Amplifying Voices, Sharing Realities

Have you ever wondered how our cancer metastasizes? Why is it that some treatments just don’t work? Can we as patients living with MBC alter cellular level activity? In this episode, you will hear the answers to these questions and more. Join us as we take a step back to the basics of tumor microenvironment with our guest, Dr. Amy Beumer, who will break down the science into smaller, digestible bites. In this lively discussion, Dr. Amy explains the how and the why of this tough topic. You will hear her say “This is fun” and use engaging, relatable metaphors like “Picture your neighborhood and that one neighbor…..”  By the end, I assure you that you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of tumor microenvironment than when you started. 

Pull up a chair, listen in your car, or on your daily walk, we are with you wherever you listen to your podcasts. Terms and other resources are provided in the episode notes.

Our annual “We Remember” episode honors all who died from metastatic breast cancer since last October and gives voice to the grief and love that endures after each death. Each name shared is a tiny marker of a full, messy, beloved life and each one leaves behind an expansive network of loved ones.  For those of us in the MBC community, the loss of our friends is particularly devastating & the cumulative losses are heavy.  You are not alone in your grief.  We invite you to bear witness with us to this outpouring of love for those we have lost.

Many with metastatic breast cancer fear for their children and siblings: How can we help them avoid the same diagnosis? Are there ways to minimize risk?

In this episode, host Martha Carlson speaks with her eldest child, who’s navigating personal and family risk factors despite no known genetic predispositions. Join us for this powerful and informative episode where we interview Dr. Sagar Sardesai from Ohio State University’s High Risk Breast Clinic.

On today's episode, we are thrilled to discuss an important and often misunderstood area of oncology- biosimilars and their increasing use in cancer care. You might be curious, what exactly are biosimilars? How are they developed and approved? And most importantly, how are they transforming the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer?  We will break down these questions and more as we explore this with an overview from Dr. Julie Gralow, a breast medical oncologist and chief medical officer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

For our Season 9 opening episode, we're learning about agnostic treatments in cancer with Dr. Richard Schilsky of ASCO, who discusses the  TAPUR Study. You may wonder, what is TAPUR and how does it relate to agnostic treatments?  The pioneer behind the study, Dr. Schilsky, explains clinical trials for agnostic therapeutics, how you can join a TAPUR trial, and what to expect.

Do tumor-agnostic therapies represent a radical shift in oncology? Join us on this 1st part of a 2-part series as Dr. Joshua Drago of MSKCC answers this question and points out the advantages as well as the treatment limitations of agnostic therapeutics.

We are thrilled to present an audio version of SHARE Cancer Support’s webinar “Report Back from ASCO 2024: Latest Updates on HR+ Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)”.

This episode is an in-depth report from the ASCO 2024 Annual Meeting, featuring the latest advancements and research in HR+ MBC. Hear from Dr. Kevin Kalinsky as we dive into the findings from the DESTINY-Breast06 and postMONARCH trials, exploring their implications and potential impact on treatment strategies.

Blood tests are an essential part of our cancer care. However, interpreting them can often feel like deciphering a foreign language.

Joining us today is Dr. Alfredo Torres and we’ll break down the common types of blood tests, explain what the numbers mean, and discuss how these results impact your treatment plan.

There’s a lot of research about how diet and exercise can have a positive effect on survivorship for those with early-stage breast cancer, but about for those of us with MBC? In this episode, we are delighted to bring you a conversation with Dr. Neil Iyengar, a prominent oncologist and researcher known for his deep interest in how lifestyle affects a variety of outcomes. Emerging research and patient experiences are showing that exercise and diet can play a vital role in improving quality of life and may even enhance treatment outcomes. We discuss the science behind diet and exercise along with strategies for balancing lifestyle changes while prioritizing what matters most to us. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional, this episode is packed with valuable information and insights!

In the third of our special series on living with bone metastases, we are turning to one of the most frequent questions and concerns we hear: Can I exercise??

To get the answers, OMBCL co-hosts Ashley Fernandez & Martha Carlson spoke with Dr. Kathryn Schmitz, who has led the way in understanding and implementing exercise for people with breast cancer, including those of us with metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Schmitz founded the Moving Through Cancer initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine, which has a bold goal of making exercise standard of care in oncology by 2029. She fills us in on the science of exercise – why it’s important and how it can be done with bone metastases. Interspersed into the interview with Dr. Schmitz are the stories of people living with bone metastases, providing hope and inspiration that exercise is possible. Be sure to listen to the full episode to get all the suggestions from Dr. Schmitz and hit “Read More” below to go to our episode notes, which link to free videos and other resources.