Podcast appearances and mentions of Adam Walker

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women — but far too often, cultural stigma, language barriers and a lack of tailored education prevent early detection and timely care. To celebrate AANHPI Month, we're joined by Dr. Judy Wang, a national leader in cancer prevention and behavioral science at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Wang unpacks how breast cancer uniquely impacts AANHPI communities, and why culturally responsive communication is critical in closing gaps in education, screening and survivorship. She also shares how providers, advocates and researchers can better meet AANHPI women where they are — with humility, trust and cultural understanding.

Caregiving can be a very personal role on many levels - assisting a loved one through their cancer diagnosis, helping with daily activities, providing support and helping to make treatment decisions may all be a part of their responsibilities. When young adults are the caregiver taking care of a parent, they face many unique challenges, such as having more duties to juggle and managing their own growing relationships and careers. Harley Stuebgen was just 25 years old when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She immediately stepped in as her caregiver and supported her throughout her entire breast cancer journey. For her mother, Kim, the support of her daughter and her greater community gave her the strength and support that she needed to keep going. Their experience highlights the powerful bond between mother and daughter and how allowing people to help can make all the difference.

Laurel Pointer always knew that breast cancer was a possibility, with a strong family history and a confirmed CHEK2 gene mutation. In July 2024, Laurel was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive lobular carcinoma and immediately knew that she wanted a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Shannon Michaelson has been Laurel's co-worker and close friend for the past 6 years. As soon as Laurel got the news of an irregular mammogram, the two were immediately on the phone and Shannon has been part of Laurel's support team every step of the way. Laurel recently went through the final step of her reconstruction by getting 3D nipple tattoos, with Shannon by her side. These two are committed to supporting each other and the breast cancer community; and today they are here to talk about what the procedure was like and the emotions that have gone with it.

Today's guest is Mallory Tucker, a mother of four and breast cancer survivor from Georgia. She shares her experience with her diagnosis, how she approached the conversation with her children, and the role therapy played in helping her navigate treatment.

What if one call could help change not just your future, but your family's too? In this episode of Real Pink, we're joined by Fanny Jackson, a compassionate and experienced Komen Patient Navigator, who walks us through how she helps callers to the Komen Patient Care Center understand and access genetic counseling and testing. Fanny shares how knowing your genetic risk for breast cancer—especially for those in Black, Latino and other underserved communities — can lead to earlier interventions, more personalized care and even save lives. We'll also talk about the systemic barriers many people face in accessing these life-changing services, and how Fanny and the Komen Patient Care Cetner team work to break those barriers down, one conversation at a time.

If you're struggling with issues affecting your sexuality, you're not alone. Sex and intimacy can be difficult for many women after a breast cancer diagnosis. Joining us today is Amy Rowan, a Certified Clinical Sexologist and Intimacy Coach. She's known as the Suburban Sexologist because she is just like so many of you – a busy, working mom and breast cancer survivor who just gets it. She makes talking about sex seem like the most comfortable thing in the world and she is here today to acknowledge just how hard intimacy after breast cancer can be and to give us some tips on how to deal with emotions and regain intimacy after treatment.

Brett Heins went through breast cancer in her late 30s. Kristin Goodman was in her early 40s when she was diagnosed. Both women are well below the average age at diagnosis – 62 – leading them to wonder what caused their cancer to develop. A growing body of research shows lifestyle choices – everything from drinking alcohol to following a healthy diet – influences one's risk of breast cancer.

Everyone is at risk of breast cancer. Some are more at risk than others due to hereditary factors – such as a family history of cancers – and lifestyle choices that affect our overall health. Knowing your risk of breast cancer can help you decide what steps to take to lower your risk. Joining me today is Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, a Susan G. Komen Scholar and Komen grantee, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Senior Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an expert on the impact of lifestyle factors, cancer risk and outcomes. Through more than a dozen lifestyle intervention trials, Dr. Ligibel has evaluated the impact of exercise, weight loss, fitness, body composition and quality of life in cancer patients and survivors.

Special guests Andrew “Hustler” Paterson of Winnipeg Sports Talk and PGA Tour and Liv Golf Correspondent Adam “A Walk” Walker join the show to breakdown the 2025 Masters at August National. They fill you in on their favourites, long shots, Canadians in the field, Amateurs, and everything else Masters. Win a trip to the 2025 Canadian Open with Pat Mayo and Coolbet 18 Over Par with Mike & JR is proudly presented by St. Charles member Bryce Matlashewski who is an Investment Advisor with Endeavour Wealth Management, part of IA Private Wealth, and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. You can contact Bryce at 204-515-3446 or connect with him here Check out our Facebook and Instagram and enter to win a $50 Coolbet bet card, swag, and custom Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls or TaylorMade TP5 limited edition Azalea golf balls. https://eighteenoverpar.podbean.com/  Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and MySpace https://linktr.ee/18overpar 

Just before her 38th birthday, Lauren Yerkes learned she had breast cancer. Genetic testing would reveal she had the BRCA2 inherited gene mutation that made her at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Her experience made her want to educate people about inherited genetic mutations because she had no idea at the time that she was at risk. Lauren is here today to share her story, the preventative measures she has taken for her health and how she is giving back to the breast cancer community.

This week on TaPod we drop a special episode, getting under the hood of the recent Avature Upfront APAC 2025 in sunny Melbourne at the Royal Botanical Gardens, and it was fantastic! Raman Richards joins us as we unpack the day. From Chloe Dalton with a brilliant keynote, to the road map led by Dimitri Boylan & Xiabin Shi, to Maria Ma from Siemens, the panel of experts including Gareth Flynn, Sue Howse, Alex Thomson and Danielle Kent, Melinda Todd on mastering high-volume recruiting, Mark Condon on skills, AI & Work Design, the art of the possible presented by Evelyn Jackson, Scott Allen, Teejay Bui-Mata'afa and Joshua Vinden and product discussions involving Paula Lizardo and Roman Cunci. The day was MC'd beautifully by Adam Walker and the location was simply stunning! Kudos and sell your soul to get a ticket in 2026! 

Today, we're honored to share the story of Nancy Pickett, a woman whose breast cancer journey is not just her own — it's part of a long family history. Nancy is the ninth person in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, making her path one of both personal resilience and advocacy. As we celebrate Women's History Month, we recognize that every woman's breast cancer journey is unique. That's why personalized care is so important — ensuring that every patient gets the right support, resources and treatment for their specific needs.

Breast cancer risk looks different for everyone. Our guests today have an inherited genetic mutation that increased their risk of breast cancer. Without knowing it, they may have passed this gene onto their children. Genetic mutations can increase risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women, and prostate cancer in men. About 10% of breast cancers are genetic – knowing if you have a gene mutation can help you take steps to lower your risk. It can also cause fear and anxieties and force tough conversations with family members about their genes and cancer risk. Shanise Pearce learned in 2020 that she has two inherited gene mutations and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She also has two daughters. Natalie Gutierrez was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and learned afterward that she carries an inherited gene mutation. She has twin sons. Shanise and Natalie are both living with no evidence of breast cancer and have turned their attention to supporting their children and helping them navigate their cancer risk.

Adam Walker is more than a retired Marine; he is more than a patriot and friend. Adam continues to transition his experiences in the Middle East to written works. From his columns to his own poetry and short stories, Adam gives the reader a glimpse into the world of a grunt. Adam takes us from his 1996 Super Squad to the battles that wounded him and others in Iraq. He appears in the Documentary "The Gift" about the courage and tenacity of Medal of Honor recipient Jason Dunham, who gave his life for the life of his brothers. There is so much to take in from this episode to recount, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Please let us know the most moving part of the episode in the comments below.

Welcome to the Real Pink Podcast by Susan G. Komen. I'm Adam Walker, and each week we take a look at the stories of real people affected by breast cancer. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce our special guest host, three-time Emmy Award winner, author and breast cancer survivor Gaby Natale! Gaby is a proud Komen Ambassador, using her voice to educate, empower and uplift communities—especially the Latino community—about the importance of breast health. She'll be leading today's conversation with two of the talented actors and producers behind the film “Las Tres Sisters,” Valeria Maldonado and Marta Cross. This powerful film explores family, resilience and the conversations we need to have about our breast health.

It is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day – an annual opportunity to bring more awareness to this aggressive type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat because it lacks an estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptor. It primarily affects younger women and Black women and can spread quickly and be deadly if left untreated for too long. Treatment for TNBC used to include the toughest forms of chemotherapy, with debilitating side effects – but we've come a long way in how we treat patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer so their outcomes are better. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Heather McArthur of UT Southwestern. She is a former Susan G. Komen grantee, Professor and the Komen Distinguished Chair in Clinical Breast Cancer Research. Dr. McArthur has been working on a Phase 3 clinical trial called KEYNOTE-522, which is testing whether a specific immunotherapy drug improves overall survival for people with high-risk early Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Dr. McArthur, along with her colleagues, are trying to determine if all people with this type of breast cancer truly need the drug, and if not, who would most benefit from taking it.

Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution podcast series. Each month, we invite in patients, community organizations, health care providers, researchers and policy advocates to discuss strategies and solutions that drive the health equity revolution forward for multiple populations experiencing breast health inequities. In honor of Black History Month, this Komen Health Equity Revolution episode of the Real Pink podcast takes a deep dive into the unique challenges and disparities Black women face in breast cancer care. Joining me is Komen Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Lisa Newman, a trailblazing breast surgical oncologist and researcher. In this episode, we'll explore the lack of representation of Black bodies in the medical space and its impact on care and treatment. We'll also discuss culturally responsive care, the transformative role of diverse health care providers, and ways to advocate for yourself as a patient. Let's dive into this important conversation.

Breast cancer treatment today is becoming more personalized and more precise. Precision medicine is rapidly expanding the options patients have for treating their cancer while helping them maintain a desired quality of life. A common mutation in breast cancer called PIK3CA affects more than 1 in 3 people with breast cancer, making it harder to treat. This mutation often leads to worse outcomes for these patients compared to others. Scientists are now developing new treatments that target this mutation specifically, aiming to reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes, such as shrinking tumors or preventing disease progression. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Sarah Sammons of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to explore the exciting new possibilities brought by personalized medicine, including whether it can help slow disease progression and how it can it improve patients' abilities to potentially live more active and productive lives while on treatment.

Today we are joined by two entrepreneurs to discuss work-life balance. Dr. Alice Rizzi is a Psychologist based in New York City, specializing in helping individuals overcome fear and self-doubt, manage their stress, and gain confidence. Adam Walker is a long-time entrepreneur, having founded multiple companies over his career. Join us as we discuss determining your values, setting boundaries, and useful tips on achieving work-life balance.   - Chapters -  00:00:00 Introduction and Background 00:04:58 Defining Work-Life Balance 00:06:33 Personal Values Impact Life 00:08:38 Getting Out of Sync 00:09:41 Physical Health Issues 00:12:52 Does Tech Affect Work-Life? 00:15:03 Finding Balance in Busy-ness 00:17:22 Tools for Task Management 00:19:55 Less Work = Higher Quality 00:20:38 Reflect for Successful Balance 00:21:36 Closing

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends.   In today's episode, we're talking about the effect treatment has on sexual health and unwanted side effects women face during breast cancer treatment and life thereafter. Joining us today are Jenn Smith and Nisha Jaime. Jenn is 42 years old, and a 3-year breast cancer survivor. She and her husband have been married for 17 years. Nisha is 45 years old and a 1-year breast cancer survivor. She is also married with 3 school-aged children. Both women are learning to live with the impact breast cancer treatment is having on their bodies, their intimacy and their overall wellbeing.

What happens when you stick a microphone in front of Adam Walker? Magic… that's what!Today it's Avature meets TaPod in this special episode and we talk about HR trends into 2025. We cover all manner of topics from Generative AI development and Bot Agents to strategic and agile HR, reskilling and upskilling – and that's just an appetiser.Without blowing smoke, Adam is one of the most astute commentators in the industry and we love learning from him.Thanks to Avature for supporting the pod this month.

As we kick off Black History Month here on Real Pink, we're excited to highlight guests who have been affected by breast cancer and are using their experiences to make an impact. Today's guest advocated for herself to ensure that she was receiving the best, most personalized treatment for her after her diagnosis, and in the process learned the staggering fact that less than 10% of clinical trial participants are members of racial or ethnic communities who often face higher breast cancer or mortality rates. This fueled Tina Pickett to get involved. She is passionate about educating women on early detection, health equity and representation in research and her team was at the top of the fundraising board at her local Race for the Cure.

Tune into the latest episode of Real Pink for a vital conversation about the transformative impact of personalized care, its role in addressing disparities and how it can empower patients in their breast cancer journey. Dr. Ezinne Ihenachor, a diagnostic radiologist and passionate health equity advocate, helps us understand how personalized care can address systemic inequities and improve outcomes for all. Thanks to Merck for supporting the Real Pink Podcast.

Tamoxifen is a medication used to block estrogen, which is needed for some breast tumors to grow. Many survivors are prescribed tamoxifen to lower the risk of having a recurrence of breast cancer, usually after breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Tamoxifen can also be used for breast cancer risk reduction in women who do not have breast cancer but who are at higher risk, which was the case with today's guest. Twenty years after her mother passed away from breast cancer, Colleen Boraca learned she had two conditions that increase her chances of developing breast cancer. At the recommendation of her oncologist, she began her five-year, daily journey with Tamoxifen and is here today to share about her experience, what helped her get through struggles and how she was able to work with her doctor along the way to get the personalized care that was right for her.

On this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Adam Walker discuss the purpose behind his YouTube Channel, Close Reading Poetry. They explore the role of community in literature, the importance of oral tradition in poetry, and the various critical lenses used in literary analysis. The conversation highlights the significance of language and sound in poetry, advocating for a more human and emotional engagement with literature. Walker discusses the significance of spirituality in Romantic poetry, and the evolution of poetry over time. He ends by encouraging readers to approach literature with an open mind.Make sure to check out Dr. Walker's YouTube channel: Close Reading Poetry

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends. In today's episode, we're talking about getting a second opinion and why that's so important when selecting your treatment plan. Our guests today, Shilo Goodman and Eve Laidacker, both had to speak up and tell their doctors they didn't agree with their medical advice, and advocated for what they thought was best for themselves.

On today's show, we are joined by two sisters, who are unfortunately no strangers to breast cancer. Their biological mother passed away from metastatic breast cancer when she was 52. While they were aware that their mother's diagnosis put them at a higher risk, it still came as a shock when Tami Salawater was diagnosed at the age of 50. Two weeks later, her younger sister Jamie Boettcher received her own breast cancer diagnosis. Both women were diagnosed at an early stage, but with different types of cancer and they each faced unique challenges and side effects as they navigated their treatments. Jamie and Tami are here today to share their story of facing breast cancer together as a family and the personalized care that each of them received.

This year, Matildas Captain Sam Kerr ruptured her ACL, which ruled her out of the Paris Olympics. But did you know, female athletes are more likely than their male counterparts to tear their ACL? In this episode, Adam Walker, Physiotherapist and ACL rehabilitation specialist explains why. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Chloe Christie Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent. Want more from TDA?Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSubscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel Have feedback for us?We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understanding your family health history can help you take better care of your health by helping to figure out your risk and take action as needed. Joining us on the show today is Jerry Carnes, a former television journalist who spent 35 years with 11Alive in Atlanta. He has an extensive family history of cancer in his family, has lost multiple family members to both breast and prostate cancers and is a prostate cancer survivor himself. Jerry is here to share his story and to spread education on the importance of knowing your family history and taking charge of your health by getting regular screenings and promoting early detection. His hope is that by that sharing his family's experience, he can help to prevent other families from going through a similar situation.

To advance health equity in breast cancer care, Komen believes that everyone should have a just opportunity to be as healthy as possible despite their cultural or demographic background. That is why Komen is committed to eliminating barriers to care for individuals and communities experiencing breast health inequities now and in the future. We are honored to be joined on today's show by two members of Komen's Community Health Outreach team, women who drive this important work every day. Natasha Mmeje and Theru Ross are here to share some details of Komen's good work in breast health equity this year and what their hopes are for the future.

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends. In today's episode, we're hearing a surprising perspective from two breast cancer survivors. Janet Ruiz and Sue Henning both say, “Breast cancer made me grateful.” Ladies, I can't wait to dig in with you because ‘grateful' is not a word we hear very often on this podcast.

We are lucky to be joined today by actress, mother, breast cancer survivor and the newest Komen Ambassador Nicole Eggert. Best known for her roles on Baywatch and Charles in Charge, Nicole was diagnosed with stage 2 cribiform carcinoma breast cancer in December 2023 and is still currently undergoing treatment. She has been courageously open about sharing her diagnosis and is here to talk to us today about her breast care experience, the importance of continuing to live her life in the most positive way possible as she navigates her journey and what prompted her to join Komen's ShareForCures research registry.

Living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) can mean facing complex emotions. For many dealing with stage 4 breast cancer, the weight of the diagnosis brings a range of feelings — from fear and uncertainty to moments of resilience and power. One of the most powerful among the spectrum of emotions is gratitude, and this holiday season, two members of Komen's MBC Steering Committee, Julia Hughes and Phyllis Esposito, are here to talk about what gratitude looks like for them in the face of MBC.

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends. In today's episode, we're talking about getting to “yes.” Yes looks different for everyone and there's no right or wrong way to get there. But getting there is the goal of today's conversation. I'm delighted to welcome Lisa Mannina and Jennifer Muniga to tell us more about the breast cancer experiences and how they've processed through the range of emotions, feelings and setbacks, to get to a place where they want to make the decisions that are best for them. They want to say “yes” to what's important and “yes” to doing what's best for them and their future.

On today's episode, we are discussing a topic that affects most women with hormone receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer after they finish their initial treatment and begin navigating survivorship. To lower the risk of recurrence, most women begin taking anti-estrogen therapy, also called hormone therapy or endocrine therapy, but these treatments do not come without the risk of side effects. When side effects become severe, survivors may be faced with the task of weighing the benefits of hormone therapy against the associated side effects. This can be challenging and may even lead them to wonder how much longer they need to continue on the medication. Joining us today to discuss how patients and providers can balance fear of recurrence against potential side effects of treatment and how genomic testing can help guide treatment decisions is a Nurse Practitioner at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Adriana Olivo. This podcast is sponsored by Biotheranostics Inc., a Hologic Company. The Breast Cancer Index test is the only test recognized by the NCCN guidelines and the ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline to predict which patients are likely to benefit from extension of adjuvant anti-estrogen therapy beyond 5 years.

People often talk about social determinants of health - the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age - and how they affect a person's health, well-being and quality of life. However, there are political determinants of health that impact our health and longevity as well. Rebecca Birch, director of state policy and advocacy at Susan G. Komen, is here today to help us understand how political determinants of health ultimately determine and affect social determinants of health and how we can all get involved to create a healthier tomorrow.

Sunny, a mom, wife, and friend to many, opens up about what it's like to receive life-changing news and how she's chosen to embrace resilience, gratitude, and new perspectives. From her decision to make lifestyle changes with her husband's support to finding strength in her community, Sunny shares the realities, challenges, and small victories of her journey.

Today we are joined by actress, activist and mother Olivia Munn for part two of our conversation about Olivia's journey through breast cancer.  Earlier this year, Olivia bravely shared her breast cancer diagnosis, urging women to advocate for early detection through the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment tool. Her heartfelt story resonated globally, prompting a surge in awareness and proactive health measures among women.

Today we are joined by actress, activist and mother Olivia Munn.  Earlier this year, Olivia bravely shared her breast cancer diagnosis, urging women to advocate for early detection through the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment tool. Her heartfelt story resonated globally, prompting a surge in awareness and proactive health measures among women.

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends. Today, we're getting to know the Titus family – Leo, Rosalie, Allison, Laura and Kelley. Leo lost his wife Jennifer to metastatic breast cancer in 2003. She was just 34 at the time and she and Leo had three young daughters – Allison, Laura and Kelley. Kelley was just 8 months old when her mother died. The Titus family has committed themselves to doing everything they can to save lives from breast cancer in the hopes that nobody would ever have to go through what they went through, losing a wife and mother. To date, the family has raised more than $350,000 for Susan G. Komen and participated in Washington, DC-area races, walks and other fundraisers. This year, everyone is all in – doing their part to raise as much as they can for the cause.

Today, we are celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast. Over the past half decade, we have heard from survivors and thrivers, those in treatment, those living with metastatic disease, as well as family and friends of those passed and medical professionals.We are so grateful to everyone who has come on this podcast and shared their story, helping those who need to hear it most and supporting this community. Today, we will revisit some of the lessons we hope you have taken away from this series, 300 episodes in.

We know that 1 in 8 women will be being diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. which means that most people know someone that either has been or is currently touched by breast cancer. On top of that, there have been an increasing number of celebrities in the media speaking about their breast cancer diagnoses, which can sometimes make it feel like people are being diagnosed constantly. When family members, friends, loved ones, coworkers, friends of friends – anyone around us is diagnosed – it can bring up feelings of fear and concern for our own health. Today we've been blessed with the perfect person on the show. Licensed professional oncology counselor and breast cancer survivor Dr. Chalice Rhodes is here to empower us to take charge of our health, to give us tools to cope with these feelings and not let anxiety stop us in our tracks and to let us know that we are capable of handling whatever comes our way!

A breast cancer diagnosis is shocking for young women. At a time in life most often focused on family and career, issues of treatment, recovery and survivorship suddenly take top priority, and this can bring with it a wide range of emotions. Today's guest was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 34. By taking things one day at time, she was able to mentally keep it together through diagnosis and treatment, but when her treatment was complete and she was faced with navigating life with her new normal, that is when the weight of what she had been through caught up to her and she found herself struggling. Cecilia Salvans is here today to share what she's learned through her experience and how sharing her story to be able to help others has been the best medicine.

On today's episode, we have two special guests, Kristina Guerrero, journalist, TV host, lifestyle expert and author along with three-time Emmy award-winning journalist, TV host, author and speaker, Gaby Natale. Both are Latinas in the public eye who were diagnosed at young ages with breast cancer. We'll talk with them about navigating their breast cancer diagnosis as a Latina, how it changed them as storytellers and what they want to share with the Latino community having gone through this experience.

Tumor profiling or genomic testing can give us information about the genes in a person's cancer cells and can help guide doctors to the best possible treatment plan by predicting the risk of recurrence, or when breast cancer returns after initial treatment. If a low risk of recurrence is shown, people with breast cancer and their doctors can choose to pursue a less aggressive treatment plan with confidence. Here today to empower us with information about the power of genomics and to give further insight into how it can positively affect treatment decisions is Medical Oncologist, specializing in Breast Cancer and Cancer Genomics, and Chief Medical Officer at Agendia, Dr. William Audeh.

This is Real Talk, a podcast conversation where we're digging deep into breast cancer and the realities patients and survivors face every day. We're talking openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be, from being diagnosed to selecting the right treatment plan, to living day to day with metastatic breast cancer, and life after treatment ends. In today's episode, we're talking about advice. Naturally, we want to help and support our friends and family when difficult situations arise, but sometimes our advice can have the opposite effect of what we intended. Without knowing, we can create doubt or confusion by telling someone going through breast cancer what WE would do if WE were diagnosed. Valerie Engel is French-American and was treated for breast cancer in the United States. She heard from some in France that surgery wasn't safe, and she wasn't making the right choice. Valerie felt she had made the right decision with the input and guidance from her care team, but the opinions of others didn't make an already difficult time any easier for her. Dr. Miggins is a medical provider who works with her patients every day to make the best decisions for their treatment. She wants her patients to feel confident in the choice they make, knowing the options they have based on their personal breast cancer diagnosis.

Women with a very high risk of breast cancer due to genetic mutations, such as BRCA, may consider risk-reducing bilateral mastectomies to lower their risk of breast cancer. While these prophylactic mastectomies do not completely protect a woman from breast cancer, they lower the risk in women at high risk by at least 90%. When today's guest learned that she was a carrier of the BRCA1 mutation at only age 31, she began preparing for her surgery and found both an escape and a sense of confidence through romance novels where women were embracing self-confidence, self-love and their bodies. Reading romance novels carried her through her recovery and this year, she published her own romance novel, Four Weekends and a Funeral, with a lead character who has also just undergone a double mastectomy. Ellie Palmer is here today to share her story and how a genre of books helped not only bring her joy, but also gave her a language to help discuss her body and what she feared losing.

1 in 5 women who have had breast cancer surgery and treatment are at risk for developing a potentially detrimental side effect of breast cancer – breast cancer-related lymphedema – a condition in which lymphatic fluid gets trapped in lymph vessels and causes chronic arm swelling leading to reduced quality of life for many. We are joined today by Tina Tsan, a certified lymphedema therapist and the Founder of Harmony Lymphatics. Tina is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to her patients and is excited to be here today to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise about managing lymphedema during and after breast cancer treatment.