Breastcancer.org Podcasts: Experts discuss research & issues
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Numbness After Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction
May 28, 2020
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, or "Dr. D" as he has come to be known, is a founding partner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. Board-certified in plastic surgery, Dr. D has performed thousands of reconstructive procedures, both for women diagnosed with breast cancer and women at high risk of the disease who choose to have prophylactic breast removal. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also has been named one of the "Best Doctors in America."
In this podcast, Dr. DellaCroce talks about why numbness happens after mastectomy or breast reconstruction and factors that can affect how much sensation returns.
Listen to the podcast to hear him explain:
- the differences between immediate and delayed reconstruction and how each procedure can affect the potential for sensation to return
- the difference between implant reconstruction and autologous reconstruction and how each procedure can affect the potential for sensation to return
- how the type of mastectomy can affect the potential for sensation to return
- why we need more research on using nerve grafts to possibly help sensation return
Running time: 42:43
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Breast Cancer and Race: Disparities and Mental Health Effects
June 5, 2020
Dr. Lola Fayanju is assistant professor of surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition to treating people with breast cancer surgery, Dr. Fayanju's research interests include using big data and sophisticated analyses to reduce disparities in outcomes after breast cancer diagnoses and to improve the value of breast cancer care. When she was a general surgery resident at Washington University in St. Louis, her research found that women treated by safety-net primary care doctors in the greater St. Louis area were more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced-stage breast cancer than women who had private insurance. She also looked at the reasons behind this disparity, and her work led to an overhaul of the referral process for underserved women in the St. Louis area.
Breast cancer is a crisis in its own right. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many doctors' offices and treatment facilities to close, so breast cancer screenings and treatments have been delayed for months. When some areas were just starting to schedule appointments again, many people experienced additional trauma due to the killing of George Floyd and potentially even more limited access to medical facilities. All of this fear, anxiety, and uncertainty can lead to sky high stress and despair levels, especially for people of color who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
In this podcast, Dr. Fayanju talks about some of the disparities we see in breast cancer, as well as some ways to ease stress and despair.
Listen to the podcast to hear her explain:
- some of the disparities in breast cancer care and some of the reasons behind the disparities
- the idea of choice and how that affects the diversity of enrollment in clinical trials
- the resources she recommends to her patients who are feeling stress and anxiety
Running time: 22:25
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Quarantine Fatigue: How to Stay Vigilant About Your Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
June 17, 2020
Dr. Jackie Gollan is associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science and a clinical psychologist at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. As a clinician, she uses evidence-based psychotherapy to treat people for depression and anxiety. Her research focuses on how habits interfere with our goals; this includes how people make decisions to approach or avoid situations.
As the quarantine and restrictions related to COVID-19 stretch into their fourth month — though some areas are loosening some restrictions — we may find ourselves not wearing a mask every single time we leave the house or being a bit more casual about washing our hands. This reaction is called "caution fatigue."
In this podcast, Dr. Gollan explains caution fatigue and give us some tips on how to overcome it.
Listen to hear Dr. Gollan explain:
- the differences between caution fatigue, alarm fatigue, and information overload
- how to recognize if you're experiencing caution fatigue
- how to overcome caution fatigue
Running time: 20:30
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Talzenna Patient-Reported Outcomes
June 23, 2020
Dr. Jennifer Litton, a board-certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is chief of the Section of Clinical Research and Drug Development for Breast Cancer. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute.
At the American Association for Cancer Research virtual annual meeting, Dr. Litton presented results from the EMBRACA trial, looking at using Talzenna (chemical name: talazoparib), a type of medicine called a PARP inhibited, to treat advanced-stage HER2-negative breast cancer in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. She joins us today to talk about the results, especially the patient-reported outcomes, which showed that people treated with Talzenna had better quality of life than people treated with chemotherapy.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton explain:
- what a PARP inhibitor is and how it works
- how quality of life was better for people treated with Talzenna compared to chemotherapy
- why she thinks Talzenna is a good treatment option for people diagnosed with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer who also have a BRCA1 or a BRCA2 mutation
Running time: 14:04
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Sexual Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
July 10, 2020
Dr. Kelly Shanahan is a metastatic patient advocate and METAvivor board member. She had to give up her OB/GYN practice because of side effects from metastatic breast cancer treatment. At the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Shanahan was one of the moderators of a panel sponsored by Breastcancer.org and Sermonix Pharmaceuticals on the sexual side effects that breast cancer treatment can cause. As a dual citizen of this discussion — she's both a metastatic patient who has experienced some of these side effects and an OB/GYN who used to treat people for these side effects — she's uniquely qualified to help us all understand the topic and offer solutions.
Listen to the podcast to here Dr. Shanahan explain:
- her personal journey with breast cancer
- why anti-estrogen medicines and chemotherapy can cause vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, and pain during intercourse
- some of the causes of loss of libido
- solutions to some of the most common sexual side effects, including vaginal dryness and thinning, pain, lack of desire, and hot flashes
Running time: 37:20
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Acupuncture to Ease Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects
July 22, 2020
Dory Ellen Fish is a board-certified, state-licensed acupuncturist with 25 years of experience in 5 Element and Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture. She holds a diplomate in acupuncture from the National Commission for the Certificate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. For the past 15 years, much of her continuing education has been focused on cancer care. She completed the acupuncture course in oncology for cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and the Oncology Training for Acupuncture course at MD Anderson. Dory Ellen has lectured and taught at various universities, hospitals, and organizations. Her clinical practice is in Bryn Mawr, Penn.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dory Ellen explain:
- what acupuncture is
- the benefits of acupuncture
- the risks of acupuncture, including the risk of lymphedema
- her top three recommendations for someone who wants to try acupuncture for the first time
Running time: 27:38
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Breast Cancer Risk and Race
August 6, 2020
Dr. Lola Fayanju is assistant professor of surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition to treating people with breast cancer surgery, Dr. Fayanju's research interests include using big data and sophisticated analyses to reduce disparities in outcomes after breast cancer diagnoses and to improve the value of breast cancer care. When she was a general surgery resident at Washington University in St. Louis, her research found that women treated by safety-net primary care doctors in the greater St. Louis area were more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced-stage breast cancer than women who had private insurance. She also looked at the reasons behind this disparity, and her work led to an overhaul of the referral process for underserved women in the St. Louis area.
In a June 2020 New England Journal of Medicine article, at least two widely used tools estimating breast cancer risk have been found to offer lower risk estimates for women of color.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Fayanju explain:
- how these tools were created
- why an artificially lower risk of breast cancer can be harmful for women of color
- the factors that she thinks need to be incorporated into risk calculators for minority women
- how women of color can accurately figure out their risk of breast cancer and develop an appropriate screening plan with their doctor
Running time: 25:12
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COVID-19 and Breast Cancer Care: Follow-Up Questions
August 24, 2020
On July 30, 2020, Breastcancer.org hosted a virtual town hall to hear from medical experts and patients about the effect of COVID-19 on breast cancer care. During the town hall, the medical experts answered many questions, but didn't have time to answer all of them. In this podcast, Breastcancer.org medical adviser Dr. Brian Wojciechowski answers the rest of the questions.
If you'd like more information, visit our special report on COVID-19 and breast cancer care.
Dr. Wojciechowski practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals. He trained at Temple University School of Medicine and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Wojciechowski is a sought-after speaker on the topics of medical ethics and the biology of cancer.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
- what we know about how stress and anxiety can affect the immune system
- how people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can protect themselves in public spaces
- whether or not it is safe to get a chemotherapy port flushes
- questions to asks surgeons and other doctors to ensure the proper safety protocols are in place
Running time: 21:14
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COVID-19 Testing Confusion
September 15, 2020
Dr. Megan Kruse is a breast medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
On Aug. 24, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modified its COVID-19 testing guidelines to say that people who don't have symptoms don't need to be tested, even if they've been exposed to the virus. Many experts questioned the change, and on Aug. 26, the director of the CDC issued a statement saying that, "testing may be considered for all close contacts of confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients." It's the "may be considered" language that seems to be confusing people.
Dr. Kruse joins us to help clear up any confusion about COVID-19 testing recommendations.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Kruse explain:
- how she's talking to her patients about COVID-19 testing
- how someone who is immunocompromised should approach COVID-19 testing
- why testing recommendations for people being treated for breast cancer have to be nuanced
Running time: 9:36
Editor's Note: This episode was recorded before September 18, 2020, when the CDC again changed its recommendations on COVID-19 testing to say that people without symptoms should talk to their doctor about being tested if they may have been exposed to the virus.
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Verzenio Reduces Recurrence Risk for Certain Early-Stage Breast Cancers
September 21, 2020
Dr. Stephen Johnston is professor of breast cancer medicine and consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research in London.
At the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020, Dr. Johnston presented results from the monarchE trial. This study compared treating people diagnosed with early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence with either standard hormonal therapy after surgery or two years of Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) in addition to standard hormonal therapy.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Johnston explain:
- the characteristics that make early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer have a high risk of recurrence
- an overview of the study and its early results
- side effects caused by Verzenio seen in the study
- the future of using Verzenio to treat early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence
Running time: 27:08
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Flu Vaccines and Holiday Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
October 7. 2020
Infectious disease expert Dr. Elizabeth Robilotti is assistant attending physician and associate medical epidemiologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Listen to the podcast to hear her discuss:
- why a flu vaccine is so important during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for people diagnosed with breast cancer
- why you can't contract the flu from the flu vaccine
- how to safely celebrate the fall and winter holidays
Running time: 13:07
Listen now or read the transcript.
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Breast Cancer Research at ESMO 2020
October 12, 2020
Dr. Michael Method is an oncologist and also senior medical adviser and global lead for adjuvant breast cancer treatment research at Lilly Oncology.
While ESMO 2020 was virtual this year, there was still quite a bit of breast cancer research presented. Dr. Method joined us to talk about some of the most notable studies.
Listen to the podcast to hear him discuss:
- studies looking at using the CDK4/6 inhibitors Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) and Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib) to treat early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
- a study using the immunotherapy Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab) to treat early-stage triple-negative breast cancer before surgery
Running time: 27:16
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Does Chemotherapy Choice Affect How Well Tecentriq Works Against Breast Cancer?
October 20, 2020
Dr. Leisha Emens is professor of medicine in hematology/oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center. She is also co-leader of the Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program and director of translational immunotherapy for the Women's Cancer Research Center. She is internationally recognized for her research on using immunotherapy to treat breast cancer.
At the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020, Dr. Emens presented final overall survival results from the IMpassion130 study, showing that the combination of Tecentriq, which has the chemical name atezolizumab, and Abraxane, which has the chemical name nab-paclitaxel, improved overall survival by 7.5 months compared to Abraxane alone for people diagnosed with metastatic PD-L1-positive, triple-negative breast cancer. But another trial — the IMpassion131 study — found that combining Tecentriq with Taxol, a different form of paclitaxel, was no better than Taxol alone in treating the same type of breast cancer — metastatic triple-negative disease.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Emens explain:
- the differences in the designs of the two studies
- how Abraxane is different from Taxol
- possible reasons for the difference in results
- what this means for patients
Running time: 16:58
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Weslinne's Story: Diagnosed With Breast Cancer During COVID-19
October 14, 2020
Weslinne Cespedes, who lives in Brooklyn, was diagnosed with stage III triple-negative breast cancer at age 30 in March of this year, just as New York City was deciding when and what to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen to the podcast to hear Weslinne talk about:
- how finding a lump in her breast led to her diagnosis
- how the COVID-19 pandemic added to the stress of cancer treatment
- how she started chemotherapy and planned her wedding during the pandemic
- how she feels the diagnosis changed her
- what she wants people to know
Running time: 39:38
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Ira's Story: Living as a Trans Man With a BRCA1 Mutation
November 17, 2020
Ira Feinstein is an American author currently living in Chicago. Cut Off will be his first book. Growing up in Georgia and Michigan, Ira lived as Carla before gender transitioning at age 38. Carla lost both of her parents by age 11 — her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack and 2 years later, her mother died from breast cancer. A number of years after her mother's death, Carla learned that she carried a BRCA1 mutation, which gave her a much higher than average risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Carla had a preventive double mastectomy and hysterectomy before gender transitioning.
Listen to the podcast to hear Ira talk about:
- living with a BRCA1 mutation, both as a woman and a trans man
- the decision to have preventive surgery
- his experiences as a trans man dealing with the medical community
- his advice for other people dealing with a genetic mutation
- Cut Off, his first book
Running time: 28:16
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Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy
November 23, 2020
Dr. Chirag Shah is a radiation oncologist and director of breast radiation and clinical research in the department of radiation oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. His primary research interests are breast cancer, sarcoma, and innovative radiation treatment schedules, as well as lymphedema. He has participated in numerous clinical trials.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Shah explain:
- the difference between hypofractionated radiation schedules and older, longer radiation schedules, as well as why accelerated schedules were created
- the benefits and possible risks of a hypofractionated radiation schedule
- how to advocate for yourself if your radiation oncologist doesn't recommend a hypofractionated schedule
Running time: 11:06
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SABCS 2020: Easing Depression in Young Breast Cancer Survivors
December 10, 2020
Dr. Patricia Ganz is a medical oncologist who is distinguished professor of medicine as well as professor of health policy and management at UCLA. She also serves as director of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Ganz is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board.
At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she presented results from a study looking at using mindfulness meditation and survivorship education classes to ease depression in younger women treated for breast cancer.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Ganz explain:
- how the breast cancer experience is different for younger and older women
- why the researchers chose to study mindfulness meditation and survivorship classes to ease depression
- how someone who is interested could participate in the UCLA Mindfulness Center mindfulness meditation classes
Running time: 19:07
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SABCS 2020: Supplement Use After Breast Cancer
December 14, 2020
Maura Harrigan is an oncology research registered dietitian and project manager at the Yale School of Medicine. She also serves as a registered dietitian nutritionist in the Survivorship Clinic at the Yale Cancer Center.
At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, results were presented from a study on dietary supplement use by breast cancer survivors and how these supplements may interact with tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors. Maura is the lead researcher on the study.
Listen to the episode to hear Maura discuss:
- why telling your doctor and/or a registered dietitian with oncology expertise about any and all the supplements you take is so important
- why people may be getting more of a particular supplement than they realize
- her advice for women who've been treated for breast cancer and are considering taking supplements
Running time: 35:31
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Using Cold Caps During Breast Cancer Treatment
December 17, 2020
Heba Abdalla is a member of the Breastcancer.org community who was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer at age 36 when she was pregnant with her third child. Being diagnosed de novo means that the cancer was metastatic at first diagnosis.
Heba has been on several different treatments, including some that are known to cause hair loss. She has used cold caps during treatment three times and in this episode of the Breastcancer.org podcast, she'll tell us about her experience with them.
Listen to the episode to hear Heba talk about:
- her diagnosis and first treatments
- how she learned about cold caps
- why she wanted to use cold caps
- how well cold caps worked for her
- what she wants other people considering cold caps to know
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Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccines
December 24, 2020
Dr. Hana El Sahly is associate professor of molecular virology and microbiology in the Vaccine and Treatment and Evaluation Unit at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. El Sahly is the chairperson of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, the committee that makes vaccine recommendations to the FDA, and was also the lead investigator for the phase III trial for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Because of her role in studying the Moderna vaccine, Dr. El Sahly recused herself from the committee's review of COVID-19 vaccines. In this podcast, she talks to us about both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency authorization by the FDA.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. El Sahly explain:
- how mRNA vaccines work
- the differences between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
- the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines for people with weakened immune systems
- why someone who's been vaccinated still needs to wear a mask and practice social distancing
Running time: 19:22
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Why Health Literacy Is Important for People With Breast Cancer
January 6, 2021
Dr. Jenni Sheng is assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sheng mainly treats people diagnosed with breast cancer and helps them live with, through, and beyond cancer by working with her patients to create the best treatment plans and manage any side effects treatment may cause.
Dr. Sheng is also a research member of GRASP — Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships — a nonprofit that connects cancer researchers and advocates so they can learn from each other.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sheng explain:
- what health literacy is and how having good health literacy skills can help people diagnosed with breast cancer
- how people can improve their health literacy skills
- how to navigate online sources of health information
Running time: 21:51
Listen now or read the transcript.0 -
SABCS 2020: Pregnancy After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
January 13, 2021
Fertility after breast cancer treatment is an important issue for many, many younger women diagnosed with breast cancer. At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, research was presented showing that while breast cancer survivors of child-bearing age are less likely to get pregnant than the average woman, most have healthy babies and pregnancy has no effect on their long-term survival. Dr. Matteo Lambertini, adjunct professor of medical oncology at the University of Genova - IRCCS Policlinico San Martino Hospital, is corresponding author of the study.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Lambertini explain:
- why the researchers did the study
- a summary of the study and the results
- why it is important for women and doctors to know that pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is safe for both a woman and her baby
- his advice to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and want to have a child after treatment
Running time: 11:14
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SABCS 2020: Doctors May Not Recognize the Severity of Radiation Side Effects
January 19, 2021
Dr. Reshma Jagsi is the Newman Family Professor and deputy chair of the department of radiation oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan.
At the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, she presented results from a study looking at how well doctors recognized radiation treatment side effects among people treated for breast cancer.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Jagsi explain:
- why the researchers decided to look at this topic
- why certain groups, including younger women and women who are Black or of a race other than Asian or white, were more likely to have their doctors assess their side effects as less severe than they really were
- how patients can help make sure their doctors understand the severity of any side effects they're having
Running time: 12:59
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Intermittent Fasting: Can it Help With Weight Loss?
January 22, 2021
Dr. Neil Iyengar is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center whose practice focuses on people with breast cancer.
His research is looking at the links between metabolic health and cancer, specifically looking at how diet, exercise, and medicines can prevent cancers tied to obesity, such as breast cancer, and improve outcomes for people with inflammation in fatty tissues.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Iyengar explain:
- what intermittent fasting is and how it was developed
- why some people think intermittent fasting could be a tool to prevent breast cancer
- the research done so far
- the risks of intermittent fasting and what people who want to try it should consider
Running time: 21:40
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Talking to Your Doctor About Going Flat
February 17, 2021
Dr. Deanna Attai is associate clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Attai was an early adopter of social media for professional and patient education. She serves as the social media editor for the Journal of Oncology Practice and is a member of the Annals of Surgical Oncology editorial board. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Social Media Working Group and co-chair of the Collaborative for Outcomes in Social Media in Oncology research group.
Much of her recent research has focused on going flat and how satisfied women are with this decision, as well as whether surgeons support women who want to go flat.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Attai explain:
- the reasons why a woman may opt to go flat
- why she decided to study how satisfied women were with their decision to go flat
- how a woman should talk to her surgeon to ensure she gets a truly flat chest that she is happy with cosmetically after mastectomy, with symmetrical scars and no dog ears
Running time: 29:15
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Immunotherapy Side Effects
March 3, 2021
Dr. Jennifer Litton is a board-certified medical oncologist and professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, where she is vice president of clinical research. She also is a member of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Task Force of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Litton joins us for this episode to talk about the side effects that may be caused by the two immunotherapy medicines approved for breast cancer: Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) and Tecentriq (chemical name: atezolizumab).
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Litton explain:
- how these two immunotherapy medicines work
- the side effects that are unique to the immunotherapy medicines
- how doctors monitor immunotherapy side effects
- tips how people can monitor themselves for side effects
Running time: 20:44
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Update on COVID-19 Vaccines
March 12, 2021
Dr. Halle Moore is director of breast medical oncology and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program at the Cleveland Clinic. Her research focuses on breast cancer treatment and issues related to cancer survivorship.
Since the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved, she has been advising people diagnosed with cancer about what they need to know about being vaccinated. In this episode, she gives us an update on COVID vaccines, as well what people with allergies to polyethylene glycol and polysorbate should consider before being vaccinated.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Moore explain:
- how the technology of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine differs from the technology of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
- why the vaccines can't be compared head-to-head
- how she is advising people with polyethylene glycol and polysorbate allergies about the COVID vaccines
- what people currently being treated for breast cancer need to consider before being vaccinated
Running time: 18:14
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Scalp Cooling: How It Works to Preserve Hair
March 23, 2021
Dr. Steven Isakoff is a medical oncologist who serves as associate director for clinical research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and also as director of the Mass General Scalp Cooling Program and the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Program. He is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Isakoff explain what scalp cooling is and how it works, including:
- the differences between automated scalp cooling systems and manual cold caps
- the factors that influence how effective scalp cooling can be at preserving hair during chemotherapy
- the biological mechanism of how scalp cooling works
- his tips for anyone who wants to try scalp cooling
Running time: 25:33
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American Rescue Plan: Benefits for the Breast Cancer Community
March 29, 2021
Joanna Fawzy Morales is a cancer rights attorney, author, speaker, and CEO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization providing free education on the legal and practical issues that may affect people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Joanna has spent more than 27 years working on behalf of people with cancer, including 5 as an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School, teaching a seminar in cancer rights law, and 8 years at the John Wayne Cancer Institute's Psychosocial Care Program. Currently, she's also an adjunct law professor at Wayne State University.
Listen to the episode to hear her explain the American Rescue Plan and the benefits it may offer to people diagnosed with breast cancer, including:
- additional economic impact payments for individuals who make up to $75,000 or couples who make up to $150,000
- the increase in health insurance marketplace subsidies
- when the benefits begin and how long they will last
Running time: 27:27
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J&J COVID Vaccine and Blood Clots: What This Means for People With Breast Cancer
April 13, 2021
Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., practices medical oncology in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, at Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer hospitals and also serves as Breastcancer.org's medical adviser.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control have recommended that use of the Johnson & Johnson-Janssen COVID-19 vaccine be paused because six cases of what's called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia have been diagnosed after people received the vaccine. Basically, a blot clot was found in the veins that drain blood from the brain, and the people also had very low levels of platelets, a type of cell that helps the blood to clot.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain:
- what these rare clots are and how they happen
- what people who've received the J&J vaccine should know
- how he's advising his patients with breast cancer
Running time: 22:08
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