Breast Cancer Conversations

(Updated) I'm a Triathlete I think It's a Stress Fracture; No, It's Stage IV Breast Cancer: Interview with Deb Williams by SurvivingBreastCancer.org

Summary: In today’s episode, Deb discusses her unique cancer diagnosis with Laura. They talk about her hospital experience, the experience of being under anesthesia, laxatives, and Deb’s lifestyle. Deb’s contagious energy radiates throughout the episode and can be used to inspire listeners.

Topics:
4:10 Deb’s Introduction and diagnosis
14:15 Medicine isn’t a perfect science
15:10 Deb’s treatment
33:02 Deb’s rod in her hip breaks
40:00 Laxatives
46:30 What does Deb currently do
50:29 Breakdown situation

Resources:
Store My Tumor https://storemytumor.com/ 

Quotes: 
7:48 Deb: “He said well, you have a nine millimeter tumor and your femur is broken in three places. And it's cancer and we don't know what kind, total blank at that point. I was like, okay, I heard nothing. His mouth was moving. But nothing was going in my ears at that point. I looked over at my girlfriends that were there, they frantically took out notebooks and were writing every single word. They were scribing because I didn't know what to say. And then he's like, I'm going to give you a couple minutes, and I'm going to leave the room and come back. He goes, read the notes from your girlfriends. Because he knew I wasn't listening. I was like, I have no idea.”

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Life Coaching after Breast Cancer with Andrea Magni and Laura Dubois by SurvivingBreastCancer.org
Summary: In this episode, Laura and the surviving breast cancer team discuss career coaching with Andrea Magni and Laura Dubois, two breast cancer survivors who chose to begin career coaching after their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Both individuals express how they felt off track after their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, but found their calling again through career coaching. In the middle of the episode, Laura leads us through a breathing exercise. Lastly, they both discuss the specifics of their diagnosis and treatment and how they were able to deal with going through the difficult times during treatment.
Topics:
6:15 Introductions
17:11 How Laura got into Career Coaching
20:23 How Andrea got into Career Coaching
31:23 Breathing exercise
36:06 Laura’s experience going in for an x-ray
40:06 Laura’s breast cancer diagnosis
56:32 Andrea’s breast cancer diagnosis
Resources:
Store My Tumor https://storemytumor.com/
Laura’s blog https://lauraslandingplace.blogspot.com/
Laura’s website https://www.headcoachlaura.com/
Quotes:
14:16 Andrea: And within that should also be a, I think what you're saying is being held, especially like in in, in a work environment, you don't want to be constantly looking for sympathy. There is an element of you do want to be included in some of those projects. And you do want to be asked for your input. So you don't want to be excluded. And how do you bridge between suffering from these the fact that these people don't understand what I'm going through, and I'm sitting here and I'm in pain or I’m uncomfortable and actually being productive, but you have to balance, you have to find something. So there must be tools that you can work with and I think that's what coaches are good for, is to find tools for that resilience or to build it up. To build boundaries for yourself.
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Have you been screened for a genetic predisposition towards breast cancer? I have. My results returned a "Variant of Unknown Significance", or VUS.

What is a Variant of Unknown Significance?

It’s a common question and I am pleased to have Dr. Mártir-Negrón, a medical geneticist at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, and trained in internal medicine, genetic diagnosis and the treatment of patients with hereditary disorders to help answer this question!

Laura: Dr. Mártir-Negrón, I understand when we get our genetic testing back and read through the results, sometimes we get what is called a variant of unknown significance, also referred to as VUS. Can you explain what this means and how it impacts breast cancer treatment decisions?

Dr. Mártir-Negrón: What a variant of unknown significance means is that there was a change that was found in you. But guess what, we all have changes in our genes; that’s what makes us unique and who we are. The only ones that we know will cause problems are the ones that we call pathogenic.

Based on data, we know that 90% of these inconclusive changes are benign. At the lab we'll continue to review, and when there is more data, they will reach out to whoever ordered the test to inform them of any new findings. The person who ordered the test is the one that is going to receive the reclassification. Again, 90% of the cases are benign, so we call it negative until proven otherwise.

In terms of treatment, we don't do anything with that information and no action is taken. But, if we give recommendations, it's not because of the inconclusive work, it’s what we're seeing in terms of one’s family history. With the inconclusive result, you're always going to have that change, you were born with that change. What it changes is our interpretation.

When we see that somebody has a variant of unknown significance or is inconclusive, we look at ClinVar. ClinVar is a part of the National Institute of Health and aggregates information about genomic variation and its relationship to human health. Obviously, no names or personal data are disclosed. What we do is when we see any inconclusives, we will look at ClinVar to see what all the labs are saying.

Laura Carfang: That's such a great point. ClinVar is a freely available public archive of human genetic variations and interpretations of the relationships to disease and other conditions.

Abigail Johnston: Just another reason why talking to the right doctor about the right topic is so important. Dr. Mártir-Negrón is a geneticist, you don't mind saying you don't know, whereas other doctors in other specialties often avoid saying "I don't know something" and it's very important to remember that.

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Toxic positivity as “the excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations. The process of toxic positivity results in the denial, minimization, and the invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience" according to The Psychology Group.
In this episode we provide examples of how toxic positivity bubbles up day to day and offer tools for how to flip the switch and let people know that sometimes these comments hurt, are dismissive, and do not serve us.
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In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Laura James, a naturopathic oncologist based in Washington State. Dr. James provided a wealth of information about the role of naturopathic oncology in breast cancer care, emphasizing the importance of integrative medicine. She clarified the distinctions between integrative, complementary, and alternative care, and highlighted the collaborative approach she takes with conventional medical teams to support patients through their cancer journey.

We discussed the critical role of the "four cornerstones" of health—diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management—in supporting overall well-being and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.

We also delved into the emotional and psychological aspects of a breast cancer diagnosis, particularly the societal pressures and internalized guilt that many women face. Dr. James emphasized the need for setting boundaries and practicing real self-care, which she defines as self-preservation; it is not selfishness.

Throughout our conversation, Dr. James highlighted the importance of building a comprehensive care team and the challenges of integrating naturopathic oncology into conventional cancer care. She shared her experiences in developing relationships with conventional doctors and the ongoing effort to gain acceptance for integrative approaches.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the holistic approach to breast cancer care and the importance of addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of the disease. Dr. James's expertise and compassionate approach offer valuable insights for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike.
You can check out Dr. Laura James and all of her events and programs at: www.laurajamesnd.com/events.
She is also offering a 10% discount on her product line. Use code BCConvo10 when shopping here: www.bestforbreast.com

You can follow her at:
IG @doctorlauraND and
FB (Laura A. James, ND, FABNO).

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About SurvivingBreastCancer.org: SurvivingBreastCancer.org, Inc. (SBC) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit virtual platform headquartered in Boston with a national and global reach. Through education, community, and resources, SurvivingBreastCancer.org supports women and men going through breast cancer. We provide a sanctuary of strength, compassion, and empowerment, where those diagnosed with cancer unite to share their stories, learn invaluable coping strategies to manage wellness and mental health, and find solace in the unbreakable bond that fuels hope, resilience, and the courage to conquer adversity.

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