51 episodes
Breast Cancer Stories The Axis
-
- Health & Fitness
-
-
4.9 • 30 Ratings
-
Breast Cancer Stories is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.
After her mother died, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump and called her doctor at UCLA, but the earliest appointments were two months out. She frantically called around for a doctor who could get her in ASAP for a biopsy. Luckily, St. Mary's in Long Beach got Tita in right away, but the news wasn't good. When Tita later saw her oncologist at UCLA, they found more cancer than expected and recommended immediate aggressive chemo. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.
Season 2
The second season follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump." One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.
Season 1
The first season of Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, double mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have.
Connect with us
Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.
Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com
Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.
Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.
-
Day 45: It’s Too Much [Dr. Tita Gray]
After her second triple infusion of chemo, Tita is feeling worse than ever—no appetite, headaches, achy joints, the whole side effect shebang.
The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping it stays gone.
Emotionally drained, she cuts all her hair off herself and thinks through her reasoning for wanting a double mastectomy when the time comes.
After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.
Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)
Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)
Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS -
Day 25: Stop Asking Me How I’m Feeling [Dr. Tita Gray]
Triple negative breast cancer means aggressive chemo, and for Tita, dealing with everyone else's worry on top of it is too much. With her first chemo session completed, she's determined not to let cancer overshadow her gratitude for the good things in her life.
After her mom's death and some family issues, Tita found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.
Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)
Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)
Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS -
Day 1: A Horrifying Diagnosis [Dr. Tita Gray]
Following the loss of her mother and some traumatic family drama that came with it, Dr. Tita Gray discovered a lump in her breast.
Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s worse than initially thought, so her doctor recommends aggressive chemo ASAP.
Links
How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger
Breast Cancer Stories is a podcast about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.
In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Dr. Tita Gray shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.
Connect with us
Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.
Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com
Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.
Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler & Dr. Tita Gray
Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Assistant Producers: Hannah Burkhart & Mary Ellen Clarkson
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS -
Kristen Update: I’d Prefer to Have a 2nd Type of Cancer
The results of Kristen's PET scan showed two lymph nodes lighting up, one in the gastro-hepatic area of her abdomen and the other in the lining of her esophagus.
While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but the earliest appointment is almost two months away.
Puzzling through the scenarios (as if she has a choice), Kristen hopes for a second, new kind of cancer rather than stage four, metastasized breast cancer.
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
Subscribe to our newsletter
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS -
Kristen Update: Shouldn’t I Be in the Hospital?
After a fiasco in Escondido involving multiplying rodents and toxic air quality, Kristen’s on the move again.
The pulmonologist found ground glass lungs and an enlarged heart, then Dr. Ali found an enlarged lymph node between her liver and stomach and asked for a PET scan.
With recurrence always lurking, we play the old, familiar waiting game.
====
Season 3 is coming soon and we need your help!
Tita Gray’s story is different, but the same. Listen for a preview of what’s to come in June 2024.
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
Subscribe to our newsletter
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS -
Natasha Update: Recurrence is a Nonstop Obsessions
About to turn 60, Natasha is in a dark place thinking of other things that can go wrong with her health if she’ll have to go it alone. Even though a routine MRI is clear, she obsesses about cancer spreading to other areas that aren’t being checked.
Following her mother’s recent lung cancer diagnosis, Natasha worries more for her than she did for herself. Staying close to her, she plans to visit and help her navigate the impossible decisions that come with having cancer.
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe
About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."
Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Customer Reviews
My hero
I’ve been so incredibly inspired my Kristen’s story. I currently have breast cancer and this was the first podcast I had listened to after I found out and it’s helped me in SO MANY WAYS. Thank you for doing this podcast. I am forever her biggest fan.
Best out there…
A treasure trove of thoughtful and insightful information, for those of us going through this, partners, caregivers, friends…blended with stories from two delightful women who feel like friends within just a few episodes. Highly recommended.
Beautifully Open and Honest
Anytime you need to talk, we are listening Kristen! Thank you for letting us follow your journey!
Top Podcasts In Health & Fitness
You Might Also Like