Podcast appearances and mentions of Susan F Smith

Sherril was living in Delray Beach, Florida when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.  She went through treatment in Florida, including a mastectomy. Having grown up in Massachusetts, and the daughter of Bruins Hall of Fame goalie Gerry Cheevers, Cheryl was very familiar with Dana-Farber. Cheryl decided to go for a second opinion with Dr. Erica Mayer at Dana-Farber's Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers following her treatment in Florida, just to make sure everything was on the right track.  She was just finishing up a telehealth consult when she told Dr. Mayer that she thought she felt a swollen lymph node.  That revelation set off alarm bells for Dr. Mayer and Cheryl was subsequently diagnosed with a different type of breast cancer in March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic shutdown. Her treatment included chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and targeted therapy for her specific type of cancer. Because patients could not have visitors with them during the shutdown, Cheryl took money she raised from a golf tournament to help pay for little gift baskets for other patients at Dana-Farber to help boost their spirits during this difficult time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alison Katz is from Maryland but after being diagnoses with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare kind of breast cancer that doesn’t present a lump, she and her family sought out breast cancer experts and landed at Dr. Beth Overmoyer, director of the IBC program at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber. Alison and Dr. Overmoyer discuss Alison’s treatment, why she came all the way to Boston from Maryland, and advancements in IBC research.

Kasha Waslyak was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago at age 26, less than a year from her wedding. Dr. Ann Partridge, founder and director of the program for young women with breast cancer in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, discusses the advancements in breast cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber.

In this episode we’ll listen in on a conversation that Dr. Sunil Verma, Medical Director of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Dr. Sara Tolaney Associate Director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Dr. Christine Simmons Medical Oncologist with the British Columbia Cancer Agency, had at the 2019 Best of San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Toronto, where they shared their thoughts on the most impactful data released in Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer at the flagship meeting a few weeks earlier.

In this episode we’ll listen in on a conversation that Dr. Sunil Verma, Medical Director of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Dr. Sara Tolaney Associate Director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Dr. Christine Simmons Medical Oncologist with the British Columbia Cancer Agency, had at the 2019 Best of San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Toronto, where they shared their thoughts on the most impactful data released in HER2 Positive Breast Cancer at the flagship meeting a few weeks earlier.

In this episode we’ll listen in on a conversation that Dr. Sunil Verma, Medical Director of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Dr. Sara Tolaney Associate Director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Dr. Christine Simmons Medical Oncologist with the British Columbia Cancer Agency, had at the 2019 Best of San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Toronto, where they shared their thoughts on the most impactful data released in Triple Negative Breast Cancer at the flagship meeting a few weeks earlier.

Emily was diagnosed with stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer in April 2016. She had a swollen right breast and inverted nipple, off and on redness, and soreness varying in intensity.Unlike traditional breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancer does not present with a lump but rather with the symptoms Emily was experiencing.She was living in Miami at the time of her diagnosis but came to Dana-Farber for treatment with Dr. Beth Overmoyer. Emily grew up in Massachusetts and her dad was a pharmacist at Dana-Farber.Emily underwent chemotherapy for 5 months, a mastectomy, and radiation culminating just before Christmas 2016.Her family was essential during treatment. She lived with her brother in Central Mass throughout her treatment and her family was by her side every step of the way.Emily's friends from around the country and the world flew in to spend time with her, sent "insanely special" care packages along with daily messages and calls.Traveling has always been an important part of Emily's life, she lived abroad for the first time when she was 16 and constantly flew for work and to visit friends.Dr. Overmoyer approved a quick, 3-day trip in between her two chemotherapy regimens to the Bahamas with her close friends. The trip filled her with more energy to carry her through the end of her treatment, which was rough.Emily works as a literacy consultant. She travels around the world to support schools implementing reading and writing instruction (K-8).

Allie Young felt a lump in her breast while breastfeeding her infant son earlier this year. She was subsequently diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer.Allie went to Dana-Farber where her treatment has included surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation. Allie has been in treatment for seven months so far, and she has another 7 months of targeted antibody therapy to complete.Through her treatment, Allie has had husband Seamus, daughters Reagan, who is almost 5, and 3-year-old Caroline, and 11-month-old son Owen by her side. The hardest part of cancer and treatment for Allie has been worrying about the impact on her kids and balancing the need to care for herself while still being a mother and wife. Allie loves being outside and active with her family. They love to hike, ski, swim, sightsee and take advantage of all Boston and New England has to offer.Allie works as a stock trader for a mutual fund company.

Most breast lumps are not cancer. But many myths persist about the relationship between the two — including whether a woman can tell if a lump is cancer by the way it feels, and whether a small lump is less likely to be cancer than a large lump. With the help of Beth Overmoyer, MD, director of the inflammatory breast cancer program at Dana-Farber’s Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, we debunk these myths and other common questions about breast lumps and cancer.

Alexis was on a business trip at the beginning of 2017 when she felt some pain in her left breast. She didn't think much of it, as she had just had a doctor's appointment a few weeks prior, at which everything was completely normal. After experiencing this pain, she went for an ultrasound which eventually led to a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. Alexis came to see Dr. Ann Partridge who runs Dana-Farber's young women with breast cancer program. Alexis went through 18 rounds of chemotherapy, which while difficult, has not been the most challenging aspect of the disease. The mental aspect has been very challenging – she feels and looks like a different person. Alexis went through 18 rounds of chemotherapy and Alexis has also enrolled in a clinical trial of a targeted drug that inhibits one of the molecular pathways that tumors use to grow. Alexis is a native of Ipswich. She lives in Boston now and works in finance as a national account manager. Today, Alexis is feeling great.Dr. Partridge can speak to the challenges young women with breast cancer (under 40 years old) face.

Jennifer Millar is a preschool teacher from northern New Jersey. Last fall, she was experiencing swelling and irritation in her breast. She was treated for an infection. When it became clear that the antibiotics were not resolving her discomfort, Jenny was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound. She was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in November 2016. Unlike traditional breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer is not characterized by a lump but by inflammation and tenderness in the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer is often more aggressive than other breast cancers and can be more difficult to treat. Jennifer moved her treatment to Dana-Farber with Dr. Beth Overmoyer who heads Dana-Farber's Inflammatory Breast Cancer program. Jennifer has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and is enrolled in a clinical trial. Jennifer has two small children, ages 3 and 6 – between work, breast cancer and being a mom, she doesn't have much free time. When she does get a chance to get away she likes to travel with her kids.Dr. Overmoyer launched the Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Program at Dana-Farber in 2009, where she continues to serve as the principal investigator of many IBC research programs and clinical trials.

Dr. Hal Burstein joins Rich Keefe and Joe Castiglione to discuss the major advancements that have been made over the years in order to better diagnose and treat different forms of women's cancers, especially breast cancer.  Dr. Burstein explains the importance of the Jimmy Fund to all of the men and women who fight against these dangerous diseases and the doctors that do everything they can to help each one of their patients beat whatever cancer they may face.

Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer after she found a lump in 2016. Her treatment has included chemotherapy, lumpectomy and radiation therapy and she is continuing 2 of the 4 chemo drugs (“chemo light”, she calls it) through January 2018. She will then begin endocrine therapy in pill form for 5-10 years. Her hobbies include real estate development, attending theatre, traveling, and reading. She is single and has one sister.She currently works for Wilkins Management, Inc and Marsalis Music, LLC. Wilkins Management is the management entity for several acclaimed jazz musicians. Marsalis Music is an independent record label (founded by Branford Marsalis). For Wilkins Management, she handles all publishing and IP matters for the clients, and for the label, she handles financial and business affairs.Dr. Burstein's clinical research interests include novel treatments for early and advanced-stage breast cancer and studies of quality of life and health behavior among women with breast canDr. Burstein has written widely on breast cancer in traditional medical journals and on the web. He can speak to:The Breast Oncology program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-FarberNew advances in breast cancer that are helping womenWhat it means to have metastatic breast cancer

Although they were both diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, Amanda and Judy elected two very different surgical treatments. They discuss their surgery options and decisions along with Dr. Tari King, chief of breast surgery at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center.

Maggie was faced with a number of difficult decisions when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28. Some of the biggest decisions she faced centered around her ability to have children later in life, and whether treatment would affect her future fertility. Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, Maggie’s oncologist and founder/director of the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, joins Maggie to discuss some of the important decisions young breast cancer patients face.

Duncan was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in October 2015, but she isn’t fond of the phrase “stage IV” and prefers to say she has “treatable, non-curable cancer.” With that mentality, Duncan has been able to put her diagnosis into perspective and live life to the fullest. Eric Winer, MD, Duncan’s oncologist and director of the Breast Oncology Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, joins Duncan to chat about her treatment experience.

From 2016: Ursula Matulonis, MD, medical director of the Gynecologic Oncology Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers, joins medical oncologist Alexi Wright, MD, MPH, and radiation oncologist Larissa Lee, MD, for a discussion on the latest information on the prevention, treatment and research of cervical cancer.

From 2016: Eric Winer, MD, director of the Breast Oncology Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers, discusses the latest treatments for metastatic breast cancer as well as information on emerging clinical trials.

From 2016: Ursula Matulonis, MD, Panos Konstantinopoulos, MD, PhD, and Susana Campos, MD, MPH, from the Gynecologic Oncology Program at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers discuss the latest treatment options for ovarian cancer as well as answer patient questions about side effects and new clinical trials.