OMBCL Unplugged: When The Words “Chronic” & “Cured” Aren’t So Simple
Welcome to our first "Our MBC Life Unplugged" episode, where we wrap up the fall season with an honest, unscripted conversation. What happens when someone is told they might actually be cured? It’s what we all dream of hearing, but when we started talking, it opened a Pandora’s box of questions and concerns:
Is a cure really possible?
Should I go off treatment?
What if the doctor is wrong and my cancer comes back?
This episode dives deep into these complexities and more. So, grab your favorite beverage and join us for a raw, heartfelt discussion you won’t want to miss.
The Project to End Post Partum Breast Cancer
Many people are unfamiliar with Postpartum Breast Cancer (PPBC), a little-known subset of breast cancer that occurs in women within 10 years of childbirth. This episode of our podcast delves into this personal topic for several members of our team.
Drs. Virginia Borges and Pepper Schedin are launching the first-ever clinical trial to prevent PPBC. Their groundbreaking approach involves giving healthy new mothers a brief course of ibuprofen as they wean their babies from breastfeeding. This trial holds huge potential for global impact, and the doctors need the public’s help to make it happen.
MBC 101: Tumor Microenvironment with Dr. Amy Beumer
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.
We Remember
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.
Protecting Our Loved Ones at Risk
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.
Biosimilars and Their Use in Cancer Treatment
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.
Tumor-Agnostic Therapies: Is The TAPUR Study Right For You?
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.