Live from Stage 4: MBC News for Us, by Us – Details, episodes & analysis

In this powerful panel episode, hosts Victoria Goldberg and Abigail Johnston  are joined by Dr. Jill Tirabassi and Alexis Desai—each bringing their unique perspective as patients, advocates, and experts living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Together, they share personal stories about navigating diagnosis, the critical role of research in extending lives, and the real-world challenges of accessing clinical trials.

The conversation dives deep into why research funding matters, how advocacy can drive change, and the urgent need for patient-centered care. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or ally, this episode offers insight, hope, and a call to action for everyone invested in the future of cancer research.

Tune in to hear firsthand experiences, learn about the latest advocacy efforts, and discover how you can help move the needle for those living with MBC.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In today's episode, the first in our ongoing “Live Chat” series — informal conversations with members of the medical community, advocates, and patients about what matters most to them and to us, hosts Victoria Goldberg and Dr. Ellen Landsberger are joined by Dr. Sherry Shen, a breast cancer medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for a clear, patient-centered conversation on the evolving role of SERDs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders) in hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer.

Dr. Shen explains the science behind SERDs, the importance of ESR1 mutations, and why oral SERDs are generating excitement. We review recent and ongoing trials—including evERA (giredestrant), SERENA-6 (camizestrant), and updates on FDA‑approved agents such as elacestrant and imlunestrant—while discussing regulatory and insurance hurdles, quality-of-life considerations, side-effect management, and how these drugs are shaping real-world treatment strategies and combination approaches.
Bonus clip: a preview from an upcoming episode with Rebecca Shatsky, MD, where she discusses the evERA trial and shares her enthusiasm for emerging combination strategies, including capivasertib paired with oral SERDs.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or clinician, tune in for practical insights, expert perspectives, and a hopeful look at the future of breast cancer therapy.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

This is the first episode of the recurring MBC Insiders series created by and starring the podcast team. In the first episode, published on October 13th, the National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, we meet seven panelists with 80+ years  living with Metastatic Breast Cancer between them and they are here to share the hard-won wisdom of true MBC insiders.  We'll explore the issues that matter most to people living with MBC, including how the language clinicians and media use can harm or help, and candid conversations about progression and the idea of "cure."

Joining Victoria Goldberg:

1. Martha Carlson -- diagnosed de novo in December of 2014, a writer and advocate who mentors, contributes to research and publications, and works to improve understanding of the MBC patient experience. 
2. Melanie Sisk -- diagnosed with early breast cancer at 43 and later, metastatic at 47, which ended her nursing career, she channels urgency into advocacy. 
3. Lynda Weatherby -- living with MBC since 2013 after 2001 DCIS, a Seattle-based patient advocate and advocate founder of “The Project to End Postpartum Breast Cancer."
4. Ellen Landsberger, MD --  a retired  OB/GYN from New York has lived with metastatic breast cancer for years, but it was the loss of a close friend to the disease that sparked her interest in using her voice to help educate others.
5.  Jill Tirabassi, MD --  researcher and advocate, and another physician on our team, diagnosed with breast cancer during her second pregnancy at the age of 36, she now works part-time while raising her two young sons with her husband outside of Buffalo, New York.
6. Alexis Desai -- born and raised New Yorker, and former educator, diagnosed with MBC at the age of 37, actively involved with Metavivor and is a recent graduate of NBCC Project Lead. 
7. Last but not least, Judy Perkins -- cancer Immunotherapy pioneer, who is the first person to be very likely cured of metastatic breast cancer through a form of immunotherapy known as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes or TILs.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

In this episode of "Live from Stage 4: MBC News for Us, by Us," host Victoria Goldberg sits down with Dr. Gloria Echeverria, a leading researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, to discuss the urgent challenges facing cancer research in the United States. Dr. Echeverria shares her career path  from PhD student to running her own lab, focusing on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)—one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease.

The conversation delves into the real-world impact of federal funding cuts on scientific research, the importance of diversifying funding sources, and the ripple effects on young scientists and future breakthroughs. Dr. Echeverria explains the critical role of mitochondria in TNBC, the day-to-day realities of running a research lab, and the vital connection between researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates.

Despite the uncertainty and challenges, Dr. Chavarria offers hope, highlighting recent scientific advances and the resilience of the research community. Whether you’re a patient, advocate, or simply curious about the future of cancer research, this episode provides an inside look at the passion, perseverance, and innovation driving the fight against breast cancer.

Tune in for an inspiring and eye-opening discussion about the future at risk—and the people working tirelessly to protect it.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.

What if the decades of progress against cancer — the breakthroughs, the rising survival rates, the new vaccines and cutting‑edge therapies — were suddenly put in jeopardy? Five decades after the “war on cancer” began, the U.S. has built a world‑class research engine that has pushed survival from roughly 49% in the 1970s to about 68% today. But that hard‑won momentum now faces existential threats: canceled grants and clinical trials, proposals to slash the National Cancer Institute budget, and an unprecedented politicization of biomedical research funding.

In this episode we ask the urgent question: can we protect cancer research — and the patients who depend on it?

Host Victoria Goldberg is joined by Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a lifelong patient advocate. Pam’s journey from politics to advocacy gives her a rare view of how policy and personal stories intersect. She breaks down how federal funding fuels basic science, clinical trials, and drug development; explains why patient voices matter in shaping laws; and shares real examples of how advocacy has changed public health — from smoke‑free laws to lives saved. She also offers candid, compassionate advice for people living with metastatic disease about using their voices to protect research that could change everything.

In addition, Abigail Johnston describes  what funding cuts mean in practical, heartbreaking terms: halted clinical trials, lost opportunities for patients, and the emotional and financial toll on families. Her account underscores why the stakes are so high and why action can’t wait.

Listen for a conversation that’s part policy primer, part patient testimony, and all call to action: protecting cancer research is protecting lives.

If you’d like to get involved or learn more, visit fightcancer.org or livefromstage4.org

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.

Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.

Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.