Live Chat: Shining a Light on MBC with Tami Bowling
When a life-changing diagnosis led Tami Bowling to advocacy, she fueled the movement to Light up MBC. In this episode, Tami shares her personal experience, the origins of LightUp MBC and LightUp MBC Live, and how lighting up landmarks is bringing hope, awareness, and vital research funding to the metastatic breast cancer community.
Future at Risk: A Researcher’s Story
Host Victoria Goldberg interviews scientist Na Zhao about the personal and professional fallout from NIH budget cuts, highlighting how these funding challenges threaten cancer research and the careers of young scientists. Na shares her own story of lost opportunities and the broader impact on the scientific community, while both guests stress the importance of advocacy and hope for a future where cancer becomes a manageable disease
Fighting for Patients: Dr. Rebecca Shatsky on Insurance, Burnout, and Hope in MBC
Dr. Rebecca Shatsky, Director of Breast Medical Oncology at UC San Diego, shares her experiences fighting for patients with breast cancer. In this episode, Dr. Shatsky discusses the growing challenges clinicians face—from insurance denials and funding cuts to the emotional toll of burnout and the spread of cancer misinformation.
Hear real stories about advocating for life-saving treatments, navigating the complexities of clinical trials, and the importance of patient empowerment. Dr. Shatsky also offers hope, highlighting the latest breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer research and the progress being made in treatment options.
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode delivers candid insights, practical advice, and a message of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
Podcasters Roundtable: Samira Daswani, Host of The Patient from Hell
In this episode, hosts Victoria Goldberg and Abigail Johnston sit down with Samira Daswani, host of "The Patient From Hell" podcast, for a candid and insightful conversation about patient advocacy, storytelling, and the evolving landscape of cancer care. Samira shares her path from reluctant podcast guest to passionate host, highlighting the importance of amplifying patient voices and democratizing information for those navigating cancer diagnoses—especially in communities where open discussion is rare.
The discussion delves into the challenges of reaching diverse audiences, the power of authentic, minimally edited conversations, and the need for both scientific and personal perspectives in patient-centered content. The trio reflects on the shifting attitudes in cancer communities, the critical role of support networks, and the ongoing mission to educate and empower patients worldwide. The episode wraps up with ideas for future collaborations and a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact through storytelling and advocacy.
Live Chat: SERD Surge with Dr. Sherry Shen
Host Victoria, with Dr. Sherry Shen and co-host Ellen, delivers a concise, patient-focused overview of oral SERDs in HR+ metastatic breast cancer—covering ESR1 mutations, key trials (evERA, SERENA‑6), FDA‑approved agents, side-effect management, and treatment implications. This is the first episode in our Live Chats series. Bonus clip: Rebecca Shatsky, MD, previews the evERA trial and her excitement about combining capivasertib with oral SERDs.
MBC Insiders: MBC Awareness Day and More
This is a special episode released Oct 13 for National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. It is the first in our recurring series, we call “MBC Insiders.” We’ll explore the issues that matter most to people with MBC, including how the language clinicians and media use can harm or help, and candid conversations about progression and the idea of “cure.” Stay tuned for an important, honest discussion.
Future at Risk: What Happens when Funding Stops
In the world where breakthrough cancer treatments hang in the balance, federal funding cuts are threatening to derail critical research that could save countless lives.
Our guest is Dr. Gloria Echeverria, a molecular biologist and passionate advocate for scientific discovery, who leads her own lab at Baylor College of Medicine. Her team investigates the molecular and genetic mechanisms that make TNBC resistant to standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.She shares what it’s like to run a research lab in today’s climate, the challenges of securing funding, and the ripple effects these cuts have on training the next generation of scientists, advancing new therapies, and supporting patient advocates.