The Breast Cancer Podcast

Dr. Deepa Halaharvi

From Surgery to Survivorship, Dr. Deepa Halaharvi discuss cancer topics that affect breast cancer patient and survivors. They provide clarity on a cancer diagnosis and provide insight into the struggles of survivorship.  Their goal is to provide a supportive and informative platform for breast cancer survivors. This podcast offers insights and resources that will help survivors navigate the challenges of post-treatment survivorship.This podcast does not intended for medical advice.  Please consult with your doctor if you have any questions regarding your diagnosis.

  1. The Silent Heart Crisis in South Asians

    16H AGO

    The Silent Heart Crisis in South Asians

    💛 The Silent Heart Crisis in South Asians This episode of The Breast Cancer Podcast is deeply personal to me. I am grateful that Dr. Mubin Syed joined me on this podcast to share his expertise and knowledge on Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians. I lost my mom to complications of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. And looking back, I often wonder: 👉 What did we miss? 👉 What did we not know sooner? That’s why I wanted to have this conversation. In this episode, we discuss an important reality that many people still don’t realize: ⚠️ South Asians are at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes—often at younger ages and even at “normal” body weights. We talk about: ✔️ Why cardiovascular disease happens earlier in South Asians ✔️ What “skinny fat” really means ✔️ Why normal BMI and labs can sometimes be misleading ✔️ Genetics, lifestyle, and cultural factors ✔️ The intersection between breast cancer survivorship and heart health ✔️ Most importantly—what we can actually do to reduce risk One of the most important takeaways: 👉 You can look healthy on the outside and still carry significant risk on the inside. But there is hope. Through earlier awareness, screening, lifestyle changes, and better conversations within our families and communities, we can change outcomes. I can’t change my mom’s story. But my hope is that this conversation helps someone else change theirs. Author Bio: Mubin Syed, MD, is a nationally recognized physician with 30 years experience, specializing in endovascular therapy. He is also a health historian and a medtech entrepreneur holding 28 patents. He is the author of a medical guide on pain treatment and Healing From Our History: How Colonial-Era Famines Led to a Modern South Asian Health Crisis. His mission to help South Asians improve their health led to a TEDx Talk, and features in CNN International/The Guardian, HuffPostUK, Indian Express International, The Juggernaut, and Brown History Podcast. For interviews, email: Desidoc.health@gmail.com Instagram: @desidoc.md (DM: “interview request”) Website: www.desidocmd.com/ Healing From Our History by Dr. Mubin Syed is available now! https://store.bookbaby.com/book/healing-from-our-historyhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4MBFFK3 Stay Connected with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi: TikTok: @breastdoctor Instagram: @drdhalaharvi TBCP Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast Website: https://drdeepahalaharvi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepahalaharvi5917 Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast

    1h 5m
  2. From Radical to Refined — How Breast Cancer Surgery Evolved

    MAR 17

    From Radical to Refined — How Breast Cancer Surgery Evolved

    March is Women’s History Month, and today’s episode is more than medicine… It’s a story of science, courage, and the voices of women who changed everything. For decades, women were told that survival required sacrifice — not just of the breast… but of identity. Radical surgeries. Permanent disability. No questions asked. But something powerful happened. 💡 Science evolved. 💬 Patients began to speak up. 👩‍⚕️ Women entered medicine. And everything changed. Today, breast cancer surgery is no longer about doing more — it’s about doing what’s necessary… and nothing more. In this episode, I walk you through: ✨ How we moved from disfiguring surgeries to precision care ✨ The trials that proved less can be just as effective  ✨ Why quality of life is now part of the conversation ✨ And how patient voices reshaped modern medicine As a breast surgeon and a survivor, this journey is deeply personal to me. Because today, we don’t just treat cancer. We treat the person. 💭 And when we combine evidence with compassion… that is when healing truly happens. 🎧 Listen now on The Breast Cancer Podcast #TheBreastCancerPodcast #WomensHistoryMonth #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastSurgery #Oncology #PatientEducation #WomenInMedicine #CancerSurvivor #HealthEquity #MedicalEducation #BreastCancerCare #EvidenceBasedMedicine #WomenSupportingWomen #WeRiseTogether Stay Connected with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi: TikTok: @breastdoctor Instagram: @drdhalaharvi TBCP Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast Website: https://drdeepahalaharvi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepahalaharvi5917 Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast

    28 min
  3. Paving Your Path Through Breast Cancer And Beyond: A Practical Guide to Treatment and Beyond

    FEB 3

    Paving Your Path Through Breast Cancer And Beyond: A Practical Guide to Treatment and Beyond

    I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Amy Comander on The Breast Cancer Podcast 💕 Dr. Comander is a medical oncologist, survivor advocate, and the author of her powerful new book, Paving Your Path Through Breast Cancer And Beyond. Evidence-Based Lifestyle Medicine Tools for Cancer Survivorship. In this episode, we talk about: ✨ Navigating breast cancer one step at a time ✨ Practical tools for survivorship—body, mind, and soul ✨ How patients can feel empowered (not overwhelmed) through treatment and beyond ✨ Why survivorship deserves just as much attention as diagnosis and treatment As a breast surgeon and a survivor myself, I deeply value conversations like this—ones that meet patients where they are and remind them that they are not alone on this journey. Amy Comander, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, MSCP is a breast oncologist and Medical Director of the  Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in Waltham, Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Program at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a breast oncologist, Dr. Comander has witnessed the struggles her patients face during and following completion of primary cancer treatment, and she is passionate about improving the overall health and well-being of breast cancer survivors through lifestyle interventions.  In 2019, she launched the PAVING the Path to Wellness Program lifestyle medicine program for breast cancer survivors. She mentors other colleagues to run PAVING groups, so that this transformational experience can be offered to a larger group of  cancer survivors.   She has co-authored "PAVING Your Path Through Breast Cancer and Beyond,"  "PAVING the Path to Wellness Manual and Workbook," and "PAVING a Path Through Menopause and Beyond."  Driven to integrate  lifestyle medicine in cancer care, Dr. Comander is honored to be the first oncologist awarded Fellow status by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.    Her Books: also available on Amazon!  PAVING Your Path Through Breast Cancer and Beyond PAVING the Path to Wellness Manual & Workbook (Second Edition)  Social media: @DrAmyComander on Instagram Stay Connected with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi: TikTok: @breastdoctor Instagram: @drdhalaharvi TBCP Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast Website: https://drdeepahalaharvi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepahalaharvi5917 Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast

    51 min
  4. From Friendship to Fighting Cancer: Two Physicians, One Shared Mission

    JAN 25

    From Friendship to Fighting Cancer: Two Physicians, One Shared Mission

    As we begin new year, here is your reminder: Survivorship is active, not passive.  What began as a friendship grew into a shared mission—to care for, educate, and advocate for those facing breast cancer.  Thanks Friendship Podcast for inviting us for this empowering conversation. In this episode, Dr. Shabana Dewani and I talk honestly about breast cancer from both sides of the table—as physicians and as humans who walk closely with survivors every day. We are both passionate about: movement and strength training- which rebuilds muscle lost during treatment, improves bone density and reduces fracture risk, lowers fatigue, improves energy, supports metabolic health and reduces risk of recurrence. We discuss prevention, recovery, survivorship, and the often unspoken emotional journey that continues long after treatment ends. This isn’t just about medicine. It’s about connection, trust, hope, and walking alongside patients with compassion and purpose.  We are both grateful to have conversations that elevate awareness and strengthen our community. Dr. Shabana Dewani  is board certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine—and a joy to listen to!  She breaks down the oncology process and important factors when deciding treatment.  You'll be able to hear her passion for helping others ensuring they get the best treatment possible. Stay Connected with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi: TikTok: @breastdoctor Instagram: @drdhalaharvi TBCP Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast Website: https://drdeepahalaharvi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepahalaharvi5917 Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast

    1h 6m
  5. 11/28/2025

    Your Won Life: From Broken to Brave — My Story of Rising When It Mattered Most

    It was truly an honor to join Kimyung Kim on Your Won Life. Our conversation went far beyond the surface — we explored purpose, resilience, healing, and what it truly means to rise after life’s hardest moments. His thoughtful questions and genuine curiosity created space for a meaningful dialogue that reflects both my journey as a surgeon and my experiences as a survivor. I left the conversation feeling grateful, inspired, and reminded of why sharing our stories matters so deeply. Connect with Kimyung Kim   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/yourwonlifepodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourwonlifepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimyungkim/ Check out his Podcast on your podcast platform: Your Won Life We discussed :  1) Detection & Screening of breast cancer Know your body and symptoms Monthly breast self-exam Under 40: clinical exam every 3 years Age 40+: annual mammograms Family history: start 10 years earlier than relative’s diagnosis 2) 5 Prevention Pillars Strength training 3x/week + cardio Max 2 alcoholic drinks/week 7–8 hours sleep + morning sunlight Stay socially connected Follow screening guidelines 3) Diet Mediterranean diet 4) Genetics: Test if you have family history Talk openly about family cancer history 5) Patient Rights It’s OK to question or seek a second opinion Switch doctors if dismissed Keep all records 6) Supporting Someone With Cancer Do: Listen, help with meals/childcare/cleaning, stay present Don’t: Share death stories, minimize, or say “I know how you feel” 7) Key Points 50% of cancers are preventable Early detection saves lives You are the CEO of your health Focus on what’s in front of you now Stay Connected with Dr. Deepa Halaharvi: TikTok: @breastdoctor Instagram: @drdhalaharvi TBCP Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast Website: https://drdeepahalaharvi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepahalaharvi5917 Instagram: @thebreastcancerpodcast

    47 min
4.9
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

From Surgery to Survivorship, Dr. Deepa Halaharvi discuss cancer topics that affect breast cancer patient and survivors. They provide clarity on a cancer diagnosis and provide insight into the struggles of survivorship.  Their goal is to provide a supportive and informative platform for breast cancer survivors. This podcast offers insights and resources that will help survivors navigate the challenges of post-treatment survivorship.This podcast does not intended for medical advice.  Please consult with your doctor if you have any questions regarding your diagnosis.

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