Let's Talk About Your Breasts

Her first mammogram at 40 changed the course of her life.

Diane Feng joins Roxann Hayford to share how a mobile screening through The Rose and I’ll Have What She’s Having led to a breast cancer diagnosis. She talks about navigating insurance, facing surgery, and finding help when medication side effects made recovery harder than expected. She also explains why looking well doesn’t mean feeling well—and why speaking up matters.

Share this episode with family and friends, and consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Ten Key Questions Answered

1. How did I’ll Have What She’s Having connect Diane with her first mammogram on a Rose mobile coach?

2. What did The Rose’s technologists do to make her first screening experience less intimidating?

3. How did encouragement from Chef Christine Ha help Diane stop postponing her appointment?

4. What was it like to receive unexpected breast health news while her husband and daughter were in the car?

5. How did Diane navigate unfamiliar medical terms and determine which doctors her insurance would cover?

6. Why did her surgical plan change from a lumpectomy to a mastectomy, and what did the final pathology reveal?

7. How did trusted medical friends and fellow survivors help her understand information without becoming overwhelmed?

8. How did breast cancer influence Diane’s priorities around work, family, and her eventual move to Taiwan?

9. What did Diane learn about seeking help for difficult tamoxifen side effects and knowing which doctor to contact?

10. Why does she want people to understand that looking well does not mean someone has finished recovering physically or emotionally?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection.

Please consider sharing this episode, or making a donation at http://therose.org/ so more women receive breast cancer screening and care.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key questions answered

1. How did a sports‑obsessed kid from Crandall, Texas, work her way from tiny markets and tomahawk tournaments to the Houston Astros broadcast team?

2. What did Julia learn in minor league ballparks with the Round Rock Express that made her the right hire for a full‑time traveling baseball role?

3. How did legendary play‑by‑play announcer Bill Brown help introduce her to Astros fans and give her space to be herself on air during losing seasons?

4. Why did Julia decide to drop the “buttoned‑up” reporter persona and let fans see the same person on TV that they’d meet in H‑E‑B?

5. What toll did early years of bad baseball, five‑hour games, and constant travel take on her, and how did those years actually make her a better reporter?

6. How did the arrival of stars like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, and Lance McCullers change her job and the way the broadcast told stories?

7. In what ways does Julia see herself as a trailblazer for women in sports media, and how did little girls in the stands with “I’m here to see Julia” signs change her perspective?

8. How did she balance becoming a visible role model with raising her own young daughter, knowing her child is watching how she treats people on and off camera?

9. What exactly happened in 2020 when Julia was navigating pregnancy, a shutdown baseball season, and the discovery that her mother was already deep into breast cancer treatment?

10. How has her mother’s diagnosis and double mastectomy shaped her own screening habits, her views on early detection, and her message to fans about mammograms?

Timestamped overview

00:30 Julia explains what she actually is on air: sideline reporter, field reporter, broadcaster, and sometimes “Ms. Astro”

01:37 First jobs after college as a small‑market sports reporter, covering everything from football to tomahawk throwing in Sherman, Texas

04:01 Learning the business side of baseball: players being optioned, designated for assignment, and the stories that never make the big‑league broadcast

06:50 Adjusting from local news schedules to life on the road with a Major League team and learning live, in‑game broadcasting

09:39 Julia’s decision to stop playing the “hard‑news” sideline role and instead be fully herself for 162 games a season

11:20 The grind of 2013: bad team, long games, coast‑to‑coast travel, wardrobe stress, and quietly hitting a wall by May

22:01 Staying in the role long‑term when many women cycled out after a couple of years; growing up on camera and putting down roots in Houston

24:19 How deep ties to players, alumni, and Astros legends made Julia a lifelong fan of people like Jose Altuve and Nolan Ryan

25:58 The moment she realized she was inspiring girls: signs in the stands, little fans calling her name, and seeing herself in them the way she once heard Pam Oliver

29:02 Dorothy shifts the conversation to breast cancer and asks about Julia’s mom’s diagnosis coinciding with her pregnancy in 2020

31:32 Returning home, camping out on her mom’s couch during early COVID, and missing the signs that something was wrong

32:31 Mom’s later visit to Houston in a baseball cap, the quiet reveal that she’d already started breast cancer treatment, and Julia’s guilt at not knowing

33:28 Processing that her mother had been doing chemo and appointments alone while Julia was focused on pregnancy and job uncertainty

34:00 The double mastectomy scheduled three days before Julia’s delivery, scrambling to give her mother time to recover and still meet her grandbaby

35:03 Her mom’s lump, finding it on a mammogram, getting treated despite the pandemic, and being “all good” now

35:32 Why Julia started mammograms three years early, at 37, and how her mother’s estrogen‑sensitive cancer changed the way she thinks about her own stress and hormones

38:06 Fears and conversations about risk for her daughter Valerie, hereditary questions, and how often she thinks about their shared future

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cancer changed their family twice, and recovery took more than surgery.

Breanne and Michael Thomas join Angie Lane to share how they supported each other and their three children through separate cancer diagnoses. They discuss telling their kids, organizing meals and carpools, asking friends for specific help, and why healing doesn’t end when treatment does. Their message: make room for recovery, accept support, and give yourself time to live beyond survival.

Share this episode with family and friends, and consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Ten Key Questions Answered

1. How did Michael’s earlier understanding of cancer shape his first reaction to his diagnosis?

2. What helped Michael move from fear toward understanding his prognosis and treatment options?

3. Why did the couple wait until they understood Michael’s care plan before telling their children?

4. How did Breanne prepare the family for Michael’s treatment through childcare, therapy, and other support?

5. What delayed Breanne’s mammogram follow-up, and how did fear influence those decisions?

6. Why did Breanne choose a double mastectomy, and what surprised her about recovery?

7. How did a therapist help the couple understand that each parent’s diagnosis could affect the children differently?

8. How did a carpool app, meal train, and communication with teachers help keep the children’s lives moving?

9. Why does Michael encourage partners to identify the everyday household responsibilities that often go unnoticed?

10. What does Breanne mean when she says surviving is not enough—and why does she encourage survivors to give themselves time and grace?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A film about breast cancer became personal before its release.

Producer Erin E. Mitchell joins Roxann Hayford to discuss Outriding the Devil and her own recent breast cancer diagnosis. She shares why she initially delayed having a lump checked, how the woman featured in her film became a source of strength, and what her first chemotherapy treatment taught her about asking questions, reporting symptoms, and accepting support.

Share this episode with family and friends, and consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. What story does Outriding the Devil tell, and how does it connect rodeo, breast cancer, and a return to competition?

2. What did Erin’s role as senior producer involve in bringing the film to audiences?

3. How did watching a young barrel racer at the Tucson Rodeo draw Erin into the sport?

4. Why did Erin initially delay getting a breast lump checked, and what finally prompted her to seek care?

5. How did having no family history and no previous mammograms influence her perception of breast cancer risk?

6. What diagnosis did Erin receive, and why did she choose to share her experience only six weeks into the journey?

7. How did the woman featured in her film become a source of encouragement and a “map” for facing treatment?

8. What surprised Erin about her first chemotherapy cycle and the connection between her medication and the film’s title?

9. How did family and friends provide practical support in ways she had not anticipated?

10. How did speaking up about symptoms, medication questions, and her family’s cardiac history influence her care?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A small lump led to a life-changing diagnosis, but early action, excellent care, and a strong circle of support helped Nancy Meyer become a 25-year breast cancer survivor.

In this episode, Houston Chronicle President and Publisher Nancy Meyer joins The Rose CEO Angie Lane to share the personal story behind her public leadership. Nancy recalls hearing the words “breast cancer,” going through chemotherapy and radiation, and learning that no job, family obligation, or busy schedule should come before your health. She talks about screening, self-advocacy, compassion in the workplace, Houston’s generous spirit, and why every woman deserves access to early detection and treatment.

Share this episode with family and friends who need a reminder to put their health first. Consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. What inspired Nancy Meyer’s lifelong career in newspapers and media leadership?

2. How did Nancy go from working in classified advertising to becoming president and publisher of the Houston Chronicle?

3. What brought Nancy to Houston, and why does she describe the city as a “big small town”?

4. How did Nancy discover the lump that eventually led to her breast cancer diagnosis?

5. Why did the request to see her doctor at 7:30 the next morning make Nancy realize the situation was serious?

6. What helped Nancy process the shock of a stage one breast cancer diagnosis and a six-month course of chemotherapy and radiation?

7. Why does Nancy encourage women to bring someone with them to appointments and ask questions about both immediate treatment and long-term decisions?

8. How did ongoing screening, genetic counseling, exercise, advocacy, and support from others become part of Nancy’s life after treatment?

9. What does Nancy want uninsured or underinsured women to know about asking for help and finding breast health care resources?

10. How did breast cancer shape Nancy’s leadership style, deepen her compassion, and influence the way she checks in on colleagues?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*This episode originally aired on The Hairy Chin Podcast with Spencer Moore

Learn more about The Hairy Chin Podcast: https://thehairychin.substack.com/

Support The Rose: https://therose.org/

A mammogram takes about 10 minutes. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I talk with Angie Lane, CEO of The Rose in Houston, about everything it takes to get women to those 10 minutes, and what happens after.

With its Pink Fleet of mobile mammography units, The Rose finds 75 percent of the breast cancers it detects at stage zero or 1A.

The Rose has spent 40 years taking down the barriers to breast cancer screening. Its five mobile units travel across 45 Texas counties and park at places like schools, where a woman can be screened in about 10 minutes.

We also get into what happens after the mammogram: what a callback does and doesn’t mean, and how The Rose’s patient navigators guide women through diagnosis, treatment, and the scary question of cost.

I share my own early-stage diagnosis, found on my first mammogram, and we talk about why your past mammograms matter every time you’re screened.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breast health gets less scary when you know what to expect.

In this episode, Dr. Raz breaks down breast health basics: when to start mammograms, what happens during a screening, why 3D mammography matters, and how dense breast tissue can affect both risk and imaging. He also explains the difference between a screening mammogram, diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, and biopsy—plus what breast cancer stages actually mean.

Dr. Raz shares why early detection can mean less invasive treatment, a lower chance of recurrence, and more time living your life. He also looks ahead at how AI, risk models, blood-based testing, and personalized screening may help doctors better understand a woman’s individual breast cancer risk.

Share this episode with family and friends, especially anyone who has been putting off a mammogram. Consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. What should women do at different ages to protect their breast health and understand their individual breast cancer risk?

2. Why should most women begin annual screening mammograms at age 40, and when might earlier screening be appropriate?

3. What symptoms—including lumps, skin changes, and bloody nipple discharge—should prompt a woman to contact her doctor or a breast center?

4. Will The Rose see women under 40, including teenagers and young adults with breast concerns?

5. What happens during a screening mammogram, and why does it involve four images and breast compression?

6. How does 3D mammography improve cancer detection and reduce false-positive findings compared with traditional 2D imaging?

7. What is the difference between a screening mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, callback, and biopsy?

8. Is mammogram radiation dangerous, and how does the exposure compare with normal background radiation or air travel?

9. What do stages zero through four mean in breast cancer, and why does finding cancer early often lead to less invasive treatment and lower recurrence risk?

10. What are dense breasts, how do they affect breast cancer risk and imaging, and how could AI and emerging blood-based tests help personalize future screening?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A breast cancer diagnosis changes everything, but no one should have to face it alone.

In this episode, Southern Smoke Foundation Executive Director Lindsey Brown shares what it was like to receive a breast cancer diagnosis in the middle of the organization’s busiest season. Chef Chris Shepherd joins her to talk honestly about being the caregiver, showing up for every appointment, navigating uncertainty, and learning when to talk about cancer and when to focus on living.

Lindsey shares how regular mammograms and ultrasounds helped catch her cancer, what aggressive treatment looked like, and why the anticipation often felt worse than the treatment itself. Together, she and Chris talk about community support, a pink wig, a porch full of pumpkins, giant pink balloons, ringing the bell after chemotherapy, and the small rituals that helped them find joy along the way.

They also share how Southern Smoke Foundation supports food and beverage workers facing medical crises, including cancer, through emergency relief funding and access to mental health care.

Share this episode with the advocate, caregiver, survivor, or friend in your life. Consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Learn more about the Southern Smoke Foundation (http://southernsmoke.org).

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. What was it like for Lindsey to receive a breast cancer diagnosis just weeks before the Southern Smoke Festival?

2. How did regular mammograms and follow-up ultrasounds help detect Lindsey’s cancer early?

3. Why did Lindsey’s cancer require aggressive treatment even though it was detected early?

4. What did Chris do when he first learned about Lindsey’s diagnosis, and why was it important for him to be present at appointments?

5. How did Lindsey and Chris cope with the uncertainty of waiting for testing, pathology, treatment decisions, and a full care plan?

6. What was Lindsey’s chemotherapy treatment plan, and how did frozen mittens, booties, extra ice packs, and a good cooler help during treatment?

7. Why did Lindsey decide not to use cold capping, shave her head on her own terms, and wear a pink wig instead of trying to look like her pre-cancer self?

8. How did friends, family, neighbors, fellow survivors, and the MD Anderson team create a powerful support system throughout treatment?

9. What can caregivers, friends, and loved ones do to support someone facing cancer without making every conversation about cancer?

10. How does Southern Smoke Foundation support food and beverage workers facing medical emergencies, mental health challenges, and the financial impact of cancer?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A high school self-exam changed Montsy Duron’s life before she even knew what one was supposed to feel like.

In this episode, Montsy shares how a brochure from The Rose led her to find a lump at 18, why repeated tumors led to a mastectomy and reconstruction at 21, and how surviving a health crisis gave her the strength to finish college, become a first-generation graduate, lead an HR team, and become a mother. She talks honestly about fear, recovery, family, faith, and the message she wants every young woman to hear: know your body, trust your instincts, ask for help, and remember that you can do hard things.

Share this episode with family and friends, especially the young women in your life. Consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did a self-exam brochure from The Rose help Montsy find a lump when she was only 18 years old?

2. Why did Montsy and her mother come to The Rose for help after discovering they did not have health insurance?

3. What were the recurring breast tumors Montsy experienced, and why did they require multiple lumpectomies?

4. Why did Montsy decide to have a mastectomy at 21 after her tumors kept returning?

5. What was the reconstruction process like while Montsy was attending college, working, and recovering from surgery?

6. Who supported Montsy through treatment, recovery, and the fear of facing a serious health issue at such a young age?

7. How did surviving breast tumors motivate Montsy to become the first person in her family to graduate from college?

8. Why did Montsy choose a career in human resources and education, working with Title I schools and underserved students?

9. How did Montsy’s unexpected meeting with Dorothy Gibbons bring her breast health journey full circle?

10. What does Montsy want young women to know about self-exams, early detection, trusting their instincts, and asking for help?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pink shows up everywhere in October, but at The Rose, it means more than awareness. It means mammograms, patient navigation, gas cards, and care for women who might otherwise go without.

In this episode, The Rose CEO Angie Lane talks with fundraising manager Shannon McNair about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the community partners who make the mission possible. They highlight Nice Winery’s Rosé, Serve Up a Cure, Little Woodrow’s Pink Parties, Alief ISD, Rudy’s Pink Cups, Tacos A Go Go, and the individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and fitness groups who raise money all year long.

Shannon explains why every gift matters, from a few dollars to a major fundraiser, and why unrestricted community support helps The Rose respond when a woman needs a mammogram, help getting to treatment, or patient navigation.

Share this episode with family and friends, and consider making a donation at http://therose.org.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. Why is October such a busy and important month for The Rose?

2. Why do more women schedule mammograms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month than during any other month?

3. How does Nice Winery’s Rosé campaign support breast health care at The Rose?

4. What is Serve Up a Cure, and how has its 25-year tennis tournament helped fund more than 5,000 mammograms?

5. How are Little Woodrow’s locations across Texas using Pink Parties, raffles, T-shirts, and hats to support The Rose?

6. How do Alief ISD, Rudy’s Bar-B-Q, Tacos A Go Go, Galveston partners, and other local businesses help women access breast health care?

7. Can an individual, school, church, gym, workplace, or hobby group host a fundraiser for The Rose?

8. Why are unrestricted donations so important for women who need mammograms, patient navigation, gas cards, or support getting to treatment?

9. How can shoppers make sure a pink-ribbon purchase is actually supporting a breast cancer organization?

10. How can listeners support The Rose throughout the year, even outside Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chantel Williams shares her background as a military brat and transition from logistics to finance.

Chantel's involvement with the Junior League of Houston is a testament to her commitment to community service. As the outside board representative for The Rose, she offers a unique perspective, highlighting the invaluable opportunity for Junior League members to serve on nonprofit boards and make a tangible impact.

With raw honesty, Chantel opens up about her personal experience with breast cancer, underscoring the importance of advocating for oneself.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1.) In what ways does moving around as a military brat and experiencing different cultures shape her perspective and adaptability?

2.) How does being involved in organizations like the Junior League provide leadership skills and opportunities to make a positive impact in the community?

3.) Why is it important to advocate for oneself in healthcare is crucial, especially when it comes to early detection and prevention of diseases like breast cancer.

4.) How did Chantel’s role in the Junior League inspire her work with The Rose

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Background and Moving Around

02:04 Career Path and Starting AFP Group

07:30 Joining the Junior League of Houston

09:21 Being the Outside Board Representative for The Rose

13:36 Personal Experience with Breast Cancer

24:17 Impact of Junior League Membership

26:48 Learning from The Rose

31:36 Importance of Junior League and The Rose

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Miroslava De Leon, finding purpose proved to be impossible as a supply chain analyst. So she left Corporate America and became a paramedical tattoo artist.

After pushback from her inner circle, she persevered and has now helped countless women look and feel their best with 3D areola tattoos through her business Conceal Touch.

During this episode, Dorothy and Miroslava discuss her career switch, what paramedical tattooing is, and the unique way she helps breast cancer survivors.

Go to Miroslava’s website to learn more about her work.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aeliya Jaffar’s story is both harrowing and inspiring.

She’s a former pharmacist who was diagnosed with breast cancer one year postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As if that’s not enough heartache, her paternal grandmother passed away.

During this episode, Aeliya gets candid about her struggles, her triumphs, and she shares her story with an unflinching attitude of strength and heroism with a touch of humor.

Help us grow the show by leaving a review on your podcast platform and sharing with your family and friends. And please consider supporting our mission at https://therose.org/. Your donation could help save the life of an uninsured woman.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An itch, a small lump, and a thirty four year old mom who refused to ignore what her hand felt.

Amber Gonzalez shares how a pea sized lump led to a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo, surgery, and hard decisions about what to tell her children. From cold caps and hats to long days at Texas Oncology with her mother at her side, Amber shows what early action, self exams, and strong support can mean for young women facing breast cancer.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did Amber first notice her breast lump and decide to call her doctor?
2. What steps led from a well woman visit to mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, and diagnosis?
3. What does triple negative breast cancer, stage two, grade three, mean in practical terms for treatment planning?
4. How did Amber’s treatment at Texas Oncology unfold, including Taxol, Carbo, and Red Devil chemo?
5. What role did the cold cap and hats play in helping her maintain a more normal appearance for her children?
6. How did she balance extreme fatigue, long chemo days, and parenting responsibilities?
7. What did Amber choose to share and not share with her younger children about her diagnosis?
8. How did her mother support her practically and emotionally through treatment?
9. Why does Amber emphasize monthly self exams and being in tune with any changes in your breasts?
10. How can friends and caregivers show up for someone in breast cancer treatment, according to Amber’s experience?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LaTrease Price-Gistard didn't know about The Rose when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She's convinced things would have ended up quite differently if she had.

During this episode, we talk about her breast cancer journey, the effects of her battle as it relates to her children, and how she ended up serving as a volunteer for The Rose.

Help us grow the show by leaving a review on your podcast platform and sharing with your family and friends. And please consider supporting our mission at https://therose.org. Your help could help save the life of an uninsured woman.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former 36-year trial attorney, breast cancer survivor, and a passionate advocate fighting for healthcare equity. Maria Boyce steps into her new role as Board Chair of The Rose, channeling her own life-saving early diagnosis into a mission to ensure quality breast healthcare is a right for all women, not a privilege. From navigating structural barriers across 45 Texas counties and supporting women through patient advocacy to making a legacy gift for future generations, Maria discusses how early detection, dedicated advocacy, and community support save lives. If this conversation has inspired you to join the fight against breast cancer, share this episode with family and friends and consider making a donation at therose.org so another woman gets the care she needs.

If this story has helped you think differently about mammograms and breast health, share this episode with family and friends and consider making a donation at therose.org so another woman gets the care she needs.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did Maria Boyce’s 36-year career as a trial attorney prepare her to advocate for women facing breast cancer today?

2. Why does Maria believe her annual mammograms—and access to good health insurance—were life-saving after an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis?

3. What does Maria mean when she says health care is a right, not a privilege?

4. How did her work with the Episcopal Health Foundation and her family’s commitment to health access lead Maria to The Rose?

5. Why did Maria decide to join The Rose Board of Directors and eventually accept the role of Board Chair?

6. What story about a woman choosing a mastectomy because she could not miss work for radiation stayed with Maria—and why?

7. How does The Rose help women navigate care after a breast cancer diagnosis, from finding treatment to getting through a confusing system?

8. What strengths does Maria see in The Rose’s board, and how does its professional expertise support the organization’s mission?

9. What does Maria see as The Rose’s biggest opportunity over the next forty years, especially for uninsured, underinsured, and rural women?

10. Why did Maria and her husband choose to include The Rose in their legacy plans, and what does she hope that gift will make possible for women in the future?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stage one, double mastectomy, and a woman who refuses to keep breast cancer quiet.

Marla Hurley is a business owner, fashion show producer, and mother of three who found a lump high on her chest, pushed for answers, and chose an aggressive surgical path that let her skip chemo and radiation. From dense breasts and high risk screening to posting every step of reconstruction and inspiring other women to get their first mammogram, Marla shows how early detection and honesty can save lives.

If this story has helped you think differently about mammograms and breast health, share this episode with family and friends and consider making a donation at therose.org so another woman gets the care she needs.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did Marla first notice something was wrong and what made her act quickly?
2. What does it mean to have dense breasts and a high risk status for breast cancer?
3. How did regular diagnostic mammograms shape her outlook when she found the lump?
4. What was the process from initial imaging to biopsy and a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma?
5. Why did Marla choose a double mastectomy over lumpectomy with chemo and radiation?
6. What did surgeons find during surgery that imaging had missed and how did that change her treatment?
7. Why is she taking a long term medication for five to ten years and what does it do for recurrence risk?
8. What was recovery like from mastectomy and reconstruction, including expanders, fills, and the “great deflate?”
9. How did family, friends, and her three adult children support her through diagnosis and surgery?
10. How did posting her journey online lead other women to schedule mammograms and catch cancer early?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley Dedmon is a women's health advocate. This week, she shares her compelling story to ensuring she never experiences breast cancer.

As a BRCA2 positive patient and having lost her mother to breast cancer, Ashley made the difficult decision to have a double mastectomy. She also speaks about the impact of her father's cancer diagnosis and how it strengthened her resolve.

During this episode, you'll hear her story of survival and how her decision helped her to take control of her life. And you'll learn how Ashley's helping women make informed choices.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work that never ends, bodies that never rest, and a woman who finally stepped off the treadmill.

Emilee Whitehurst returns for another conversation about taking a personal sabbatical from nonstop work, listening to her body again, and building simple practices that support her health, her purpose, and her ability to show up for others. Her story gives anyone in caregiving, nonprofit work, or healthcare permission to pause, heal, and return stronger.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. What made Emily realize she needed to step away from her work and take a personal sabbatical?
2. How did she overcome the fear that resting would make her lazy or worthless?
3. What cultural messages about productivity and work make it hard for women to rest?
4. How does Emily describe the toll of sitting at a screen, not moving, and ignoring basic needs week after week?
5. What simple practices did she start or return to during her time away from full time work?
6. How does she think this pause will change the way she contributes in her next role?
7. Why is it so hard for caregivers, parents, and nonprofit leaders to believe they have a right to rest?
8. How can women begin to notice what their bodies are telling them before burnout becomes a crisis?
9. What parallels does Emily see between overwork, stress, and the way women postpone their own health appointments?
10. How can listeners experiment with small pauses that support their physical health, mental health, and breast health?

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information shared in this podcast, including discussions about diet, nutrition, and other health topics by our guest surgeon, is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your medical condition, health, or diet. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard in this podcast. Reliance on any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

The Rose turns 39!

Join founders Dorothy Gibbons and Dr. Dixie Melillo as they share stories of hope, dignity, and care for every woman, especially those told there’s no way forward.

This special episode honors their legacy, tackles barriers for the uninsured, and reveals why The Rose means a better life for thousands.

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Key Questions Answered

1. Is there hope for patients with advanced breast cancer?

2. What is the hardest conversation Dr. Melillo has had with a patient?

3. What are some challenges faced by patients seeking charity care or financial assistance for breast cancer treatment?

4. How has being a woman influenced their approach to patient care at The Rose?

5. How did personal experiences with poverty influence Dorothy and Dixie’s commitment to healthcare?

6. What is a common misconception about The Rose?

7. What barriers still exist in the healthcare system for uninsured or underinsured women?

8. What role does nutrition play in cancer and medical training?

9. How has The Rose made an impact on the quality of life for its patients?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Breast Health Podcast Insights

03:38 Cancer Program Income Barrier

08:49 Misadventure: Dog, Buick, and Hospital

12:07 Lessons from Unexpected Challenges

13:26 Wig Styling Expertise Shared

16:03 Healthcare Access and Cost Crisis

22:34 Insulin Receptors in Cancer Cells

23:11 Defying Cancer Prognosis with Diet

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