Happy Wellness Wednesday, friends!
In this week’s edition, I wanted to share this particular podcast episode with you. I listened last week and loved it so much that I even purchased this author’s book…
… THE SMART WOMAN’S GUIDE TO BREAST CANCER.
Here is why I’m sharing this today:
1: I thought the podcast episode above was very interesting and informational for all women. She discusses women who currently have breast cancer, women who have a higher susceptibility to breast cancer (and women who do not), and her new “calling” in life is caring for women living post-breast cancer (which is the topic of her upcoming book). I think there’s something for every single woman in this one episode.
2: Why did I buy the book if I don’t have breast cancer? Well I thought the episode was compelling enough that I wanted to learn/read more. I sent the episode to the amazing Dr. Riegel who practiced OBGYN for 20+ years before he specialized only in hormone replacement therapy and he listened and had strong opinions about her take on this topic too. So, I want to read and learn more. My copy arrived yesterday, and I’m not sure when I’ll read/finish it, but I’m excited to just learn more.
3: I can’t imagine that any of us have been unaffected by breast cancer. Like many of you, I have friends and family who have had or currently have breast cancer. I also think it’s certainly possible that myself or any of you could face a breast cancer diagnosis in the future, so before/during/after that happens, I would like more knowledge.
This doctor is very passionate. As a breast cancer surgeon, she is very articulate about her experiences as both a surgeon and a breast cancer patient herself. She has strong opinions about testing and preventative measures and well, it certainly does not hurt to learn more.
So, whether you read the book or not, I do encourage you to take a listen to this podcast. I found it very interesting and eye opening, and it’s prompted not only a conversation between me and my HRT doctor, but it prompted me to make a phone call to my OBGYN too. I’ve also discussed this now with several friends too.
This Wellness Wednesday, if you don’t do anything else, I am hoping to at least encourage you to think about your breasts today.
If/when you listen or read the book, please feel free to come back to this post and share. If you are currently facing a diagnosis yourself, please let me know. I would be honored to pray over you. You can email me privately or leave a comment and just let me know whether or not to share it or keep it private. It would be an honor to at least have the opportunity to pray for you.
Sending you much love. xx
Elspeth says
Thank you for the recommendation about this and other wellness tips and tricks! Living these new posts!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Natalie says
Dr. Jenn has NOT had breast cancer. She had thyroid. Just FYI. I do love her, her words of wisdom helped a lot through my diagnosis.
Mix and Match Mama says
See? I need to read the book! I am so sorry for your own diagnosis and pray you’re doing really well right now.
Dawn says
Thank you for sharing this, Shay! I’m a BRCA 1 carrier and it’s such a heavy weight to carry. I will listen to the podcast and read the book too!
Taylor Miller says
Hi Shay! Long time follower of yours. I am a 34 married mom of 2 kids (6 & 3) I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November 2023 at age 33. I have been on oral breast cancer treatment for almost a year. I am currently considered no evidence of disease (with several side effects but otherwise feel healthy-ish) but would love any extra prayers! Visiting MD Anderson every 3 months is very nerve wrecking. I just hope and pray I can stay NED for many, many years to come and watch my kids grow up and start families. Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I am praying for you. I am praying praying. I am so sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like you’re in wonderful hands, but I’m praying, praying in the meantime.
Taylor Miller says
Thank you! I shared an Instagram account with you via DM on IG. Please check out @theboobiedocs – she is a breast radiologist and very informative. Mammograms are not dangerous. You get as much radiation as flying which I know you do often 🙂 just really dig deep before reading Dr. Simmons’ book and take your health into consideration! Mammograms save lives! Both my mom and nana were diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer which can only be diagnosed by mammogram. Both had lumpectomies and have been cancer free ever since!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU for that new resource!!
Jenn Simmons, Md says
Did the mammogram really save their lives? Stage 0 breast cancer is DCIS which by definition is not life threatening. No one dies of DCIS and many breast cancer experts like myself do not consider DCIS cancer at all. So, I would argue that they were treated unnecessarily. When comparing the radiation from a mammogram to a cross country flight, the absolute number may be the same but there is a vast difference in the damage to the tissues when you compare the scattered radiation that you get on a flight and the focused coned down radiation you get during a mammogram. I am not against screening. I am in support of safe screening through self exam, the Auria.care test, and QT or ultrasound. For more information, visit perfeqtionimaging.com The bottom line, radiation in any dose, does damage and we all want to minimize our exposure where we can.
Wendy Chandler says
Thank you for sharing this resource Shay. I had a biopsy in November that thankfully was benign but it easily could have gone another way and was a scary time. I’ve already downloaded the podcast to listen.
Lisa Da says
I’m positive that many of your blog readers are/have/will deal with breast cancer at some point. I will check out the podcast.
I am post breast cancer over 1 year. I feel so blessed to be where I am now but a year and a half ago I was devastated at my cancer diagnosis. For the women on this “path” that we never wanted to be on, have hope. Saying a prayer now for all the women reading this post today.
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so grateful you are one year post breast cancer. Thank you so much for sharing!
WhittyWife (Lindsay) says
You’re so sweet, Shay! I saw the podcast but haven’t listened to it. I find myself getting super stressed, not knowing the right answers… I’m not sure what her view on mammography is, for example, but both sides of the spectrum have very compelling arguments. It’s a lot to digest. 😅 If you’re willing to share, I’d be interested to hear how you’ve processed this and whether you’re making any changes to the way you’re screening for breast cancer, etc. Like most others, multiple family members of mine have had it, and I started having annual mammograms well before 40. It has affected most of us in some way or another. I so appreciate your transparency as you learn and make changes throughout this wellness journey!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have had routine mammograms for many many years (and have been called back twice for ‘follow up’ mammograms). I already have my next one scheduled for April. I’m going to read the book, talk to my OBGYN at my next appointment and think really hard. The older I get, the more I learn I’m “wrong” about so many things I’ve been so passionate about…I don’t know if this is another one or not?
Sarah Gicius says
If you feel comfortable, please keep us updated on what path you choose and why. I know it’s a very personal and personalized decision but often hearing this information and having these discussions educated and empowers other women. After your recommendation, I listened to the podcast today and feel conflicted too.
Connie says
Mammograms save lives! I feel that “thinking hard” about it is. It the best thing, if it has been recommended by your doctors who are highly trained, it’s best to follow their advice. This is coming from someone whose mother died at 50 from breast cancer because she was told by someone at 40 that mammograms aren’t necessary,
Jenn Simmons MD says
Shay,
Here is my screening paradigm which is 100% safe, painless, radiation free, contrast dye free, and as effective as any method out there.
Breast cancer screening:
1. Self breast exam
2. Auria.care (code DRJENN20)
3. QT scan or US
Locations
1. PerfeQTion Imaging, Haverford PA
2. QT Imaging/Perfeqtion Imaging, Novato CA
3. Qlarity Imaging, El Dorado Hills, CA
4. Qlarity Imaging, Crystal Lake, IL
5. Center for New Medicine, Irvine, CA
Kara says
Wow. The mammogram portion of that podcast was 🤯. I’m a healthcare professional and in my early 40s with so many questions!! So much overwhelming information to work through! I would love to know how/if things like this change you and your readers thoughts on diagnostic testing. It all seems preventative but in reality, is it more harmful?!
EK says
Currently in the phase of discovering a lump, my dr confirmed the lump and waiting for diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound. So stressful and extremely hard to not have extreme thoughts. With young kids i just keep thinking about the impact on them.
Mix and Match Mama says
I am going to be praying for you during this very confusing time. Please keep me posted. I will be praying!
Jen C says
Thank you for posting this. I’m hoping this is a good resource for me. I’ve been diagnosed with dense breast tissue (no family history of breast cancer) and had a breast MRI done. Now I’m waiting for an ultrasound appointment because they see areas of concern. I’m just plain frustrated because it took 5 months to get an MRI appt, and another 3 months to get an ultrasound appt. The ultrasound is finally happening next week. I’ve been playing this waiting game for 8 months and it’s just unacceptable. Just needed to vent!
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s not just frustrating, it feels criminal to make anyone wait that long. I am just so sorry! You are FREE TO VENT any time you want here!!
Leah Marcoe says
Oh man….I’ve become a huge advocate to my friends to check your boobies because you never know. Back in 2020 I found a lump, I was 34 years old. I eventually went to my primary doctor to have her check and she felt it too. She referred me to the Seattle Cancer (now Fred Hutch) and told me it’s probably nothing but if it is something at least you are in the system and they will be able to help you.
I wasn’t planning on calling but they called me to set up an appointment for a biopsy. They eventually had to do a few biopsies to get enough tissue from the lump. On Ash Wednesday I got a call that I had stage 1c breast cancer. During the pandemic I underwent 14 rounds of chemo, 25 rounds of radiation and a lumpectomy. Also never missing a day of work as a remote kindergarten teacher.
I’m now on the mends, I just have to take maintenance medication for another 3 years. I was able to pause my medication in 2022 to give myself a 2 years window to get pregnant and have a child. And after 4 months of not being on it, I successfully got pregnant and had a baby boy in 2023. He is truly a miracle and a gift for everything I went through.
So ladies, do self checks now. It is never to early to check, do genetic testing (i don’t carry the gene so it wouldn’t have shown up), but advocate for yourself and your health.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Leah, wow! I just don’t even have the words. Praise the Lord for your current health and your precious baby boy. I am just so thankful for you. Thank you for sharing this and for advocating for women.
Amy says
Thank you for sharing this. I recently read this book and purchased one for my mom as she was just diagnosed with breast cancer. My naturopath, Erin Ellis, recommended it. I also listened to Jenn’s podcast. I chose to do a QT ultrasound over a mammogram this past year after researching the effects of mammograms. If you can please keep my mama in your prayers as she travels on this journey with her recent diagnosis. Thank you Shay.
Mix and Match Mama says
I just wrote your mom’s name down to pray for her. I’m so sorry your family is going through this right now.
Christina says
Amy, praying for your Mom as well.
I’ve gotten push back from medical professionals for other routes because I don’t want to have a mammogram. How did you go about getting the ultrasound instead?
anonymous says
Don’t be afraid of a mammogram though – they are LIFESAVING for SO many women! If you have access to other options like the QT ultrasounds or other options (MRI), etc, then that’s one thing. But for most women, mammograms are truly lifesaving. I was watched for many years (due to my mother having passed from breast cancer) and at 37 had a precancerous lump detected in my mammogram, and removed via lumpectomy. I had another precancerous lump pop up at 38, and due to being high risk I elected to have a preventative mastectomy. I also have lupus (an autoimmune disease) so after doing some research I decided not to have reconstruction. A big decision at a young age, but I was so glad I did make this choice as the mastectomy that was supposed to be preventative found early stage cancer. It was during the pandemic, in Sept of 2020, when having access to an MRI before my surgery was not an option. I was VERY lucky, and it was Stage 0 and removed with the surgery. I am now almost 5 years out, 43 years old, and while I sometimes miss my old body, there are no boobs in the world that could take away the relief I feel of being alive for my son.
While I agree with functional medicine as a supplement to traditional medicine, women need to do self checks, advocate for themselves and I wish the age for mammograms was younger because so many women under 40 are being diagnosed with NO family history and who shouldn’t have cancer (which is obviously not due to having mammograms, as they wouldn’t had any to start with).
Long story short, check yourself, advocate for yourself and find a preventative path that works for you.
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU for sharing your story. I can’t even imagine how many women you’ll encourage/support/help with this one blog comment. Thank you for taking the time to advocate for women.
Faith says
Thank you for sharing this. My mom is a breast cancer survivor so I started getting mammograms early. Just had my annual one last week and I have to go back because they saw some “calcifications”. Although I’m not worried because google said these are normal especially for someone my age (51) and God is in control, it’s sad that my chart just said calcifications, said someone would call and they didn’t, so I called them. And the first diagnostic isn’t available for another month. I know I’m not the only patient – it’s sad that there are so many women dealing with cancer. Anyway, I will take a listen. I also have dense tissue like one reader said and don’t have a lot there 🫣 a friend and I were just talking how we feel technology should be better in 2025 when it comes to mammograms. Again, thanks for sharing and educating us so we can better advocate for ourselves and all areas of our health! I really am love Wellness Wednesday!
Denise M. says
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at 34 with three young kids (ages 2, 6 and 7). Obviously, I was too young for a mammogram, and found it myself. I endured chemo, radiation, bilateral mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction. Plus several revision surgeries since. Thankfully, my husband was extremely supportive and helpful through it all. I haven’t read the book or listened to the podcast, but I hope women (young and old) check themselves and get the testing they need! All this to say, I would love to be added to your prayer list for continued good health 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I just added your name, Denise. I am so so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I’m going to be praying specifically for your continued good health. Sending you so much love!
Stephanie Ford says
Thank you for this. I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (non hormone fed) a year ago & I had zero family history. To say I’m blessed is an understatement. It was stage 2 and with an aggressive treatment plan (because it’s higher risk to return) I am now in remission.
The after cancer and “now what” is extremely difficult. I look forward to this podcast and her future book. Appreciate you Shay! ❤️🙏
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU For sharing your story!! I really, really think you are going to love this doctor and her books. She has such a huge heart for women post-breast cancer.
Shellie Boss says
I’m a breast cancer survivor. Thanks for sharing.
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so grateful you are on this side of things. I really, really think this doctor/author has a huge heart for women post-breast cancer. I hope you find her valuable. xx
Amber says
I am 35 and have not had experience with breast cancer but I really loved the podcast. I feel much more informed and prepared for whatever life throws at me or those around me. Thanks for your recommendations and your open mind yet not pushy. I think you do such a great job introducing topics yet allowing everyone to process or take it in while not necessarily pushing your opinion. I don’t know my opinion (I also don’t have to have one) after listening but as you said, a lot to process!
Kate says
I was diagnosed with hormon receptive breast cancer at 47. Our daughter had just started kindergarten. The surgeon said “if you’re gonna get cancer, this is good one to get” it is slow growing. i only went in for a mammo because i was having odd pains/feeling. No lumps. They found a lot of calcifications. Had a complete hysterectomy at 48 and will be on meds for another 3 years. The mind game is an absolute nightmare. I would covet your prayers!
Thank you Shay! Your blog is a ray of sunshine in this world!
Mix and Match Mama says
I am just so sorry. I promise to be praying for you. Sending you so so much love. xx
Beth Hall says
My 75 year old mom was diagnosed THIS WEEK. No history of cancer in our family.
This has come as a shock. Thanks for sharing, will need to come up to speed on this.
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so sorry to hear this. I just wrote her name down and will be praying for her (and you!). Please keep me updated. Sending your family so much love. xx
Beth Hall says
My 75 year old mother was diagnosed this week. No history of cancer so this came as a surprise. Please pray for us, thank you!
Jenn Simmons says
Shay,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the mention. I left breast surgery in 2019 to serve the greater good. My mission is to forever change the way we diagnose, treat, and screen for breast cancer. I wrote my book, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer, so that women can make educated decisions about how to prevent, screen for, and treat breast cancer. We have been so conditioned to believe a narrative which greatly benefits the system but seldom helps the women in it. Our system is focused on getting people sick and keeping them sick. I am changing that. I am shifting the focus to be on health, preventing and reversing disease along the way. I am so grateful to people like you who help to spread the word.
We need not fear change. We need to embrace change, especially when it’s for the good!
God bless you and all you do!
With love and gratitude,
Jenn Simmons, MD
realhealthmd.com
Perfeqtionimaging.com
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU so very much for taking the time to read and reply. I am extremely grateful for your book and look forward to learning and reading more. I feel very confident that you are changing the lives of so many women (and by default their families and loves ones). God bless you on this journey. Sending you much love. xx