.bandcamp.com/Until 12/31/21, we're sponsored in part by Myriad Genetics MyRisk. Learn more at https://myriad.com/survivor Support us by snagging your own bottle of Claws Out's new F*** CANCER color! All of their polishes benefit a different rad cause. Buy us a coffee if you'd like! And as always, rating, reviewing, and subscribing are free ways to support Cancer for Breakfast.  Thanks! 

What's that weird scratching noise nobody else can hear? It's FEAR OF RECURRENCE. Because for some people? That scratching actually IS a hook-handed murderer. This week, the gals are getting real about medical PTSD, random pains, and faking your way through celebratory shots with your muggle friends. If you're officially NED but still on a first name basis with the schedulers at your hospital, this episode is for you. Survivorship isn't always all it's cracked up to be—could it even be MORE stressful than treatment? For some cancer people, the answer is…kinda, yeah, in fact. Then, RATS breaks down the toll cancer takes on us long after we ring that bell. Sleeplessness, anxiety, stalled careers, oh my…A link to the article discussed in RATS, as well as a link to the other article discussed in RATS!RATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals.Send your Cancer for Bitchfest submissions to:  cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comOur website and socials are here:https://linktr.ee/CancerForBreakfast#cancerpodcast #cancer 

Like sands through the hourglass and neutrophils toward inflammation, the seasons come at you fast, and Amy and Stef are proud to announce…season TWO of Cancer for Breakfast! We've got support groups to promote, new partnerships, and as always, plenty of RATS. This week we ask: what's the dirt on St. Judas—pardon me—we mean St. Jude's! Well, Jennifer Aniston and her army of cancer researchers are sitting on literal billions while parents sleep in the pediatric parking lot. ProPublica may have done all the reporting, but we'll summarize it, and you'll never receive a bill. You know there's no good cause the gals won't side eye. (Santa Clause, gird your loins: you might be next.) Plus, ADHD symptoms after cancer? It's just that ol' chemobrain…or is it? Theme song by VyvyvyrRATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxBuy us a coffee, why don't ya? Learn more about this week's RATS: https://www.verywellhealth.com/adderall-and-other-stimulants-for-chemobrain-513883And https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093775413001644?via%3DihubGet yourself a bottle of F*** Cancer nail polish from Claws Out! Get started with Myriad Genetics MyRisk at Myriad.com/survivor

It's spooky season, so get your goosebumps ready as we drum up a fright. We all need a break from cancer's ominous ubiquity (especially during Pinktober) so we're offering you an escape. That's right—this episode has NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. Instead, the gals proudly present stories from behind the thinning veil: ghost tales extracted from friends and listeners. It's nothing but ghosts and goblins all episode, backed with tunes by Mr. Uncanny Valley himself, Corey J Brewer. You'll scream, you'll laugh, you'll remember to watch Halloweentown. Mwahahaha!   To listen to more of Corey J Brewer's music, visit his bandcamp! To donate to Metavivor, the only US organization devoted to funding metastatic breast cancer research, visit their website. 

Who would want to listen to a podcast about stage 4 cancer? …You? Oh, well, great. If you're newly diagnosed (and even if you're an old hat), this one's for you next levelers. Word up, babes: it's the metastatisode. Stef shares her collection of wisdom for the freshly  chronic/metastatic/stage 4/advanced cancer people. It means different things to different folks, but we all understand it as the ~*scary kind*~. We're in it for the long haul—with cancer and with you, from gofundme to freewill dot com. Listeners share some choice words for newbies, and we read a letter featuring an east coaster's stage 4 diagnosis story. The gals (of course) have their own real talk re: worst case scenarios, and we'll wash it all down with a cookie, not a coffin. But first: Patty cake, RATty cake, researchin'!  We're talking about cancer and it's Uter…ine? Sorry about that, everyone.  But for real, this one's about uterine cancer treatments.Visit Kat Arney, author of Rebel CellLearn more about the RATS in this episode: https://ascopost.com/issues/april-10-2021/lenvatinibpembrolizumab-improves-survival-in-advanced-endometrial-cancer/Please give generously to Metavivor! It's the only US organization devoted to funding metastatic breast cancer research. 

Pinktober is almost upon us, and…ya know, we don't care if you relax with a Mike's Hard Lemonade For The Cure™️, but you should know the truth about Susan G. Komen. First, though, join us for a quick bummer chat. We've all lost friends to this dumb disease. It's what makes cancer so scary, after all—for some of us, it's deadly. Are the unique connections we make with other cancer people worth it when you know their friendship might be a limited time offer? Obviously, we say yes. Then, it's back to Susan G. Regulators, mount up! Questionable partnerships, research funding that doesn't fund much, and pink ribbon lawsuits? We'd rather put our money toward ACTUALLY fighting breast cancer,  or at least helping breast cancer patients directly. Now that Komen & friends have made us all super “aware,” can we order a side of cancer cures? Or even some education and prevention plz?? Preferably with less sexism and commodification, and with some gender inclusion?? PROMISE ME! Then, RATS would like you to meet Enhertu, the rising star for HER2 posi babes. A reduced risk of progression might be your DESTINY. To read more about the RATS in this episode: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/enhertu-head-to-head-trial-meets-primary-endpoint.htmlFor Gayle Sulik's inteview, visit Vox: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/10/17/17989624/pinkwashing-breast-cancer-awareness-products-profitTo learn more about or donate to Michelle's Love: https://michelleslove.orgRATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxTheme music by VyvyvyrJoin our Facebook group! Support us with Buy Me A Coffee or by rating, reviewing, and subscribing on Apple Podcasts (this seriously helps!)Donate to METAVIVOR!

It's another recording studio rendezvous and the gals are calling this one a win. As we prep for a pinkwashed October, we have some updates on #screamingforscreening; meanwhile the ACS is too busy following Family Feud and the Kardashians' social media but like, hardly any cancer people? We call bullshit, and we've got the receipts…and the scripts. Then! It's still Virgo season, babes, and September is a big month for us. We're expanding on last episode by taking a closer look at milestones: Amy's birthday, Stef's birthday, cancerversaries, the first day of school. How has cancer rained on YOUR parade? We're counting the ways, and also? The ways Big C changes how we celebrate…for the better? But don't tell—we don't want to give her the satisfaction. A well-timed listener letter appears with (wedding) bells on; mazel tov, Katie! Speaking of shoutouts, kudos to some of our favorite cancer podcast cousins, like newbies The Cancer Pod and oldies-but-goodies Thanks Cancer, who inspired this week's RATS: an mRNA vaccine for melanoma? Don't mind if I do! And finally, hey hun! Have we got an ~*opportunity*~ for you. Listen to the end to be sure you don't miss out on this FREE offer. To learn more about the RATS in this episode visit  https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/medical-advances/560080-biontech-mrna-vaccine-for-skin-cancer-entersRATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxTheme music by VyvyvyrJoin our Facebook group! Support us with Buy Me A Coffee or by rating, reviewing, and subscribing on Apple Podcasts (this seriously helps!) 

Is Stef a bad mom? Spoiler: nope! But she IS sending her (masked) kids to school, and people are sending HER concerned emails. Can the muggles just let us live? NEXT!!! Next, is your Cancerversary a celebration of how far you've come, or a dreaded countdown clock? Stef's just crossing that one year mark this week and the emotions are mixed. We'll have more on milestones next week, but whether you lean in or lean out, it's a complicated time stamp.  The gals over-analyze a friend's attempt at sharing wisdom by asking: is it cool to use a dead cancer person's missed life experiences as a warning to others to “drink it up” while they're still here? Not on Amy's watch! And certainly not for your own cred. A listener pedals in and explains that her lung cancer is progressing, despite how she may look on the outside. In the next letter, a gal named *BLEEP* tells of her new job at *BLEEP.* We just want insider info (and to spearhead a lawsuit for her). RATS is ratical for bladder cancer detection, and all you need is pee. From your pee pee. Or Penis. Peeeeenisssss.RATS article: HereOur Patreon is here and you can Buy Me (us) a Coffee here. Listen, honey, our Instagram is here and if you're a cancer person, our Facebook group is Crying in My Nightgown.Tell your friends. Rate this podcast right now, ok? It really helps. 

Oh hi, are you new here?  WTF, huh? Well, you've come to the right place. This episode is for everyone, but early stagers to the front! From the dirt on diagnosis to the scoop on scanxiety, this episode covers a lot, and it goes out to you, newbies! Welcome to the wildest party in town. Let's talk! You're scared shitless, aren't ya? Mmhmm, we've been there. And so have our listeners! So put down your coat, scooch in, and let us braid your hair. While you still have it!! Lol, …oh honey, calm down! It's a joke. And you newly metastatic friends: an entire episode dedicated to you is coming, but we think you'll benefit from this episode, too. But first! The gals are jocks now, so we hope you're prepared to join us or hate us. Right now we can't even exercise for 10 minutes straight, but we can certainly TALK about doing it for 11 minutes +.  Move over Costco, Amy apparently stans Dick's Sporting Goods now, and Stef's neighbors are reporting her…for biking in public (is that sweaty woman ok…?). RATS is short but VERY sweet this week. Some mice and their 14 yr old bodybuilder friend are curing metastatic breast cancer! Come for the science, stay for the imposter syndrome. Great hustle, team! Read more about ErSO, the RATS in this episode!Support the podcast at BuyMeACoffee or rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Theme song by VyvyvyrRATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux 

Stef's been chanting mantras in a trailer park healing shack by the sea, should we call for help? Hold the phone—It's the cancer card episode! You get a cancer card, and YOU get a cancer card, and YOU get one! Listeners share the ways they've cashed in on their experience with the big C to enhance myriad situations; we've got cops, coffees, and upgrades galore. Also, Big Thief and Big Keef are back and STILL mixed up. Maybe they'll do a benefit show together? Then, a surprise letter is coming…from inside the house! Someone near and dear reminds fellow blood cancer people to get their covid antibody tests. Finally, HATS… we mean RATS has incredible news for glioblastomas. Magnets: how do they work?! To learn more about the oscillating magnet beer hat that's curing glioblastoma, check out this articleGet your own ACTUAL cancer card from Oh You're So Tough on Etsy RATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxTheme music by VyvyvyrJoin our Facebook group! Support us with Buy Me A Coffee or by rating, reviewing, and subscribing on Apple Podcasts (this seriously helps!) 

Amy's dosed herself… again! And this time she's using the ol' herb to cope with a new cancer scare. Spoiler alert: this sequel has a happy ending. Then, things get loosey goosey as the gals reminisce about times they've used (or abused) their Cancer Cards. Have you swiped yours? Spill the deets; we're on your side. Also! New business, who dis? Dial 1-800-GoFundMe-4u! While we have you on the line, send over your tips and tricks with the “bald” thing. In letters, it's sarcoma awareness month! Plus, an update from our favorite ex-Starbucks barista, and a love letter to Yolanda. RATS outta the bag: a new blood test might answer the age-old question: do I even HAVE cancer??To learn more about the RATS in this episode, visit  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923753420360580To read the Healthline article about @forthebreastofus and #WhenYouSeeUs, go here To read more from our Sarcomie, visit Wonky Arm BlogTo get your own cancer card, go to Oh You're So Tough

Lord, beer us strength and grant us patients—we mean patience—because some cancer people are really showing us up with their feats of strength! Even the angels are waving foam fingers in support of our home team's heavy hitter. Meanwhile, the gals are drinking for a good cause! We're talkin bout that mighty fine (and hard to find) F* Cancer can. And you can bet we're still screaming for screening…breast cancer screening, duh! A+S are rounding up stories to get the ACS shakin' in their boots; send yours in! Hell hath no fury like young survivors ignored! Then, a letter from Amy's doppelgänger talks treatment and the mindfuck that is diagnosis. Who, me? A cancer person?? Not today, Satan! An ovarian cancer filmmaker shares thoughts on losing fertility, and it's no summer blockbuster; we share a link to her groundbreaking short about  a person dying during the pandemic. It can't all be a walk in the (ball)park, folks! We slide into home with a RATS that has a vaccine trial targeting Lynch Syndrome, a big-time colon cancer culprit. Score!

Hold onto your headscarves, y'all! The guidelines have changed, and the whitecoats think we should stop feeling it on the first. Don't they know how much #cancerpeople love a hashtag?! Mmhmm—multiple medical orgs have put the kibosh on breast cancer screening until age 45. The gals (Amy and Stef, not a gross euphemism for boobs) are fired up and taking on big Cancer. Cancer dot gov, that is, AKA The American Cancer Society himself, and we won't rest until there's a mammogram machine in every Macy's in America. Then, a listener shares about her newfound love…with a stage 4 renal cancer Romeo. Friends and fam are worried, but the heart wants what it wants. In the wise words of Zoë Kravitz's dad, ya gotta let love rule! RATS dives deeper into the world of kidney cancer: what happens when your own immune system borks it? You take an immune checkpoint inhibitor, sweaty! To learn more about immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma, check out this article: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/systemic-therapy-of-advanced-clear-cell-renal-carcinoma#H2788680400Read Josie Rubio's piece in NYT titled Dating While Dying: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/24/opinion/sunday/dating-while-dying.htmlAnd, correction: Josie had Hodgkin's Lymphoma! Stef mistakenly said she had MBC. Gotham Writers now offers the Josie Rubio Scholarship. Info here: https://blogs.gothamwriters.com/2021/04/19/the-josie-rubio-scholarship/To read the American Cancer Society's new(ish) guidelines on breast cancer screening, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.htmlRead stats on breast cancer under 40 diagnoses compiled by Young Survival Coalition:  https://www.youngsurvival.org/learn/about-breast-cancer/statisticsThe American College Of Radiology on the use of mammograms as a screening tool: https://www.acr.org/Media-Center/ACR-News-Releases/2018/New-Study-Cements-Fact-That-Mammography-is-a-Primary-Factor-in-Reduced-Breast-Cancer-DeathsThe bizarre article about the efficacy of BSEs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2376382/Make sure you're following us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfast for ways to get involved with this #screamingforscreening stuff!Buy us a coffee and support the podcast at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyandstefSend us a letter! cancerforbreakfast@gmail.comFollow us on Twitter @cancerbreakfast RATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer CannibalsTheme music by Vyvyvyr

CANCER FOR BITCHFEST | We've been squirreling away your complaints big and small like precious little acorns, and they've finally grown into a mighty oak of objections! A pine of protest! A…gripevine? Anyway, we're airing your grievances, from A (awkward convos with clueless doctors) to, well, X at least. (Exes who slide into your DMs post-diagnosis, that is!) Our precious listeners came through and it's an hour of straight-up bitchin. But first? Stop the presses! Ya gals met IRL and are coming to you from Stef's minivan. The good news: we still have a podcast. The bad news: Applebee's was closed. The other news: we've coined a term for know-it-all #cancerpeople. Take a seat, Cancer Cathy; nobody needs your negativity! Then, RATS wants you lil sweeties with blood cancer to keep your covid (face)guard up. Studies show the vaccine is less effective-to-totally ineffective for you! Yikes, dude! +  +  + Guidance on blood cancers and covid-19 from LLS: https://www.lls.org/who-we-are/covid-19-vaccines-faq-patients-and-caregiversCovid-19 & blood cancer studies: https://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/content/11/7/OF4A round-up of post-mastectomy bras from Rethink Breast Cancer: https://rethinkbreastcancer.com/post-mastectomy-lingerie-love/Amy's pedge willow recommendation: https://www.costco.com/brentwood-home-whitney-wedge-pillow-with-gel-memory-foam.product.100365598.htmlBuy us a coffee and support the podcast at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyandstefRATS theme song by Jessica Boudreaux Theme music by VyvyvyrFollow us  on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastFollow us on Twitter @cancerbreakfast 

Did you know that LGBTQ+ people can be cancer people? You did. Oh. Well we sure hope you're ready for an episode about the queer cancer experience. Stef (she's here! She's queer!) leads us and our furry little line of marching RATS on a pride parade rife with…increased morbidity, mortality, and poorer outcomes??? Maybe that explains the low attendance! In letters: the pain caused by being misgendered (over and over!) at the cancer center is hurting our community, and then we hear from a listener who can't seem to convince her surgeons that she truly just wants to go flat, dammit! In a literal bummer of a segment, RATS tackles anal cancer and why it's wreaking havoc on folks who enjoy bum stuff. HPV gets some of the blame, but homophobia earns a place on the podium, too. Lace up your roller skates and get ready to talk income inequality, bbs, because we're #queeringcancer! Prostate Cancer UK's pamphlet mentioned in this episode is available here To learn more about the RATS in this episode, visit https://cancer-network.org/cancer-information/gay-men-and-cancer/anal-cancer-hiv-and-gaybisexual-men/To register for the National LGBT cancer network's survey findings report, visit https://cancer-network.org/out-the-national-cancer-survey/Rae Spoon's Medium page: https://medium.com/@raespoonRATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxTheme music by Vyvyvyr

Real talk: did YOU know that “annoying and oblivious” can also be a trait of...other Cancer People?! (And no, we're NOT talking about the astrological sign.) Amy wants “oldies” to be aware of what they say around “newbies;” venting is fine, but if you don't have any steam to let out, maybe just close your lid. Then: flax and soy and cancer, oh my! WTAF is up with phytoestrogens and hormone receptor positive cancer? Is it actually hard to keep up with the science, or are our nutritionists just slacking, lacking, and need to go packing (off to do professional development, that is!) The gals read a letter from a sweet muffin who wants the straight dish on safe and beneficial foods. Would it kill the folks in charge to just make us a damn list, already? And are all of these ingredients really raising our recurrence risk? Stef lets us know if we can drink our smoothies in peace. Studies on rodents suggest it's all in the delivery. And speaking of RATS, we get down to the nitty gritty of estrogen-binding foods. For isoflavones, it's a game of date, marry, f…erment. As in miso, you dingleberry!! To learn more about flax and breast cancer, read this. To learn more about phytoestrogens and HR+ cancer check out this article from Providence Hospital's integrative medicine department.  Amy's fiber stats were close, but as promised here is the real deal: “The U.S. government recommends Americans consume 28 grams of dietary fiber a day, while the American Institute for Cancer Research advises even more — at least 30 grams.” From this article.  Clarity on recommended exercise: “Walking at about 3 mph (or 20 minutes per mile) is considered moderate intensity. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week (or a combination of these).”RATS theme song by Jessica BoudreauxFollow us on Instagram @cancerforbreakfastFollow us on Twitter @cancerbreakfast$upport us at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyandstef