Real Pink Susan G. Komen

It is common for people diagnosed with breast cancer to experience depression, anxiety, fear, and mental and emotional distress. Today’s guest was undergoing twice yearly screenings for breast cancer because her mother and aunt had previously been diagnosed. She was scheduled to leave 5 days later for a vacation, but then, Alecia Robinson was called back for additional screenings and diagnosed with stage 1A invasive ductal carcinoma ER, PR-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. She is here today to share the mental anguish that can come with a breast cancer diagnosis, particularly in some of the unknown and “waiting” moments, and how she has been best been able to cope and move forward.

Breast cancer affects everyone differently, but It is common for people diagnosed with breast cancer to experience depression, anxiety and mental or emotional distress. The support of family, friends, and others can help as you go through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Here today to help us navigate the toll that a breast cancer diagnosis can have on your mental and sexual health are two experts from City of Hope Chicago – Behavorial Health Therapist, Alexandria Callahan, and Sexual Health/Intimacy Nurse, Cindy Ingram.

Listen to the latest episode of Real Pink to hear Marianne Alexander share how she stays strong in spirit and maintains positivity while living with metastatic breast cancer at the young age of 35.

Tune into the latest episode of Real Pink to hear breast cancer advocate, Michelle Benjamin, and licensed professional oncology counselor and breast cancer survivor, Dr. Chalice Rhodes, delve into the importance of cultural connections, the power of advocacy, and the necessity of prioritizing mental health during a breast cancer diagnosis.

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 encouraging everyone to take a break. A breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and life thereafter can be exhausting. All the appointments and procedures and follow-ups and bills, on top of the emotional and physical challenges of cancer, is overwhelming.


Sam Lazar Rivello is a Stage 2b breast cancer survivor who learned how to accept help and support from others during her diagnosis and treatment. Through the outpouring of love from those around her, she could focus on overcoming cancer.


Esther Tambe and her sister Alicia co-founded Fight Thru Flights, an organization that provides free wellness retreats and travel experiences for Black women living with breast cancer. Their goal is to improve the wellness and mental health of Black women who are impacted by this disease.

No two breast cancers are the same, and researchers have come a long way in understanding what makes each breast tumor unique. This is the entire premise behind personalized medicine. By looking at a tumor’s biomarkers, doctors can tailor their patient’s treatment to best fight their unique tumor. On today’s show, we’ll be discussing biomarkers that doctors look for in breast tumors and how they use them to design a treatment plan. We’ll also hear about a new twist on an old biomarker, the estrogen receptor, and how it’s being put into clinical practice. Joining us today to share her expertise is Dr. Virginia Kaklamani, M.D. Dr. Kaklamani is a professor of medicine and leader of the Breast Cancer Program at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center.