Breastcancer.org Podcast Breastcancer.org

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Fumiko Chino, MD, presented the results of research she conducted with Breastcancer.org on how doctors’ communication skills affected how well breast cancer patients stuck to their treatment plants.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Chino explain:
why she wanted to do the study
the results
how to have good conversations with your doctor

The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting featured five days of presentations and educational sessions on all types of cancer. Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, a board-certified medical oncologist at the Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Paramus, NJ, summarizes the top breast cancer research.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Teplinsky explain:
the DESTINY- Breast06 study on Enhertu compared to chemotherapy for metastatic hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer
how circulating tumor DNA may help predict recurrence
descalating treatment to reduce the risk of side effects

Black women have a higher risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer at a young age than white women. At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Holly Pederson, of the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Elisha Hughes, of Myriad Genetics, presented their research on how a polygenic risk score can help predict the risk of early-onset triple-negative breast cancer in Black women.
Listen to the episode to hear Drs. Pederson and Hughes explain:
what a polygenic risk score is
the results of their research
how the results are being used

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Brooklyn Olumba was part of ASCO Voices, a program that gives people in the oncology a community an opportunity to tell their stories. Her talk was entitled “Genetic Testing Saved My Life.”
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Olumba explain:
how she came to have genetic testing at age 25
when she started breast cancer screening
how she advises young women about screening

There are many reasons women don’t get annual mammograms, including the distance to a mammogram facility, lack of transportation, or not having a primary care doctor. 
Licensed, certified genetic counselor Rena Vanzo wants to overcome those barriers. She’s started The Boob Bus, a mobile mammography bus that also offers genetic testing and cosmetic procedures, to make getting a mammogram feel more like going to a spa.
Listen to the podcast to hear Rena discuss:
how she came up with the idea for The Boob Bus
the services offered on The Boob Bus
why screening mammograms are so important
how she wants to grow the business
Photo courtesy of Master of Business Creation, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah

Pain is a common side effect of breast cancer. The cancer itself may cause pain and nearly all breast cancer treatments may cause some type of pain. If breast cancer is metastatic – meaning it’s spread to parts of the body away from the breast, such as the bones or liver – it may cause pain in those areas.
There are many medicines that can ease cancer pain. Opioids are narcotic drugs that are commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain caused by breast cancer or its treatments. While effective, opioids can be habit-forming, which can be a problem for people with a history of addiction.
Listen to the episodes to hear Dr. Moryl discuss:
the difference between chronic and acute pain
the difference between withdrawal symptoms and addiction
pain control options for people with a history of substance abuse disorder