Breastcancer.org Podcast

Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., FACS, ABIHM., is a general surgeon and also medical director of the Breast Health Program at the Holy Redeemer Health System, as well as an adjunct assistant professor of surgery for the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. DuPree strongly urges her patients to consider complementary healing support, whether it's through lifestyle modification, spiritual assistance, grief counseling, exercise programs, reflexology, nutritional counseling, Reiki, yoga, or massage. She herself has participated in all these techniques and is a master level Reiki practitioner. She believes that "whatever it takes to help a person find healing and peace is the way to curing them."Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DuPree talk about: how she became interested in complementary therapies and how she integrates them into her practice the healing benefits of some complementary therapies how it feels to see her patients heal their minds and psyches as well as their bodies Running time: 33:42These podcasts, along with all the other vital content and community support at Breastcancer.org, only exist because of the generous donations of listeners like you. Please visit Breastcancer.org/support to learn how you can help keep our services free for you and the millions of women who depend on us.

In this Breastcancer.org podcast, Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., Breastcancer.org medical adviser, discusses some of the research that was published in November 2014. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski explain: results of a study that found calcium channel blockers, a common type of high blood pressure medicine, don’t increase breast cancer risk new guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on complementary therapies for breast cancer why more U.S. women are choosing mastectomy over lumpectomy to remove early-stage breast cancer how the experimental targeted therapy olaparib works and why it may work against advanced-stage cancers in people with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene Running time: 17:13These podcasts, along with all the other vital content and community support at Breastcancer.org, only exist because of the generous donations of listeners like you. Please visit Breastcancer.org/support to learn how you can help keep our services free for you and the millions of women who depend on us.

This Breastcancer.org podcast features Aniela McGuinness, an actress and the creator of the My Breast Choice blog. Aniela knew she had an abnormal BRCA1 gene and lost her mother to ovarian cancer in 2013. A year and a half later, at age 31, Aniela was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, three days before her appointment to schedule a preventive double mastectomy.Listen to the podcast to here Aniela talk about: why she decided to create her blog and YouTube channel how she uses humor to get cope with things that upset her how she came up with the idea for her mastectomy photo series her Halloween costume and why Halloween is the best holiday for people with cancer Running time: 21:19These podcasts, along with all the other vital content and community support at Breastcancer.org, only exist because of the generous donations of listeners like you. Please visit Breastcancer.org/support to learn how you can help keep our services free for you and the millions of women who depend on us.

Kerry Osmond was 10 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. When it became available, genetic testing for a mutation that raises the risk of breast cancer was strongly recommended for Kerry’s mom — in 2010 her mother tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation. Kerry knew that meant she had a 50-50 chance of having the same mutation. In 2012, she decided to have genetic testing and learned that she, too, had a BRCA2 mutation. She decided to have a double prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction using tissue from her hip area. Kerry is one of three women whose stories are featured in the Breastcancer.org video series on genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, and reconstruction. Kerry’s younger sister, Mandi, also tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation and is also in the video series. Listen to the podcast to hear Kerry talk about: how her family uses their experience to help others how she connected with women who had similar surgeries on the Breastcancer.org discussion boards how sharing her story in the video was healing in a way why talking to other women who had already had prophylactic surgery was encouraging Running time: 13:56 These podcasts, along with all the other vital content and community support at Breastcancer.org, only exist because of the generous donations of listeners like you. Please visit Breastcancer.org/support to learn how you can help keep our services free for you and the millions of women who depend on us.

In 2012, research results showed that taking the hormonal therapy tamoxifen for 10 years instead of 5 offered more benefits for women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, including less recurrence and better overall survival. Since that time, researchers have wondered if extending the time a woman with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive disease took an aromatase inhibitor would offer similar benefits. In this podcast from the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Terry Mamounas, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, discusses the results of his and other studies looking at whether 2.5 to 5 additional years of Femara (chemical name: letrozole) after 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor offered better survival or lowered the number of recurrences. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Mamounas talk about: the very specific group of women that may benefit from an additional 2.5 to 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor which women should not take an additional 2.5 to 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor how women and their doctors can weigh the benefits and potential risks of extended aromatase inhibitor treatment how he plans to talk to his patients about this issue Running time: 9:09

Ann Partridge, M.D., MPH., is founder and director of the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer and the Adult Survivorship Program, as well as senior physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is a medical oncologist focusing on the care of women with breast cancer and has a particular interest in the psychosocial, behavioral and communication issues in breast cancer care and treatment. Dr. Partridge is also the lead investigator of the U.S. arm of the POSITIVE trial. This study is looking at whether premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive disease who stop taking hormonal therapy after about 1.5 to 2.5 years of treatment to get pregnant have a higher risk of the breast cancer coming back, which doctors call recurrence. Most women diagnosed with hormone receptor positive disease take hormonal therapy for 5 to 10 years after surgery. In the POSITIVE trial, the women who want to get pregnant are stopping hormonal therapy for up to 2 years to become pregnant, deliver the baby and breastfeed. The women then start hormonal therapy again. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Partridge talk about: why the researchers decided to do this study the safeguards the study has in place so a developing baby won’t be harmed by the hormonal therapy medicine other safety concerns associated with stopping hormonal therapy to get pregnant besides recurrence risk Running time: 27:09Visit the Fertility and Pregnancy Issues During and After Breast Cancer section for more information on pregnancy after treatment.These podcasts, along with all the other vital content and community support at Breastcancer.org, only exist because of the generous donations from listeners like you. Please visit Breastcancer.org/support to learn how you can help keep our services free for you and the millions of people who depend on us.

For nearly 25 years, Kelly Grosklags has dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care and hospice. An experienced therapist, Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker and a board-certified diplomat in clinical social work. She also earned a fellowship in grief counseling from the American Academy of Health Care Professionals. Kelly speaks frequently about end-of-life issues, including care, grief and loss, both in person and on her website, Conversations With Kelly. Her passionate and supportive demeanor helps patients, caregivers and health professionals connect with the wisdom of making life more meaningful, coping with depression and anxiety, transforming fear into hope, healing versus curing, and the wisdom of dying a good death. Listen to the podcast to hear Kelly talk about: becoming comfortable with talking about the end of life why stopping treatment is not giving up hospice care — what it is and when to start talking about it how to talk to children about the end of life Running time: 34:05Photo credit: Geordie Griffiths

Leisha Emens, associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and member of the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, discusses the state of immunotherapy to treat breast cancer.Running time: 3:15

The targeted therapy Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) is approved to be used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor to treat advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that hasn’t been treated with hormonal therapy yet in postmenopausal women. Dr. Debu Tripathy, professor of medicine and chairperson of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of the MONALEESA-7 study he presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that Kisqali can help treat premenopausal and perimenopausal women diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer.Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Tripathy explain: why the study is important why ovarian suppression helps make the treatments more effective the side effects caused by Kisqali why he thinks this study will change practice Running time: 7:25Editor's Note: On April 4, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the use of Ibrance so the medicine now can be used to treat men diagnosed with advanced-stage or metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Research has shown that women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause. Still, research results have been mixed on whether losing weight would decrease a postmenopausal woman's breast cancer risk. Rowan Chlebowski, research professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at City of Hope, discusses an analysis of data from the very large Women's Health Initiative Observational Study that found that overweight or obese postmenopausal women who lost just a modest amount of weight — as little as 10 or 15 pounds — had a lower risk of breast cancer.Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Chlebowski explain: why he wanted to do this study why this study was different than earlier studies his advice to postmenopausal women Running time: 7:48

Preserving fertility after chemotherapy is an important issue for many, many younger women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Dr. Matteo Lambertini, medical oncologist at the Institute Jules Bordet Brussels, presented research at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showing that ovarian suppression with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue such as Lupron, Trelstar, or Zoladex, can safely protect ovarian function and may help preserve fertility in younger women being treated with chemotherapy for early-stage disease.Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Lambertini explain: why earlier studies on this topic had mixed results the results of the study the side effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues the strategies he recommends to his younger patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who want to have a child after chemotherapy Running time: 9:09

Beth Baughman DuPree is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in diseases of the breast, with additional board certification in integrative medicine. She is also a master level Reiki practitioner. Dr. DuPree is part of the Sedona Breast Care Clinic of the Northern Arizona Healthcare System.Dr. DuPree earned her medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and her undergraduate degrees in behavioral neuroscience and the history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh.Her first book, The Healing Consciousness: A Doctor’s Journey to Healing, was released in 2006 to excellent reviews by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Bernie Siegel, M.D, among other well-known experts in the women’s health field. Her numerous honors include the Clara Barton Humanitarian Award from the American Red Cross for her ongoing contributions to the treatment of breast cancer. She was selected by her peers for Philadelphia Magazine’s TOP DOCS in Surgery in 2016 and 2017. She serves on the advisory board for Breastcancer.org and often hosts live chats and podcasts on current breast cancer issues. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. DuPree explain: what Reiki is and why she uses it in her practice what happens during a typical Reiki session the benefits of Reiki for people diagnosed with cancer three things you should know before trying Reiki Running time: 37:28 Below are links to the two studies on Reiki that Dr. DuPree discusses during the podcast: Massage and Reiki used to reduce stress and anxiety: Randomized Clinical Trial, by Kurebayashi, L., et al. Published in Revista Latino-Amerciana de Enfermagem, 2016. Self-Efficacy for Coping with Cancer Enhances the Effect of Reiki Treatments During the Pre-Surgery Phase of Breast Cancer Patients, by Chirico, A., et al. Published in Anticancer Research, 2017.

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. A native of South Philadelphia, 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. In September 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a statement warning that the CDK4/6 inhibitors used to treat breast cancer: Ibrance (chemical name: palbociclib) Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) Verzenio (chemical name: abemaciclib) may cause rare but serious inflammation in the lungs. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Wojciechowski talk about: how CDK4/6 inhibitors are used to treat breast cancer why we’re just hearing about this side effect now the recommendations for anyone being treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor Running time: 7:11Thank you for listening to the Breastcancer.org podcast. Please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To share your thoughts about this or any episode, leave feedback on the podcast episode landing page on our website.

Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi is professor of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a past president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is one of the world’s leading authorities on breast cancer treatment. He has published more than 1,000 papers in peer-reviewed journals. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, Dr. Hortobagyi presented overall survival results from the MONALEESA-2 trial, which compared the combination of Kisqali and Femara to Femara alone to treat advanced-stage hormone-receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Earlier results from the study found that adding Kisqali to Femara improved progression-free survival — the amount of time the women lived without the cancer growing. These new results found that the combination of Kisqali and Femara also improved overall survival — the length of time women lived whether the cancer grew or not. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Hortobagyi explain: the goals of the MONALEESA-2 study why the overall survival difference of more than 1 year is so important whether the improvement in overall survival is likely to be the same no matter which aromatase inhibitor is used what the results mean for postmenopausal women diagnosed with advanced-stage hormone-receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer Running time: 19:47

Dr. Hope Rugo is professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she is also the director of breast oncology and clinical trials education. Dr. Rugo is also a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board. She is a principal investigator of a number of clinical trials looking at combining new targeted and immunotherapy medicines with standard treatments for both early-stage and advanced-stage breast cancer and has published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers. At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, Dr. Rugo presented final results from the KEYNOTE-355 trial, which was looking to see if Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy were better than chemotherapy alone as a first treatment for metastatic PD-L1-positive, triple-negative breast cancer. Earlier results found that adding Keytruda to chemotherapy improved progression-free survival — how long people lived before the cancer grew — for this type of breast cancer. These new results show that adding Keytruda improves overall survival — how long people live whether the breast cancer grows or not. Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Rugo explain: what the KEYNOTE-355 aimed to do whether Keytruda offers benefits for PD-L1-negative disease why it’s important for a medicine to improve overall survival as well as progression-free survival the differences in PD-L1 tests and what they mean for the effectiveness of breast cancer checkpoint inhibitor medicines Running time: 25:03