Health Discovered

There are many misconceptions about what people experience following a breast cancer diagnosis. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to look at breast cancer through the eyes of a survivor. We spoke with Bossi, a two-time breast cancer survivor, founder of House of Bossi, and singer/songwriter of the 2022 EP titled Run with Lions, inspired by her battles with cancer. Bossi highlights the often unseen experience of breast cancer survivors. She shares her first thoughts post-diagnosis, things she wished she had known then, and the importance of advocating for yourself through treatment. Through transparent sharing of her experience, we explored how a breast cancer diagnosis impacts relationships, family planning, goals, and dreams, which resources were most helpful, how friends and loved ones can show their support, and treatment options she learned about through other breast cancer survivors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 5% of the US population, 18.1 million people, are cancer survivors. Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase by approximately 30%. How do we define cancer survivorship? What does cancer rehabilitation look like? And what are lifestyle prevention strategies? We spoke to Amy Comander, MD, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center-Waltham and director of the Breast Oncology Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, about her program PAVING the Path to Wellness in collaboration with Beth Frates, MD, the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine, how you can support your loved one going through a cancer diagnosis, and the long-lasting power of social connection in cancer survivorship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year in the United States, about 240,000 women and 2,100 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer, which is why breast cancer awareness and screening are so important. In May 2023, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the breast cancer screening age from 50 to 40 – but do these age screenings apply to everyone? What factors contribute to a high-risk classification for breast cancer, and how do we identify if we are at genetic risk? We spoke with Lauren Nye, MD, board-certified oncologist at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Clinical Medical Director of Breast Cancer Prevention, about the importance of assessing your cancer risk, learning your genetic history, and prioritizing your overall health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is trauma? How does it manifest in our lives? How is trauma passed down through generations or within communities? And most importantly, what can we do about it? Most of us have some experience with trauma, but rarely, if ever, are we encouraged to discuss it. Instead, we are encouraged to muscle through it or transcend it. In this episode of the WebMD Health Discovered podcast, we explore the impact of trauma in our lives and the often-overlooked topic of intergenerational trauma. We spoke with Thema Bryant, PhD, host of the Homecoming podcast, author of Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole, Authentic Self, and 2023 president of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Thema is a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Dr. Thema unpacks how traumatic stress disrupts the nervous system and is passed down through generations and within communities. She highlights the importance of honoring the survival skills of people who came before us, how we can adopt and model healthy coping methods, and how we can appropriately talk with future generations about our lived experiences of trauma to help them go from just surviving to thriving.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heart failure affects approximately 3 million women and is the leading reason for hospitalization and a major cause of death in women over age 65. What facts do women need to know about heart failure? Why is heart failure so prevalent in Black and Hispanic communities? How does premature onset heart failure impact people under the age of 65? We spoke with Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, attending cardiologist and professor of medicine/cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, about common risk factors and symptoms of heart failure, treatment options, and how racial disparities and social determinants of health impact diagnosis and treatment. We also spoke with Chevonne Dixon, blogger of This Well Planned Life, who is living with heart failure after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at age 19. Chevonne spoke openly about her journey to diagnosis and how other heart failure patients can be their own best advocates.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The average adult uses a dozen personal care products daily, including shampoo, deodorants, lotions, and cosmetics. That averages to about 125 chemicals we are exposing ourselves to daily. How does this chemical buildup in our system increase the chance of health risks? What can we do in our everyday lives to minimize exposure to toxic chemicals? We spoke with Kristina Marusic, an award-winning journalist at Environmental Health Sciences and author of A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention, about the common chemicals we are exposed to, online resources to learn about alternative health-conscious products, the importance of an at-home water filtration system, and small ways we can implement changes in the products we purchase to reduce our chemical body burden without disrupting our lives or breaking the bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every 3 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer. About half of the blood cancers that occur each year are lymphomas. Unlike some cancers, there is no widely recommended screening test for lymphoma, and as a result, people typically don't know something is wrong until they experience symptoms. In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with Peter Martin, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Lymphoma Program at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, to learn more about lymphoma, including risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options. Dr. Martin also shares an empowering perspective on cancer survivorship that everyone navigating a cancer diagnosis should listen to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding the right therapist can be challenging. Before we ever attend our first session, we must navigate health insurance, research available therapists who can meet our needs, and address our blocks to seeking therapy in the first place. So when should we seek help? How do we start looking for a therapist? What happens if we find a therapist and are unsure if they are the right fit? How can we practice self-care while waiting for an appointment? We spoke with Sue Varma, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and author of a forthcoming book, Practical Optimism: The Art, Science and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being, about the four M's of mental health, the benefits of different therapeutic modalities, and key tips for creating an impactful therapeutic experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American mothers are spread thin and feeling the strain of unrealistic parenting expectations. The lack of parental leave, rising healthcare costs, and constant messaging from both media and social media about how to be a "good mother" can leave us confused and depleted. Add a pandemic on top of that, and you have a recipe for disaster. We spoke to Jessica Grose, an opinion writer at The New York Times and author of Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood, about the dynamics of motherhood in the U.S., why so many of us feel unsupported and under-resourced, how this impacts our physical and emotional health, and most importantly, what changes we can implement in our personal lives and at the policy level to empower ourselves, our children and our communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While many of us are familiar with well-known menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, libido changes, and mood swings, there is another symptom that deserves attention: brain fog. How exactly is brain fog linked to menopause, and what solutions and tools are available for individuals experiencing brain fog? We spoke with Gayatri Devi, MD, Director at Park Avenue Neurology and Clinical Professor of Neurology & Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, to explore the timing and symptoms of brain fog during menopause and available treatment options such as hormone replacement therapy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.