October 21, 2024 • 37 mins
Join host Evelyn Erives on this heartfelt episode of “Covering Your Health” as we explore the critical topic of breast cancer. This week, we’re honored to have two special guests from the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) team: Regan Kelso, a dedicated community health worker, and Melika Giles, a claims processor who is courageously undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
In this episode, Regan shares invaluable insights on community health initiatives and support systems available for breast cancer patients. Melika opens up about her personal journey, offering a unique perspective on battling breast cancer while working within the healthcare system. Together, they provide a comprehensive look at the challenges and triumphs faced by those affected by this disease.
For more information on this show's topic visit IEHP.org or (800) 440-IEHP.
Reach out to Evelyn via Instagram @evelynerives or email her at EvelynErives@iHeartMedia.com
In this episode, Regan shares invaluable insights on community health initiatives and support systems available for breast cancer patients. Melika opens up about her personal journey, offering a unique perspective on battling breast cancer while working within the healthcare system. Together, they provide a comprehensive look at the challenges and triumphs faced by those affected by this disease.
For more information on this show's topic visit IEHP.org or (800) 440-IEHP.
Reach out to Evelyn via Instagram @evelynerives or email her at EvelynErives@iHeartMedia.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of Covering Your
Health with Evelyna Revas, brought to you by Inland Empire
Health Plan.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I EhP.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
We're so happy to have you here every time, and
I think you're gonna really love this very special episode.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I have two special ladies who.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Are going to be joining me to share a little
bit about their journeys navigating breast cancer. Now, most people
I know, and I'm sure you as well, have been
impacted by the disease one way or another. According to
the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common
cancer in the US except for skin cancer, and accounts
(00:44):
for about thirty percent, or one in three, of all
new female cancers each year, one in three. In twenty
twenty four, the American Cancer Society estimates about three hundred
and ten thousand, seven hundred twenty new cases of invasive
breast cancer will being diagnosed in women, about fifty six
(01:07):
five hundred new cases of ductyl carcinoma in situ will
be diagnosed, and about forty two, two hundred and fifty
women will die from breast cancer. While these statistics are
the most alarming, health organizations like IHP are dedicated to
educating the public, women and men about early detection and
(01:29):
why it's key and signs to look for. Joining us today,
I'm very excited about this are two women who are
champions for education and ones who are here to share
their stories navigating the disease and why they're so willing
to share their experiences with you.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Our listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Today, we are so glad to welcome Malika Giles, a
claim processor with IHP, and Reagan Kelso, a community health
worker with the Plan's Enhanced Care Manager team, to the
Covering your Health Family.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Welcome to Covering Your Health, a wellness podcast dedicated to
covering all areas of living a healthy and happy lifestyle,
from healthy hearts to understanding health plans and everything in between.
Each episode will provide you with a better understanding of
managing your health, preventative care, and staying on the right
path for your family's wellness journey. The Covering Your Health
(02:25):
Podcast is presented by i EhP. Now your host Evelina Revez.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
All right, and we're going to get going.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Well, let me welcome Malika and Reagan to the show.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Hi there, ladies, Hi so happy to have you both. Hi.
So we're going to start things off about you.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You both do two completely different types of jobs with
I EhP, but I always like to know a little
bit more about you, So please tell us about yourselves.
How you landed a career in healthcare with IHP.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Maybe we'll start. Let's start with Reagan first.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
I worked in healthcare in a pediatric hospital before working
at IEHP, and I worked I started to help kids.
My son was diagnosed with a chronic illness as while
I was working at the hospital, and so I had
to navigate a lot of managing his chronic illness and
(03:30):
managing resources. And once that happened, I started to see
myself as both the patient's mom, and I was kind of,
you know, going between dual sides. And so IHP had
this wonderful opportunity where they were working with the community
to empower the community, to show them how to navigate resources.
(03:53):
And since I had a little bit of lived experiences
doing that, I was able to join this one wonderful
program where I was able to use some of the resources,
some of the knowledge that I had both working on
the illness to help other families. And so I was
just very thankful to work for IHP. And be able
(04:13):
to help families and my role as a community health worker.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
So let me get that clear. So you were already
working with IHP when your son developed his chronic illness.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
No, so I was working I wasn't. I was working.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
At the hospital.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, I was hospital.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I was working at a hospital and my son was
diagnosed with chronic illness. And when he once he got
diagnosed with that chronic illness, I worked at that hospital
for years and I found myself helping other families navigate
like some of the resources that I had found myself.
And then I saw this program at IHP that was
(04:54):
doing a lot of what I was doing just in
my own personal time with helping other families navigate resources
in the community. And I found this role community health worker.
I applied for it, and I was able to kind
of transfer some of my lift experiences and some of
the skill set that I had to help other families
in the community navigate their own healthcare.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's so wonderful. I mean, life experience, right is always
I feel like the best experience lived in experience is
so much better than any education you could ever get,
because you really feel it, you know it. It becomes
part of your passion. So oh well, we're so glad
that HP found you. Yeah, that's that's wonderful. And Melica,
(05:41):
tell me your story. Did you always find yourself wanting
to work in healthcare or what?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Tell me?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Okay, so yeah, I've been working in healthcare for over
about fifteen years now, so I always was doing claims building,
you know, with different companies. This last company now was
it was collaborate and they kind of like lost their contracts.
So a bunch of us went over to I.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
E h. They was having like a big job thing
or something whatever. We all went. We got here and
we're stuck. So we here. I. HP is such a
great company. Love I HP.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
Healthcare is always a big thing for me. So you know,
let's where we at.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And you know what, it doesn't matter depending on how
long it takes, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Just do it. Just do it. It doesn't matter how
long it takes.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
That is really wonderful. And an Urn is that's going
to be special. Both my best friends or RNs, so
I feel like I lean on them so hard, become
everybody's phone call. Yes, okay, so both of your stories
are about how breast cancer has really affected your lives
are very different, Malika. You not only lost your father
(07:05):
in twenty sixteen to cancer, but you also just got
a diagnosis and you're currently undergoing chemo. First off, I
want to know how you're feeling, how treatment going. You
seem like such a positive person. I can already feel
your energy. Tell me about that for you.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Okay, So chemo hasn't started as of yet. Okay, so
I had two surgeries. I had two surgeries, right, and
last week I had a partner with the on collogists.
They recommended four cycles of chemo. Right, four cycles of
(07:44):
chemo and then radiation. So tomorrow I go see the
uncologists again to see exactly, to see exactly, you know,
because like I have locked them questions a million. Yeah,
(08:05):
I have like a million questions. I'm like, you know,
I'm like all over the place with the whole thing,
you know. So it's taking a lot of prayer for me,
a lot of just just a lot. So I'm going
to talk to them tomorrow too, you know, because I'm
I'm big on I'm big on second opinions. Me. I'm
(08:25):
just really big on second opinions, Like I just need
to know like before, you know. So that's what I'm
doing because I have a close friend of mine she's
going through that too, breast cancer, so she's going through
it came back, so she's going through chemo and radiation
and it's.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
Just a lot.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
So I know tomorrow you know what what the thing is,
because what I have is very very rare. You know,
it's very rare because I went to the doctor saying
I felt something right. So when I did the surgery,
it was a benign tumor, but it was like a
(09:05):
woolf in sheep clothing. Wow, So the benign tumor, it
was cancer's going inside of that tumor that they took out.
Any ordinary pathologists could very much so look over it.
So I was I thank god that they didn't look
over that they saw it, that they saw it. So
(09:28):
that was my case that they went back in and
took some live noise to see if it you know.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
So that's where I'm at with this right now.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, you you know, Oh God, it's just it's such
a strange place to be and good for you on
you know, feeling doing a self check, knowing that something
didn't feel right. Yes, you know, so often we don't
know how to even do that and oh, well, you know,
maybe I'm just dense.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, you never know.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
It's so good for you that you went in and
did that, and yeah and write all those questions down right,
like every question. I'm all about it, Like go in
there with twenty thousand questions. Yes, that's what it's about. Yeah,
So you seem like a A in a good positive
place though, I mean I don't. I don't know you personally,
but from what I can tell, what is motivating you
(10:23):
right now?
Speaker 5 (10:24):
My kids, my grandkids, my family.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
You know, I have I have a I have a
strong support system, so you know, I try to be
strong for everybody. I try to be you knowbody like
you know they sound like you you positive. I come
out positive to everybody ye time. So I probably get
to myself and you know, do all whatever I need
to do within myself. So I try to remain you know.
(10:52):
So that's why I got so many questions. I'm trying
to be here from my kids, my grandkids, especially now,
and that's just.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Where I'm Yeah, yeah today, and you know what, and
that's okay. It day by day is the way.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Yeah, that's where you are today, and tomorrow may be different,
and the day after that might be better.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
And you never exactly you know.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Oh, well, you're going to be in my thoughts for sure,
I know that. So I hope everything goes better than
expected tomorrow no matter what. Yes, And we'll probably have
to follow up because I want to know.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
I want to know definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Reagan with you, you're currently working in the community with
one special woman who was just diagnosed with breast cancer.
Can you tell me a little bit about her story
and the work that you're doing to support her during
this time.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Yeah, Well, one of the things that working with this member,
it's really been difficult for her and her journey because
she doesn't have a lot of support and she doesn't
have a lot of people that she can rely on.
And even when you do have a lot of people
(12:07):
that you can rely on, I mean a lot of
the times, you know, you don't want to burden other
people with what you're going through. And so I am
just so thankful to be able to be in this
position where in our department, on our team, which is
in hand Caramounment, we provide that one on one support.
(12:31):
I provide that one on one support to her to
help her navigate all of the doctor's appointed to navigate
and what to do, what type of questions that you
can ask the doctor. So a lot of the So
I'll go back and tell you a little bit about
this member. Like you, Malika, she advocated for herself. She
(12:54):
found something and she immediately went to the doctor and said,
this doesn't feel right and this is strain. Got went
through immediate scans, and sometimes you have you know, you
go to the doctor's office and they don't always listen
to what it is that you're feeling because if it's
something benign and they see the scans, they won't move
(13:15):
forward with it. So we were able to I was
already working with her before she received the diagnosis, and
just her saying, hey, Reagan, I'm feeling something. This is strange,
helped her to schedule an appointment. And now she's currently
in radiation. Like you, Malika, she has her grandkids, she
(13:39):
has her daughters that she's and her son who she's
you know, doing it all for, and she also is
navigating grief. She lost her mom to cancer as well,
and so that is really difficult. So some of the
things that we've been able to do. On the team
that I work with, which is an hands care management
(14:01):
we kind of sort through all of those social determinants,
the things that become barriers, so like transportation, getting access
to fresh foods, dealing with housing issues, because when you
have this diagnosis, or you have a diagnosis of anything,
the background still goes right, like you still have to work,
(14:23):
you still have to pick up and you know, find
find find whatever research that you possibly can. So I
get a waitful person who helps her find the resources
a way forward. We've yeah, we've linked her to therapy,
We've looked at some local resources like Community Action Partnership
(14:48):
for utility assistance aside from scheduling appointments, even gone as
far as getting a letter from her doctor so that
way she can keep her water and your utilities on
all of those things. That just kind of being that
support person so then that way she can deal with
(15:12):
the diagnosis has been I'm so thankful that I get
to work alongside her and be that person to support
her in that way.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Wow there, Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You know, there's so many things you said there that
I don't even think I would have thought about. You
know you're you are really like her. Okay, so you're
really like her road map.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, you're a tool for her.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I mean, but a loving, carrying human tool, you know
that can help her navigate this road thing she probably
wouldn't ever think about. Okay, now we're in this point,
let's make sure your mental well being is okay.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Let's also make.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Sure that you're stay on I mean, what healthcare plan
does that? I mean, I don't know what that does that,
but that is yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
And one of yeah, and one of the things that
I get to do is meet with her in person too,
because I think that face to face, you know, a
lot of the times a lot of service delivery. I mean,
if you're not going to the doctor and having that
face to face within ten to fifteen minutes, what about
all of the other supports that you need. So I
(16:29):
get to meet with her face to face outside.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Of her work.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Because she's still has scure and help her apply for
some of the resources. So we've applied for Social Security disability,
and while she's working, I'm in the background researching some
of the resourceful to her, so that way she can
(16:56):
have a peace of mind and still do all of
the things that she needs to do while focusing on
her diagnosis while I'm you know, right there in her
corner kind of helping her along.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Reagan, let me ask you a question. How many patients
do you work with?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Yeah, so I work with the caseload of about twenty five.
And it kind of the way that it's set up
is we have, you know, some tears that are everyone is,
you know, vulnerable, but at the same time we get
to tier them where we have our tier ones, Tier twos,
and tier three. So it kind of allows me to
focus on the ones who have the most needs and
(17:38):
kind of going in and out of figuring out how
we can you know, deliver care where it's equitable to everybody.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Wow, oh my gosh, I am like blown away. I'm
blown away by all of those things.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And so IHP clearly known for health plan being a
health plan with a heart, and I mean I'm seeing
it in action, like right now, just talking to you ladies.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
How do your roles?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I feel like, Reagan, you kind of already touched on this,
but oh yes, how do your roles play into the
health plans that mission?
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I think like Reagan, I feel like, really, your whole mission.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
She's She's the whole mission, the whole mission.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Malika, how do you feel like yours also plays into
that role, into the mission of IHP.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Because you know, I stay positive and I also empathize
in like Reagan, I you know, I go to therapy.
I've been going to therapy or since my dad passed
so eight years now. It helps me, I would say,
I mean because I still feel the same as if
(18:49):
my dad died yesterday. I still feel exactly the same.
But it helps me to cope. You know, it helps
me to cope. And I'm always helping others. Like I'm
always there for everybody, you know, right, well, you need
to let us be there for you. I'm like, I
got I'm always like I'm too, I'm cool, I got this,
(19:11):
you know.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Just you know, it's so there's so many and it's
so funny. I've been doing this podcast for a full
year now, just about and I learned something new about
my HV, like every single episode, like wait, that's a thing.
That's a thing too, and and what they do for
the community. It's just it's just amazing. It really truly
(19:33):
blows me away, like I can't believe it. And now
that I'm meeting to very special people within this company.
I just know there's a lot of people wonderful, wonderful
like you who are doing I mean, I don't know
if you're religious, but like the like the Lord's work.
Speaker 6 (19:47):
I mean I really really, you know, it's like I
sent to the lect I'm serious. That's that's just how
God works. Religious, That's how God works, and he puts
you in the right place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And really, because your story too, Reagan, like, because you
had that personal experience of being a mother and also
navigating illness and trying to figure out the best resources,
you take it personal. And I think that is what
is missing in so many and insurance plans. Yeah, healthcare
(20:25):
is in a lot of cases they are not taking
it personal, like the patient.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Is thank you. Oh And I was already a passionate person.
And so you're right, Evelyn, like I do take it personal.
I mean, there's a lot of times there's a lot
of roadblocks, there's a lot of barriers where people can
just get lost in trying to navigate the system of
health care and community. So being able to like bridge
(20:53):
that gap and being the person in the middle that
can kind of like Untie those knots for them, and
because I've had experience doing it, I mean, you know,
I'm thankful and IHP offers just a lot of other
resources that I get to tap into. So I'm thankful
to have that right here, because a lot of the times,
(21:13):
you know, it's really hard just trying to get those resources.
And so it's like, well, we offer, oh you don't
have a right to your doctor's appointment, we offer transportation,
Oh you need food, guess what at the park there's
going to be a food giveaway in our city. And
a lot of the times people don't know about those resources.
And that's what helps me to that's where my heart is.
(21:37):
And so I feel like, you know, a lot of
the times we and Malika I can already tell like
where your heart is at. And so a lot of
the times I'm thankful that I get to work with
like minded people. On my team. We have a behavioral
health person, we have an RN, we have a care coordinator,
(21:58):
we have another HL, so we rely on each other.
We nicknamed our team the care Bear team, so where
we get to put in our hearts and put on
our lights and we get to just work together so
it's people helping people, it's community support, and I'm just
so so super duper thankful to be able to provide
(22:21):
that because where the heart is, it's the compassion, right,
and so then working with other people who also have
that compassion, and then we're just kind of spreading it
out to the community. That's where my role comes in.
And I'm just very very thankful that I get to
do this.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, you can tell you're passionate about it. It's so
beautiful and I love your unit name, the.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Care Bear Team perfectly fits it really does. It perfectly fits.
So let's talk really quickly about education.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
We know education is key to basically any diagnosis, right, it's.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
The more you know, the more you know.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Why is it so important that women and men get
screened for breast cancer?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Let's talk about that.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
I feel it's very much important to get screened because
if you hold off on it, the more the more aggressive.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
It get it for that's the risk I saw it.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Yeah, I have seen it happen before, you know, So
it's very important to get checked up, check yourself if
you feel anything.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
If I feel an.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
Itch, I'm telling the doctor because I need to know
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
You have to just get your checkups. It's very important to.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Do that because if I would have just not did it,
like it's just it's not hurting me now, if I
would have waited, then Lord knows what would have happened.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
So I mean, I feel like, you know, the other
part of that is making sure you know your family
history so that you know how right, so you know
how early to start getting these screenings.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I mean, I know when I was I think I.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Was thirty eight, my doctor was like, why don't we
just start getting you screened? And then you know, I
was like, okay, yeah, but I am I back of
my mind, I was like I'm not at risk. I'm
like I'm fine. I just didn't you know, I didn't
even think about it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
So I did go when I was forty and it
was COVID.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Time and and I and I went, you know what, no, no, no, no,
Like I'm not putting this off anymore. My mother maybe
didn't ever have breast cancer. But I was like, you know,
it doesn't mean it isn't going to happen with me.
I like I need to now go. And also for me,
it was setting an example, for my children. So I
have two daughters, I have a son, two daughters, and
I wanted them to see, like, mommy's getting screened because
(24:56):
mommy wants to stay healthy. Mommy wants to find us
right away right. First time, no issues. Second screening, had
an abnormality, came back a little nervous, but everything was
fine and that and that's the whole thing. I think
why people sometimes put it off because they're so afraid.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Of the unknown and the and the callback.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Right.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Hey, so we just want to double check something, yo,
Let that. Let let them triple check it. I have
a friend who shared her story with me once about
when she was diagnosed, and thankfully she was diagnosed very
early in.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Her cancer journey.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
But she said, she said to me, she goes, I
knew all my life. It wasn't a matter of if
it was when. And she said, and I knew that
because my mom had it, my my aunt had it.
And she's like, and my grandmother, she goes, I just
knew I was gonna have it, like and she and
I go, gosh, it's like, it's such a scary way
(26:00):
to live, right, And yes, but she's like, but it
was an empowering way to live because I was always like, nope,
I'm gonna go get checked soon as it's time.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I'm getting checked. When can I get checked?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
And she just kept on top of it very young,
and sure enough, when they did screen her, they found it,
and they found it very very early, and her diagnosis,
her prognosis was very positive because they knew they could
get rid of what they needed to.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yes, you know, so.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
That's important too, because you know, having that conversation, like
the education piece of it, because she shared with you,
you were also mindful if that was something that you
were going to have to do, you know, at some
point in your life. And so I feel like that's why,
you know, we think of education as like just you know,
a really you know, go look up all of the statistics.
But you're right, just having the conversations that's important because
(26:54):
when you do that, you share, and then it's mindful
to other women around you. And so her what she
already knew about herself, she just kind of put that
out there and shared with you, and then you knew
what you needed to do. And I wonder how many
conversations you've had with people where that puts that in
the forefront of their mind that that was something that
they needed to do as well.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, you're right, No, you're totally right about that, because
once you have that conversation, it's never it doesn't leave you.
Those are powerful conversations, and those are the kinds of
things that you always like have like, Okay, well I'm
now approaching my forties and I haven't had any of
those health scares. I probably should be like on top
of that, you know, she was forty and I you know,
I think of then you start hearing numbers, right, and
(27:34):
you're like, oh, she was this age or she was Okay,
well I'm at that age now. Yeah, and it is
it's it's absolutely every time. And I feel like there's
this like tree of knowledge that that is shared by
word of mouth, right, So that is that's another powerful tool,
and sometimes it's the most powerful tool because when it's
(27:55):
a friend telling you, you take it a lot more
serious than when it's somebody random that you don't know.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Yeah, and IHP, we send out like you know, at forty,
that's when you get your screenings and so at that time,
if you're getting the reminders or you're getting the doctor's
appointments or the doctor is saying okay, you're forty, it's
time for your mammogram. Then you just know, okay, yep,
that's here, better go, yea.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
So let me let's talk about the access to resources
and also access to breast cancer education through IEHP.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Where can people go?
Speaker 4 (28:34):
So we have community resource centers that are located throughout
the Inland Empire. So we have sam Brand, you know,
we have Rancho Cucamonga, and we have Riverside and every
month there's a calendar of different events that we have.
And so one of the best ways to start with
just educational community wellness programs is looking at the community
(28:55):
resource centers and seeing what educational programs that they offer.
So I know, for the month of October we have
food demos, we even have free mammograms that are happening
at some of the sites. And then also calling member
services and asking about some of the educational programs and
getting connected also to a community health worker like myself,
(29:17):
just asking what programs are out there, because we can
also lead you to those resources.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
That's key. Just ask.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I feel you know a lot of people are always
gun shopping, right like ye just ask, just.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Ask don't be afraid to ask.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
There really are no stupid questions, like just go and
ask where's this resource Google? You know, I hp dot
org and go there and there's an endless there's endless talk.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It's great.
Speaker 6 (29:49):
I send my kids and my mom to we go
to the I live in Victorville, so they always are there,
the one Victor because they always have something.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
And it's open to the public. So this is what's
so cool about it. You don't have to be a
member for some of these services.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Right I know. I send people, I mean all of
the time just to ask the questions too, like when
am I supposed to what key greetings am I supposed
to have? And at what ages? Because again that's you know,
the education is the empowerment piece to just being proactive
with your health.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Education gives yep, yep, oh maness.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
So is there something that you've learned about navigating your
breast cancer experience or an inspiring story or quote that
you wish that our listeners would would take from them.
Malika will start with you, because I know you're in
You're in it now, you're kind of you're kind of
in the thick of it right now, trying to navigate this.
(30:54):
What is there something that has kept you inspired beside
your family?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Is there a quote you've read? Is there something you've
learned that has done that for you?
Speaker 6 (31:05):
I need to stay up for Google. I think I'm
always giggling. I'm always on TikTok, reading all types of stuff.
You know, I would just say, stand on top of
your health for me. I just just want I just
(31:25):
like want everybody to just check your health because if
you don't, because all the stories I read it is
something about I should have went to the doctor or
I didn't check this. I thought this was something and
it was I thought it was nothing and it was something.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
So right now I'm just I'm still learning too. Yeah,
I'm still learning too, you know.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
So I'm still.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
I'm learning, Like just now today in this meeting, I
learned so much from breaking in just this little time.
I'm still learning. So I would say education is definitely
the case.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Yeah, and Reagan, any inspiring quotes that you share with
your patients that you work with in your and your caseload.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You know, I always tell people I don't have an
inspiring quote, but I always tell people to lean in
and get the support because there's always someone out there
that is willing to, you know, be by your side.
I think a lot of times we like to do
things alone. Are just kind of like to be in
it alone and you don't have to be. One of
the best ways that we meet our goals is just
(32:35):
with community. I'm already like, Malika, you have a friend
in me. I've already got so many different like oh,
just for wellness and like walks and going to Mount Rubideaux.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
I did that a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I didn't go to the walk this year. I did not,
and I wish I would have, because I wish I
would have. I just feel like I just like being
around people and like meeting a lot of different people
and hearing different stories. One of the other things that
I would say too is having the conversation. Just in
(33:11):
this journey of working with this member, I learned that
one of my coworkers had a mom who was going
through who had already gone through the Best Bread Canster
journey and got to ring her bill and when she
was done with all of her treatments in twenty twenty one,
and so there's hopeful stories out there, and yeah, absolutely,
(33:32):
and I feel like that, you know, having that conversation
and her sharing that with me, then it just made
me want to go harder in the fight for this,
for our member and just for the you know, for
every everyone around me. So we just need to have
the conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, great advice, great advice.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Okay, So I feel like we did come up with
some really great takeaways already right here.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Oh yeah, those are pretty good takeaways. Yeah, but yeah,
that's okay, those are great takeaways.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
But if there's anything that you'd love to add I
always ask at the very end of the podcast, what
are the three key takeaways that you hope people will
leave this conversation we're having with that they'll take home
with them. And I feel like obviously, like you said,
leaning in is a great that's a great takeaway. Lean
in and get that support, that's a great takeaway. I
(34:28):
mean that's when I'm gonna for sure take away. What
else do you have for us?
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Yeah, lean in for the support, stay educated, of course
educated they educated, And yeah, act for resources, acts questions.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
Get screened, get screened early, don't miss your mammograms, please
get screened early, and lean in. Again, I always say
lean in, butuition of if you if you feel something
that is happening in your body, just have the conversation
with your doctor. Ask the questions. Ask doctors questions. I
(35:10):
always tell people to, you know, when you're in your
doctor's appointments, to prep for it, go in with five
questions that you have to ask your doctors five questions
because a lot of the times we go in and
we could quickly forget what we want to talk to
the doctor about, and then we leave and we say, oh,
I completely forgot, and then you know, it's like, oh, well,
(35:30):
you have to make another appointment, which will then delay.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
And that's why I have my ten questions.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Good.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Yeah, prep for your doctor, prep.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
For your doctor.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Yeah, prep for your doctor's appointment. Prepare for it like
you would anything else. So yeah, that's a that's a takeaway.
Get screened, get the education, ask for resources, lean in
for support, and ask for support.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
And yeah, beautiful. Well I can't thank you both enough.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
I feel very, very inspired by this conversation, and I
think this is going to be really important for many
women and men, because men get breast cancer two. And
to just walk away with this and understand you're not alone,
especially you're not alone with IHP, and even if you're
not an IHP member, you know, call and ask questions.
(36:26):
It's not like they're going to tell you well, that's
not the way they function.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
It's about the heart.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
And I do love that about IHP, and I love
that in you both, because obviously you are part of
the heart of the missions. So thank you so much
for joining me. I wish you all the luck in
the world. Malika, Yeah, thank you. Well, I'll be praying
for you and I hope that we get a great,
a great follow up with you soon to learn more
(36:56):
good please do with Christina, who puts this whole podc
US thing together as well. She'll connect us all and
and Reagan thank you, oh my gosh, you've been invaluable,
both of you.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Thank you so so very much.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Thank you, Evelyn, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 4 (37:15):
Yes,
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of Covering Your
Health with Evelyna Revas, brought to you by Inland Empire
Health Plan.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I EhP.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
We're so happy to have you here every time, and
I think you're gonna really love this very special episode.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I have two special ladies who.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Are going to be joining me to share a little
bit about their journeys navigating breast cancer. Now, most people
I know, and I'm sure you as well, have been
impacted by the disease one way or another. According to
the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common
cancer in the US except for skin cancer, and accounts
(00:44):
for about thirty percent, or one in three, of all
new female cancers each year, one in three. In twenty
twenty four, the American Cancer Society estimates about three hundred
and ten thousand, seven hundred twenty new cases of invasive
breast cancer will being diagnosed in women, about fifty six
(01:07):
five hundred new cases of ductyl carcinoma in situ will
be diagnosed, and about forty two, two hundred and fifty
women will die from breast cancer. While these statistics are
the most alarming, health organizations like IHP are dedicated to
educating the public, women and men about early detection and
(01:29):
why it's key and signs to look for. Joining us today,
I'm very excited about this are two women who are
champions for education and ones who are here to share
their stories navigating the disease and why they're so willing
to share their experiences with you.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Our listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Today, we are so glad to welcome Malika Giles, a
claim processor with IHP, and Reagan Kelso, a community health
worker with the Plan's Enhanced Care Manager team, to the
Covering your Health Family.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Welcome to Covering Your Health, a wellness podcast dedicated to
covering all areas of living a healthy and happy lifestyle,
from healthy hearts to understanding health plans and everything in between.
Each episode will provide you with a better understanding of
managing your health, preventative care, and staying on the right
path for your family's wellness journey. The Covering Your Health
(02:25):
Podcast is presented by i EhP. Now your host Evelina Revez.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
All right, and we're going to get going.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Well, let me welcome Malika and Reagan to the show.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Hi there, ladies, Hi so happy to have you both. Hi.
So we're going to start things off about you.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You both do two completely different types of jobs with
I EhP, but I always like to know a little
bit more about you, So please tell us about yourselves.
How you landed a career in healthcare with IHP.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Maybe we'll start. Let's start with Reagan first.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
I worked in healthcare in a pediatric hospital before working
at IEHP, and I worked I started to help kids.
My son was diagnosed with a chronic illness as while
I was working at the hospital, and so I had
to navigate a lot of managing his chronic illness and
(03:30):
managing resources. And once that happened, I started to see
myself as both the patient's mom, and I was kind of,
you know, going between dual sides. And so IHP had
this wonderful opportunity where they were working with the community
to empower the community, to show them how to navigate resources.
(03:53):
And since I had a little bit of lived experiences
doing that, I was able to join this one wonderful
program where I was able to use some of the resources,
some of the knowledge that I had both working on
the illness to help other families. And so I was
just very thankful to work for IHP. And be able
(04:13):
to help families and my role as a community health worker.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
So let me get that clear. So you were already
working with IHP when your son developed his chronic illness.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
No, so I was working I wasn't. I was working.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
At the hospital.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, I was hospital.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I was working at a hospital and my son was
diagnosed with chronic illness. And when he once he got
diagnosed with that chronic illness, I worked at that hospital
for years and I found myself helping other families navigate
like some of the resources that I had found myself.
And then I saw this program at IHP that was
(04:54):
doing a lot of what I was doing just in
my own personal time with helping other families navigate resources
in the community. And I found this role community health worker.
I applied for it, and I was able to kind
of transfer some of my lift experiences and some of
the skill set that I had to help other families
in the community navigate their own healthcare.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's so wonderful. I mean, life experience, right is always
I feel like the best experience lived in experience is
so much better than any education you could ever get,
because you really feel it, you know it. It becomes
part of your passion. So oh well, we're so glad
that HP found you. Yeah, that's that's wonderful. And Melica,
(05:41):
tell me your story. Did you always find yourself wanting
to work in healthcare or what?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Tell me?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Okay, so yeah, I've been working in healthcare for over
about fifteen years now, so I always was doing claims building,
you know, with different companies. This last company now was
it was collaborate and they kind of like lost their contracts.
So a bunch of us went over to I.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
E h. They was having like a big job thing
or something whatever. We all went. We got here and
we're stuck. So we here. I. HP is such a
great company. Love I HP.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
Healthcare is always a big thing for me. So you know,
let's where we at.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And you know what, it doesn't matter depending on how
long it takes, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Just do it. Just do it. It doesn't matter how
long it takes.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
That is really wonderful. And an Urn is that's going
to be special. Both my best friends or RNs, so
I feel like I lean on them so hard, become
everybody's phone call. Yes, okay, so both of your stories
are about how breast cancer has really affected your lives
are very different, Malika. You not only lost your father
(07:05):
in twenty sixteen to cancer, but you also just got
a diagnosis and you're currently undergoing chemo. First off, I
want to know how you're feeling, how treatment going. You
seem like such a positive person. I can already feel
your energy. Tell me about that for you.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Okay, So chemo hasn't started as of yet. Okay, so
I had two surgeries. I had two surgeries, right, and
last week I had a partner with the on collogists.
They recommended four cycles of chemo. Right, four cycles of
(07:44):
chemo and then radiation. So tomorrow I go see the
uncologists again to see exactly, to see exactly, you know,
because like I have locked them questions a million. Yeah,
(08:05):
I have like a million questions. I'm like, you know,
I'm like all over the place with the whole thing,
you know. So it's taking a lot of prayer for me,
a lot of just just a lot. So I'm going
to talk to them tomorrow too, you know, because I'm
I'm big on I'm big on second opinions. Me. I'm
(08:25):
just really big on second opinions, Like I just need
to know like before, you know. So that's what I'm
doing because I have a close friend of mine she's
going through that too, breast cancer, so she's going through
it came back, so she's going through chemo and radiation
and it's.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
Just a lot.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
So I know tomorrow you know what what the thing is,
because what I have is very very rare. You know,
it's very rare because I went to the doctor saying
I felt something right. So when I did the surgery,
it was a benign tumor, but it was like a
(09:05):
woolf in sheep clothing. Wow, So the benign tumor, it
was cancer's going inside of that tumor that they took out.
Any ordinary pathologists could very much so look over it.
So I was I thank god that they didn't look
over that they saw it, that they saw it. So
(09:28):
that was my case that they went back in and
took some live noise to see if it you know.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
So that's where I'm at with this right now.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, you you know, Oh God, it's just it's such
a strange place to be and good for you on
you know, feeling doing a self check, knowing that something
didn't feel right. Yes, you know, so often we don't
know how to even do that and oh, well, you know,
maybe I'm just dense.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, you never know.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
It's so good for you that you went in and
did that, and yeah and write all those questions down right,
like every question. I'm all about it, Like go in
there with twenty thousand questions. Yes, that's what it's about. Yeah,
So you seem like a A in a good positive
place though, I mean I don't. I don't know you personally,
but from what I can tell, what is motivating you
(10:23):
right now?
Speaker 5 (10:24):
My kids, my grandkids, my family.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
You know, I have I have a I have a
strong support system, so you know, I try to be
strong for everybody. I try to be you knowbody like
you know they sound like you you positive. I come
out positive to everybody ye time. So I probably get
to myself and you know, do all whatever I need
to do within myself. So I try to remain you know.
(10:52):
So that's why I got so many questions. I'm trying
to be here from my kids, my grandkids, especially now,
and that's just.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Where I'm Yeah, yeah today, and you know what, and
that's okay. It day by day is the way.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Yeah, that's where you are today, and tomorrow may be different,
and the day after that might be better.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
And you never exactly you know.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Oh, well, you're going to be in my thoughts for sure,
I know that. So I hope everything goes better than
expected tomorrow no matter what. Yes, And we'll probably have
to follow up because I want to know.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
I want to know definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Reagan with you, you're currently working in the community with
one special woman who was just diagnosed with breast cancer.
Can you tell me a little bit about her story
and the work that you're doing to support her during
this time.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Yeah, Well, one of the things that working with this member,
it's really been difficult for her and her journey because
she doesn't have a lot of support and she doesn't
have a lot of people that she can rely on.
And even when you do have a lot of people
(12:07):
that you can rely on, I mean a lot of
the times, you know, you don't want to burden other
people with what you're going through. And so I am
just so thankful to be able to be in this
position where in our department, on our team, which is
in hand Caramounment, we provide that one on one support.
(12:31):
I provide that one on one support to her to
help her navigate all of the doctor's appointed to navigate
and what to do, what type of questions that you
can ask the doctor. So a lot of the So
I'll go back and tell you a little bit about
this member. Like you, Malika, she advocated for herself. She
(12:54):
found something and she immediately went to the doctor and said,
this doesn't feel right and this is strain. Got went
through immediate scans, and sometimes you have you know, you
go to the doctor's office and they don't always listen
to what it is that you're feeling because if it's
something benign and they see the scans, they won't move
(13:15):
forward with it. So we were able to I was
already working with her before she received the diagnosis, and
just her saying, hey, Reagan, I'm feeling something. This is strange,
helped her to schedule an appointment. And now she's currently
in radiation. Like you, Malika, she has her grandkids, she
(13:39):
has her daughters that she's and her son who she's
you know, doing it all for, and she also is
navigating grief. She lost her mom to cancer as well,
and so that is really difficult. So some of the
things that we've been able to do. On the team
that I work with, which is an hands care management
(14:01):
we kind of sort through all of those social determinants,
the things that become barriers, so like transportation, getting access
to fresh foods, dealing with housing issues, because when you
have this diagnosis, or you have a diagnosis of anything,
the background still goes right, like you still have to work,
(14:23):
you still have to pick up and you know, find
find find whatever research that you possibly can. So I
get a waitful person who helps her find the resources
a way forward. We've yeah, we've linked her to therapy,
We've looked at some local resources like Community Action Partnership
(14:48):
for utility assistance aside from scheduling appointments, even gone as
far as getting a letter from her doctor so that
way she can keep her water and your utilities on
all of those things. That just kind of being that
support person so then that way she can deal with
(15:12):
the diagnosis has been I'm so thankful that I get
to work alongside her and be that person to support
her in that way.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Wow there, Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You know, there's so many things you said there that
I don't even think I would have thought about. You
know you're you are really like her. Okay, so you're
really like her road map.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, you're a tool for her.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I mean, but a loving, carrying human tool, you know
that can help her navigate this road thing she probably
wouldn't ever think about. Okay, now we're in this point,
let's make sure your mental well being is okay.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Let's also make.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Sure that you're stay on I mean, what healthcare plan
does that? I mean, I don't know what that does that,
but that is yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
And one of yeah, and one of the things that
I get to do is meet with her in person too,
because I think that face to face, you know, a
lot of the times a lot of service delivery. I mean,
if you're not going to the doctor and having that
face to face within ten to fifteen minutes, what about
all of the other supports that you need. So I
(16:29):
get to meet with her face to face outside.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Of her work.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Because she's still has scure and help her apply for
some of the resources. So we've applied for Social Security disability,
and while she's working, I'm in the background researching some
of the resourceful to her, so that way she can
(16:56):
have a peace of mind and still do all of
the things that she needs to do while focusing on
her diagnosis while I'm you know, right there in her
corner kind of helping her along.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Reagan, let me ask you a question. How many patients
do you work with?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Yeah, so I work with the caseload of about twenty five.
And it kind of the way that it's set up
is we have, you know, some tears that are everyone is,
you know, vulnerable, but at the same time we get
to tier them where we have our tier ones, Tier twos,
and tier three. So it kind of allows me to
focus on the ones who have the most needs and
(17:38):
kind of going in and out of figuring out how
we can you know, deliver care where it's equitable to everybody.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Wow, oh my gosh, I am like blown away. I'm
blown away by all of those things.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And so IHP clearly known for health plan being a
health plan with a heart, and I mean I'm seeing
it in action, like right now, just talking to you ladies.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
How do your roles?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I feel like, Reagan, you kind of already touched on this,
but oh yes, how do your roles play into the
health plans that mission?
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I think like Reagan, I feel like, really, your whole mission.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
She's She's the whole mission, the whole mission.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Malika, how do you feel like yours also plays into
that role, into the mission of IHP.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Because you know, I stay positive and I also empathize
in like Reagan, I you know, I go to therapy.
I've been going to therapy or since my dad passed
so eight years now. It helps me, I would say,
I mean because I still feel the same as if
(18:49):
my dad died yesterday. I still feel exactly the same.
But it helps me to cope. You know, it helps
me to cope. And I'm always helping others. Like I'm
always there for everybody, you know, right, well, you need
to let us be there for you. I'm like, I
got I'm always like I'm too, I'm cool, I got this,
(19:11):
you know.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Just you know, it's so there's so many and it's
so funny. I've been doing this podcast for a full
year now, just about and I learned something new about
my HV, like every single episode, like wait, that's a thing.
That's a thing too, and and what they do for
the community. It's just it's just amazing. It really truly
(19:33):
blows me away, like I can't believe it. And now
that I'm meeting to very special people within this company.
I just know there's a lot of people wonderful, wonderful
like you who are doing I mean, I don't know
if you're religious, but like the like the Lord's work.
Speaker 6 (19:47):
I mean I really really, you know, it's like I
sent to the lect I'm serious. That's that's just how
God works. Religious, That's how God works, and he puts
you in the right place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And really, because your story too, Reagan, like, because you
had that personal experience of being a mother and also
navigating illness and trying to figure out the best resources,
you take it personal. And I think that is what
is missing in so many and insurance plans. Yeah, healthcare
(20:25):
is in a lot of cases they are not taking
it personal, like the patient.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Is thank you. Oh And I was already a passionate person.
And so you're right, Evelyn, like I do take it personal.
I mean, there's a lot of times there's a lot
of roadblocks, there's a lot of barriers where people can
just get lost in trying to navigate the system of
health care and community. So being able to like bridge
(20:53):
that gap and being the person in the middle that
can kind of like Untie those knots for them, and
because I've had experience doing it, I mean, you know,
I'm thankful and IHP offers just a lot of other
resources that I get to tap into. So I'm thankful
to have that right here, because a lot of the times,
(21:13):
you know, it's really hard just trying to get those resources.
And so it's like, well, we offer, oh you don't
have a right to your doctor's appointment, we offer transportation,
Oh you need food, guess what at the park there's
going to be a food giveaway in our city. And
a lot of the times people don't know about those resources.
And that's what helps me to that's where my heart is.
(21:37):
And so I feel like, you know, a lot of
the times we and Malika I can already tell like
where your heart is at. And so a lot of
the times I'm thankful that I get to work with
like minded people. On my team. We have a behavioral
health person, we have an RN, we have a care coordinator,
(21:58):
we have another HL, so we rely on each other.
We nicknamed our team the care Bear team, so where
we get to put in our hearts and put on
our lights and we get to just work together so
it's people helping people, it's community support, and I'm just
so so super duper thankful to be able to provide
(22:21):
that because where the heart is, it's the compassion, right,
and so then working with other people who also have
that compassion, and then we're just kind of spreading it
out to the community. That's where my role comes in.
And I'm just very very thankful that I get to
do this.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, you can tell you're passionate about it. It's so
beautiful and I love your unit name, the.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Care Bear Team perfectly fits it really does. It perfectly fits.
So let's talk really quickly about education.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
We know education is key to basically any diagnosis, right, it's.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
The more you know, the more you know.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Why is it so important that women and men get
screened for breast cancer?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Let's talk about that.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
I feel it's very much important to get screened because
if you hold off on it, the more the more aggressive.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
It get it for that's the risk I saw it.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Yeah, I have seen it happen before, you know, So
it's very important to get checked up, check yourself if
you feel anything.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
If I feel an.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
Itch, I'm telling the doctor because I need to know
what's going on.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
You have to just get your checkups. It's very important to.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Do that because if I would have just not did it,
like it's just it's not hurting me now, if I
would have waited, then Lord knows what would have happened.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
So I mean, I feel like, you know, the other
part of that is making sure you know your family
history so that you know how right, so you know
how early to start getting these screenings.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I mean, I know when I was I think I.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Was thirty eight, my doctor was like, why don't we
just start getting you screened? And then you know, I
was like, okay, yeah, but I am I back of
my mind, I was like I'm not at risk. I'm
like I'm fine. I just didn't you know, I didn't
even think about it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
So I did go when I was forty and it
was COVID.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Time and and I and I went, you know what, no, no, no, no,
Like I'm not putting this off anymore. My mother maybe
didn't ever have breast cancer. But I was like, you know,
it doesn't mean it isn't going to happen with me.
I like I need to now go. And also for me,
it was setting an example, for my children. So I
have two daughters, I have a son, two daughters, and
I wanted them to see, like, mommy's getting screened because
(24:56):
mommy wants to stay healthy. Mommy wants to find us
right away right. First time, no issues. Second screening, had
an abnormality, came back a little nervous, but everything was
fine and that and that's the whole thing. I think
why people sometimes put it off because they're so afraid.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Of the unknown and the and the callback.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Right.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Hey, so we just want to double check something, yo,
Let that. Let let them triple check it. I have
a friend who shared her story with me once about
when she was diagnosed, and thankfully she was diagnosed very
early in.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Her cancer journey.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
But she said, she said to me, she goes, I
knew all my life. It wasn't a matter of if
it was when. And she said, and I knew that
because my mom had it, my my aunt had it.
And she's like, and my grandmother, she goes, I just
knew I was gonna have it, like and she and
I go, gosh, it's like, it's such a scary way
(26:00):
to live, right, And yes, but she's like, but it
was an empowering way to live because I was always like, nope,
I'm gonna go get checked soon as it's time.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I'm getting checked. When can I get checked?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
And she just kept on top of it very young,
and sure enough, when they did screen her, they found it,
and they found it very very early, and her diagnosis,
her prognosis was very positive because they knew they could
get rid of what they needed to.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yes, you know, so.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
That's important too, because you know, having that conversation, like
the education piece of it, because she shared with you,
you were also mindful if that was something that you
were going to have to do, you know, at some
point in your life. And so I feel like that's why,
you know, we think of education as like just you know,
a really you know, go look up all of the statistics.
But you're right, just having the conversations that's important because
(26:54):
when you do that, you share, and then it's mindful
to other women around you. And so her what she
already knew about herself, she just kind of put that
out there and shared with you, and then you knew
what you needed to do. And I wonder how many
conversations you've had with people where that puts that in
the forefront of their mind that that was something that
they needed to do as well.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, you're right, No, you're totally right about that, because
once you have that conversation, it's never it doesn't leave you.
Those are powerful conversations, and those are the kinds of
things that you always like have like, Okay, well I'm
now approaching my forties and I haven't had any of
those health scares. I probably should be like on top
of that, you know, she was forty and I you know,
I think of then you start hearing numbers, right, and
(27:34):
you're like, oh, she was this age or she was Okay,
well I'm at that age now. Yeah, and it is
it's it's absolutely every time. And I feel like there's
this like tree of knowledge that that is shared by
word of mouth, right, So that is that's another powerful tool,
and sometimes it's the most powerful tool because when it's
(27:55):
a friend telling you, you take it a lot more
serious than when it's somebody random that you don't know.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Yeah, and IHP, we send out like you know, at forty,
that's when you get your screenings and so at that time,
if you're getting the reminders or you're getting the doctor's
appointments or the doctor is saying okay, you're forty, it's
time for your mammogram. Then you just know, okay, yep,
that's here, better go, yea.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
So let me let's talk about the access to resources
and also access to breast cancer education through IEHP.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Where can people go?
Speaker 4 (28:34):
So we have community resource centers that are located throughout
the Inland Empire. So we have sam Brand, you know,
we have Rancho Cucamonga, and we have Riverside and every
month there's a calendar of different events that we have.
And so one of the best ways to start with
just educational community wellness programs is looking at the community
(28:55):
resource centers and seeing what educational programs that they offer.
So I know, for the month of October we have
food demos, we even have free mammograms that are happening
at some of the sites. And then also calling member
services and asking about some of the educational programs and
getting connected also to a community health worker like myself,
(29:17):
just asking what programs are out there, because we can
also lead you to those resources.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
That's key. Just ask.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I feel you know a lot of people are always
gun shopping, right like ye just ask, just.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Ask don't be afraid to ask.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
There really are no stupid questions, like just go and
ask where's this resource Google? You know, I hp dot
org and go there and there's an endless there's endless talk.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It's great.
Speaker 6 (29:49):
I send my kids and my mom to we go
to the I live in Victorville, so they always are there,
the one Victor because they always have something.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
And it's open to the public. So this is what's
so cool about it. You don't have to be a
member for some of these services.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Right I know. I send people, I mean all of
the time just to ask the questions too, like when
am I supposed to what key greetings am I supposed
to have? And at what ages? Because again that's you know,
the education is the empowerment piece to just being proactive
with your health.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Education gives yep, yep, oh maness.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
So is there something that you've learned about navigating your
breast cancer experience or an inspiring story or quote that
you wish that our listeners would would take from them.
Malika will start with you, because I know you're in
You're in it now, you're kind of you're kind of
in the thick of it right now, trying to navigate this.
(30:54):
What is there something that has kept you inspired beside
your family?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Is there a quote you've read? Is there something you've
learned that has done that for you?
Speaker 6 (31:05):
I need to stay up for Google. I think I'm
always giggling. I'm always on TikTok, reading all types of stuff.
You know, I would just say, stand on top of
your health for me. I just just want I just
(31:25):
like want everybody to just check your health because if
you don't, because all the stories I read it is
something about I should have went to the doctor or
I didn't check this. I thought this was something and
it was I thought it was nothing and it was something.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
So right now I'm just I'm still learning too. Yeah,
I'm still learning too, you know.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
So I'm still.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
I'm learning, Like just now today in this meeting, I
learned so much from breaking in just this little time.
I'm still learning. So I would say education is definitely
the case.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Yeah, and Reagan, any inspiring quotes that you share with
your patients that you work with in your and your caseload.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You know, I always tell people I don't have an
inspiring quote, but I always tell people to lean in
and get the support because there's always someone out there
that is willing to, you know, be by your side.
I think a lot of times we like to do
things alone. Are just kind of like to be in
it alone and you don't have to be. One of
the best ways that we meet our goals is just
(32:35):
with community. I'm already like, Malika, you have a friend
in me. I've already got so many different like oh,
just for wellness and like walks and going to Mount Rubideaux.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
I did that a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I didn't go to the walk this year. I did not,
and I wish I would have, because I wish I
would have. I just feel like I just like being
around people and like meeting a lot of different people
and hearing different stories. One of the other things that
I would say too is having the conversation. Just in
(33:11):
this journey of working with this member, I learned that
one of my coworkers had a mom who was going
through who had already gone through the Best Bread Canster
journey and got to ring her bill and when she
was done with all of her treatments in twenty twenty one,
and so there's hopeful stories out there, and yeah, absolutely,
(33:32):
and I feel like that, you know, having that conversation
and her sharing that with me, then it just made
me want to go harder in the fight for this,
for our member and just for the you know, for
every everyone around me. So we just need to have
the conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, great advice, great advice.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Okay, So I feel like we did come up with
some really great takeaways already right here.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Oh yeah, those are pretty good takeaways. Yeah, but yeah,
that's okay, those are great takeaways.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
But if there's anything that you'd love to add I
always ask at the very end of the podcast, what
are the three key takeaways that you hope people will
leave this conversation we're having with that they'll take home
with them. And I feel like obviously, like you said,
leaning in is a great that's a great takeaway. Lean
in and get that support, that's a great takeaway. I
(34:28):
mean that's when I'm gonna for sure take away. What
else do you have for us?
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Yeah, lean in for the support, stay educated, of course
educated they educated, And yeah, act for resources, acts questions.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
Get screened, get screened early, don't miss your mammograms, please
get screened early, and lean in. Again, I always say
lean in, butuition of if you if you feel something
that is happening in your body, just have the conversation
with your doctor. Ask the questions. Ask doctors questions. I
(35:10):
always tell people to, you know, when you're in your
doctor's appointments, to prep for it, go in with five
questions that you have to ask your doctors five questions
because a lot of the times we go in and
we could quickly forget what we want to talk to
the doctor about, and then we leave and we say, oh,
I completely forgot, and then you know, it's like, oh, well,
(35:30):
you have to make another appointment, which will then delay.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
And that's why I have my ten questions.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Good.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Yeah, prep for your doctor, prep.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
For your doctor.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Yeah, prep for your doctor's appointment. Prepare for it like
you would anything else. So yeah, that's a that's a takeaway.
Get screened, get the education, ask for resources, lean in
for support, and ask for support.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
And yeah, beautiful. Well I can't thank you both enough.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
I feel very, very inspired by this conversation, and I
think this is going to be really important for many
women and men, because men get breast cancer two. And
to just walk away with this and understand you're not alone,
especially you're not alone with IHP, and even if you're
not an IHP member, you know, call and ask questions.
(36:26):
It's not like they're going to tell you well, that's
not the way they function.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
It's about the heart.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
And I do love that about IHP, and I love
that in you both, because obviously you are part of
the heart of the missions. So thank you so much
for joining me. I wish you all the luck in
the world. Malika, Yeah, thank you. Well, I'll be praying
for you and I hope that we get a great,
a great follow up with you soon to learn more
(36:56):
good please do with Christina, who puts this whole podc
US thing together as well. She'll connect us all and
and Reagan thank you, oh my gosh, you've been invaluable,
both of you.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Thank you so so very much.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Thank you, Evelyn, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 4 (37:15):
Yes,
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