https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/
After her mother died, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump and called her doctor at UCLA, but the earliest appointments were two months out. She frantically called around for a doctor who could get her in ASAP for a biopsy. Luckily, St. Mary's in Long Beach got Tita in right away, but the news wasn't good. When Tita later saw her oncologist at UCLA, they found more cancer than expected and recommended immediate aggressive chemo. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.

Season 2

The second season follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump." One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

Season 1

The first season of Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, double mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have.

Connect with us

Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.

Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.]]>enHealth & FitnessThe Axishttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/3d22b544fecb7b967903f0f46823dcce.jpghttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:03:11 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen Vengler & Eva Sheiepodcasts@theaxis.ioBreast Cancer Stories is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment....
After her mother died, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump and called her doctor at UCLA, but the earliest appointments were two months out. She frantically called around for a doctor who could get her in ASAP for a biopsy. Luckily, St. Mary's in Long Beach got Tita in right away, but the news wasn't good. When Tita later saw her oncologist at UCLA, they found more cancer than expected and recommended immediate aggressive chemo. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.

Season 2

The second season follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump." One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

Season 1

The first season of Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, double mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have.

Connect with us

Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.

Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.]]>falseepisodichttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/kristen-update-im-moving-to-australia/
But instead of spiraling, Kristen went full “eat, pray, ground yourself”—ditching Prozac cold turkey after forgetting it on a trip, attending back-to-back retreats in India and Australia, and healing her body by standing barefoot in the dirt.

An unusual treatment in Tasmania left her pain-free, and a spontaneous visit to Australia turned into a wild change of plans. 

Consider supporting the podcast by becoming a paid subscriber to our Substack newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io for more info about sponsorship. 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Victoria Cheng
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67942814Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:00:08 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieBetween esophagitis (thanks, radiation) and a mysterious lump that turned out to be fat necrosis from reconstruction, the post-cancer medical drama continues.  But instead of spiraling, Kristen went full “eat, pray, ground yourself”—ditching Prozac...
But instead of spiraling, Kristen went full “eat, pray, ground yourself”—ditching Prozac cold turkey after forgetting it on a trip, attending back-to-back retreats in India and Australia, and healing her body by standing barefoot in the dirt.

An unusual treatment in Tasmania left her pain-free, and a spontaneous visit to Australia turned into a wild change of plans. 

Consider supporting the podcast by becoming a paid subscriber to our Substack newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io for more info about sponsorship. 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Victoria Cheng
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2251alternative+healing,australia,breast+cancer,breast+reconstruction,cancer,fat+necrosis,fat+transfer,grounding,healing,health,health+updates,lifestyle+changes,medical+challenges,mental+health,personal+growth,self+discovery,spiritual+retreats,tasmania,wellnessfalse358fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-326-it-s-a-reminder-i-m-alive-dr-tita-gray--61378536
Her chest is healing, and she doesn’t feel like any less of a woman without breasts. Rather, it reminds her that she's alive and kicking.

She continues with regular immunotherapy, and it's doing wonders. Feeling more like herself, she’s working out without any joint pain, and her hair is growing back. 

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61378536Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:00:11 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieReturning to life cancer-free hasn’t been easy, but Tita stays positive and isn’t letting anything take her spirit down.  Her chest is healing, and she doesn’t feel like any less of a woman without breasts. Rather, it reminds her that she's alive and...
Her chest is healing, and she doesn’t feel like any less of a woman without breasts. Rather, it reminds her that she's alive and kicking.

She continues with regular immunotherapy, and it's doing wonders. Feeling more like herself, she’s working out without any joint pain, and her hair is growing back. 

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>1591breast+cancer,breast+cancer+recovery,breast+cancer+support,breast+cancer+treatment,double+mastectomy,immunotherapy,keytruda,mastectomy,triple+negative+breast+cancer,white+blood+countfalse357fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-233-i-m-the-most-happy-the-least-happy-dr-tita-gray--61094029
Nothing could prepare her for the emotions of losing a part of her body. But her tumor is gone, and no cancer was found before it was removed. 

Tita reflects that while chemo saves your life, it takes a piece of your life with it. She finds peace by focusing on her spiritual side to heal.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61094029Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:00:01 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWhen she first looked down after her double mastectomy, Tita didn’t panic. But adjusting to life without a bra has been strange.  Nothing could prepare her for the emotions of losing a part of her body. But her tumor is gone, and no cancer was found...
Nothing could prepare her for the emotions of losing a part of her body. But her tumor is gone, and no cancer was found before it was removed. 

Tita reflects that while chemo saves your life, it takes a piece of your life with it. She finds peace by focusing on her spiritual side to heal.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>1653aggressive+chemo,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,immunotherapy,mastectomy,nausea,neuropathy,radiation,triple+negative+breast+cancerfalse356fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-220-the-pizza-and-pasta-phase-dr-tita-gray--61054178
Her mastectomy is coming up soon, and her oncologist is calling for radiation. She's not exactly thrilled about it, but she’s determined to never have to deal with this cancer again.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61054178Tue, 20 Aug 2024 11:00:02 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTita's finally starting to feel like herself again after six grueling months of chemo. With no more nausea, she can actually enjoy pizza and pasta without feeling sick. Her mastectomy is coming up soon, and her oncologist is calling for radiation....
Her mastectomy is coming up soon, and her oncologist is calling for radiation. She's not exactly thrilled about it, but she’s determined to never have to deal with this cancer again.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>1330aggressive+chemo,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,immunotherapy,mastectomy,nausea,neuropathy,radiation,taxol,triple+negative+breast+cancer,zarxiofalse355fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-178-i-ll-be-replacing-my-breasts-with-tattoos-dr-tita-gray--60938607
She shares what keeps her strong and optimistic: a job focused on helping others and a supportive circle of friends and family. She believes the key to staying positive is surrounding yourself with people who lift you up and share laughter.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. 

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60938607Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:00:04 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTita's latest MRI shows her tumor is shrinking. She's planning a butterfly tattoo after her double mastectomy to symbolize her metamorphosis.  She shares what keeps her strong and optimistic: a job focused on helping others and a supportive circle of...
She shares what keeps her strong and optimistic: a job focused on helping others and a supportive circle of friends and family. She believes the key to staying positive is surrounding yourself with people who lift you up and share laughter.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. 

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>1998aggressive+chemo,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,breast+mri,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,immunotherapy,mastectomy,nausea,radiation,taxol,triple+negative+breast+cancer,zarxiofalse354fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-117-it-is-what-it-is-dr-tita-gray--60899398
The new schedule extends her treatments through May, leaving her mentally drained. Always perceived as strong and optimistic, it’s tough to be in tears. Empathy from her doctor is a huge help.

Although the lump is shrinking, it's still cancerous, so a double mastectomy is the plan. Tita remains positive, grateful for her support system, faith, and otherwise great life.

Learn more about Invitae genetic testing

Check out Pink Lotus Breast Center

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60899398Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:00:04 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTita’s white blood count drops so low she has to reduce her chemo infusions to every other week. Zarxio injections and immunotherapy help keep it in a healthy range. The new schedule extends her treatments through May, leaving her mentally drained....
The new schedule extends her treatments through May, leaving her mentally drained. Always perceived as strong and optimistic, it’s tough to be in tears. Empathy from her doctor is a huge help.

Although the lump is shrinking, it's still cancerous, so a double mastectomy is the plan. Tita remains positive, grateful for her support system, faith, and otherwise great life.

Learn more about Invitae genetic testing

Check out Pink Lotus Breast Center

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>1716aggressive+chemo,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,doxorubicin,immunotherapy,invitae+genetic+testing,keytruda,microcellular,neuropathy,taxol,triple+negative+breast+cancer,zarxiofalse353fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-73-one-of-those-mondays-dr-tita-gray--60814951
Dismayed to find out she needs two more months of chemo than expected, she schedules an appointment with a surgeon to discuss whether a double mastectomy can remove any remaining cancer.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60814951Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:00:04 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieFeeling worse than usual and suspecting her chemo dosage might be too high, Tita asks her doctor for another mammogram and ultrasound to check visually for signs of cancer. Dismayed to find out she needs two more months of chemo than expected, she...
Dismayed to find out she needs two more months of chemo than expected, she schedules an appointment with a surgeon to discuss whether a double mastectomy can remove any remaining cancer.

About Season 3

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 
This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>1398aggressive+chemo,aggressive+chemotherapy,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,breast+ultrasound,chemo,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,mammogram,triple+negative+breast+cancerfalse352fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-45-it-s-too-much-dr-tita-gray--60742615
The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping it stays gone.

Emotionally drained, she cuts all her hair off herself and thinks through her reasoning for wanting a double mastectomy when the time comes.

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60742615Tue, 23 Jul 2024 11:00:03 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter her second triple infusion of chemo, Tita is feeling worse than ever—no appetite, headaches, achy joints, the whole side effect shebang. The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping...
The silver lining is that her oncologist can no longer find the lump. She checks herself regularly, hoping it stays gone.

Emotionally drained, she cuts all her hair off herself and thinks through her reasoning for wanting a double mastectomy when the time comes.

After her mom's death and some family issues, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>1401aggressive+chemo,aggressive+chemotherapy,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,breast+lump,chemo,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,taxol,triple+negative+breast+cancer,zarxiofalse351fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-25-stop-asking-me-how-i-m-feeling-dr-tita-gray--60699962
After her mom's death and some family issues, Tita found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60699962Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:00:05 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTriple negative breast cancer means aggressive chemo, and for Tita, dealing with everyone else's worry on top of it is too much.  With her first chemo session completed, she's determined not to let cancer overshadow her gratitude for the good things...
After her mom's death and some family issues, Tita found a lump in her breast, leading to a biopsy that confirmed breast cancer. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and choosing to go flat after a double mastectomy.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter (it’s $4/month)

Reach out to bcs@theaxis.io if you want talk about sponsoring this season, which will include ALL episodes (this is called run-of-show in podcast ads lingo)

Make a one time donation in any amount via PayPal 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
]]>1795aggressive+chemo,aggressive+chemotherapy,benadryl,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+treatment,chemo,chemotherapy,dehydration,immunotherapy,nausea,neuropathy,taxol,triple+negative+breast+cancerfalse350fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/day-1-a-horrifying-diagnosis-dr-tita-gray--60633623
Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s worse than initially thought, so her doctor recommends aggressive chemo ASAP. 

Links

How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger 

Breast Cancer Stories is a podcast about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Dr. Tita Gray shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.

Connect with us

Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.

Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.

Co-Host: Kristen Vengler & Dr. Tita Gray
Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Assistant Producers: Hannah Burkhart & Mary Ellen Clarkson
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60633623Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:01:06 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieFollowing the loss of her mother and some traumatic family drama that came with it, Dr. Tita Gray discovered a lump in her breast. Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s...
Scared but determined, she moves quickly to get a biopsy and finds out she has breast cancer. Further scans show it’s worse than initially thought, so her doctor recommends aggressive chemo ASAP. 

Links

How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger 

Breast Cancer Stories is a podcast about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Dr. Tita Gray shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.

Connect with us

Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.

Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.

Co-Host: Kristen Vengler & Dr. Tita Gray
Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Assistant Producers: Hannah Burkhart & Mary Ellen Clarkson
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2249breast+biopsy,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+diagnosis,breast+cancer+treatment,chemotherapy,double+mastectomy,immunotherapy,triple+negative+breast+cancerfalse349fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kristen-update-i-d-prefer-to-have-a-2nd-type-of-cancer--60516291
While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but the earliest appointment is almost two months away.

Puzzling through the scenarios (as if she has a choice), Kristen hopes for a second, new kind of cancer rather than stage four, metastasized breast cancer.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60516291Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:01:05 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieThe results of Kristen's PET scan showed two lymph nodes lighting up, one in the gastro-hepatic area of her abdomen and the other in the lining of her esophagus. While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but...
While it could just be inflammation, Dr. Ali wants her to see a gastroenterologist but the earliest appointment is almost two months away.

Puzzling through the scenarios (as if she has a choice), Kristen hopes for a second, new kind of cancer rather than stage four, metastasized breast cancer.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

]]>1521breast+cancer,breast+cancer+recurrence,chemotherapy,esophageal+gastric+wall+thicke,esophagitis,esophagus,gastroenterologist,gastro-hepatic,hiatal+hernia,lymph+nodes,neoplasm,radiationfalse348fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kristen-update-shouldn-t-i-be-in-the-hospital--60191154
The pulmonologist found ground glass lungs and an enlarged heart, then Dr. Ali found an enlarged lymph node between her liver and stomach and asked for a PET scan.

With recurrence always lurking, we play the old, familiar waiting game.

====

Season 3 is coming soon and we need your help! 
Tita Gray’s story is different, but the same. Listen for a preview of what’s to come in June 2024. 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS


]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60191154Wed, 29 May 2024 11:00:03 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter a fiasco in Escondido involving multiplying rodents and toxic air quality, Kristen’s on the move again.  The pulmonologist found ground glass lungs and an enlarged heart, then Dr. Ali found an enlarged lymph node between her liver and stomach...
The pulmonologist found ground glass lungs and an enlarged heart, then Dr. Ali found an enlarged lymph node between her liver and stomach and asked for a PET scan.

With recurrence always lurking, we play the old, familiar waiting game.

====

Season 3 is coming soon and we need your help! 
Tita Gray’s story is different, but the same. Listen for a preview of what’s to come in June 2024. 

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter 

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS


]]>1825anastrozole,breast+cancer,breast+cancer+recurrence,chemotherapy,ct+scan,estrogen+levels,lymph+nodes,neuropathy,oncologist,osteoporosis,pet+scan,radiation,zometafalse347fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/recurrence-natashas-nonstop-obsession/
Following her mother’s recent lung cancer diagnosis, Natasha worries more for her than she did for herself. Staying close to her, she plans to visit and help her navigate the impossible decisions that come with having cancer.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast


Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57545308Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:00:14 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAbout to turn 60, Natasha is in a dark place thinking of other things that can go wrong with her health if she’ll have to go it alone. Even though a routine MRI is clear, she obsesses about cancer spreading to other areas that aren’t being checked....
Following her mother’s recent lung cancer diagnosis, Natasha worries more for her than she did for herself. Staying close to her, she plans to visit and help her navigate the impossible decisions that come with having cancer.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast


Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1632breast+cancer,chemotherapy,her2,hormone+blockers,lung+cancerfalse246fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/alicias-diep-flap-reconstruction-part-2-after-surgery/
Still unsure what to do next, Alicia is taking her time to decide. If she had known things would go the way they did, she believes she would’ve just stayed flat.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast


Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57359047Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:45:31 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva Sheie5 months after her DIEP flap reconstruction surgery, Alicia returns with an update. Although the original plan was to do a DIEP flap on both sides, it didn’t turn out that way and she still has an expander on the other side. Still unsure what to do...
Still unsure what to do next, Alicia is taking her time to decide. If she had known things would go the way they did, she believes she would’ve just stayed flat.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast


Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2077breast+cancer,breast+implants,breast+reconstruction,diep+flap,expanders,her2,lap+flapfalse245fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/alicias-diep-flap-reconstruction-part-1/
Although her mastectomy was over two years ago, Alicia’s reconstruction had to wait because of the extreme damage done to her breast tissue by radiation. Her surgeon recommended the DIEP flap reconstruction, in which tissue and vasculature are taken from the stomach and reconnected into muscles under the breast.

Days before Alicia’s DIEP flap reconstruction surgery and 5 night hospital stay, she has her fair share of fears, but is hopeful that the outcome will be better than what she’s going through now.


About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53823118Thu, 11 May 2023 15:06:07 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWith the BRCA mutation and a family history of breast cancer, the “clock” started ticking for Alicia with biannual screenings at age 30. She tried to keep up with the screening schedule, but had young children and decided to go to nursing school. Nine...
Although her mastectomy was over two years ago, Alicia’s reconstruction had to wait because of the extreme damage done to her breast tissue by radiation. Her surgeon recommended the DIEP flap reconstruction, in which tissue and vasculature are taken from the stomach and reconnected into muscles under the breast.

Days before Alicia’s DIEP flap reconstruction surgery and 5 night hospital stay, she has her fair share of fears, but is hopeful that the outcome will be better than what she’s going through now.


About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer or love someone who has, this podcast is here to help you through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1611breast+cancer,breast+implants,breast+reconstruction,diep+flap,her2,lap+flapfalse244fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/natasha-update-out-dang-port/
While she enjoys living alone and is back at work five days a week, advice from her oncologist has her rethinking her relationship with alcohol.

Fatigue sometimes holds her back, but she still makes the most of life knowing she’s not getting any younger and recurrence will happen someday. On a whim, she decides to take a trip to Saudi Arabia.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS


]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53720255Tue, 02 May 2023 18:23:57 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNatasha’s port is out and is huge, resembling a miniature computer mouse. She still believes getting a port was the best decision she’s ever made and now that it’s gone, she can wear her old clothes again. While she enjoys living alone and is back...
While she enjoys living alone and is back at work five days a week, advice from her oncologist has her rethinking her relationship with alcohol.

Fatigue sometimes holds her back, but she still makes the most of life knowing she’s not getting any younger and recurrence will happen someday. On a whim, she decides to take a trip to Saudi Arabia.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.

PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS


]]>1854blockers,breast,cancer,chemotherapy,her2,hormone,portfalse243fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/defeating-stage-3-breast-cancer-kristen-venglers-courageous-battle-on-cancer-u-thrivers-with-andrea-wilson-woods/
Kristen walks Andrea and her audience through her experience with stage 3 breast cancer, from finding her tumor in the shower, to chemo, her mastectomy and reconstruction, to radiation and beyond.

Listen to more episodes of Cancer U Thrivers
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-u-thrivers

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53536548Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:10:32 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieIn this episode of Cancer U Thrivers, hear Kristen’s interview with author, speaker, entrepreneur, and patient advocate Andrea Wilson Woods on her podcast Cancer U Thrivers. Kristen walks Andrea and her audience through her experience with stage 3...
Kristen walks Andrea and her audience through her experience with stage 3 breast cancer, from finding her tumor in the shower, to chemo, her mastectomy and reconstruction, to radiation and beyond.

Listen to more episodes of Cancer U Thrivers
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-u-thrivers

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast
https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/donate

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories

Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.
Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Production Assistant: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2519awareness,breast,cancer,chemotherapy,diagnosis,healthcare,mastectomy,radiation,reconstruction,stage,systemfalse242bonushttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/kristen-update-the-last-of-the-post-treatment-horrors-and-indignities-we-hope/
On the heels of a brand new set of post-treatment horrors and indignities, Kristen returns to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, including why she moved *again* and how she ended up willingly living with roommates at the age of 58.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>51b51721-c3a5-4cc9-ad24-8db0c85cd0b3Thu, 09 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter a hard fall, Kristen breaks several ribs and at a scan to check for a ruptured implant, the radiologist sees a Skittle-sized spot near her breast implant just in time for the two year anniversary of her diagnosis. On the heels of a brand new...
On the heels of a brand new set of post-treatment horrors and indignities, Kristen returns to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, including why she moved *again* and how she ended up willingly living with roommates at the age of 58.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1989breast implant rupture,broken ribs,ct scan,ultrasoundfalse241fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-295-the-trauma-has-made-me-softer/At work, she finds herself pushing patients much harder to advocate for themselves around symptom management and advises them not to accept puking and feeling like crap the whole time.
Cold weather leads to cold feet which leads to worrying about the onset of neuropathy. She experiences a constellation of odd side effects including tingling, arrhythmia, jacked up taste buds, hot flashes that may or may not mean anything and wonders about the cause. Is it from the hormone blockers? Menopause? Aftereffects of chemo?

In this final episode of Season 2, she finally gets in to see a therapist and wishes it had been possible from the beginning.

Going back and listening to episodes of the podcast reminds her how far she's come and although she’ll always be terrified, it has opened her heart in a way she’s thankful for and there is a way it’s made her softer.

Thank you to all who have listened to Natasha’s story. We hope her real-time story has helped you and welcome your notes, thoughts, and feedback.

We’ll be back soon with some special episodes, including a long awaited Kristen update and some incredible special guests. To stay in touch with what we’re doing, the newsletter is the best place to get real time updates. Subscribe at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>c4ed59b0-99db-4893-a86a-c06f646d9987Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNatasha adjusts to post-treatment daily life, continuing with hormone blockers and finally seeing a mental health professional. While working with less fortunate patients who don't have mittens or cold caps, Natasha looks back with gratitude on how...At work, she finds herself pushing patients much harder to advocate for themselves around symptom management and advises them not to accept puking and feeling like crap the whole time.
Cold weather leads to cold feet which leads to worrying about the onset of neuropathy. She experiences a constellation of odd side effects including tingling, arrhythmia, jacked up taste buds, hot flashes that may or may not mean anything and wonders about the cause. Is it from the hormone blockers? Menopause? Aftereffects of chemo?

In this final episode of Season 2, she finally gets in to see a therapist and wishes it had been possible from the beginning.

Going back and listening to episodes of the podcast reminds her how far she's come and although she’ll always be terrified, it has opened her heart in a way she’s thankful for and there is a way it’s made her softer.

Thank you to all who have listened to Natasha’s story. We hope her real-time story has helped you and welcome your notes, thoughts, and feedback.

We’ll be back soon with some special episodes, including a long awaited Kristen update and some incredible special guests. To stay in touch with what we’re doing, the newsletter is the best place to get real time updates. Subscribe at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of 1979epocrates,her2,herceptin,hormone blockers,perjetafalse240fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-246-here-have-another-biopsy/
Three and a half weeks of radiation end without any terrible burns or skin issues, but celebrating feels phony because it’s never really over. Transitioning back into work is feeling good, and she finds the experience of having gone through cancer is immediately useful to her patients and fellow nurses.

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>9dc51ea7-d072-4df1-9242-a181a40169d0Thu, 05 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter a scan shows a 1.2 cm nodule on her thyroid, Natasha goes for a biopsy which comes back with complicated results. Not wanting any more surgery or radiation right now means there’s a difficult decision to make. Three and a half weeks of...
Three and a half weeks of radiation end without any terrible burns or skin issues, but celebrating feels phony because it’s never really over. Transitioning back into work is feeling good, and she finds the experience of having gone through cancer is immediately useful to her patients and fellow nurses.

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1928biopsy,breast cancer support groups,radiation,thyroid cancerfalse239fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-203-i-still-choose-to-show-up/Missing her old pre-cancer life, but not necessarily the marriage, she is engulfed in sadness and nostalgia but chooses to still show up.

==

A special thank you to Doctors Without Borders for listening to the show and sending good thoughts to Natasha!

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>22d17ac3-e0e2-4906-a8d2-6db845f76404Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieThe radiation oncologist sends Natasha to a psycho-oncologist (did you know that was a thing?) because her antidepressants aren’t working, making self-care too hard. This forces her to confront the mental health struggles caused by the abrupt end of...Missing her old pre-cancer life, but not necessarily the marriage, she is engulfed in sadness and nostalgia but chooses to still show up.

==

A special thank you to Doctors Without Borders for listening to the show and sending good thoughts to Natasha!

If you have just been diagnosed, and are interested in telling your story from beginning to end on our podcast, send us a note on our website at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com

Your support is crucial to continuing our mission, which is simply to help those with breast cancer and the people who love them through the shock of diagnosis and treatment.

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ or become a premium subscriber of our newsletter at https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

**About Breast Cancer Stories**
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1966antidepressants,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,doctors without borders,estrogen positive breast cance,hormone positive breast cancer,mepilex,mometasone,psycho-oncology,radiation,zofranfalse238fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-175-healthcare-nonsense-and-red-tape/
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>f4a6d02a-a5b0-4a1e-86ee-a5fc0d85e062Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNatasha is given three options for radiation treatment, but it’s a challenge since everyone has been making decisions for her up to this point. She decides on three and a half weeks of radiation to the breast and the lymph nodes in the armpit. Down to...
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2528breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse237fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-160-cancer-free-but-now-what/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>4a3ebb8c-10c4-4813-bddf-dc5935d11858Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieIt’s been two weeks since Natasha’s lumpectomy and because no evidence of cancer was found during surgery, she has been declared “cancer free” by her surgeon. The day of surgery was long and a little emotional from the anesthesia, but recovery has...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1988breast cancer,breast cancer radiation,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,hormone blockers,lumpectomy,radiation,sentinel lymph nodefalse236fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-146-covid-ruins-everything-again/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>b3dcb88b-43b0-4740-a196-e3dcd4dd5687Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter Natasha and friends travel to Mexico to celebrate the end of chemo, it’s her turn to catch COVID which delays her lumpectomy surgery for a week. Her nerves are shot from constant fear of the unknown. Because there’s nothing visible on her most...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1784breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse235fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-111-covid-ruins-everything/
Links
Shop Desert Essence shampoos https://www.desertessence.com/hair-care/shampoo

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>d2bfdc14-7aee-4798-b49f-b9f5977cbc7cThu, 27 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieThanks to the incredible cold cap technology, Desert Essence shampoo, and seldomly using a brush, after six rounds of chemo Natasha still has her hair. Meanwhile, everything else is falling apart. Plans to celebrate at a fancy restaurant are wrecked...
Links
Shop Desert Essence shampoos https://www.desertessence.com/hair-care/shampoo

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1759breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse234fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-100-fake-celebrations-iv-hydration/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/newsletter/

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>0c9975fa-0869-4db8-99b9-344e782ff784Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWith five sessions down, Natasha feels less like a nurse and more like a patient. Her final chemo treatment is next Wednesday, and the planned end-of-chemo celebration feels fake because surgery and radiation are still ahead. Because food tastes even...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/newsletter/

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1329breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,cold caps,her2-positive,lumpectomy,olanzapine,radiation,zofran,zyprexafalse233fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/things-you-need-for-surgery-with-dana-donofree/
Links

See Dana and Kristen's full list of things you need: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/yay-its-october/

Shop Ana Ono Intimates https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1388189&u=3242014&m=90154&urllink=&afftrack=

Download the Mastectomy Pre-Surgery Shopping List https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iSOR_PIO-5JzTqvU8z6ggmgsUOMFsDrR64CGVKMbohE/edit?usp=sharing

Follow Dana and AnaOno on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/daynadono/ https://www.instagram.com/anaonointimates/

Learn more about AnaOno https://www.anaono.com/pages/about-us

Visit the METAvivor website https://www.metavivor.org/ Learn more about The Breasties https://thebreasties.org/

Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Dana Donofree]]>11cf40de-37d5-473b-a591-5aee2a696f25Thu, 13 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieDana Donofree & Kristen outline the essential shopping list for surgery and recovery, from what to bring to the hospital through the different stages of recovery. Support the podcast by ordering your AnaOno favorites through our links! As an...
Links

See Dana and Kristen's full list of things you need: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/yay-its-october/

Shop Ana Ono Intimates https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1388189&u=3242014&m=90154&urllink=&afftrack=

Download the Mastectomy Pre-Surgery Shopping List https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iSOR_PIO-5JzTqvU8z6ggmgsUOMFsDrR64CGVKMbohE/edit?usp=sharing

Follow Dana and AnaOno on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/daynadono/ https://www.instagram.com/anaonointimates/

Learn more about AnaOno https://www.anaono.com/pages/about-us

Visit the METAvivor website https://www.metavivor.org/ Learn more about The Breasties https://thebreasties.org/

Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Dana Donofree]]>2766anaono,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,drains,kyte baby,mastectomy,metavivor,radiation,the breastiesfalse232fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-79-how-to-win-yourself-a-trip-to-urgent-care/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>39f99d5e-f784-43ef-a83e-581b8cc86c2cThu, 29 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter her 3rd chemo, Natasha is too tired to eat. All food loses its flavor and only texture remains, so peaches and sushi taste the same. She becomes so dehydrated that she wins herself a trip to urgent care for fluids. Wondering if she metabolizes...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1544breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,chemotherapy side effects,dignicap,lumpectomy,perjeta,radiation,urgent carefalse231fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-43-things-are-unraveling/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>e209b462-bfd3-40e2-987a-c6d4ee93f09aThu, 22 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNatasha attempts a somewhat normal life by continuing to work and dating someone new. But behind the scenes, things are unraveling. She receives news about the alarming masses on her liver and thyroid. After her second chemo, unusual and disturbing...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1966breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,dating with cancer,dexamethasone,promethazine,radiationfalse230fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-20-oh-wait-it-might-be-stage-4/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>324ce573-ff8a-476b-9e37-09090fa5abcdThu, 15 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieHorrific acid reflux is keeping Natasha up at night. None of the remedies recommended by her doctors make a difference, except for handy dandy marijuana. Radiology detects spots on her liver and thyroid and calls her in for an emergency MRI. The...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2179acid reflux,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,esophageal cancer,medical marijuana,protonix,radiationfalse229fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-1-chemotherapy-and-cold-caps/
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>5023db4d-004a-4b29-9874-b8c2c1bee6b9Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieOn the eve of her first chemotherapy infusion, Natasha hauls a pile of new prescriptions home and questions why so much harm must be done to be “healthy” again. After meeting her oncologist Dr. Chen, a specialist in HER-2 positive breast cancer, the...
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2107breast cancer,breast reconstruction,carboplatin,chemotherapy,dignicap,her2-positive,herceptin,oncologist,port placement,radiation,taxoterefalse228fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-0-part-2-the-pathologist-never-calls-with-good-news/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>d19769c2-37f5-4c4d-af9b-4216c35cd87dThu, 01 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAs a nurse, it was easy for Natasha to think of all the things the almond-sized lump in her armpit could be other than cancer, so she moved along with her busy life. When she realized it was not going away, her doctor sent her for a mammogram. It took...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2426adenocarcinoma,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,mammogram,mri,pathologist,pet scan,radiation,radiologist,san francisco general hospitalfalse227fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-0-i-found-my-own-tumor-and-ignored-it/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>21e6aef6-f98f-4dd5-8862-ba6d30abf1e5Thu, 25 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWhile leading a Doctors Without Borders mission in Malawi, Natasha’s husband of 25 years blindsided her by ending their marriage in a text message. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, through her experience of going from being a nurse to a patient after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1491breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse226fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-549-if-this-is-what-kills-me-at-least-i-lived-a-good-life/
What’s next for Breast Cancer Stories?
SEASON 2 LAUNCHES AUGUST 25, 2022
While there are no more surgeries and no more treatment, our mission to help others going through the shock of diagnosis and treatment continues. Stay tuned for the launch of our 2nd season in August 2022 as Kristen becomes the host and a new story begins with Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital.

While in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021, Natasha’s husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

Listen to the Season 2 trailer https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/season-2-trailer-natasha

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>86d23efc-0e1a-40e2-86f9-d8e0ac4a69cbThu, 04 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheiePersistent foot pain caused by chemo forces Kristen to spend hours each day on physical therapy, taping, and stretching her feet at home. Wowing her friends with her ingenuity, she reveals that flesh-colored socks with the toes cut out are the trick...
What’s next for Breast Cancer Stories?
SEASON 2 LAUNCHES AUGUST 25, 2022
While there are no more surgeries and no more treatment, our mission to help others going through the shock of diagnosis and treatment continues. Stay tuned for the launch of our 2nd season in August 2022 as Kristen becomes the host and a new story begins with Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital.

While in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021, Natasha’s husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before Natasha finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.

Listen to the Season 2 trailer https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/season-2-trailer-natasha

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows,1599breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,radiationfalse125fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-526-the-last-night-before-the-last-surgery/
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>d82bc4a8-ed13-4ddc-8f2c-c6944ffef3b5Fri, 08 Jul 2022 20:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieOn the eve of the final reconstructive surgery, which coincides with the 1-year anniversary of her mastectomy, Kristen reflects on how far she’s come and how many things are different from what she expected. Finally relenting to the damage in her...
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1634anniversary,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,foot pain,neuropathy,pre-op,radiationfalse124fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-463-porn-star-sized-breast-implants-were-never-on-my-bucket-list/
STAY TUNED FOR SEASON 2 BEGINNING AUGUST 2022
Join us for Natasha’s story on the 2nd season of Breast Cancer Stories: Nurse Becomes Patient. Listen to the trailer: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/season-2-trailer-natasha

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>35411e85-5b50-4f7d-9890-ec80be82b4d1Thu, 23 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieSix weeks after the (evil) expanders are out and new 700cc “porn-star-sized” breast implants are in, Kristen shares what it feels like to be on the other side of the painfully long process of stretching her skin to make room for the permanent...
STAY TUNED FOR SEASON 2 BEGINNING AUGUST 2022
Join us for Natasha’s story on the 2nd season of Breast Cancer Stories: Nurse Becomes Patient. Listen to the trailer: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/season-2-trailer-natasha

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1118breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,hormone blockers,neuropathy,radiationfalse122fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/two-nurses-turned-patients-author-theresa-brown-rn-natasha-curry-np/
With our Season 2 Breast Cancer Stories co-host Natasha Curry, we uncover similarities and surprising differences in treatment as nurses-turned-patients. We were shocked to discover that like Kristen and Natasha, Theresa’s breast cancer was missed by mammography and was only discovered because she was participating in a study in which women also received an ultrasound to see if it gave better diagnostic results. Theresa has been a contributor to the New York Times, and her words can be found on CNN.com, in the American Journal of Nursing, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She’s also been a guest on MSNBC Live and NPR’s “Fresh Air.” She received her PhD in English from the University of Chicago. Theresa lectures nationally and internationally on issues related to nursing, healthcare, and end of life.

Links
NY Times: A Nurse Finds Herself on the Other Side of the Equation — as a Patient https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/12/books/review/healing-theresa-brown.html Buy Theresa’s book on Amazon https://amzn.to/3reeyPR

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guests: Theresa Brown, RN & Natasha Curry, NP]]>3cf672e4-cd59-42a5-99f1-240c16e3f669Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:30:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAs a nurse, you never truly understand the level of terror your patients are experiencing until you become one yourself. New York Times best-selling author Theresa Brown, RN, shares her breast cancer treatment journey along with details about her new...
With our Season 2 Breast Cancer Stories co-host Natasha Curry, we uncover similarities and surprising differences in treatment as nurses-turned-patients. We were shocked to discover that like Kristen and Natasha, Theresa’s breast cancer was missed by mammography and was only discovered because she was participating in a study in which women also received an ultrasound to see if it gave better diagnostic results. Theresa has been a contributor to the New York Times, and her words can be found on CNN.com, in the American Journal of Nursing, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She’s also been a guest on MSNBC Live and NPR’s “Fresh Air.” She received her PhD in English from the University of Chicago. Theresa lectures nationally and internationally on issues related to nursing, healthcare, and end of life.

Links
NY Times: A Nurse Finds Herself on the Other Side of the Equation — as a Patient https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/12/books/review/healing-theresa-brown.html Buy Theresa’s book on Amazon https://amzn.to/3reeyPR

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guests: Theresa Brown, RN & Natasha Curry, NP]]>2273book review,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,mammography,nurses,nursing,radiation,tamoxifen,ultrasoundfalse121fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/natashas-story-nurse-becomes-patient-season-2-trailer/
Last year, while leading a Doctors Without Borders cervical cancer mission in Malawi, Natasha’s husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before she finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient. This is Natasha’s breast cancer story, told in real time.

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
From breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>dd30331d-7d82-41b8-a1f9-32f428c0aac7Mon, 13 Jun 2022 23:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNatasha Curry is not your everyday average nurse. As a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital, she cares for the poorest and most vulnerable at what is often the most challenging time of their lives. Many patients are...
Last year, while leading a Doctors Without Borders cervical cancer mission in Malawi, Natasha’s husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. She returned home, fell into bed for a few weeks, and eventually with the help of her friends she pulled herself together and went back to work. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump."

Months went by before she finally got a mammogram, but radiology saw nothing in either breast. It was the armpit lump that caught their attention. Next step was an ultrasound, where the lump was clearly visible. One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient. This is Natasha’s breast cancer story, told in real time.

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories
From breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>373biopsy,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,lumpectomy,mammogram,radiation,san francisco general hospital,ultrasoundfalse2trailerhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/beating-lymphedema-with-lymphatic-massage-expert-christine-galione-mspt-clt/
Links
See the illustration of the lymph system mentioned by Christine in this episode

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Christine Galione, MSPT, CLT]]>ad5e7c46-3d7d-4372-8171-ab7efd71bbd8Fri, 27 May 2022 14:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWhen and if lymph nodes have to be removed in the course of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is a persistent aftereffect that must be treated and cared for following surgery, sometimes for many years. Special guest and lymphedema specialist...
Links
See the illustration of the lymph system mentioned by Christine in this episode

Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Christine Galione, MSPT, CLT]]>2399breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,compression sleeves,cording,lymphatic drainage,lymphatic massage,lymphatic system,lymphedema,lymph nodes,physical therapist,radiationfalse120fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/things-you-need-for-radiation-with-jen-delvaux/
Links
Ana Ono Favorites
Leslie Bralette https://shrsl.com/3i8pa
Rora Pocketed Front Closure Bra https://shrsl.com/3i8pc

See all of our favorite things here https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/things-you-need-for-radiation

Jen Delvaux’s book Not Today Cancer: A Non-Typical Survival Guide for the Girl Who Wants to Thrive, Not Just Survive https://amzn.to/3KzYXBi

Hear Kristen on Jen’s podcast, Not Today Cancer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mammogram-ultra-sound-missed-stage-3-breast-cancer/id1436449587?i=1000558134923

Jen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jendelvaux/

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Jen Delvaux]]>a3160043-de42-4bff-8dc9-0302e9095fd0Fri, 13 May 2022 19:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTo help make radiation go a little better, Kristen teams up with guest Jen Delvaux to talk about their radiation experiences and share the little things that made them more comfortable. Most women head into radiation not knowing the process or what to...
Links
Ana Ono Favorites
Leslie Bralette https://shrsl.com/3i8pa
Rora Pocketed Front Closure Bra https://shrsl.com/3i8pc

See all of our favorite things here https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/things-you-need-for-radiation

Jen Delvaux’s book Not Today Cancer: A Non-Typical Survival Guide for the Girl Who Wants to Thrive, Not Just Survive https://amzn.to/3KzYXBi

Hear Kristen on Jen’s podcast, Not Today Cancer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mammogram-ultra-sound-missed-stage-3-breast-cancer/id1436449587?i=1000558134923

Jen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jendelvaux/

Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte bamboo pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Jen Delvaux]]>2848aloe vera,ana ono,aquaphor,beachbody,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,miaderm,my girls skin care,radiationfalse119fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-422-the-weight-is-off-my-chest/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Who makes a good surgery buddy? https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/who-makes-a-good-surgery-buddy
Get Kristen's need-to-knows about this important job on the blog.

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!
Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review. Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>d15d5dfa-1ea4-45ee-bf25-11153da48cb5Thu, 28 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieIt’s the day after Kristen’s surgery to replace her expanders with permanent breast implants, and she’s already feeling much better. For the last 33 weeks, Kristen lived with a constant 2-4 pain level from the uncomfortable and awkward expanders....
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast: https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Who makes a good surgery buddy? https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/blog/who-makes-a-good-surgery-buddy
Get Kristen's need-to-knows about this important job on the blog.

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!
Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review. Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1343ana ono,breast cancer,breast implants,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,exchange surgery,expanders,post-op,radiation,recovery,surgical brafalse118fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-420-goodbye-franken-boobs/
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/breastcancerstories

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review. Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>63cad610-c9ef-4eb7-b849-41d5cacc23a9Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieIt’s the night before Kristen’s implant exchange surgery. After 9 long months, the painful, lopsided tissue expanders will be replaced with silicone gel breast implants and her constant pain will come to an end. At her pre-op appointment with Dr....
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/breastcancerstories

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review. Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1488breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse117fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-403-what-they-dont-tell-you-about-hormone-blockers/
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review.

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>062c9581-b9b6-482b-bfaf-e3b706039e9eFri, 08 Apr 2022 11:45:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieNobody told Kristen just how horrible the side effects from the hormone blockers would be. The neuropathy in her feet causes her to walk like an old woman and she struggles with simple, everyday movement like standing up from the couch or walking up...
Other Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Win your own Kyte pajamas when you SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! Sign up here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Support the show by sharing online or writing a review.

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.


This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2052breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemo brain,chemotherapy,hormone blockers,neuropathy,radiation,zometafalse116fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-365-im-still-here/
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/breastcancerstories

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>8d91d778-31b7-4026-8677-18653bc31e66Thu, 24 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen returns to Austin during the holidays to help a friend recover from surgery, clear out the last of her old things from the storage unit, and close the door on 26 years of her life. A stinky side effect leads us to invent a new dance move, and...
Links
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/breastcancerstories

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1714breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,estrogen,lymphedema,moving,radiation,stinky armpits,zometafalse115fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/deconstructing-kristens-breast-reconstruction-with-plastic-surgeon-dr-salvatore-pacella-part-2/
Learn more about Dr. Salvatore Pacella https://www.drpacella.com/ Follow Dr. Pacella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoplasticsurgeon/ Listen to Dr. Pacella’s podcast, Three Plastic Surgeons and a Microphone: https://3plasticsurgerypodcast.com/ Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Salvatore Pacella, MD]]>f8f5ec96-813a-4a19-9e5e-55b9de8dc675Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieIn part 2 of our conversation with plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella, we go behind the doors of the operating room to understand how the team functions and learn some surprising things about surgery. Looking back on Kristen’s extraordinary pain in...
Learn more about Dr. Salvatore Pacella https://www.drpacella.com/ Follow Dr. Pacella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoplasticsurgeon/ Listen to Dr. Pacella’s podcast, Three Plastic Surgeons and a Microphone: https://3plasticsurgerypodcast.com/ Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Special guest: Salvatore Pacella, MD]]>1325breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,implant exchange surgery,nipple reconstruction,pain management,radiation,tissue expandersfalse114fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/deconstructing-kristens-breast-reconstruction-with-plastic-surgeon-dr-salvatore-pacella-part-1/

Learn more about Dr. Salvatore Pacella https://www.drpacella.com/ Follow Dr. Pacella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoplasticsurgeon/ Listen to Dr. Pacella’s podcast, Three Plastic Surgeons and a Microphone: https://3plasticsurgerypodcast.com/ Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/


Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Special Guest: Salvatore J. Pacella, MD.]]>dd16542e-9f9a-4d01-9af3-2fa9843a68b0Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen’s plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella joins us to deconstruct her breast reconstruction and help us understand his strategy for the multi-stage approach in which the expanders are placed at the time of mastectomy and replaced with breast...

Learn more about Dr. Salvatore Pacella https://www.drpacella.com/ Follow Dr. Pacella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoplasticsurgeon/ Listen to Dr. Pacella’s podcast, Three Plastic Surgeons and a Microphone: https://3plasticsurgerypodcast.com/ Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/


Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Special Guest: Salvatore J. Pacella, MD.]]>1645breast cancer,breast implants,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,diep flap,fat transfer,mastectomy,plastic surgeon,radiation,tissue expandersfalse113fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-301-another-day-in-the-valley/

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>fbddf0a4-0b24-4df2-941c-65171b43b001Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieTwo months after radiation, Kristen’s chest isn’t looking like such a hot mess anymore. But in mental health terms, we’re in the valley now and nobody knows how deep or wide that valley will be. Kristen learns the hard way what happens if she misses a...

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1372breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,estrogen positive breast cance,hormone blockers,radiation,skin damagefalse112fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-248-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-again/
Links
Foam bandages (https://amzn.to/3KPWkfW) that were life saving over the blisters. (Your radiation doctor should give these to you)

See if my favorite Ana Ono bralette (https://www.anaono.com/search?type=everything&q=leslie) is covered by insurance (https://www.anaono.com/pages/insurance-faq)

Best fabric mask! (https://kinibands.com/collections/womens-masks/products/velvet-face-masks?variant=32990842028141)

Thank you Kini Bands!! Connect with Kristen on Instagram (https://instagram.com/breastcancerstoriespodcast?utm_medium=copy_link)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>045287b5-7781-41c2-a6cf-274cad716a96Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieDespite increasing pain and burns from the most recent round of radiation, Kristen manages to keep up with work and spend time with a friend at the beach. With only five days left until the end of radiation and “no evidence of disease,” surely there’s...
Links
Foam bandages (https://amzn.to/3KPWkfW) that were life saving over the blisters. (Your radiation doctor should give these to you)

See if my favorite Ana Ono bralette (https://www.anaono.com/search?type=everything&q=leslie) is covered by insurance (https://www.anaono.com/pages/insurance-faq)

Best fabric mask! (https://kinibands.com/collections/womens-masks/products/velvet-face-masks?variant=32990842028141)

Thank you Kini Bands!! Connect with Kristen on Instagram (https://instagram.com/breastcancerstoriespodcast?utm_medium=copy_link)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1687breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,radiationfalse111fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-198-why-i-decided-to-have-radiation/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Miaderm (https://www.miaderm.com/product/miaderm-fragrance-free/?v=7516fd43adaa) used in the morning and after radiation treatments.

Aquaphor (https://amzn.to/3trd7Q7) used at night. My favorite tank tops (https://amzn.to/33vjyGN).

My favorite bra. (https://www.anaono.com/products/flat-soft-leisure-bra?variant=32106171138137)

How I stayed hydrated. (https://amzn.to/3FtAOda)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>320ca0e7-b27a-43a2-b76a-05f53c558e58Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWeary and desperate for a break in the relentlessness of breast cancer treatment, Kristen makes the decision whether or not to proceed with radiation. While the medical team followed a tight protocol during chemo and surgery, suddenly now to receive...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Miaderm (https://www.miaderm.com/product/miaderm-fragrance-free/?v=7516fd43adaa) used in the morning and after radiation treatments.

Aquaphor (https://amzn.to/3trd7Q7) used at night. My favorite tank tops (https://amzn.to/33vjyGN).

My favorite bra. (https://www.anaono.com/products/flat-soft-leisure-bra?variant=32106171138137)

How I stayed hydrated. (https://amzn.to/3FtAOda)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2327breast cancer chemotherapy brefalse110fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-176-this-is-not-the-outcome-we-wanted/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Incredible bed wedge (https://amzn.to/3pAOtKr) Courage angel (https://amzn.to/3eBYhxw)

Camisole (https://amzn.to/319RMiz) Button up tank (https://amzn.to/3exbtUz)

AnaOno Wrap Dress (https://www.anaono.com/collections/loungewear/products/kara-wrap-dress?variant=32267086463065)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>f448f3eb-c57e-4bde-aa1e-1fe26d03ed42Thu, 30 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen goes into the operating room hopeful that this milestone is the end of her cancer, but wakes up ten hours later realizing the number of drains in her chest means the worst possible outcome. The next morning she learns that 11 lymph nodes were...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Incredible bed wedge (https://amzn.to/3pAOtKr) Courage angel (https://amzn.to/3eBYhxw)

Camisole (https://amzn.to/319RMiz) Button up tank (https://amzn.to/3exbtUz)

AnaOno Wrap Dress (https://www.anaono.com/collections/loungewear/products/kara-wrap-dress?variant=32267086463065)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1940breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,double mastectomy,lymph node biopsy,radiation,reconstructive surgery,recoveryfalse19fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-160-what-snacks-do-you-bring-to-a-double-mastectomy/
Now enjoy a haiku in memoriam of Kristen’s original boobs:
Kristen battles her fear
In the deepest of trenches
Can’t stifle the sass

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Longhorn YETI mug (https://amzn.to/3dSgyGw)

Ana Ono soft post-surgery bras & other items (https://www.anaono.com/) made just for those affected by breast cancer, breast surgeries or discomfort

Kyte bamboo pajamas (https://kytebaby.com/collections/sets)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>711e69b6-44d4-432c-92ae-c785ed64ae86Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieHow do you prepare to have a part of your body removed forever? What snacks do you bring to a double mastectomy? For Kristen, the list starts with a good pillowcase, her Anna Ono robe, her softest Kyte Baby jammies, slippers, her YETI cup, and shirts...
Now enjoy a haiku in memoriam of Kristen’s original boobs:
Kristen battles her fear
In the deepest of trenches
Can’t stifle the sass

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Longhorn YETI mug (https://amzn.to/3dSgyGw)

Ana Ono soft post-surgery bras & other items (https://www.anaono.com/) made just for those affected by breast cancer, breast surgeries or discomfort

Kyte bamboo pajamas (https://kytebaby.com/collections/sets)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1071anna ono,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,double mastectomy,kyte baby,radiation,surgery prep,yetifalse18fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-151-how-i-got-mentally-ready-for-a-double-mastectomy/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Watch Nightbirde on America’s Got Talent (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>80b37766-03c0-4820-b9df-4ba30de94ca0Thu, 02 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen readies herself for the impending double mastectomy and reflects on her original thought process in which the bad old boobs are swapped for good new boobs and that’s the end. While watching Nightbirde, a young, single woman with cancer on...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Watch Nightbirde on America’s Got Talent (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>792agt,america’s got talent,attitude,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,double mastectomy,mortality,nightbirde,radiationfalse17fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-131-i-regret-not-noticing-this-sooner/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Read about the Scripps ransomware attack (https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2021-06-10/opinion-scripps-ransomeware-attack-cybersecurity)

See Kristen’s cute beach house interior design choices, the cute storage cubes (https://amzn.to/3F6BpBt) and Nautical storage totes (https://amzn.to/3oqy6P8).

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>5dc165f6-64e8-4f60-aeed-422650be7909Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen is exhausted and ready to be done with chemo. When Scripps' entire computer system goes down from a ransomware attack, her appointments come to a screeching halt. A chemotherapy session is delayed by a day, but the frustration is short-lived...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Read about the Scripps ransomware attack (https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2021-06-10/opinion-scripps-ransomeware-attack-cybersecurity)

See Kristen’s cute beach house interior design choices, the cute storage cubes (https://amzn.to/3F6BpBt) and Nautical storage totes (https://amzn.to/3oqy6P8).

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1265breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,radiation,ransomware,reconstructive surgery,ringing the bell,scrippsfalse16fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-77-did-the-tumor-shrink/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Chemo mittens and booties shopping list:
Best chemo cooler/backpack (https://amzn.to/3nXD4lT)
Ice mittens (https://amzn.to/2ZQA7eu)
Ice booties (https://amzn.to/3CLAOof)
Ice booties refill (https://amzn.to/3H00SP5)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>d1aa585e-ca77-49bb-a9a2-c2c5cc5ce43dFri, 05 Nov 2021 01:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAfter 11 long weeks of chemotherapy we’re at the clinic to see Dr. Ali, the oncologist. Kristen is hopeful because she can see her tumor and it appears on the surface like it’s getting smaller. But the only true measure of whether the tumor has grown...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Chemo mittens and booties shopping list:
Best chemo cooler/backpack (https://amzn.to/3nXD4lT)
Ice mittens (https://amzn.to/2ZQA7eu)
Ice booties (https://amzn.to/3CLAOof)
Ice booties refill (https://amzn.to/3H00SP5)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1119anxiety,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,flushing the port,mri,neuropathy,oncology,radiation,tumorfalse15fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-60-strange-chemo-side-effects-that-nobody-tells-you-about/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Read about Taxol (https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/taxol.aspx)

Chemo mittens and booties shopping list:
Best chemo cooler/backpack (https://amzn.to/3nXD4lT)
Ice mittens (https://amzn.to/2ZQA7eu)
Ice booties (https://amzn.to/3CLAOof)
Ice booties refill (https://amzn.to/3H00SP5)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>b1c1e1b1-374c-4eda-a6a4-2f560c563f6bThu, 28 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieKristen adjusts to Taxol, the drug used in the second phase of chemotherapy, which brings bizarre side effects requiring special booties and mittens to prevent permanent nerve damage in her hands and feet. Her beachfront living arrangement is upended,...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Read about Taxol (https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/taxol.aspx)

Chemo mittens and booties shopping list:
Best chemo cooler/backpack (https://amzn.to/3nXD4lT)
Ice mittens (https://amzn.to/2ZQA7eu)
Ice booties (https://amzn.to/3CLAOof)
Ice booties refill (https://amzn.to/3H00SP5)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1082booties,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,itching,mittens,radiation,taxolfalse14fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-28-this-might-be-what-kills-me/
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Breast Cancer Angels (https://www.breastcancerangels.org/)

Cancer Angels of San Diego (https://www.cancerangelsofsandiego.org/contact)

Co-Pay Relief program (https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/copay-relief/) through the Patient Advocate Foundation

Silicone Popsicle Molds (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QJC6QKD/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_glt_fabc_64Z1WTVYSSE6GF1X45T8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

Bamboo Sleep Caps for hair loss (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y37GH6B/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_glt_fabc_SQX4B4C5N3FTAEYV3A16?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>fc883a96-8d88-4703-83c5-028f64d9985bThu, 21 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva Sheie4 weeks after starting chemo, the “new normal” is here. Kristen describes what it feels like to have no hair and as the physical effects of chemo present new challenges, she realizes that breast cancer could be what ends her life. Kristen’s ongoing...
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Breast Cancer Angels (https://www.breastcancerangels.org/)

Cancer Angels of San Diego (https://www.cancerangelsofsandiego.org/contact)

Co-Pay Relief program (https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/copay-relief/) through the Patient Advocate Foundation

Silicone Popsicle Molds (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QJC6QKD/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_glt_fabc_64Z1WTVYSSE6GF1X45T8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

Bamboo Sleep Caps for hair loss (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y37GH6B/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_glt_fabc_SQX4B4C5N3FTAEYV3A16?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview), hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview), plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.


Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1216anemia,breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemo,chemotherapy,hair loss,insurance,nonprofit organizations,radiation,steroids,weight gain,wigsfalse13fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-13-why-i-cut-all-my-hair-off-3-days-before-it-fell-out/
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

San Diego hair stylist and short hair specialist Lael AnnMarie (https://www.instagram.com/laelannmarie/)

Angio Dynamics Smart Port (https://www.angiodynamics.com/product/smart-port-ct-injectable-port/)

Garden Planner Wall Calenda (https://www.etsy.com/listing/240697826/garden-planner-planting-calendar-sowing)

Removable Transparent Mark It Dots (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M6VQNY/)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>9843cbde-ab2d-458d-ba1b-f843098abe03Fri, 08 Oct 2021 01:00:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieAt the end of the day following Kristen’s 2nd chemo treatment, she recalls her dream the previous night and describes how her hair hurts. Between the first and second chemo treatments, several surprise infections appeared along with disappointment...
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

San Diego hair stylist and short hair specialist Lael AnnMarie (https://www.instagram.com/laelannmarie/)

Angio Dynamics Smart Port (https://www.angiodynamics.com/product/smart-port-ct-injectable-port/)

Garden Planner Wall Calenda (https://www.etsy.com/listing/240697826/garden-planner-planting-calendar-sowing)

Removable Transparent Mark It Dots (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M6VQNY/)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>1955breast cancer,breast reconstruction,chemotherapy,haircut,hair loss,infusion center,lael annmarie,port flush,radiation,side effects,smart port,wall calendarfalse12fullhttps://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/day-1-how-my-doctor-missed-my-breast-cancer-symptoms/
But Google’s never right about these things, so a few days later when the radiologist suggested a biopsy for Paget’s, shit got real. Overnight, life became a tightly-woven schedule of appointments wedged between work: a biopsy, an MRI, a colonoscopy, and a million different labs and scans leading up to the first chemo treatment. As a single woman with limited resources, Kristen had no choice but to advocate for herself, quickly figuring out the magic words to use with her healthcare providers to move the process along faster and start treatment sooner. In this episode recorded on her first day of chemo,

Kristen tells us what’s happened so far, including why her mammogram didn’t catch the tumor, what made her cry and what made her throw up at the first chemo appointment, and how nearly taking her own life a year earlier prepared her to confront breast cancer with strength and courage instead of defeat. From the awful moment in the shower through the last day of radiation and beyond — this is Kristen’s breast cancer story, told in real time.

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview),hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali, (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview) plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)
The most wonderful restaurant there is, Flower Child (https://www.iamaflowerchild.com/)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>7eb07dd1-f692-4bdc-bb1b-3c4ec0a0eee6Thu, 30 Sep 2021 20:30:00 +0000Kristen Vengler & Eva SheieWhen Kristen noticed her right nipple felt different, her first thought was "what the F is this?" Her second thought was that her life was about to change. So she did what everyone does in this situation... she jumped out of the shower, went to...
But Google’s never right about these things, so a few days later when the radiologist suggested a biopsy for Paget’s, shit got real. Overnight, life became a tightly-woven schedule of appointments wedged between work: a biopsy, an MRI, a colonoscopy, and a million different labs and scans leading up to the first chemo treatment. As a single woman with limited resources, Kristen had no choice but to advocate for herself, quickly figuring out the magic words to use with her healthcare providers to move the process along faster and start treatment sooner. In this episode recorded on her first day of chemo,

Kristen tells us what’s happened so far, including why her mammogram didn’t catch the tumor, what made her cry and what made her throw up at the first chemo appointment, and how nearly taking her own life a year earlier prepared her to confront breast cancer with strength and courage instead of defeat. From the awful moment in the shower through the last day of radiation and beyond — this is Kristen’s breast cancer story, told in real time.

Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://breastcancerstories.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Kristen’s doctors: surgical oncologist Dr. Louis Rivera (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/31924-louis-rivera?tab=overview),hematologist and oncologist Dr. Sonia Ali, (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/8669-dr-sonia-ali?tab=overview) plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella (https://www.drpacella.com/), and radiation oncologists Dr. Anuradha Koka (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/4516-anuradha-koka-md?tab=overview) and Dr. Kenneth T. Shimizu. (https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5313-kenneth-shimizu)
The most wonderful restaurant there is, Flower Child (https://www.iamaflowerchild.com/)

About Breast Cancer Stories
Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to be near family and start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have. From her breast cancer diagnosis, through chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and radiation, we experience each new milestone as it happens.

This podcast is about what happens when you have breast cancer, told in real time.

Support the show by sharing online, writing a review, or donating at https://www.breastcancerstoriespodcast.com/p/donate/

Host and Executive Producer: Eva Sheie
Co-Host: Kristen Vengler
Editor and Audio Engineer: Daniel Croeser
Theme Music: Them Highs and Lows, Bird of Figment
Story Editor: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Assistant Producer: Hannah Burkhart
Cover Art Designer: Shawn Hiatt

Breast Cancer Stories is a production of The Axis.
PROUDLY MADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]]>2244breast cancer,chemotherapyfalse11full