A Survivor's Message -The Universe Was Trying to Get My Attention

In this final episode of Breast Friends Cancer Support Network, Host Michelle Beck is joined by Breast Friends Executive Director Allison Hancock. They will discuss what the biggest takeaways of the 368 episodes are and what it has meant to Breast Friends to have had this opportunity to come into your lives to educate, provide community and inspire. All of the 2022-23 episodes of Breast Friends Cancer Support Podcast will be available on the Breast Friends YouTube Channel to watch and some of the best past episodes audio will also be available. Thank you for your support over the past 6 years; it is our hope that you will continue to support Breast Friends whenever possible.

I wrote the book I couldn't find when I was diagnosed. With the sarcastic humor that often gets us through the darkest of times, Leah Cohn makes Big Ol’ Lemonades out of her breast cancer diagnosis at 30 with a memoir offering that rare look into choosing how to live a life worth living. Leah Cohn is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, educator, coach, and all-around powerhouse who used writing to process finding cancer, selecting double mastectomy with reconstruction, and enduring a year of post-surgical treatment Tamoxifen with all the side effects. She combines telling the story years later with journal entries detailing in-the-moment experiences she wrote at the time, framed by flashback vignettes that create a multi-faceted look at the decision-making processes and lessons learned when facing the tough choices and varying emotions of a young woman with early stage breast cancer. This was what Leah couldn’t find when she was diagnosed – the memoirs of women who were battling “less-aggressive” cancers before having children. You know, the “good kind” of cancer. She wanted to hear about women who didn’t do chemo, didn’t take the pills, maybe opted for one or the other, chose more aggressive surgery in support of less aggressive chemical treatments, or opted to take an alternative path than those that women often feel pressured to take “if they want to live.” Big Ol’ Lemonades exemplifies the kind of determination, courage, and faith that a woman must cultivate to make it out laughing on the other side of the traumas that life brings our way.

Baron Robison and Robin Paulissen will be here to discuss Kickin' Cancer and the importance of mentorship and emotional support for those going through a diagnosis of cancer.

In this two topic episode, Breast Friends Mentor Glenna Cain opens up about her 2 journeys with breast cancer and how it has completely changed her life for the better! After her second round of treatment, Glenna opted for a Goldilocks closure, allowing her to retain her femininity and feel beautiful without implants or extensive flap surgeries. She also has a new found passion for art and the beauty she creates daily! Aimee Berg, Breast Friends Programs Coordinator, joins us to talk about her lifelong passion for art and how it has lead to the beloved Creative Connections program at Breast Friends where she encourages others to experience the process of art, rather than the outcome. Listen in to learn how art can contribute to healing from trauma and so much more!

What is EFT? Tapping (from the EFT – Emotional Freedom Techniques protocol) is a powerful energy psychology technique that helps relieve all types problems by tapping on energy meridian points on the body while using key phrases and other protocols. Energy meridians were first “known” in Chinese medicine. In the last few years, Western medicine has developed technology to measure them, proving what we already knew: we are made up of energy! Tapping works for many different things, because it relieves and resolves old emotional disruptions in the body. And energy disruptions are the cause of all negative emotions, illnesses and diseases.

Host Michelle Beck welcomes Patrick Norman, Director & Producer, to talk about the amazing documentary “Full Circle.” About the film: Full Circle reveals how mastectomy tattoos empower breast cancer survivors to see past their scars to finally find the confidence to start dating after cancer, fix bad reconstructive work, and simply feel like themselves again. These tattoos change lives, and these women shared their stories to show others that breast cancer doesn’t have to leave the last mark. Why make this film? Mastectomies leave women scarred in more ways than one. Often, surgery involves removing nipples and areolae—and with them a profound sense of self. Doctors can only help so much, typically with more invasive surgeries or basic cosmetic tattoos that look like a pepperoni.

Have you ever been told that leaking while laughing, coughing, sneezing or exercising is “just normal”? Or, has your pain with intimacy been dismissed or shrugged off because other people experience too? Mendwell Health’s Dr. Eryn Kirschbaum, DPT, PRPC breaks down pelvic anatomy, pelvic floor dysfunction and symptoms that may seem common, but are definitely not normal. Join her for an honest conversation on the pelvic floor and resources, education and help to return to full function.

Do you think you know a lot about breast cancer? On this episode of Breast Friends Cancer Support Network, I get to quiz my friends and co-workers about how much they really know. Join me as I question Allison Hancock, Executive Director, Alyssa Beyer, Community Engagement Coordinator and Liz Brown, Events and Social Media Coordinator on what is true and what is fiction about breast cancer!

Living each day with connection to Presence allows us to ride the waves of change with greater skill and a deeper capacity to trust the flow of life's dynamic play. As a sound healer and meditation teacher, Elizabeth will share about her personal journey of healing trauma through vibrational medicine. Since the voice is the closest instrument to the heart, it has the greatest capacity to shift energetic patterns and awaken transformation in ways that are sometimes surprising, powerful, and even humorous! Elizabeth will offer simple tools for clearing and grounding into the present moment, by using the vibration of our own voices and mindful awareness.

Kelley was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer after being told that she was too young after fighting to be heard at age 22. She endured challenging treatment protocol, a high risk pregnancy during treatment and then the loss of both her sister and her mother to cancer. Despite these challenges, Kelley will share how she made it through with her faith and determination. The air date for this episode, December 21 is Kelley's birthday so wishing Kelley a very happy day! As we pre-recorded this episode, Kelley wanted to add some additional information: Season's Greetings Breast Friends Listeners, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to elaborate on a few topics I believe may have been unclear. First & foremost, when I mentioned my mother being gay it was not to be interpreted as anything less than factual. As a child of the 70s, we were not allowed to speak the word let alone tell our friends. Along with our unique upbringing, it was yet another way for these new kids in town to feel different, isolated from their peers. My mom had two girls who supported her without judgement, loved her no matter what. Not long after I awoke from my 18 day comma, I made-up a joke I intended to share while on the air: Q. Why do you think I had to have a mastectomy A. Because a lumpectomy just didn't cut it Lastly, I lost my train of thought when talking about one of many reasons why it was such a miracle to get pregnant when I did. I was hospitalized for a total of 25 days. Thankfully, I do not remember 18 of them. LOL!! I was so excited to get released on that Friday evening only to learn that I had to resume Chemotherapy on Monday morning. UGH!!! That very morning (28 days without Chemo) right before I was to be hooked up, I started feeling a weird. I asked to used the ladies room and viola there it was...I was bleeding vaginally. I was menstruating. Now ladies, we know our monthly cycles can be delayed if we get a cold. Imagine having months of weekly, aggressive Chemo, enduring a 2.5 week comma, fever of 106.5 and somehow on day 28 (my usual), my body somehow thinks it's time to resume normalcy. Not likely. Only God. Turns out, Destynie, was born in the city of Destiny aka Tacoma. We lived in Bremerton at the time. As long as their is breath in me, I will not quit my plight to change the minds of physicians who think along the you're too young spectrum. My hope (and dream) is to have turned what was an incredibly challenging experience into one of encouragement, of hope, and of course, how God has created every person to have their own individual journey. Or shall I say, destiny? I feel incredibly blessed to be here at 51, providing a into the glimpse of my breast cancer experience. Without God's grace & mercy I wouldn't be here today. Thank you for welcoming me as a guest and to Mrs. Beck for having me. Love + Light, Kelley