Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn 109: Cryoablation, Patient Choice, and the Future of Breast Cancer with Dr. Hania Bednarski
In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons welcomes Dr. Hania Bednarski, a breast surgeon pioneering cryoablation as an alternative to conventional breast cancer surgery.
For decades, breast cancer treatment has changed little—yet Dr. Bednarski is forging a new path, reducing trauma while preserving women’s wholeness. She shares her journey from trauma and hand surgery into breast care, and ultimately into cryoablation. Together, she and Dr. Jenn explore why this approach matters, how it’s performed, and what it means for the future of breast cancer care.
The conversation challenges assumptions about mammograms, chemotherapy, lymph node surgery, and hormones. Both physicians stress the importance of autonomy, personalized treatment, and a future where patient choice—not rigid protocols—guides care.
This episode is essential for women navigating breast health, practitioners curious about new frontiers, and anyone passionate about transforming medicine from invasive to empowering.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- How Dr. Bednarski’s career led her to cryoablation
- Why conventional surgery can cause lasting trauma
- What cryoablation is, how it works, and who it helps
- Why informed consent and patient choice matter
- The pitfalls of mammograms and over-diagnosis
- How cryoablation may engage the immune system
- Why lymph node surgery is diagnostic—not curative
- The truth about estrogen and breast cancer risk
- How financial incentives block innovation
💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Episode Timeline Highlights:
00:00 Intro & why treatment hasn’t changed
02:30 Dr. Bednarski’s early career & pivot to breast surgery
07:40 Learning from the patient perspective
12:00 Training, conferences, and discovering cryoablation
18:20 From benign tumors to cancer treatment
22:45 Expanding cryoablation to more patients
25:00 Why chemo and radiation aren’t always needed
27:50 Rethinking screening and autonomy
36:00 The challenge of DCIS and over-diagnosis
45:15 Who qualifies—and who doesn’t—for cryo
50:00 Stage 4 disease, the immune system, and the abscopal effect
56:45 Estrogen, hormones, and cancer myths
59:00 Why many physicians resist cryo
01:00:54 Trials, FDA approval, and barriers to adoption
01:05:10 The role of surgeon societies & politics
01:12:16 Imaging, MRI vs QT, and cryo follow-up
01:16:54 The emotional impact of preserving the breast
01:19:16 How to find Dr. Bednarski and Serenity Surgery & Wellness
To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit:
https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK
To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide
To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.
Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons