SIS: Sisters in Survivorship

Sisters Network
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

SIS: Sisters In Survivorship amplifies the voices of Black women navigating breast cancer and gives every sister the tools to advocate, heal, and thrive. Presented by Sisters Network Inc., the nation’s only African American breast cancer survivorship organization, SIS: Sisters In Survivorship is where truth meets healing. Each episode amplifies real stories from survivors, caregivers, and advocates while bringing expert insight from leading doctors and researchers. Together, we break the silence on the Black breast cancer crisis and give you the tools to take action. From early detection and mammograms, to genetic risk, triple negative breast cancer, mental health, motherhood, and survivorship, SIS provides culturally relevant insight, resources, and sisterhood that speak directly to our community. Hosted by Caleen Allen, SIS is not just a podcast - it’s a lifeline. Because too many sisters are being diagnosed young, too many are being dismissed by the system, and too many are being lost before their time. Every sister deserves to be seen. Every sister deserves to be heard. Every sister deserves to be supported. Subscribe now and join the movement to stop the silence, amplify the voices, and save more lives.

  1. APR 29

    15: Why Black Women Are Dying From Breast Cancer More Than Anyone Else

    In this powerful Best Of episode, leading doctors, survivors, and advocates unpack the real drivers behind the disparity, from genetic risk and aggressive cancers like triple negative breast cancer to delayed diagnosis and gaps in care. You’ll hear why many Black women are diagnosed younger, why current screening guidelines may fall short, and how lack of access and information continues to cost lives. More importantly, this episode is about what can be done. It’s about asking questions, pushing for answers, and advocating for your health at every stage. Because awareness alone isn’t enough. Remember, early detection and self-advocacy can save your life. KEY EPISODES:  Triple Negative Breast Cancer Hits Black Women Harder | Dr. Lisa A. Newman Explains Why Diagnosed Twice Before 40: Athena Jones on Early Detection & Surviving Breast Cancer Breast Reconstruction After Cancer: What You Need to Know | Dr. Aisha Baron Your Rights After a Cancer Diagnosis: Monica Bryant on Insurance, Work & Financial Protection You Can’t Heal What You Don’t Reveal: Nettie Jones on Healing Breast Cancer Trauma  A Sanctuary for Healing: How Dr. Ryland Gore Reimagines Breast Cancer Care for Black Women RESOURCES:  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    45 min

  2. APR 15

    14 :What Breast Cancer Survivors Want Every Woman to Know

    This powerful “Best Of” episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship brings together the most impactful moments from the season, featuring breast cancer survivors, doctors, and advocates sharing what every woman needs to know. From early detection and self-advocacy to navigating diagnosis, treatment, and life after cancer, this episode highlights the real experiences and expert insights that could save lives. You will hear from leading voices in breast cancer care alongside survivors who have turned their pain into purpose, offering guidance, clarity, and hope. This conversation also explores critical topics affecting Black women, including triple-negative breast cancer, rising diagnoses in younger women, the importance of listening to your body, advocating for yourself in the medical system, and understanding your treatment options. KEY EPISODES:  How 4-Time Cancer Survivor Karen E. Jackson Pioneered the Black Breast Cancer Movement Diagnosed Twice Before 40: Athena Jones on Early Detection & Surviving Breast Cancer Love & Marriage: Huntsville’s Kimberlee Scott on Breast Cancer, Faith & Resilience The Stress–Cancer Link: 2-Time Survivor Dee Manuel Cloud on Stress, Survival & Self-Advocacy Your Care Should Fit YOU: How to Advocate for Treatment You Deserve | Dr. Nina Tamirisa Grief After Cancer: Healing the Loss No One Talks About | Dr. John Onwuchekwa RESOURCES:  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    27 min

  3. APR 8

    Loving Your Body After Breast Cancer: Navigating Intimacy & Self-Worth

    Breast cancer changes more than your body. In this powerful segment, Nettie Jones breaks down the emotional and relational impact of diagnosis, from intimacy and body image to self-worth and identity. She shares why healing starts with acknowledging where you are, not minimizing the experience, and how cancer can reveal the truth about your relationships and your relationship with yourself. RESOURCES:  Nettie Jones  Website - nettiejones.com Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetworkYouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    5 min

  4. APR 1

    13: You Can’t Heal What You Don’t Reveal: Nettie Jones on Healing Breast Cancer Trauma

    In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen sits down with Nettie Jones, licensed psychotherapist, author of The Girlfriend’s Therapist Handbook, and truth-teller known as “the girlfriend’s therapist.” Nettie brings decades of experience helping women navigate the hidden trauma behind breast cancer. She unpacks what it means to be labeled “strong,” why so many women silently unravel under the weight of expectations, and how therapy, truth-telling, and faith can help survivors reclaim their identity. From intimacy challenges to body image, from sitting in silence to asking for help, Nettie offers practical tools and hard questions that empower women to love themselves fully, even in a body they may no longer recognize. She also dives into generational trauma, why mental health in the Black community is finally being normalized, and how every woman can own her truth to begin real healing. If you’re a survivor, caregiver, or advocate, this conversation serves as a reminder that healing begins with honesty, and sisterhood can carry you the rest of the way. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship KEY POINTS:  - [7:15] Why your relationship with yourself is the most important one - [10:25] Why being told “be strong” can be harmful - [11:28] Grieving the life you thought you’d have after diagnosis - [14:53] Breaking stigma: Black women and therapy - [17:10] Hard questions every woman must ask herself - [19:36] Intimacy, body image, and relationship struggles post-diagnosis - [23:36] Learning to love yourself in a body that’s changed - [26:50] Younger Black women on embracing therapy and wellness - [28:28] The link between mental health and disease outcomes - [31:27] Owning your truth as the first step to healing - [32:22] Practical tools: Nettie’s “Check-In Conversation Deck” - [36:59] Sitting in silence vs. knowing when to ask for help - [39:11] The role of Sisters Network in building community support - [40:11] Breaking generational patterns and choosing wellness - [42:31] Nettie’s book: The Girlfriend’s Therapist Handbook - [44:24] Why every woman needs therapy QUOTES: "You can't heal what you're not willing to reveal. Period." – Nettie Jones "It's really hard to learn to love a body that's changing when you didn't love the body you had." – Nettie Jones "Strength comes from surrendering, surrendering things that you can't change, but being okay with being able to do the things that you can change." – Nettie Jones "Your trauma is valid. Your tears are valid, and it's not too late to find your way back to yourself." – Nettie Jones "Healing doesn't start with your partner. It doesn't start with your job, and unfortunately, sometimes it uses pain to get to you." – Nettie Jones RESOURCES:  Nettie Jones  Website - nettiejones.com Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    37 min

  5. MAR 25

    Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy: Which Procedure Fits Your Care? | Dr. Ryland Gore

    Breast cancer surgery decisions can feel overwhelming. In this segment, breast surgical oncologist Dr. Ryland Gore explains how doctors determine whether a patient needs a lumpectomy or mastectomy and why breast reconstruction should always be part of the conversation. She also addresses the disparities Black women face in breast cancer care and why many experts now recommend starting mammograms earlier.

    4 min

  6. MAR 18

    12: A Sanctuary for Healing: How Dr. Ryland Gore Reimagines Breast Cancer Care for Black Women

    In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen welcomes Dr. Ryland Gore, a surgical oncologist who shares her powerful journey from working in a traditional practice to founding the Dream Breast Care Center in Atlanta—a sanctuary designed to provide compassionate, patient-centered, and culturally attuned care, particularly for Black women facing breast cancer. Dr. Gore opens up about having the inspiration from her late father, the urgent disparities in breast health for women of color, and why creating a space that feels sacred has always been essential to her mission. She discusses the alarming rise in breast cancer diagnoses among young Black women, misconceptions that persist in communities, as well as the reasons why early detection and self-advocacy are critical. Gain insights into how Dr. Gore blends medical expertise with empathy and how she is working “to reimagine survivorship” as a space of protection, peace, and empowerment. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org  🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship! KEY POINTS  [0:49] Vision for Dream Breast Care Center and its inspiration [3:41] Youngest breast cancer patient: Diagnosed at age 19 [4:53] Trust your gut; don’t stop seeking answers [5:53] A “luxury haven” where patients feel peace in crisis [7:42] Every patient exits with knowledge of their options and next steps [9:04] Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, and the importance of reconstruction [10:47] Systemic disparities in breast cancer care for women of color! [12:35] Why mammograms should start at 35 for Black women [14:54] Social media as a powerful tool to use  [16:51] Debunking myths: deodorant, bras, and “cutting makes it spread” QUOTES  “I want to take care of people the right way. I want them to feel special. I want people, especially people that look like me, to feel seen.” – Dr. Ryland Gore “Keep going. It's okay to get a second and a third opinion. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to continue to keep pushing until you get the answers that you need.” – Dr. Ryland Gore “Surgery. I try to make it a team sport. I let patients know, especially if they're a candidate for either, that or this is not a decision you have to make today. Call me in a couple of days if you need to think about it, because some people do want to discuss with their families. And, I also let them know that what you decide today, you may change your mind a year from now. So…there are options.” – Dr. Ryland Gore “We continue to open the door so that they feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help, and when they seek help, we don't turn them away. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but it's our job to rule that out.” – Dr. Ryland Gore “Don't be afraid to advocate for yourselves. Don't be afraid to speak up. And if you need a second or third opinion, do that, but make sure you're comfortable with your care and make sure you feel safe with your healthcare team.” – Dr. Ryland Gore RESOURCES Dr. Ryland Gore Website - rylandgoremd.com Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    24 min

  7. MAR 11

    Why Most Disability Claims Are Denied and How Survivors Can Fight Back

    What happens when cancer or chronic illness leaves you unable to work? In this powerful segment, Monica Bryant, Esq., founder of Triage Cancer, breaks down Social Security Disability benefits, including SSI and SSDI, why most applications are denied, and why appeals matter. She also shares critical guidance on legal support, contingency lawyers, hospital charity care, and how survivors can take small, manageable steps toward financial stability. A must-listen for women navigating survivorship, disability, and long-term care options RESOURCES:  Monica Bryant, Esq. Website - https://triagecancer.org/staff  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    6 min

  8. MAR 4

    11: Your Rights After a Cancer Diagnosis: Monica Bryant on Insurance, Work & Financial Protection

    In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, Caleen Allen sits down with Monica Bryant, Esq - lawyer, Chief Mission Officer of Triage Cancer, and national advocate for cancer patients’ rights. Monica breaks down the complicated but critical issues every cancer patient and caregiver needs to understand, from health insurance and job protection to medical leave, COBRA, disability benefits, and financial assistance programs. She shares how patients can protect their privacy at work, avoid costly mistakes with insurance, and access resources that can make the difference between financial ruin and survivorship with dignity. This conversation is equipped with knowledge and confidence to ask the right questions, understand your options, and advocate for yourself at work, in treatment, and in life. ✨ Learn more: triagecancer.org  | sistersnetworkinc.org  🔔 Subscribe for more empowering episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship KEY POINTS:  - [0:00] Introduction - [3:39] What Triage Cancer does and how it helps survivors and caregivers - [4:32] Free resources, legal navigation, and financial education available online - [6:09] How patients can slow down and gather information - [9:22] Understanding your health insurance and avoiding costly mistakes - [10:48] Privacy at work: Do you have to disclose a cancer diagnosis? - [13:15] Job protection, FMLA, ADA, and medical leave explained - [15:41] How FMLA works, its 12-week limit, and misconceptions - [18:28] Advocacy to expand leave laws and improve protections for patients - [23:31] COBRA vs. Marketplace plans: what to know in treatment transitions - [26:13] Medicaid, Medicare, and supplemental insurance options - [28:43] Training healthcare professionals on financial toxicity and advocacy - [30:22] Post-treatment costs: screenings, surveillance, and hidden expenses - [33:18] Social Security disability benefits and why most claims are denied - [35:51] Why you shouldn’t take “no” for an answer in disability appeals - [36:02] Advice for newly diagnosed patients feeling overwhelmed - [39:37] The future of insurance, Medicaid, and patient advocacy QUOTES: "Triage Cancer is a national nonprofit that I co-founded over 13 years ago to provide free education on all of the legal and practical issues that can arise after a cancer diagnosis." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Our goal is to provide people with enough information so that they can figure out what needs to be dealt with right now and what can maybe wait until later. Which, of course, is the definition of triage." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Access to accurate legal information isn't a luxury, it's something that every single person should have access to." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Whether we're talking about someone's job, their insurance or their medical care, I want people to understand that they have options." – Monica Bryant, Esq. RESOURCES:  Monica Bryant, Esq. Website - https://triagecancer.org/staff  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

    45 min
See All (30)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

SIS: Sisters In Survivorship amplifies the voices of Black women navigating breast cancer and gives every sister the tools to advocate, heal, and thrive. Presented by Sisters Network Inc., the nation’s only African American breast cancer survivorship organization, SIS: Sisters In Survivorship is where truth meets healing. Each episode amplifies real stories from survivors, caregivers, and advocates while bringing expert insight from leading doctors and researchers. Together, we break the silence on the Black breast cancer crisis and give you the tools to take action. From early detection and mammograms, to genetic risk, triple negative breast cancer, mental health, motherhood, and survivorship, SIS provides culturally relevant insight, resources, and sisterhood that speak directly to our community. Hosted by Caleen Allen, SIS is not just a podcast - it’s a lifeline. Because too many sisters are being diagnosed young, too many are being dismissed by the system, and too many are being lost before their time. Every sister deserves to be seen. Every sister deserves to be heard. Every sister deserves to be supported. Subscribe now and join the movement to stop the silence, amplify the voices, and save more lives.

Information