Test Those Breasts ™️

Andréa Gonzalez shares her journey before, during, and after breast cancer, highlighting the resilience and strength in survivorship. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy and support in the breast cancer community, showcasing her own experiences and contributions to the cause. The conversation covers topics related to beauty and self-care during cancer treatment, survivorship and advocacy, advice for the undiagnosed, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The importance of early detection and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for cancer survivors is emphasized throughout the conversation.TakeawaysResilience and strength in survivorshipThe importance of advocacy and support Early detection is crucialMaintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for cancer survivorsResources: Look Good Feel Better

We share Nancie Steinberg’s path from losing her mother to breast cancer to navigating her own diagnosis, CML management, and a new DCIS finding, translating hard-won lessons into everyday advocacy. Practical guidance on second opinions, seeing a breast surgeon, and building support grounds the whole conversation.• Why a missed chemo recommendation changed how we view second opinions• How to interview oncologists and assess fit• Grief, work, and parenting through treatment• Opening up about chronic myeloid leukemia after years of silence• Advocacy that moves policy on screening and access• Why to see a breast surgeon rather than rely only on OB-GYN exams• MRI, mammogram and ultrasound roles for high-risk monitoring• DCIS decisions, reconstruction options, and recovery planning• Finding therapy, community, and momentum for better days Are you loving the Test Those Breasts! Podcast? You can show your support by donating to the Test Those Breasts Nonprofit @ https://testthosebreasts.org/donate/Where to find Jamie:Instagram  LinkedIn TikTok   Test Those Breasts Facebook Group LinkTreeJamie Vaughn in the News!Thanks for listening!I would appreciate your rating and review where you listen to podcasts!I  am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers,  therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .

We sit with Tiffany Williams, a survivor who found her lump, fought for results, chose surgery and radiation, and carried private grief after losing her daughter on day one of treatment. Strength, vulnerability, and self-advocacy weave through a candid talk about silence, support, and speaking up.• life before diagnosis as a mover and shaker• finding the lump and insisting on answers• staging surprise and surgical choice• why radiation without chemo for lobular cancer• working through treatment and hiding fatigue• losing her daughter and processing grief alone• learning to share, not shoulder everything• lessons from her mother’s cancer and caregiving• practical tips on lymphedema and radiation limits• younger patients, dense breasts, and ultrasound• the caregiver’s role in appointments and anxiety• trusting intuition and acting quicklySit back, grab a cup of coffee, or enjoy while driving!  Are you loving the Test Those Breasts! Podcast? You can show your support by donating to the Test Those Breasts Nonprofit @ https://testthosebreasts.org/donate/Where to find Jamie:Instagram  LinkedIn TikTok   Test Those Breasts Facebook Group LinkTreeJamie Vaughn in the News!Thanks for listening!I would appreciate your rating and review where you listen to podcasts!I  am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers,  therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .

For our 100th episode, we explore how storytelling helps reclaim body, mind, and spirit after cancer. Gillian Lichota, April Stearns, Melissa Andersen, and Sarah Zsak share how writing transforms fear into agency, supports embodiment, and creates space for healing and connection.Featured book: Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast CancerGuests• Gillian Lichota – Founder & CEO of iRise Above Foundation, breast cancer thriver, adventure traveler, and lead author of Rising Above• April Stearns – Founder and Editor of Wildfire Magazine; breast cancer survivor and expressive writing facilitator• Melissa Andersen – Nonprofit advocate and HER2+ survivor focused on healing, nature, and creativity• Sarah Zsak – Speech-language pathologist, mom of four, Peace Corps alum, and Stage III survivor grounded in faith, connection, and hopeResources• P.ink Day (Personal Ink): https://p-ink.org/p-ink-days/• American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/• Ohio State early signs article: https://cancer.osu.edu/news/most-breast-cancers-dont-start-with-a-noticeable-lump• Dr. Lily Mundy (Johns Hopkins): https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/lily-mundy/2700651• Dr. Nima Khavanin (Johns Hopkins): https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/nima-khavanin/3052769Support the ShowLove the Test Those Breasts® Podcast? You can support this work by donating at https://testthosebreasts.org/donate/Please rate and review wherever you listen — it helps more than you know.DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For personalized guidance, consult qualified healthcare providers.

Send us a textYou can feel perfectly fine, hear the word cancer, and watch your whole life tilt. For Veronika Bubenickova, a seasoned product leader, that moment redefined how she approached work, wellness, and what it means to heal. We talk about the HER2+ whirlwind, the shock of chemo, the fatigue that steals sleep, and the mindset shift that turned treatment from a threat into an ally. Veronika shares the simple tools that helped her stay grounded through it all: nourishing food, gentle movement, intentional laughter, and anchoring herself in nature to restore joy and normalcy.Her greatest act of strength came through self-advocacy, asking hard questions, seeking the right specialists, and making choices that honored both her body and her future. Beyond the medical journey, Veronika opens up about the emotional and spiritual recovery that follows survival: naming the trauma that lingers, finding peace in uncertainty, and learning how to live fully again.Through Lotus Journey, she now helps other women navigate that same in-between, after treatment, before life feels steady again. Her book, Diary of a Soul Reborn, offers her hard-earned insights and a gentle path toward rebuilding identity, trust, and purpose. If you’re ready to move from doom-scrolling to genuine healing, this conversation is your invitation.Contact Veronika:Socials: http://www.lotus-journey.com/ https://veronika-bubenickova.com/linksLinkedInYouTubeFacebookInstagram Are you loving the Test Those Breasts! Podcast? You can show your support by donating to the Test Those Breasts Nonprofit @ https://testthosebreasts.org/donate/ Where to find Jamie:Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Test Those Breasts Facebook Group LinkTree Jamie Vaughn in the News! Thanks for listening! I would appreciate your rating and review where you listen to podcasts!I am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers, therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .