Real Pink, a podcast by Susan G. Komen, is taking real conversations about breast cancer from the doctor's office to your living room. Hosted by Adam Walker, episodes feature candid conversations with survivors, researchers, physicians, and more. Find answers to your toughest questions and clear, actionable steps to live a better life, longer. At Real Pink, compassionate storytelling meets real inspiration and real support.
What happens when your life changes in an instant, and then, just when you think you’re beginning to rebuild, you’re faced with another life-altering diagnosis? Shannon Michelle knows that experience firsthand. After a devastating motorcycle accident left her in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, Shannon had to relearn how to walk, read, speak and navigate a life she no longer remembered. Then,…
Bret Miller was 17 when he first felt a lump behind his nipple. For seven years, providers told him it was calcium buildup or that it would go away on its own. It didn't. At 24, Bret was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer — a disease most people, including many of the doctors he saw along the way, don't associate with men at all.In this episode, Bret joins his oncologist, Dr. Priyanka Sharma of…
Breast cancer treatment has a beginning and an end, but healing is often a much longer journey. Today, we are joined by Katie Wasserman, a remarkable mother of four who shares how trusting her instincts and advocating for herself led to her breast cancer diagnosis. She will talk about navigating treatment decisions, the impact it had on her body, and the physical and emotional healing that…
When multiple loved ones are diagnosed with breast cancer within a short period of time, it can leave you wondering if, and when, it might become part of your own story. Megan May knew her family history meant that she was at greater risk of developing breast cancer. She prepared as best she could and underwent regular screenings. However, her diagnosis at age 40 still came as a shock because…
Disability and breast cancer intersect in more than one direction. Some people develop long-term effects like lymphedema, neuropathy or cognitive changes because of treatment — effects recognized as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Others are already living with a disability, of any kind, when a breast cancer diagnosis enters the picture. This July, in recognition of…
Artificial Intelligence is buzzy. There’s a lot about it in the news and a lot we think we understand about how to use it and a lot we may not fully understand. But the promise it holds is tremendous, and today we’re going to learn a little more about how it could benefit breast cancer research and patient care in the near future. Drs. Charles Perou at UNC Chapel Hill and Erika Crosby at Duke…
We know that clinical trials are a critical lifeline, offering new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer. Today, patient advocates are transforming clinical trials by bringing the real-world experiences of patients directly to researchers. By acting as a bridge between science and the community, patient advocates boost enrollment in clinical trials, and help build a lasting…
At just 32 years old, Keisha Kinison was working in women's health when she suddenly found herself as the patient. In this episode, we'll talk about what it was like to discover her diagnosis before a physician had the chance to call, why she made the difficult decision to change doctors during treatment, how her experience transformed her and the incredible support that helped carry her through.…
There is a lot of conversation right now about funding for cancer research and possible cuts to research projects that will improve our understanding and treatment of breast cancer. I’m pleased to be joined today by two researchers who are sharing their perspectives on the inextricable link between grant funding and sustained research. Dr. Benjamin Schrank is an Assistant Professor in the…
Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution series on Real Pink — where patients, advocates, researchers and community partners come together to talk honestly about what's standing in the way of breast health equity, and what we're doing to change it. June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate identity, community and the courage it takes to live authentically. Today's conversation sits right at…
A breast cancer diagnosis may feel like it changes your entire life in an instant, but it doesn’t get to define who you are or make all your choices for you. On today's episode of Real Pink, we're joined by Amanda Sangemino, a remarkable young woman whose diagnosis came at an age when cancer was likely the last thing on her mind. What began with a concern that was initially dismissed ultimately…