Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome back to wellness. I'm mass I'm doctor Nipole Staffire,
I'm a.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Mom, I'm a posian, and not only do I diagnose
breast cancer as my day job, I'm also an advocate
for my patients. And that's honestly how I've gotten involved
into health policy on TV and even this podcast, because
I truly believe that patients know their body better than
anyone else, and I want to make sure people are
(00:31):
listening to them well. October is Breast cancer Awareness Month,
and this year those pick ribbids carry urgency because the
numbers are shifting in unsettling ways. Breast cancer cases are
on the rise, and I'm not talking about our grandmas
or our great grandmas. I'm talking about younger women getting
breast cancer. Over the past decade, incidents in women under
(00:54):
fifty has climbed over one point four percent every single year.
Among women ages twenty to forty nine, a recent study
showed invasive breast cancer rates increasing nearly one percent annually,
even steeper rises since twenty thirteen. Now, I know those
numbers may sound small to you, but one to two
percent we're talking thousands more people being diagnosed with breast
(01:15):
cancer What's more, younger women tend to face more aggressive
disease and unfortunately, a worse prognosis when they're diagnosed. Now,
these trends underscore an uncomfortable truth. Breast cancer is no
longer a problem that starts later. In that light, I
am absolutely honored to welcome Tutor Dixon to Wellness Unmass.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You probably know.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Her from all of her work. You may have heard
her on the Clay and Book podcast network as well.
She's part of the family, but she is first and
foremost a mom, and she's also a breast cancer survivor.
Her journey through her diagnosis, treatment and recovery is a
powerful example of courage, resilience, and now she is being
an advocate for others. Together, we're going to peel back
(01:59):
the layers when it comes to early detection, navigating life
after cancer, and how motherhood and survivorship interweave. Because while
I can sit and tell you all of the facts
and statistics about cancer breast cancer as we are in
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for me, sometimes I think the
most valuable thing is actually talking.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
To someone who's been through it before.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Because when you talk about cancer in such a broad term,
talking about the statistics and giving some things you can
do to try and avoid it, try to avoid it
to happening in the first place, or for coming back
at the end.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Of the day.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
By talking to people who have already been through it,
it humanizes it and almost normalizes it. And so you
can take that information, that advice and kind of take
it with you along the way. Because cancer is very common,
breast cancer, as I've mentioned, one in eight women, so
invariably you will know someone who is diagnosed. So, Tutor,
thank you so much for being on today. Would you
(02:58):
mind just talking to us a little bit about when
you were diagnosed in your story?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, absolutely, thank you for having me. So I was
diagnosed in twenty fifteen, August of twenty fifteen, and my
girls at that point were six' four and then my
twins were. Two SO i was actually still, breastfeeding just
going to the doctor's office for a random annual checkup
(03:24):
and the physician's assistant did my breast exam and she,
said how long have you had this? Lump THEN i remember,
THINKING i, Mean i'm. Breastfeeding you, know everything is, different,
weird and SO i have no idea right exactly Exactly i'm, Like,
hey who, cares you? Know and so she, SAID i
think we should get this checked. Out AND i didn't
(03:46):
think didn't think anything of, it like that was the
farthest thing from my. Mind and, then you, know the
crazy thing is BECAUSE i had never considered having cancer.
Before even after she said, IT i was, Like, ah
that can't be what cancer feels. Like it just felt
LIKE i would really, know and it. Wasn't it wasn't
so pronounced THAT i would have understood that as. Cancer
(04:09):
so THEN i went in for they scheduled me for
a mammogram and an, ultrasound AND i had the mammogram
and the woman came in and she looked at me
and she was, like you, know the mammogram is totally.
CLEAR i, mean we don't really need to do this,
ultrasound but your doctor ordered, it so if you want
to go ahead and do, it we. Will AND i, said,
(04:30):
YEAH i think we. Should thank GOODNESS i, did because
we went into the. ULTRASOUND i was, like at the
beginning of the, ultrasound there were like two texts in
there and the doctor and the two texts were asking,
me how you know how many kids do you have
and what are their. Ages that's so. Exciting, oh what fun?
Ages and then they did the ultrasound and literally the
(04:51):
whole room, changed And i'm not kidding. You the one
nurse looked at me and she was, like how many
kids did you say you? Have AND i was, like,
ooh that was a weird change of. Tone AND i
had no idea what was. Happening and the doctor came
in and he was, like you, know why don't you
if you have, time why don't you stay and we'll
do a biopsy right. Now AND i was still kind of, like,
(05:14):
wow what is, Happening, like they're going to do this.
Biopsy it's going to be. Fine they're not going to
see anything. There and they did the biopsy AND i
still didn't know. That the doctor was just kind of, like,
okay we'll send the results to your doctor and she'll call.
You so a few days, LATER i went into my
guynecologist's office and sat down and she, said, well, okay
(05:38):
so these are the things that we talk about when
we look at. Cancer AND i, said what do you
mean when we look at? Cancer and she was, like
didn't they tell you when you had the? BIOPSY i
was like, No and then THAT i think that was
the last THING i heard her. Say.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, sure first of, all this will be we have
to talk another time about. THIS i am mortified by
your entire experience in the way that it was. Handled
but what you, experienced you, know they're, like, well it's,
nothing we don't see. It maybe we'll do more, imaging
maybe we, won't kind of like putting it on you
to make a, decision which is. Great you always want
(06:13):
to involve the, patient but come, on, guys like you
have to take charge there a little. Bit, obviously if
you have someone breastfeeding with a new, lump you always
would do an.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Ultrasound but that tone change that you just.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
DESCRIBED i can't tell you how many times people say
that that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Happens to be, HONEST i have.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Been accused of not having a very good poker face
myself WHEN i talk to patients about some of their.
Results but you, know as you're, saying you went, in
in no, way shape or form did you think you
actually had? Cancer and specifically when it comes to breast,
cancer that's probably one of the most jarring parts because
(06:53):
you go, in you go in getting your mammogram or
your ultrasound or YOUR mri and you're completely.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Healthy you, KNOW i don't feel. Sick, yeah, right.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Exactly, no that was AND i just said to my
mom the other day WHEN i would go SO i
after my cancer, JOURNEY i was kind OF i THINK
i was atypical BECAUSE i refused to just take the
first person's word for it as to WHAT i had to.
DO i went Into Grand. RAPIDS i live In, michigan
(07:22):
SO i went in from WHERE i am To Grand,
rapids and the first doctor there was, like, yeah so
we're just going to cut it out On, Tuesday we'll
just take off both breasts and then you, know you
can talk about reconstruction after that. Heels AND i was, like, wow,
wow that sounds really, awful And i'm not sure that
That's i'm comfortable with. That so THEN i started doing
(07:45):
some research because you, GO i don't like. THAT i
have to figure out if there's another. Option SO i
went to m D anderson after, that AND i met
a doctor. There she was like the number one doctor
in her, field and she's a great search she had
all these great, recommendations but she was not As she
was also not, pleasant and that's, like you, KNOW i
(08:07):
know that seems, silly but there is a difference when
someone actually takes you seriously and cares about you as a,
patient because she may see a million breast cancer patients a,
day But i'm the only one that knows HOW i,
feel AND i want her to actually give a crap
That i'm, there to be. Honest so she was, like you,
(08:27):
KNOW i, said, well what would you? Do would you
have the lumpectomy or would you have the devil? Mistectomy
and she was, LIKE i can't tell you WHAT i.
Do it's up to. You AND i, SAID i, MEAN
i kind of feel like you're a woman. Too can't
you like give me an idea of how you feel
About she said that would be, Unprofessional BUT i can
do another biopsy and we can see if there are
(08:51):
microclif if the micro calcifications in your breasts are also pre.
Cancerous so we did that that came back that they,
were and she was, like so, listen we can lop
off that breast and then in twenty years you can
come back and have the other one, removed because in
twenty years you're going to likely have cancer. Too but
if we're thinking about, that then obviously you're probably going
to be going through your daughter's weddings at that, time
(09:12):
and do you want to be going through having one
of your breasts? Removed so we could just do them
both now and then you can have. Reconstruction it just
felt LIKE i was not a. Person AND i, said,
well what will my girls see IF i have? Reconstruction,
like explain to me what my daughters will, see because you,
KNOW i want them to know what it's like to
(09:35):
develop as a. Woman but are they going to look
at me And i'm going to look really different or
If i'm going to look really? Scarred and she was,
like what's going to happen is you're going to wear
a robe for the next few, years and when your
daughters get old enough to see you without a robe,
on they're going to, go what are those? Scars and
you're going to, say, listen mommy had. Cancer AND i was, like,
gosh that's just not my, family you, know like we
(09:56):
are open about, everything and so say it was a
typical BECAUSE i was also refusing to take her response
as the way it had to. Be SO i went
To Johns hopkins after, that and it was amazing the doctor's.
There they took so much time with, me and the
one the breast surgeon WHO i met, with was, like,
look if it were my wife or my, DAUGHTER i would,
(10:20):
say you don't want to take the chance of dealing
with this in ten or twenty. Years we want to
get rid of it. Now we want to take care
of you. Now and then the plastic SURGEON i met
with at the same, time he was, LIKE i want
you to be able to feel like you can wear
a bikini. AGAIN i want you to feel like a
woman when you go on the. BEACH i want you
to feel like you still have that feminine, body WHICH
(10:42):
i think is incredibly important to a woman going through
this because you're going into the doctor's office and they're,
saying the thing that makes you, feminine that makes you feel,
feminine that has been a part of motherhood for, you
that you have used to feed your, children this part
of you that is very and special to your husband
(11:02):
and special in your intimate, relationships we're cutting that. Off
you want to know what the outcome of that, Is,
well what AM i going to be like? Afterward and they,
said you, know we have these new. Procedures we're going
to try to spare the. Skin we're going to try
to spare the. Nipple we're going to try to make
it seem as normal as. Possible and they both got
teary eyed when they talked to. ME i was thirty
(11:22):
eight years. Old they, said we were devastated that this
happened to you at thirty. Eight that was like amazing
to me to have two men sit there and look
at me as a person understand that after, THIS i
want to still feel like a. Woman i'm. SCARED i
don't know what my girls are going to. THINK i
don't know what my husband's going to. Think all these
(11:43):
things going through my. MIND i don't even know If
i'm going to live at this. Point but IF i do,
live what DO i look like? Afterward all these major
questions THAT i wanted to ask that were very personal
and hard to. Ask you, know, WELL i actually have,
Breasts WILL i have my own NIPP i mean things
that are hard to, ask and they were willing to
(12:03):
go through in great detail for. Me and so that's
HOW i ended up going To Johns. Hopkins at the end.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Of the, DAY i, MEAN i am so glad you
went for that third, opinion BECAUSE i am beyond mortified
at your first two.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Experiences to be, HONEST i, mean this is what this
is my day.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
JOB i am the person WHO i read the, IMAGES
i find the, CANCER i buy up see the. CANCER
i tell patients their, diagnosis AND i help get them plugged.
In so all of those questions that you're mentioning right,
now you, know why WOULD i do a double mass
deck to me versus a single mass deck to? Me
what is the future? ALL i, mean these are questions
(12:41):
THAT i face every single. Day and WHEN i hear
how poorly other people handle those, questions sometimes it breaks
my heart because as you're, saying this is more than just.
Cancer not, CANCER i mean you're talking about especially a.
WOMAN i, mean this is part of our, identity you,
know having. Breasts i'm, sorry it. Is having breasts is
(13:02):
part of a woman's. Identity having a mastectomy with. Reconstruction
it's not like going and getting a boom, job and
it's very, different and you, know people kind.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Of don't realize.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
That so you were you said thirty eight when you were, Diagnosed,
yes thirty. Eight you had never even gone and had
your routine mammogram, yet because you, know we recommend starting
at age forty for people who are average, risk.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Right, right, exactly and no risk in my. Family there
was no, reason you. Know people that was another. Thing everybody's, like,
well why don't you want to know? Why i'm, LIKE
i don't think i'll ever know, why you, Know so
what's the point in me like pouring Over why could
why could this have happened to? ME i don't, know
but it's my. Story it. Was it's a big part
(13:47):
of my life with my girls now is to make
sure they're healthy and figure, out, like you, know what
what are we doing to stay healthy and why it's
important to take care of. Yourself you. Know it was
interesting at the. Time so with my first, DAUGHTER i
breastfed on both. Sides with my second, DAUGHTER i breastfed
(14:07):
mostly on the one. Side she just didn't want a.
Breastfeed on the cancer, side they said they thought it
was very slow, growing and they said they thought it
probably started five years BEFORE i had even found. It
so that was the blessing in, that because you, know
when you're young and you have, cancer usually it's fast,
growing but mine was. Slow BUT i actually have read
(14:28):
so many breastfeeding women since then have said they had
the same situation where the baby stopped wanting to. Breastfeed
on the cancer. Side so by the TIME i had the,
twins it was LIKE i was just one one uniboob
because like the one boob was doing all of the
breastfeeding and the other one they didn't want a breastfeed
(14:48):
on at. All AND i never it never dawned on,
me like why don't they WANT i was, LIKE i
guess that's just not their. Thing and the doctor didn't know, why, like,
oh there's no. Reason but any women Who i've read
since then on these chat groups and things for women
with breast cancer is that women who were breastfeeding when
they were diagnosed with breast cancer the baby didn't want
(15:11):
to feed off of the cancer.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Side you.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Know i've actually heard people say that it's not really
documented in the. Literature but SOMETIMES i just don't think
can be explained by, studies AND i think, YOU i,
mean there is an innate sense of a, mother an
innate sense of a, baby AND i just think that
sometimes you can't explain, things and we just you, know people,
know even babies know.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
You're listening To wellness and Mass we'll be right back
with more for women.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Listening you, know as you kind of just alluded to
breast cancer that develops what we call perry, partum either
while you're pregnant or you, know in that year or
two after being. Pregnant oftentimes while, breastfeeding those tend to
be incredibly aggressive and fast moving breast. Cancers and, unfortunately
because your breasts are so lumpy bumpy to begin, with
(16:05):
people kind of just, say, oh it's, nothing and they
don't actually go.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
In SO i.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Am i'm so happy that the person that you saw
found that. Lump still appalled that the radiologist said you
don't need an. Ultrasound that is just appalling to. Me
BUT i for women, listening first of, all you know
your breast better than anyone.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Else that's.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
True but any new, lump any new, rash any new nibble,
discharge let me tell you that it's. Nothing don't minimalize
it in your own, brain because as women we tend
to do. That how many times is something going on
with your body and you're, like it's. NOTHING i need
to go focus on my. KIDS i need to go
focus on something.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
ELSE i don't have.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Time i'm, like, oh there's no WAY i can take
time to go to a doctor's appointment and then have
to go to the lab and all of, This i'm
just gonna focus on the. KIDS i, mean as a,
MOM i think so often you put your kids ahead
OF i, mean you always put your kids ahead of,
yourself so you just Don't even IF i had even felt,
IT i probably wouldn't have done anything Because i'd been, Like,
(17:09):
eh it's, Fine i'll Find i'll talk to them about
it at the next. Appointment but that's so important not
to do, that, because, HONESTLY i, mean if you think about,
it the best thing you can do for your kids
is to put that oxygen mask on you. First you,
know make sure you're taking care of yourself because you
want to be. There that moment of finding OUT i
had cancer and getting into the car, AFTERWARD i was by.
(17:33):
MYSELF i had just left the. APPOINTMENT i remember driving
home and starting to cry and, thinking because everything starts
going through your. Head you're, Like, okay my oldest is,
six will she remember enough to tell the four year
old and the two year?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Old?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
WHAT i was, like will will we be able to
take enough? Pictures can we have things around the? House
because you cancer is such a scary. Word i'm not
living through, this you. Know and THEN i had this
like overwhelming sense From. God it was just, This you're not,
alone you don't need to. Cry this is a. Journey
i'm on it with. You and it was the last.
(18:11):
Time it was the last TIME i shed a tear
the whole, time through the, surgery, everything it was just,
like this is part of my, Story this is part
of my. Journey god has me on and whatever, happens
he's with, me and he's with the, girls and this
is going to end in a whatever however the ending,
is he will be there and it will be. Good
(18:32):
and it was a crazy journey to go, on BUT
i never felt overwhelmed because of my.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Faith and faith is so, important you, know whether you're A,
christian you're A, jew or you don't even believe in
a Particular, god but you just believe in something. Greater
just knowing that there is something bigger than you truly
does provide comfort during times of struggle when you were
feeling those kind of that ALMOST i guess. Anxiety will
(19:00):
my children remember? ME i mean that is something very
common for women to. Feel was there anything that you
did during that? Time some people Say i'm going to
start writing a, JOURNAL i am going to start doing video.
Diaries did you have any of those thoughts of things
that you wanted to?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
DO i think that was those thoughts were. There it was, Like,
okay ONCE i get through, this BECAUSE i had to
go through the surgery to find out how really what
stage it was, at so it's, like, okay ONCE i
get through this, surgery the videos, Like i'll make the
videos and we'll have those. Ready and then after the.
(19:35):
Surgery SO i got diagnosed On august. FOURTEENTH i had
my surgery On october, fifteenth and after the, surgery they
told me we've got. It we got it. All you're
not going to have to do, chemo we're not going
to do. Radiation we feel like you're in good. SHAPE i,
mean it was really a. Blessing SO i fortunately didn't
have to go through. That but WHEN i did have the,
(19:56):
Surgery i'd never left the girls. Before i'd never even
gone A ca, before so having the surgery In, BALTIMORE
i KNEW i would have to stay there for ten.
DAYS i had the, surgery had to stay there for
ten days in The baltimore, area and then go back
for my follow, up AND i couldn't travel between, times
SO i stayed away from the girls for ten days
(20:17):
and that was really. Hard AND i REMEMBER i had
talked to my oldest ABOUT i have cancer and this
is what this. Means but you, know we're going to
go and we're going to try to get healed and
it's going to be. Okay and then WHEN i was
the night BEFORE i was, LEAVING i was tucking her
in that night to bed AND i, Said, okay mommy's
going to be gone for two, weeks but when we get.
(20:39):
Back WHEN i get, back we're going to do something really.
Fun and she, said where are you? Going AND i, said,
remember mommy has, cancer SO i have to go have.
Surgery and her EYES i will never. Forget it was
like it had never struck her what that actually. Meant
and her eyes welled up with tears and she looked at.
Me she, said you have cancer and it was so
(21:00):
oh my. GOSH i was, like it's, Okay god's got.
Me we're. Good i'm going to get through. This i'm
going to be back in two, weeks and she. Was
it was just like you could see her little. HEARTBREAKING
i wanted her to. KNOW i wanted her to be
involved in that BECAUSE i knew WHEN i got home
it was going to be a lot. DIFFERENT i wouldn't
(21:20):
be able to lift them, UP i wouldn't be able
to hug them. TIGHT i was gonna be in recovery
for such a long. Time and she was so, strong
she was so. Incredible knowing that she was the oldest
sister to these other three little babies was just such a.
Comfort god just had a really strong plan with the
(21:43):
way he built my family and built my family for
this and was very. Blessed that story is just so.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Heartbreaking you, know WHEN i talked to patients AND i
talked to them about having breast, cancer that's immediately the
first thing that they think of when they have young
children at home is just what about my? Babies and you,
know my kids probably hear more about cancer than the average,
child because that's my husband AND i talk about it
(22:09):
all the.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Time you, know that's our. Work BUT i try to
normalize it to my. Children god.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Forbid you, know IF i were to ever get breast,
cancer and you, know statistically, speaking you, know there's a
realistic chance That i'm going to get some sort of
cancer because it's just we do, unfortunately AND i want
to NOT i want my children to not feel that
being terrified in that, moment and SO i THINK i
almost try to normalize it a, little probably a little
(22:39):
too much for my young, children BECAUSE i don't want
to see that welling up in their eyes that you're,
describing because THAT i think would probably just break my.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Heart it's SO i, mean you're, right it's so common.
Now the girls come home and they just earlier this
week they came home and, said we added a new
person's grandparent to the prayer list because they have. Cancer
and we lost my dad in twenty twenty two to pancreatic, cancer,
terrible terrible. Cancer that one IS i think one of the.
Worst and they, watched they watched, that they watched him
(23:10):
go through. That, HONESTLY i think that had they not
known what my WHAT i had gone through in my,
struggle it would have been quite a bit harder to
watch my dad go through what he was going. Through
and there was a process of letting go and Letting
god and all of. That BUT i, mean it is
true that it's something that we want to. Avoid it's
(23:33):
so ugly and when you haven't had when it's not your,
job and when it's not the family, business you, know
you don't want to talk about. It you don't want
to ever scare your. Kids it's so common, NOW i mean,
NOW i think that one of the reasons that when
you talk about my diagnosis, process one of the reasons
that there was that change in tone was BECAUSE i
(23:56):
think going in at thirty, eight ten years, ago it
was it's not as. COMMON i think that was just
the kind of the beginning of them starting to see
a lot of younger women with breast, cancer AND i
think they were as stunned AS i. Was it was,
like oh my, gosh how can this be. HAPPENING i
just don't feel Like i'm old enough to be the
person with breast. Cancer now it's happening more and, more you,
(24:19):
KNOW i don't, KNOW i don't know. WHY i, MEAN
i actually hope that this administration comes to some conclusions
of what we're doing differently that is causing. This BUT
i do think that it's important to talk to your
kids about the fact that health is. Important taking care
of your health is. Important there are things that happen
that you can't control regardless of how you take care
(24:40):
of your. Health BUT i also think that we are
in a culture now when we were. Kids there was
this culture of never talked to your daughters about health
because that was potentially going to cause an eating. Disorder
if you talked about, health you were essentially saying you
have to be, fit you have to be, healthy you
have to be. Thin BUT i don't think that's what it.
IS i think we we should talk to our daughters
(25:01):
about being healthy and the importance of using your body
to exercise and be strong THAT i think that there
were a good ten years where people were afraid to
talk to girls about a healthy lifestyle because they thought
it was incriminating and they thought it was shaming. Women
but it's not shaming women to, say you have one,
(25:23):
body we have to take care of.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
It more coming up On Wellness unmasked with Doctor Nicole.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Sapphire so going, FORWARD i, mean you're, right by the,
way because people are worried, about you, know body dysmorphic
disorder young girls in the era OF, covid social, isolation digital,
media online bullying and all of.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
That you, know we are coddling our younger.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Generations and on one, hand you kind of want to
because you want to shield them from some of. This
but you are absolutely right because if you are not
talking to young girls about some of this. Stuff they don't,
realize you, know a lot of the cancer we're seeing
in younger people is from lifestyle. Factors some we can,
control you, know like our weight and some of the
(26:08):
foods we're, consuming and exercise and not smoking and drinking you,
know minimal if none. Alcohol but on top there are
some things we can't, avoid like microplastics and hormones in
our food and all of. That after having gone through
it yourself and having so many little girls moving, forward
what is kind of your message to your girls as
(26:30):
they are growing up about trying to live their healthiest.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Lives, actually we just talked about this the other day
with my, daughter and it's it's kind of stunning BECAUSE
i think that you don't realize how much as a
kid life was different for. Us we Had jim every.
Day there were strength. Tests you had to be able
to pass the strength tests when we were, young and
that is just not the case in our schools. Today
(26:54):
so as, PARENTS i think we even have to go
what is the difference between our childhood and how and
the healthy lifestyle that we had and what our kids,
have and how do we take care of? That outside of,
school BECAUSE i think my parents were somewhat spoiled in
that we would just go out and ride bikes after.
School but during school we had strength. TESTS i MEAN
(27:16):
i remember having to climb the rope to the top
of the, gym having to do sit, ups and having
to do pull. Ups and my girls don't do. That
so there is a conversation that we've recently. Had my
daughter the other day was, Saying my sixteen year old was,
SAYING i have such bad. Posture, Mom i've got to
do something about my. Posture AND i, said you, know
a lot of that has to do with your core,
Drengths so why don't we start doing some? Situps and
(27:39):
she could not do a sit. UP i was, stunned
AND i feel really horrible about, this BUT i, said
what do you mean you can't Do she's, Like, MOM
i can't do what you're. Doing AND i think, that
to me is something that we haven't actually been prepared
for as, parents because we wor we did have such
active lifestyles as, kids and that was a part of
school and it's not. Now so that is a conversation
(28:03):
we've just recently had in our home that you have
to build your, strength because what you build on now
your body has muscle, Memory it will remember that your whole,
life and you have a better chance of being able
to stay. Strong and just being strong is so important
in my. Mind and SO i was talking to some
of my girlfriends about. This i'm, Like i'm stunned that
my sixteen year old can't do a sit, up and they,
(28:25):
said we just had the same. Experience we had no
idea how little weight training they're, doing how little strength
training they're. Doing SO i think for girls, especially that
conversation is not about your sized jeans you're wearing or
how much food you're. Consuming it's the fact that you
have to be consuming the right foods and you should
(28:45):
be concerned about your. Strength you should be concerned about
your muscles and your ability to hold your own body.
UP i, mean if you feel concerned that your posture
is bad and you can't hold your body up in
a sit, up, well we have some work to. Do
and it's not an embarrass the same thing to. Do
it's just a part of being healthy and taking care
of the body That god gave.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
You, WELL i, mean you're absolutely. Right and by the,
way strength training and being in. Shape this is you,
know this isn't something for. Cosmesis we're talking about long term, health,
yes AND i Mean i'm perimenopausal, myself and that is
one of the most important. Things and you know when
to bring it back to breast cancer awareness. Months, listen
at the end of the, day the risk for breast
(29:27):
cancer are being a woman and getting, older And i'm,
sorry you can't do anything about. That, however there are
modifiable risk factors for breast, cancer one of them absolutely
being the, fat the number of fat cells in your
body because those fat cells actually create, estrogen and estrogen
drives estrogen sensitive cancers like some breast, cancers endometrial, cancers liver,
(29:52):
cancers and. Others so the more fat you have on your,
body the higher risk of. Cancers so that is one
way you can decrease your.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Risk and.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Exercising i'm not talking about being a gym rat and
being a fitness. Model i'm just talking about taking a walk.
Around you know you're building and being able to do
some sit ups and doing some of those other things
directly linked to a decreased cancer risk if you get
your body, moving and it is just crucial that we
instill these messages in our younger generations because cancer is
(30:21):
on the. Rise it's not just we're diagnosing, more more
people are truly getting, cancer and we have to make
a difference Make america. Healthy against making some changes they're
bringing that their presidential fitness.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Tests i'm all for.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
It and that's actually something that my daughter AND i
have been, doing so my oldest and sometimes the younger
ones tag. Along we've been trying to do a nightly
walk around the. Neighborhood AND i have to, say it's,
like this is so much bigger than just exercise and
getting out and doing something and breathing fresh. Air it's
getting out of the. House it's neither of us have a.
(30:56):
Device we're both totally focused on each, other talking about,
school we're talking about. Friends we get this time, alone
that's just the two of us where we are doing
something healthy and we are learning about each. Other and
my girls lately have really reminded. ME i keep hearing
all these things about get your kids off of, phones
get your kids off of, devices AND i, think you,
(31:18):
KNOW i get, that BUT i also think that this
generation of kids has we as kids never saw our
parents on, devices so it's us getting off, too us
spending that quality time together as, well and showing them
this is the lifestyle THAT i want you to be
able to, enjoy AND i should be a part of that.
TOO i should not be the ones That i've got,
(31:39):
Work i've got to be on the, phone And i'm
guilty of. It So i'm trying really hard to show
them that part of a healthy lifestyle is conversation and
togetherness and that intimacy of.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Family, Amen, Tutor i'm so grateful that you came on
today and you shared your. Story we could all learn
from you your, experience And i'm just in awe of,
you so thank you so much for being so open with. Us,
absolutely thank you for having. ME i was such an
amazing conversation With. Tutor just her, honesty strength. Voice that
is what we need to hear because you, know AS
(32:10):
i continue to, SAY i can give you all the
statistics in the, world but hearing from someone who has
lived through it truly can help anyone who may be
going through it as. Well, NOW i don't want everyone
leaving here today thinking this is a doomsday kind of.
Conversation when it comes to breast cancer, awareness it's all
about early, detection getting your, mammograms making sure you know
your normal lumps and bumps in your. Breasts but there
(32:33):
are some things that you can't do to decrease your
risk of breast. Cancer, yes being a, woman getting, older
those are our biggest risk. Factors you can't really do
anything about. That but there are some things you can
do that will absolutely lower your risk of not just breast,
cancer but other cancers as.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Well maintain a healthy.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Weight having excess fat cells produces more estrogen and stress
hormones in your body that directly increases your risk of
breast cancer and ometrial cancer.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Cancer being physically. ACTIVE i KNOW i sound like a broken,
record but, yes you have to move your body. More
we all do. That i'm not talking about just doing
the peloton or just running on the. Treadmill you have
to be lifting, weights make sure you're building. Muscle it's
really good not for just lowering your cancer, risk but
it also helps your, Bones it increases your immune system
(33:22):
and also helps your. Brain limiting alcohol, INTAKE i get.
IT i love champagne and. Tequila those are my jam
some may, say but the reality is there really is
not any health benefit to drinking. Alcohol in, fact study
after study says even moderate intake of alcohol can increase
your risk of.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Cancer, now some of that is correlative because the more
you drink maybe the more fat you have in your.
Body but the reality, is if you drink, alcohol maybe
try a little bit less if you're working on decreasing
your risk of cancers and also knowing your personal. Risk
the reality is most people diagnose with breast cancer do
(34:02):
not have a family.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
History so if you find a new lump in your,
breast don't just think it's absolutely nothing because you don't
have a family. History the reality is you should always
let a doctor tell you and image you before some
lump or a rash or a nipple discharge or whatever
it may, be always make sure you're seeing a doctor
for Those if you have a family history of breast,
(34:25):
cancer you have known genetic, mutations you're at an increased
risk and maybe you need more than just a, Mammogram
maybe you need an, ultrasound maybe even need AN.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Mri bottom, line everyone is, different and so just because your,
sister just because your neighbor they do, this something else
might be right for. You the best thing you can
do have a conversation with your. Doctor you can also
reach out to me on social. Media i'm happy to
try and field as many. Questions if you send messages
(34:54):
about topics you want to hear On wellness AND, Mass
i'll do that. Too but It's breast Cancer awareness. Month
let's all do our. Diligence if you haven't had your
mammogram and you're forty years or, older go get. IT
i promise you early detection matters and finding your cancer
early may just save your.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Life i'm Doctor Nicole. Sapphire thanks so much for listening
To wellness ON. Mass make sure you listen.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
To wellness ON, mass On iHeartRadio or anywhere that you
listen
Speaker 1 (35:20):
To your, podcast and we'll see you next time