What to Do After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Advice from an Oncologist, Dr Tiffany Troso (Part 2)

What happens when you find a lump at 38 weeks pregnant and doctors tell you it's probably nothing? For Mandy Geyman, it turned out to be stage three inflammatory breast cancer. Diagnosed at 31 while carrying her second child during COVID, Mandy's story is one of impossible decisions, dark humor, and fierce survival. In this episode of Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond, hosts Chris Kushner and Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, sit down with Mandy Geyman, founder of @WarriorMamaMandy on Instagram, to talk about pregnancy and breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer warning signs, chemotherapy while pregnant, genetic testing, the guilt of being a pregnant cancer patient, and how humor became her lifeline. Mandy shares how a pinkish discoloration and orange peel texture on her breast led to weeks of misdiagnosis as mastitis before a vigilant nurse caught what others missed. She explains the difference between inflammatory breast cancer and typical breast cancer, why there's often no lump, and how quickly this aggressive cancer can spread. The conversation explores the fear and uncertainty of starting chemotherapy while pregnant, the decision to do chemo every two weeks instead of three, and why pregnant people may actually tolerate chemo better than non pregnant patients. Mandy also discusses the emotional weight of wondering if cancer cells could pass to her baby, navigating a high risk pregnancy during a pandemic, and giving birth just 18 days before her mastectomy. Chris and Jenni dig into the mental load of being a pregnant cancer patient, the guilt of putting treatment before pregnancy, and the impossible task of caring for a three year old going through autism testing while fighting for your own life. Mandy also opens up about her BRCA2 positive genetic test results, the decision to test her young daughters, and what it means to carry that knowledge forward. The episode takes a turn into the power and pitfalls of sharing your cancer story on social media. Mandy talks about why she started posting, how humor helped her survive, and the unexpected criticism from someone close to her who accused her of seeking attention. Chris and Jenni validate the healing power of storytelling and community, especially for young breast cancer survivors who feel isolated and alone. Five years out from diagnosis, Mandy reflects on what gives her hope, why hearing from long term survivors matters, and how her husband is writing a book for caregivers who feel forgotten during treatment. If you're navigating breast cancer during pregnancy, inflammatory breast cancer, genetic testing, or simply trying to find your people, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ Warning signs of inflammatory breast cancer and why there's often no lump ✅ How pregnancy and breast cancer collide and what treatment looks like ✅ The difference between mastitis and inflammatory breast cancer ✅ Chemotherapy while pregnant and why pregnant patients may tolerate it better ✅ The emotional weight of being a pregnant cancer patient ✅ BRCA testing, genetic results, and testing young children ✅ How to navigate criticism when sharing your cancer story on social media ✅ Why humor can be a survival tool during treatment ✅ Finding hope five years out from diagnosis ✅ Resources for pregnant cancer patients ABOUT MANDY GEYMAN Mandy Guyman is a breast cancer survivor, mom of two, and the voice behind @WarriorMamaMandy on Instagram. Diagnosed with stage three inflammatory breast cancer at 31 while pregnant during COVID, Mandy uses humor, honesty, and storytelling to connect with other survivors and share hope. She is BRCA2 positive and an advocate for genetic testing and early detection. Follow her on Instagram at @WarriorMamaMandy. RESOURCES MENTIONED Dr. Elyce Cardonick, high risk OBGYN and oncologist specializing in cancer and pregnancy (New Jersey) Registry for pregnant cancer patients Chemo Hates Kisses (children's book about cancer) Neulasta during pregnancy ABOUT BOOBALICIOUS Boobali

What if the final step of breast cancer reconstruction could help you feel whole again? In this episode of Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond, hosts Chris Kushner and Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, sit down with Crystal Yang and Courtney Delgado, the founders of Perky, a clinic providing medical grade aesthetic services including 3D nipple tattoos for breast cancer survivors. They discuss the healing power of nipple tattooing, the emotional impact of seeing yourself whole again, and why this final step of reconstruction often gets overlooked. Crystal and Courtney share how they transitioned from working in a breast reconstructive nursing clinic to becoming specialized 3D nipple tattoo artists. They explain the problem with nipple tattoos done in doctor's offices, why they wanted to create a dedicated, safe space for this service, and how proper training and technique can produce stunningly realistic results. The conversation explores the emotional moment when survivors look in the mirror and see color and dimension where there was once flatness and absence. Chris, Jenni, Crystal, and Courtney discuss why that visual completion can be profoundly healing and how it helps women reconnect with their bodies after mastectomy and reconstruction. They compare surgical nipple reconstruction versus 3D nipple tattoos, discussing projection, symmetry, scarring, sensation, and why many women choose tattooing over an additional surgery. The group also addresses how to tattoo over radiated skin, the importance of skin care and massage before tattooing, and what to expect during the procedure and touch up process. Jenni shares insight on the mind body connection after mastectomy, and Crystal and Courtney emphasize the importance of touching your breast to help your brain reconnect with your new body. They also discuss the surgeon's God complex, being told to be grateful, and why patient preferences sometimes get lost in the reconstruction process. The episode covers temporary nipple tattoos, a try before you commit option that Perky created in house with 12 different styles and color tones. Crystal and Courtney explain how these temporary tattoos can help women test how a nipple will make them feel, whether they're in the middle of treatment, waiting for radiation to finish, or simply unsure if permanent tattooing is right for them. Beyond nipples, Perky offers 3D eyebrows, scar camouflage, stretch mark camouflage, radiation marker tattoos, and 3D belly button restoration. The conversation touches on keloiding, who is a good candidate for tattooing, and how these services help survivors feel more like themselves. Crystal and Courtney break down insurance coverage for nipple tattooing, explaining that the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act requires insurance to cover the service nationally, but loopholes often prevent reimbursement. They share the resources they've created to help women navigate insurance, file for reimbursement, and appeal denials. The episode closes with a discussion of hope, community, and vulnerability in survivorship. Crystal and Courtney share details about The Third Nipple Campaign, a creative October fundraiser using temporary tattoos to spread awareness and raise money for the Perky Restoration Grant Program, which provides free nipple tattooing, scar camouflage, eyebrows, and nurse coaching to breast cancer survivors in need. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ How 3D nipple tattoos complete breast reconstruction ✅ The emotional impact of seeing yourself whole again ✅ Why nipple tattoos done in doctor's offices are often subpar ✅ Surgical nipple reconstruction vs 3D nipple tattoos ✅ How to reconnect mind and body after mastectomy ✅ Why touching your breast helps your brain adjust to your new body ✅ The surgeon's God complex and being told to be grateful ✅ How to tattoo over radiated skin ✅ Skin care and massage tips before nipple tattooing ✅ Temporary nipple tattoos and how to try before you commit ✅ Beyond nipples: eyebrows, scars, stre

Writing Through Breast Cancer: The Healing Power of Telling Your Story What if the most powerful part of your breast cancer story isn’t what’s in your medical file—but what never made it onto the page? In this episode of Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond, hosts Chris Kushner and Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, sit down with April Stearns, founder of Wildfire Magazine, and Dawn Amodeo, a Wildfire contributor, to explore the healing power of writing through breast cancer, processing trauma, and telling the stories that don’t fit neatly into treatment plans. After her 2012 breast cancer diagnosis, April went searching for stories that went beyond diagnosis details and treatment timelines. She wanted the real, raw, messy experience of living with and after breast cancer. When she couldn’t find it, she created it. Wildfire Magazine became a publication and writing community where people affected by breast cancer could tell their whole stories—not just the medical ones. Dawn shares her journey from being Jenni’s physical therapy patient after her mastectomy to participating in Wildfire’s writing workshops. She explains how writing helped her process trauma, quiet the noise surrounding her cancer experience, and uncover parts of her story that still needed healing. The conversation explores research on expressive writing and trauma, including the work of psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker, and why writing can be a powerful tool for emotional processing and mental health. April encourages survivors to explore “the story before the story”—the relationships, body image struggles, beliefs, fears, and experiences that existed before cancer. The group also tackles subjects often left out of traditional breast cancer survivor stories: death, sex, intimacy, money, medical menopause, marriage, and the complicated emotions of life after breast cancer treatment. Dawn reads an excerpt from her published piece, “The Morning of My Mastectomy,” taking listeners inside the hour before surgery—from affirmations and fear to a nurse holding her hand and the surgeon marking her chest. It’s an intimate look at a moment a medical record could never fully capture. April also shares practical writing prompts, including “What My Medical File Won’t Tell You,” and explains how focusing on small moments, decisions, and realizations can help survivors discover what they need to write—and perhaps heal. The episode closes with reflections on hope and breast cancer survivorship. April shares dropping her daughter off at college 11 years after diagnosis, while Dawn reflects on still being here nine years later—living with metastatic breast cancer, conquering fears, finding joy, and continuing to write her story. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ✅ How Wildfire Magazine became a storytelling community for breast cancer survivors ✅ The science behind writing as a tool for processing trauma ✅ Why your breast cancer story is more than your medical file ✅ Why survivors need space to talk about death, sex, money, intimacy, and body image ✅ How writing workshops create safe spaces for vulnerable storytelling ✅ Writing prompts for processing your cancer experience ✅ Why “the story before the story” matters ✅ Finding hope in life after breast cancer ABOUT APRIL STEARNS April Stearns is the founder of Wildfire Magazine, a publication and community dedicated to storytelling for people affected by breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2012, April created Wildfire to make space for the real, complex stories of cancer and survivorship. ABOUT DAWN AMODEO Dawn Amodeo is a writer, breast cancer survivor, and Wildfire contributor. Dawn is living with metastatic breast cancer and continues to share her story while embracing life, challenging fears, and finding joy. ABOUT BOOBALICIOUS Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond is a breast cancer podcast for women navigating breast cancer treatment, recovery, and long-term survivorship. Hosted by breast cancer survivor Chris Kushner and physical therapist Jenni Rai, PT, CLT

What happens when you find community that doesn't just understand your diagnosis, but sees you as a whole person? In this episode of Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond, hosts Chris Kushner and Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, sit down with Yahira Torres, founder of Lioness Retreat, and Staci Tantum, known as @Metastaci, to talk about breast cancer retreats, the power of in-person community, and why finding your people can be just as healing as any medical treatment.

What happens when menopause symptoms aren't just temporary—but a lifelong reality that no one prepared you for? In this episode of Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond, hosts Chris Kushner and Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, sit down with Dr. Christy Thoser, founder of Corla Health, to talk about menopause after breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy, and the treatment options many women don't know exist. Chris and Jenni share their own experiences with menopause symptoms—brain zaps, heart palpitations, frozen shoulder, anxiety, high cholesterol—and the surprising revelation that menopause doesn't last a year. It lasts the rest of your life. And the symptoms you're white-knuckling through? There are solutions. Dr. Thoser explains why so many women struggle to get answers about menopause, especially after breast cancer treatment. She discusses the gap in menopause training for OBGYNs, why oncologists often refer patients elsewhere, and how women end up navigating a system that wasn't designed to support them. The conversation covers hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, joint pain, vaginal dryness, bone density loss, cardiovascular risk, and mental health changes during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Thoser walks through both hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options, including medications like gabapentin and SSRIs, supplements like magnesium glycinate and vitamin E, and when hormone replacement therapy may still be an option after breast cancer. If you've been told to just deal with menopause symptoms, or if you're unsure whether hormone therapy is safe after breast cancer, this episode offers clarity, validation, and practical next steps. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ Why menopause symptoms can last far longer than one year ✅ The difference between natural menopause and medically induced menopause ✅ Why symptoms can be more severe after breast cancer treatment ✅ Non-hormonal treatment options for hot flashes, brain fog, and night sweats ✅ How SSRIs, gabapentin, and supplements can help manage menopause symptoms ✅ Whether hormone replacement therapy is safe after breast cancer ✅ Why OBGYNs often lack menopause training ✅ How to find a menopause specialist through The Menopause Society ✅ Why estrogen loss affects heart health, bone density, cholesterol, and mental health ✅ What brain zaps, frozen shoulder, heart palpitations, and itchy skin have to do with menopause ABOUT DR. CHRISTY THOSER Dr. Christy Thoser is the founder of Corla Health, a menopause care practice specializing in hormone replacement therapy and menopause management for women who have had breast cancer. After years in general OBGYN practice, Dr. Thoser recognized the massive gap in menopause care and created Corla Health to provide individualized, evidence-based treatment for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and life after breast cancer treatment. Corla Health offers personalized menopause care for California residents and medical advisory services for women outside California. New patients can begin their care plan at no cost. Learn more at CorlaHealth.com RESOURCES MENTIONED The Menopause Society provider directory Magnesium glycinate for sleep and menopause symptoms Gabapentin for hot flashes SSRIs for menopause symptoms (with considerations for Tamoxifen) ABOUT BOOBALICIOUS Boobalicious: Breast Cancer and Beyond is a breast cancer podcast for women navigating breast cancer treatment, recovery, and long-term survivorship. Hosted by breast cancer survivor Chris Kushner and physical therapist and breast cancer rehabilitation specialist Jenni Rai, PT, CLT, Boobalicious combines lived experience with professional insight to talk about the things that don't always get enough attention during and after breast cancer treatment. We talk about breast cancer recovery, mastectomy recovery, lymphedema after breast cancer, menopause after breast cancer, exercise after breast cancer treatment, mental health, survivorship, and life after breast cancer. Subscribe for honest