Melissa sits down with Dr. Laila Agrawal, a board-certified breast oncologist who leads a sexual health clinic dedicated to the breast cancer community. As part of the "Empowered Intimacy: Getting Your Sexy Back After Breast Cancer" series, they talk about how to restore sexual comfort, pleasure, and connection after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Agrawal offers practical guidance on vibrators, lubricants, vaginal estrogen, and pelvic floor therapy, while clearing up common misconceptions and stressing the importance of open communication with both partners and providers.

This episode focuses on both the emotional and physical sides of intimacy and teaches listeners how to regain desire, comfort, and confidence in their sexual health after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Special thanks to Lilly and Novartis for supporting the Cancer Fashionista Foundation and making this series possible.

In this episode, host Melissa Berry sits down with Dr. Rebecca Knackstedt, a dedicated and compassionate plastic surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Duke University to discuss the transformative power of breast pre-habilitation. 

Specializing in microsurgical breast reconstruction and certified in Functional Medicine, Dr. Knackstedt has cared for thousands of women preparing for breast cancer surgery. She is passionate about helping patients use evidence-based strategies, including nutrition, supplementation, stress management, and sleep optimization, to take an active role in their healing.

Together, they explore how this powerful yet often overlooked step can significantly enhance recovery, improve outcomes, reduce complications, and provide a greater sense of strength and control during your breast cancer experience.

Host Melissa Berry sits down with LaToya Bolds-Johnson — Physician Associate, triple negative breast cancer survivor, and passionate clinical trials advocate. With her experience as both a healthcare provider and a patient, Latoya offers a meaningful and insightful perspective on clinical trials and how they can transform cancer treatment.

In this episode, LaToya shares her personal journey navigating breast cancer treatment and the challenges of finding the right clinical trial. They discuss the critical need for greater diversity in clinical trial participation, and how her involvement created a "medical trust fund" for her daughters' futures.

LaToya also discusses how we can shift the mindset around clinical trials from being seen as a last resort to a standard of care, helping patients advocate for themselves and make informed choices.

If you're newly diagnosed, considering treatment options, or want to learn how clinical trials can offer hope and opportunity, this episode is a must-listen!

I'm so glad that I met Teeru Bihani, founder of Bihani Jewelry. She's literally a cancer researcher by day, and a jewelry designer by night who creates beautiful designs while giving back to the cancer community. Each month, Teeru donates a portion of Bihani Jewelry sales to an organization that provides direct support to patients, survivors, thrivers, and previvors. Check this episode out, it's the perfect blend of cancer and fashion! Click here to shop this very unique jewelry collection.

You're going to love Rachelle aka @theoriginalrachelle! I instantly connected with this fellow fashionista. We talked about her passion for all things fashion and beauty, and her dedication to bringing awareness and support to the young breast cancer community is truly inspiring. Tune in for the full scoop!

If you're a patient or caregiver you won't want to miss this crash course in getting organized and keeping your calm through a cancer diagnosis or whatever challenges life throws your way. Join host Melissa Berry and her amazing life and business coach Brooke Burns, Founder of Brooke Burns Coaching for some very practical organizational tips for getting through even your toughest days.

Just in case you missed the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium adventures of Hayley Dinerman (Executive Director of The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation), Ricki Fairley (Founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance) and host Melissa Berry, here's your chance to get the key takeaways and latest developments that we learned at this very important annual breast cancer conference. Thank you to our partners Gilead, Merck and Genentech for helping us to make this program possible!

Host Melissa Berry has learned so much about bone health as a result of her, "Beautiful To The Bone" podcast series, as well as a special episode produced for the "It's All About The Break" campaign. Tune in to hear Melissa share her favorite "snippets" from some of the past episodes and in just under an hour you'll have enough information to advocate for YOUR bone health and get a DXA scan!

Join host Melissa Berry and she sits down with one of her dear friends Kristen Carbone, breast cancer previvor and founder of Brilliantly. Learn all about Kristen's amazing, "Brilliantly Warm" invention, how she recently scored coverage about her brand in Goop, and the why behind her mission.

Host Melissa Berry sits down with young triple-negative breast cancer thriver, Sydney Różycki. At the young age of 23, Sydney discovered her own breast cancer and also learned that she had a BRCA mutation.  Tune into this very special episode to hear Sydney's story and learn why it's so important to advocate for yourself no matter how young you are. You'll also get to hear about her upcoming wedding and the amazing love story leading up to it!

Hot flashes. Mood swings. Menopause is a hot topic these days, and host Melissa Berry interviews Tamsen Fadal who shares her menopause journey and her "why" behind her fierce advocacy and dedication to demystifying this challenging chapter in women's lives. From hot flashes to mood swings and everything in between, Tamsen is your menopause coach. If you're approaching menopause or are in the thick of it, you won't want to miss this episode!

Fasten your seat belts for this very special episode with Jennifer Lopez, space technologist, and National Geographic Explorer, who's on a mission to make the world better through technology and to help unravel the secrets of the cosmos. She's also a triple-negative breast cancer thriver who discovered that she has advanced osteoporosis as a result of her treatment. Tune in for this very candid and eye-opening conversation about the importance of advocating for your bone health before your cancer treatment even begins.

Host Melissa Berry met journalist Anne D'Innocenzio long before they were both diagnosed with and treated for triple negative breast cancer. Melissa was a fashion publicist and she'd pitch Anne when she wrote for Women's Wear Daily as well as the Associated Press. The two were reunited when amutual friend told Melissa that she knew someone who wrote for the AP and had TNBC...the rest is history! Today, Anne is a TNBC thriver, journalist and now starring in her very first solo show, "The Red Light Zones." This special performance took place in October and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. Tune in to hear Anne's whole story and the "why" behind her passion for stand-up, storytelling and living her life to its fullest, post-diagnosis.

Host Melissa Berry sits down with Melissa Eppard, a triple negative breast cancer survivor and co-founder of Upstate Mary, a wellness brand focused on CBD-infused intimacy products. They talk about Melissa's personal breast cancer experience and the challenges many patients face with intimacy during and after treatment.

Their conversation highlights the importance of addressing issues like vaginal dryness and the need for lubrication, which are often misunderstood, overlooked, and surrounded by shame. Melissa shares how CBD can help improve comfort and sexual wellness, while normalizing these conversations and taking the shame away.

They also discuss the pressures both cancer survivors as well as their partners can feel around intimacy and the power of community support in reclaiming confidence and connection after cancer. This episode offers honest insights and encourages open conversations about sexual health for cancer survivors and their partners.

Host Melissa Berry gets migraines! Not fun! So it was time to chat with someone who knows a thing or two about these debilitating headaches. Introducing Joe Coe, Director of Education, Digital Strategy and Co-President of the Global Healthy Living Foundation and host of the, "Talking Head Pain" podcast. The two spoke in great detail about the different types of medications available, prevention and how to advocate for yourself if you suffer from migraines. Breast cancer treatment is tough enough, but if you get a migraine on top of it all it can be incredibly overwhelming so tune in to learn more!

Host Melissa Berry speaks with Dr. Edward Fox, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery. He is a professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Chief of the Division of Orthopedic Oncology, and a professor in the Department of Medicine at the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Health., to talk about the importance of having a bone health plan and advocating for yourself. Learn about overlapping fracture risk such as menopause and breast cancer, who can get a DXA scan and when the best point of entry is for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Fox works closely with American Bone Health, so be sure to use their fracture risk calculator right here. Discuss the results with your healthcare provider so you can develop your own bone health plan. Thank you Amgen for making this episode possible!

Melissa has a really fun yet insightful chat with TNBC Thriver founder Kelly Thomas and breast cancer advocate Vaishalee Howey. These two beauties met on their triple negative breast cancer paths, and are a beautiful example of finding connection and community after a breast cancer diagnosis. They talk about the importance of seeking sisterhood when you're first diagnosed and share their experience modeling the newly launched AnaOno x Lori Goldstein collection benefiting the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. Tune in for the full scoop!

Host Melissa Berry has a high energy, insightful interview with Rev. Tammie Denyse, Founder of Carrie's TOUCH. In addition to breast cancer advocacy, Tammie is also very passionate about bone health. From secondary fracture prevention, osteoporosis risks for postmenopausal women, and moving the needle on racial disparity, Tammie shares a wealth of knowledge that she has gained through many years as a dedicated advocate. You won't want to miss this special episode which is part of the #itsallaboutthebreak bone health campaign. Thank you Amgen for making this episode possible!

Host Melissa Berry sits down with breast cancer advocate and Instagram Reels extraordinaire Dani Trops to talk breast cancer, confidence, dating after breast cancer....and nipples! So many of us are faced with having to make the decision to reconstruct our nipples, get nipple tattoos....or do nothing at all. Tune in to hear this very real conversation about how to navigate the nipple dilemma.

Melissa is a huge fan of Wildfire Magazine, so it was a major treat for her to speak with founder April Stearns. April has created an incredible platform for the breast cancer community to share their stories, and even offers virtual writing workshops for those who want to really sharpen their skills. In this episode, learn all about April, her "why" behind Wildfire and how sharing your story (on both the giving and receiving ends) can be a truly healing experience.

Melissa sits down with Tricia Totten aka @flexingaftercancer, 56 year-old breast cancer thriver, bone health and fitness advocate to share her first hand experience about how to keep your bones strong and healthy after a breast cancer diagnosis and menopause.  Tricia is such a great example of being super proactive and advocating for your bone health! Thank you to Amgen for making this episode possible by supporting this special #beautifultothebone series.

Ever wonder what nipple and areola tattooing is all about? Well, here's everything you need to know from Tara Williamson, breast cancer thriver and owner of Pink Ink Tattoo. Melissa and Tara discuss the tattooing process, when's the best time to consider getting a consultation, health insurance coverage, how to find the best artist in your area and what questions to ask them when conducting your interviews.

Melissa takes a deep dive into the world of breast cancer myths with the amazing Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky. Should you avoid eating soy? Is it ok to continue exercising during chemo? What are the pros and cons of cold capping? Can you still get your nails done during treatment?  Tune in to hear the answers to all of these questions and many more!

Host Melissa Berry has a very in-depth and valuable conversation with Dr. Andrea Singer about bone health as it relates to breast cancer and menopause. Grab a pen because by listening to this episode, you'll learn practical ways to prevent bone loss, how to maintain strong bones even if you're post menopausal and undergoing breast cancer treatment, how to and so much more!

In this episode, we continue with a special series close to my heart: Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight. I'm joined by Kathy Baker, patient advocate and founder of My Faulty Gene to explore the power of genetic testing—particularly cascade testing—and how it can help both you and your family take control of your breast cancer risk.

Kathy shares her compelling personal story and how it inspired her to launch My Faulty Gene, a nonprofit organization that provides education, emotional support, and financial assistance for genetic testing. You'll learn all about the importance of cascade testing for families, how genetic knowledge can lead to proactive screenings and preventive health measures, and how advocacy is truly paving the way for more accessible care.

Whether you're facing a BRCA-positive diagnosis, considering genetic testing, or looking for support navigating hereditary cancer risk, this is one conversation that you'll want to listen to - and share with your entire family. 

Thank you to Merck and AstraZeneca for making this episode possible!

Host Melissa Berry has a dynamic conversation with the amazing Rori Zura, Founder of Foobs & Fitness. Rori was determined to protect her body and skin from radiation, so she came up with a routine that prevents burns and keeps your energy levels up. Tune in to learn the step-by-step process, as well as learn all about Rori's amazing shift in her career path as a result of advocating for herself several times over!

Host Melissa Berry had the unique opportunity to speak with Dr. Michele McDermott, Medical Director of Bone Health for Amgen. Dr. McDermott founded the Menopause and Osteoporosis Center in Austin, Texas which she directed until she joined Amgen in 2018.  This episode is packed with tons of information about bone health as it relates to breast cancer. How often should you get a DXA scan? What happens if you don't monitor your bone density during treatment? What are the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis? Tune in to find out her answers to these questions and many more!

Host Melissa Berry has a very candid conversation with her Dad, Steve Berry about her breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and everything in between. Tune in to hear this heartfelt conversation filled with laughter and tears about how Steve supported and dealt with his daughters' triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. He openly shares his thoughts and fears upon Melissa's diagnosis as well as some advice about how to support your loved one who is faced with cancer treatment. This episode is excellent for patients but also for caregivers, as Steve was not only there to support Melissa through her experience but also for her Mom Barbara who was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer several years prior.

Before you even think about hitting "play" on this episode, you've got to take a look at Dr. Bridget's Instagram account. It's the perfect blend of breast cancer advocacy and dentistry with a very serious dose of fashion. Host Melissa Berry has a fun yet information conversation with Dr. Bridget, covering everything from her breast cancer experience, her passion for fashion, and weighs in on the do's and don'ts when it comes to breast cancer treatment and dental hygiene, and the exciting new launch of her very own NYC based practice, Maison BE Dental. Tune in and grab a pen, lots of great advice about caring for your teeth throughout treatment!

Host Melissa Berry catches up with her very first triple negative BFF, Ricki Fairley! Ricki is the CEO & Co-Founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and since their first interview Ricki has been making some serious strides towards eradicating Black breast cancer.  She launched When We Tri(al), a movement dedicated to empowering and educating Black women on the importance of clinical trial participation. The movement aims to change the devastating breast cancer mortality rates for Black women, who are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Black women are drastically underrepresented in clinical trials; only 3% of clinical trial participants leading to FDA approval of cancer drugs between 2008 and 2018 were Black.  Tune in to learn more about this truly groundbreaking movement!

Claire Gill, Chief Executive Officer at the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, returns to the show to give us a refresher about bone health, but also brings us all up to speed on the current legislation surrounding the medical reimbursement rate for the DXA scan. From bone health tips to prevent fracture to ways that you can help get this bill passed,  Claire shares everything that you need to know about bone health AND how to advocate for it! 

PLUS - Enter To Win A Cancer Fashionista VIP Gift Bag filled with all of my favorite things! Simply complete this survey  and a winner will be drawn at random on Wednesday, August 31 2022. Winner to be notified via email on September 1, 2022. 

If the prize is not redeemed within 5 business days, another contestant will be selected. 

Thanks so much for completing this survey and good luck! It's so helpful for me to know what will help you with YOUR bone health, so this is totally a win-win!

Host Melissa Berry sits down with Kimberly Irvine, 2x Breast Cancer Survivor, CEO of KGI Health and Author of STRONG [ER+] to talk about breast cancer, divorce, dating, parenting and everything in between. Most recently, Kimberly made the decision to reconstruct her breasts once again after going flat for many years. Tune in to hear her insights about her physical and emotional challenges and how she overcame them…many times over.

Just when we thought we knew everything there was about BRCA testing…then along came JScreen! Host Melissa Berry sits down with Emily Goldberg, Genetic Counselor for JScreen for an insightful conversation about who should get genetic testing, next steps if you test positive for the BRCA gene, if you should test for other genes even after you're treated for breast cancer and more! Tune into this insightful episode, and also head on over to JScreen.org if you or someone you love is interested in genetic testing.

This amazing national non-profit organization offers free professional counseling support groups and educational workshops pertaining to emotional and financial well being for anyone affected by cancer. Tune in to learn all about the incredible support that is available to all of us, and just a phone call away! The CancerCare Hopeline is 800-813-HOPE, and there's even a special hotline for my triple negative breast cancer thrivers out there. Just call 877-880-8622 if you or someone you know needs support.

Today is Clinical Trials Awareness Day, making it the perfect time to spotlight a powerful conversation about access, equity, and the future of cancer research. Host Melissa Berry is joined by Dr. Sara Horton, Strategic Clinical Trials Access and Partnerships Lead at Quantum Leap Healthcare to have an insightful and empowering conversation about clinical trials.

Dr. Horton is deeply committed to improving access to clinical trials and ensuring diversity in cancer research—an essential step toward creating treatments that truly work for everyone. In this episode, we explore why representation matters in clinical trials, what barriers still exist, and how her work is helping to break them down.

We also discuss the groundbreaking Wisdom Study, how to find and join clinical trials, and how they can be a vital part of improving treatment options. Overall, we talk about the importance of clinical trials and why they're so essential—not only to advance research, but also to getting an upgrade to your own care.

You don't want to miss this one! Everyone needs a Kim Angell in their life. Kim is not only an incredible breast cancer advocate and metastatic breast cancer thriver, but she's also a travel lover and just wait till you hear how she met her hubby, Josh. Thank you Kim for sharing all of you with all of us!

Cheryl joins Melissa once again to chat about all of the great work that American Bone Health has done to keep the breast cancer community informed. Learn how to advocate for your bone health, the importance of the DXA scan and so much more!

Host Melissa Berry sits down with the amazing Asha Miller, breast cancer and body love advocate. Asha takes us on an incredibly inspiring walk through her breast cancer experience. She candidly shares with us how it led to radical body love, and how to love your new "you" after breast cancer treatment and surgery!

Join host Melissa Berry and breast cancer advocate Abby Match for an informative conversation about breast cancer, family history and genetics. Abby shares her insights and passion for knowing your family history, where to go for genetics testing and so much more!

Host Melissa Berry is joined by the amazing Kara Frazier, founder of Fighting Pretty. Kara was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the very young age of 26. Fighting Pretty is a non-profit organization that helps women feel strong and beautiful during and after cancer treatments. It works with hospitals, cancer clinics and support groups to provide pink boxing gloves, donated "clean" lipstick and inspirational coloring pages. Tune in to hear all about Kara's story and her amazing mission!

From Survivor to Founder: Redefining Swimwear with Post Swim with Lauren Yerkes, Breast Cancer Survivor and Founder of Post Swim

In this episode of Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful, host Melissa Berry sits down with Lauren Yerkes, a triple negative breast cancer survivor and founder of Post Swim, a new swimwear brand designed to solve the difficult challenges we face when finding the right swimsuit after a mastectomy. Lauren shares her personal journey through diagnosis, treatment, and how her struggles with swimwear post-surgery inspired her to create a line that combines comfort, style, and thoughtful features tailored specifically to breast cancer survivors.

The conversation explores how difficult it can be to find swimwear that meets the unique needs of those who've had mastectomies. Lauren explains how Post Swim's designs offer options for scar coverage, nipple smoothness, and implant rippling coverage, with removable waterproof molded cups to help even out nipple imperfections. Some styles are designed for those who have gone fully flat, ensuring a flattering fit without compromising comfort. Lauren also discusses how community feedback has played a vital role in shaping the designs and how the swimsuits help us feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful in our own skin.

Lauren shares how Post Swim's mission is about empowering us to feel strong, confident, and in control, offering options that make us feel beautiful during and after cancer treatment. This is one episode you won't want to miss!

Want to hear an inspiring story about a rock star triple negative breast cancer thriver? Meet Kelly Thomas. She's a content creator, founder of @tnbc_thrivers, as well as the virtual host for the @tnbcfoundation's monthly zoom chats for women living and thriving with triple negative breast cancer.  When she's not supporting the TNBC Community, she's encouraging cancer survivors to move their body with #exercise4survival. Tune in to learn more and get ready for a serious dose of high energy and valuable information about TNBC!

Host Melissa Berry has a reunion with Claire Gill, CEO of the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. This is a dynamic yet very informative follow up to the last conversation that they had about the impact that cancer can have on bone health....and what you can do to prevent bone loss and fracture with a focus on drug prevention. Don't miss this one!