Breast Cancer Conversations

SurvivingBreastCancer.org
  • 4.8 (54)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

Breast Cancer Conversations is a podcast produced by Survivingbreastcancer.org where we inject positivity into the very fabric of a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast Cancer Conversations provides education, and inspiration, and offers hope. You will hear stories from those diagnosed with breast cancer, interviews with medical professionals, and thought-leadership emerging from the oncology field. Welcome to our breast cancer community! Welcome to the conversation.

  1. 3h ago

    317. Inside Breast Cancer Drug Development with Celcuity CEO Brian Sullivan

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! When we hear that a new breast cancer treatment has received FDA approval, we often see the headline, but rarely the years of research, difficult decisions, and clinical trials that made that milestone possible. So what actually happens behind the scenes? In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang, EdD, Founder and CEO of SurvivingBreastCancer.org, welcomes Brian Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of Celcuity, for an inside look at the science and development process behind new breast cancer treatments. Brian shares how his career as an entrepreneur led him into biotechnology, why Celcuity became interested in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) pathway, and how studying the signals that regulate cancer cell growth helped inform the company's research. Laura brings the patient perspective to the conversation, asking the questions many people have when they hear about a new medication or clinical trial: What exactly is a cancer pathway? How do researchers decide whether a drug is worth studying? What is the difference between a Phase 1 and Phase 3 trial? And how can patients understand the potential benefits and risks of participating in clinical research? The discussion also explores the development of REVTORPYK (gedatolisib), which received FDA approval on July 14, 2026, for use in combination with fulvestrant, with or without palbociclib, for a specific population of adults with HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer without a PIK3CA mutation, following progression on or after endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting. Beyond the scientific milestones, this conversation highlights the people behind clinical research working to answer important questions about breast cancer treatment. In This Episode, You'll Learn How an idea becomes a potential cancer treatment — and why drug development can take yearsWhat the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) pathway is and why researchers study it in breast cancerHow targeted therapies differ from traditional chemotherapyWhat happens during clinical trials and how researchers evaluate new treatmentsWhat randomization, blinding, informed consent, and progression-free survival meanWhy clinical trial participation is an important part of advancing cancer researchHow researchers and the FDA evaluate clinical evidence before approving a new treatmentAbout Our Guest Brian Sullivan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Celcuity, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted therapies. In this conversation, Brian shares his entrepreneurial background, Celcuity's approach to cancer research, and the clinical development journey that led to an FDA-approved breast cancer treatment. Resources Mentioned SurvivingBreastCancer.org: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.orgSBC Programs and Events: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/eventsClinical trial information: https://clinicaltrials.govREVTORPYK prescribing and patient information: https://www.revtorpyk.comFDA adverse event reporting: https://www.fda.gov/medwatchImportant Medical Information This podcast is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional based on each person's diagnosis, treatment history, medical needs, and preferences. REVTORPYK is approved for a specific patient population and can cause serious side effects, including mouth sores, skin reactions, and high blood sugar. Additional side effects and precautions apply. Please listen to the important safety information beginning at approximately 32:08 and review the full prescribing information at REV TORPYK's official website. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  2. 18h ago

    316. Inflammatory Breast Cancer and The Story Behind Becalming

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! What if one of the most important breast cancer warning signs isn't a lump at all? When filmmakers Shelby and Nathan Slager discovered how few people knew about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), they decided to do something unexpected: make a movie. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang sits down with Shelby, Nathan, and Shelby's mother, Mary, to explore the intersection of breast cancer, hereditary cancer risk, family relationships, and the power of storytelling to create change. Mary was diagnosed with HER2-positive, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in January 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. Her treatment experience gave Shelby and Nathan an intimate understanding of the realities of cancer care—many of which are rarely portrayed authentically on screen. Shelby later learned that she carries a BRCA2 genetic mutation, introducing another dimension to her family's experience with cancer: navigating increased hereditary risk, surveillance, and difficult decisions about the future. Together, Shelby and Nathan created Becalming, a nine-minute short film designed to raise awareness about inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that often does not present as a distinct breast lump. Through an inventive storytelling approach using voicemails, intimate moments between a couple, and realistic depictions of medical care, the film explores what a cancer diagnosis can look and feel like beyond the familiar Hollywood portrayal. Meet the Guests Shelby Slager is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and actor, and co-founder of Interlunar Pictures. She is also a BRCA2 mutation carrier and brings her personal experience with hereditary cancer risk to her creative work. Nathan Slager is a writer, producer, and co-founder of Interlunar Pictures. His filmmaking explores grief, relationships, and the emotional complexities of the human experience. Mary is Shelby's mother and a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with HER2-positive, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in 2020. Her lived experience helped shape the authenticity of Becalming. Follow the Film and Filmmakers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.calm.ing/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interlunarpictures/ Website: https://www.interlunarpictures.com/ Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  3. Oct 11

    315. What's Missing in Breast Cancer Care? | Special Edition Roundtable

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! A breast cancer diagnosis brings far more than medical decisions. There are emotional challenges, treatment side effects, financial pressures, questions about clinical trials, and the ongoing need for trusted information and community. Yet many of these needs fall outside the traditional healthcare system. So who's filling those gaps? And how can we make sure people diagnosed with breast cancer can find the right resources when they need them? In this special roundtable episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang, co-founder and CEO of SurvivingBreastCancer.org, brings together three leaders from national breast cancer nonprofits: •    Ellen Friebert Schupper, CEO of ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, an organization specializing in personalized, one-to-one emotional support. •    Kelly Shanahan, MD, President of METAvivor, an organization dedicated to metastatic breast cancer research, advocacy, and community. •    Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER, an organization expanding access to integrative therapies and whole-person care. Together, they explore an important reality: No single organization can meet every need of someone diagnosed with breast cancer. The conversation moves beyond individual programs to examine the larger ecosystem of breast cancer support, including where patients continue to fall through the cracks and what it will take to build a more connected, accessible, and sustainable system of care. Kelly shares her experience living with metastatic breast cancer, the urgency of funding research, and why people with advanced disease need better access to clinical trials and specialized care. Sue discusses the role of integrative oncology in supporting quality of life, why these services remain financially out of reach for many patients, and how partnerships with cancer centers can expand access. Ellen explains why personalized peer support remains essential and how collaboration between organizations can help people find trusted resources without navigating a fragmented system. Laura also brings her perspective as both someone diagnosed with breast cancer and a nonprofit CEO, reflecting on the challenges of building sustainable programs, prioritizing limited resources, and addressing needs that traditional cancer care may overlook. In this episode, we discuss: •    Why breast cancer care needs to extend beyond medical treatment •    The importance of peer support, community, and emotional well-being •    Gaps in access to integrative oncology and supportive care •    Why metastatic breast cancer research and advocacy remain critical •    The need for better clinical trial navigation and access to specialists •    Financial barriers and disparities in breast cancer care •    How nonprofits, healthcare providers, and industry can work together •    Why nonprofit collaboration matters more than duplicating services •    The realities of funding and sustaining patient support programs •    What the future of breast cancer support could look like One of the most powerful themes throughout this conversation is that better breast cancer care requires more than better treatments. It requires connecting people to the information, services, and support that make living with and beyond a diagnosis more manageable. Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with metastatic breast cancer, navigating life after treatment, supporting a loved one, or working in cancer care, this conversation offers a broader perspective on the resources available today—and the work still ahead. Explore the organizations featured in this episode: SurvivingBreastCancer.org — https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) — https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org METAvivor — https://www.metavivor.org Unite for HER — https://uniteforher.org Breast Cancer Conversations is a podcast from SurvivingBreastCancer.org, sharing lived experiences, expert perspectives, and evidence-informed conversations to support people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.   Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  4. Oct 5

    314. Is CBD Safe During Breast Cancer Treatment? What the Evidence Actually Shows

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! Many people turn to CBD hoping for relief from pain, nausea, anxiety, sleep problems, and other side effects of cancer treatment. But CBD isn’t risk-free, and “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean harmless. It can be biologically active, product quality varies widely, and it may interact with medications used during breast cancer treatment.  magic-episode-02 In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we take an evidence-focused look at CBD and breast cancer: what research currently tells us, where evidence is still limited, and what patients should know before adding CBD to their supportive care routine. We’re joined by Dr. Shannon Arora and Dr. Priyanka Sharma for a conversation about how CBD works in the body, why people with cancer are using it, and what the evidence shows for symptoms including pain, nausea, anxiety, and sleep. The conversation also explores the important difference between using CBD for supportive care and using it to treat cancer. CBD is not a cancer treatment and should not replace evidence-based breast cancer therapies.  magic-episode-02 One of the most important topics we address is CBD and drug interactions. The discussion explores why CBD may affect the way the body processes certain medications, including tamoxifen and other drugs commonly used in breast cancer care—and why your oncology team needs to know about CBD even if you purchased it over the counter.  magic-episode-02 We also dig into an increasingly confusing CBD marketplace. What’s actually in the product you’re buying? What is the difference between CBD, THC, hemp, and marijuana? How do you evaluate product quality? And what does regulation mean for people trying to make informed decisions about cannabinoid products?  magic-episode-02 In this episode, we discuss: What CBD is and how it differs from THCWhy people with breast cancer are turning to CBDWhat research shows about CBD for pain, nausea, sleep, and anxietyWhy CBD should be considered supportive care—not a cancer treatmentPotential interactions between CBD and tamoxifenOther cancer medications that may interact with CBDWhy it’s important to tell your oncology team what you're takingOral versus topical CBDHow product quality and labeling can varyWhat to look for when evaluating CBD productsWhy evidence matters more than anecdotal adviceThe evolving regulatory landscape surrounding cannabinoidsThe biggest takeaway? You don't need to feel embarrassed or judged for asking about CBD. But your care team does need to know. If you're considering CBD during breast cancer treatment, bring the conversation to your oncologist, pharmacist, or healthcare team. The goal isn't to tell patients simply “yes” or “no”—it's to help you ask better questions and make informed decisions based on your medications, symptoms, and individual health needs.  magic-episode-02 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. CBD can interact with medications. Always talk with your healthcare team before starting, stopping, or changing CBD, cannabis products, supplements, or prescribed medications. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  5. Sep 20

    313. Tamoxifen Changed My Body: The Side Effects We Don't Talk About with Lindsey Campbell

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, taking a daily medication like tamoxifen can become part of life for years. But what does it actually feel like to live with the side effects day after day? In this candid episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with Lindsey, who was diagnosed with DCIS at age 37 after finding a lump herself. Following surgery and radiation, Lindsey began taking tamoxifen—and quickly discovered that the experience involved much more than simply taking a pill every morning. Lindsey shares the difficult fertility conversation she and her husband faced before treatment, why she took a trip before starting tamoxifen, and how she has learned to adjust her expectations of what her body can do. Laura shares her own experience with endocrine therapy and the complicated emotions that can come with years of treatment—even when you understand why you're taking the medication. The conversation ultimately becomes about more than tamoxifen. It's about learning to give yourself grace when your body changes, letting go of the expectation that you should simply "go back to normal," and realizing that you still deserve to take up space exactly as you are. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  6. Sep 14

    312. It's Urgent, But It's Not an Emergency" Dr. Troso Sandoval on a New Breast Cancer Diagnosis

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! Your scans came back. The portal posted results before anyone called. There are four appointments on the calendar and a vocabulary nobody taught you — and underneath it all, the feeling that you're already behind. Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval spent 25 years treating women's breast and gynecologic cancers, much of it at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Her first piece of advice is the one nobody expects: slow down. Breast cancer treatment is urgent, she says, but it is not an emergency. It does not have to be solved in the next thirty-seven seconds — and the decisions you make in a panic are rarely the ones you'd make in a week. In this conversation with host Laura Carfang, Dr. Troso-Sandoval walks through what to do in the first 48 hours, why breast cancer is not one disease but many, and what she's actually looking at when she reads your pathology report — tumor size, margins, lymph nodes, Ki-67, receptor status — before she ever walks into the room. She explains hormone receptors and HER2 in plain language, why chemotherapy sometimes comes before surgery, and how Oncotype and MammaPrint answer the question so many people are carrying: do I even need chemo? She's also frank about the parts of oncology that aren't in the guidelines — that she doesn't treat an 84-year-old the same as a 34-year-old with identical pathology, and that treatment plans get built around whether your daughter can drive you. And there's one thing she circles back to make sure it's said out loud: if you're of childbearing age, fertility has to come up at the first visit. Not the third. 🔗 Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval — drtiffanytroso.com  Her book, Calming the Cancer Chaos: An Oncologist's Guide for Women to Understand, Organize, and Take Control of Their Cancer Care, is out now and includes a free companion workbook. Disclosure: Dr. Troso-Sandoval discusses her book and private practice in this episode. SurvivingBreastCancer.org received no payment and earns no commission. 💗 About SurvivingBreastCancer.org  We're a nonprofit providing evidence-based education, emotional support, and well-being resources to everyone touched by breast cancer — at every stage. 400+ programs a year, all virtual and 100% free. https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org 👉 Subscribe for new conversations every week, and share this with someone who needs it. ⚠️ This video is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Dr. Troso-Sandoval is not your physician and cannot advise on individual cases; treatment standards described here are general and evolve rapidly. Please talk with your own oncology team about your diagnosis and treatment plan. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  7. Aug 30

    311. Men Get Breast Cancer Too: The Symptom Vic Almost Dismissed

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! When Vic Clevenger's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, he and his brother had a thought that many men probably share: At least we're not women. We don't have to worry about breast cancer. Years later, Vic learned firsthand just how wrong that assumption can be. It started with what looked like a stain on his shirt. When Vic realized fluid was coming from his nipple, he initially assumed it was probably a cyst, pimple, or something minor. His fiancée encouraged him to get it checked. Even then, Vic says his concerns were initially dismissed because male breast cancer was considered "too rare." But Vic knew something wasn't right and sought another opinion. A mammogram and biopsy ultimately confirmed breast cancer. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Vic joins Laura Carfang for an honest—and often surprisingly funny—conversation about male breast cancer, self-advocacy, genetic testing, masculinity, body image, and learning to live fully after a cancer diagnosis. Vic shares his experience undergoing a double mastectomy and radiation, taking ongoing hormone therapy, and later discovering that he carries a BRCA2 mutation. His family's genetic testing also challenged another common assumption: hereditary breast cancer risk doesn't only come from your mother's side of the family. In this episode, we discuss: Yes, men can get breast cancerThe unexpected symptom that led Vic to seek medical careWhy nipple discharge or other breast changes shouldn't be ignoredWhat happened when Vic's concerns were initially dismissedHaving a mammogram and biopsy as a manVic's experience with a double mastectomy and surgical drainsBody image and the emotional impact of mastectomy for menUsing humor to navigate cancer and recoveryBRCA2 mutations and understanding family historyWhy family history on both sides mattersThe importance of genetic counseling and testing when appropriateFear of recurrence and life after treatmentWhy some men may delay going to the doctorHow breast cancer organizations can make male patients feel more includedWhy self-advocacy and second opinions can matterVic's perspective on getting a "second lease on life"Vic also shares an important challenge for healthcare providers and cancer organizations: don't make men hunt for information about male breast cancer. While male breast cancer is uncommon, the people diagnosed with it deserve information, resources, and support that recognize their experiences. And Vic's message to other men is one worth sharing: If you notice something different in your body, don't ignore it. Get it checked. And if you don't feel like your concerns are being taken seriously, keep asking questions. Because breast cancer isn't exclusively a women's disease. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

  8. Aug 23

    310. Surviving Cancer Is Only the Beginning: How to Process What Comes After

    Love the podcast? Send us a text! What happens emotionally after you've spent months—or years—focused on simply surviving cancer? Treatment may end. Scans may look good. Life may begin moving forward again. But that doesn't necessarily mean you've processed what happened to you. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang sits down with visual artist, therapeutic arts practitioner, author, and cancer survivor Nerissa Balland for an honest conversation about the emotional aftermath of cancer—and why healing and surviving aren't necessarily the same thing. Nerissa was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma while five months pregnant and already raising a toddler. After navigating cancer treatment, motherhood, and enormous uncertainty, she began asking a question that would ultimately change the direction of her life: Was she the only one struggling to recognize the woman she had become after cancer? That question led Nerissa to interview more than 100 young mothers diagnosed with cancer. Across different diagnoses, backgrounds, treatments, and family circumstances, common themes emerged: identity, grief, anger, isolation, resilience, meaning-making, and the challenge of figuring out who you are after cancer changes your life. Those conversations eventually became her book, Canvas of Courage. In this episode, we explore: Why surviving cancer and processing cancer are two different experiencesThe emotions that can surface after active treatment endsCancer's impact on identity and sense of selfFear of recurrence and the emotional impact of "watch and wait"Why you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativityExpressive writing, visual art, photography, movement, and other creative outletsHow creativity can help when you don't have words for what you're feelingMotherhood and parenting through cancerThe pressure to return to "normal" after treatmentFinding meaning and purpose after a life-changing diagnosisWhy emotional healing isn't linear—and doesn't follow a timelineLaura also shares her own experiences with emotions unexpectedly surfacing after breast cancer treatment and what she learned from breaking a crayon during an expressive arts exercise. Whether you're newly diagnosed, years beyond treatment, living with ongoing cancer, or supporting someone you love, this conversation offers permission to acknowledge that getting through treatment is only one part of the experience. Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars!  You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News:  Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

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4.8
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About

Breast Cancer Conversations is a podcast produced by Survivingbreastcancer.org where we inject positivity into the very fabric of a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast Cancer Conversations provides education, and inspiration, and offers hope. You will hear stories from those diagnosed with breast cancer, interviews with medical professionals, and thought-leadership emerging from the oncology field. Welcome to our breast cancer community! Welcome to the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    SurvivingBreastCancer.org
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    317
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Breast Cancer Conversations
  • Show Website
    Breast Cancer Conversations

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