Episode 40: Breast Imaging in Breast Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
This will focus on breast imaging. The questions we will discuss are when to see a radiologist, types of imaging, and more specifics about each type. We will look at what the future looks like in medical imaging in breast cancer. I’m speaking to Dr. Randy Miles. as the chief of breast imaging at with oversite over the breast divisions clinical, research, and educational programs. He also serves as the associate director for research in the radiology department. He earned his medical degree from . Dr. Miles has achieved multiple awards throughout his career and served on medical...
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Episode 39: The London Breast Meeting 2023
DiepCJourney Podcast
The will be held from September 7-9, 2023, at the Royal College of Physicians. It is a special opportunity for me to interview and be interviewed by my guest today on this episode of the . My guests and I discuss opportunities we will be involved in at the London Breast Meeting from the perspective of industry leaders, a world class microsurgeon, and patient advocacy. My guests are , CEO of , a medical device company that makes advanced molecular sensing devices like the for microvascular breast reconstruction like DIEP flap. I also welcome Vice President of Operations for Spectros. ...
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Episode 38: Sisters, BRCA 1, Three DIEP flap Stories
DiepCJourney Podcast
My guests on this episode of the are three sisters, all of who have a BRCA 1 genetic mutation, and all of whom had DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same surgical practice, , Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates, in San Antonio, Texas. This is also the surgical practice I had my DIEP flap performed by in December of 2014. Elaine, the youngest of the three sisters, lead the way being the first to have her prophylactic DIEP flap with . After finding she tested positive for the BRCA 1 genetic mutation, she completed her surgery in late May of 2017. While she was in...
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Episode 37: Shining a Light on Survivorship in Breast Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
Breast cancer is a scary word that no one wants to hear from their physician. When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer your mind can often go to, “How long am I going to live?” But because treatments have improved over the years, survivorship in breast cancer is a word we are hearing more often now in breast cancer communities, online, and in the media. On this episode of the , we are shining a light on survivorship with our guest, , who has “seen both sides as a breast cancer survivor and breast cancer surgeon.” She completed her residency in general surgery at Ohio Health...
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Episode 36: Sexual Function Concerns in Women with Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
When our bodies are physically changed because of breast cancer, it has the real potential of affecting sexual health. There are multiple layers to look at when a person presents with sexual dysfunction. In other words, the natural process of the act of sex has been disrupted due to treatment, surgery, the emotional impact of cancer, and other considerations. My guest on this episode of the is an expert in this field. I want to welcome , professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the . Her Clinical Interests include Cancer Survivorship, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Female sexual...
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Episode 35: Achieving Symmetry and Understanding Fat Grafting in Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
Achieving symmetry and understanding fat grafting in breast reconstruction are topics patients frequently ask about. I reached out to an expert in the field. My guest on this episode of the is Dr. Tim Matatov of in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Matatov is a board-certified microsurgeon who performs procedures such as implant breast reconstruction, several autologous reconstruction procedures, autologous meaning using the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct the breast, nipple reconstruction, and a variety of other breast reconstruction procedures. He works with a team of two other...
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Episode 34: Patient Advocacy: Living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
My guest today on the has a blog and website titled, No Half Measures, Living Out loud. 2017 was a pivotal year in the life of my guest, . Early that year, while dual nursing her twin boys she felt a lump in her left breast. The next few months involved multiple appointments with radiologists, oncologists, and surgeons. Abigail was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Abigail Johnston is a wife, mother, writer, educator, earned her JD after completing law school and is a patient advocate. She begins the interview by sharing her experience at the held in early 2023. She sat...
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Episode 33: Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System
DiepCJourney Podcast
Democratization is a noun. The meaning of democratization as it pertains to microsurgery is the action of making training and education available through technology, in this case, microsurgery in breast reconstruction. The chosen field of microsurgery requires hours of training and practice. Observing colleagues perform this sophisticated and complex surgery increases their own skill set with the primary goal being improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction. I invited back to the two internationally known microsurgeons. practices in Sydney, Australia and is a fellow of the . He...
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Episode 32: Patient Advocate, Storyteller, and Lobular Breast Cancer Survivor
DiepCJourney Podcast
is a breast cancer survivor who deals with a lot of effects from treatment and being diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at a very young age. But she excitedly begins our conversation by saying her pain melted away at the when she was able to meet patient advocates in person for the first time. Social media connects many of us but the conference we both attended in early December of 2023 allowed us to sit down together to share intimate conversations, ask each other how we are doing, and share our advocacy work. I was fortunate to be one of those advocates to finally meet her in person at...
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Episode 31: Project Restored after Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
The art of microsurgery transcends the work behind surgical loupes and microscopes when a breast cancer patient has breast reconstruction after loss of breasts due to a disease. My guest on this episode of the are two microsurgeons who worked together to create and selected several of their patients to participate in this unique artistic endeavor. Our key guest today is one of those patients, . Chelsey shares the story of her diagnosis at the very young age of 33. She has an extensive family history of breast cancer and felt she had a wealth of knowledge. However, when she was...
info_outlineHave you ever been told you have dense breasts by a clinician after a mammogram? Whether you have or not, our topic on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast is focused on dense breasts. My guest is a patient advocate who carries this message to many after her own diagnosis. Siobhán Freeney shares the story of her diagnosis and why her tag line, “Your Breast Density Matters” has become a call to action for patients and clinicians alike.
Patient advocacy is often born out of a diagnosis. What one experiences upon hearing you have breast cancer, often becomes a catalyst for change. Siobhán is beating the drum for dense breast awareness. Her call to action is early detection, regular self-breast exams, and being aware that dense breasts can potentially interfere with breast screening and what can be seen on mammograms. She discusses the various levels of breast density. Do check out her request form on her website, “Ask About Your Density.”
Siobhán and I dedicate this podcast to one of our own, Leigh Pate, who we lost in June of 2022 to cancer. Yes, Siobhán , we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Before her passing, I recorded an interview with her on the Lobular Breast Cancer you can listen to here: Lobular Breast Cancer.