Baddie 2 Baddie: Survivor Stories: Triumph and Resilience

Welcome to the Baddie 2 Baddie podcast, where we delve into real survivor stories and celebrate the resilience of women of color facing breast cancer.

In this episode, we have Dwan, a 7-year breast cancer survivor, sharing her journey with hosts Tesha. Dwan's initial reluctance to share her cancer journey as an introvert and her struggle with depression post-treatment shed light on the emotional complexities of survivorship. Meanwhile, Tesha opens up about her own hesitations and eventual empowerment to advocate for cancer awareness.

Together, they emphasize the importance of sharing stories, building community, and advocating for better awareness and treatment for women of color. These powerful conversations on resilience, self-advocacy, and finding strength within sisterhood will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.

So, join us as we navigate the highs and lows of the survivor experience, and discover the unexpected joy and empowerment that can emerge from these challenges.

A note about our sponsor, Eli Lily!

Hey Baddies! We want to take a quick minute to shout out to our amazing sponsor, Eli Lilly, for supporting our mission on Baddie 2 Baddie! Because of their generosity, we can keep these important conversations about breast cancer awareness and advocacy going strong for our community of WOC. Big love to Eli Lilly for standing with us!

About our guest Dwan:

Dwan Thomas is a breast cancer survivor in Houston, Texas. Born in Virginia, she moved up and down the east coast, and has lived in Texas on and off since 2005. She is a chemical engineer and has worked for large companies and run small businesses related to oil and gas, industrial service, consumer products and healthcare. She is also a mother to two teenage sons and wife to her college sweetheart.

In 2017, she was diagnosed with late-stage 2, invasive ductal, HER2-negative, estrogen-positive breast cancer at age 36. At MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dwan underwent 6 months of chemotherapy, 4 weeks of radiation, 4 surgeries and 3 months of physical therapy. The time from diagnosis to the last PT session was about 3 years, with 9 months of active treatment.

In the beginning, she relied on a small circle of family and friends. Then in late summer 2017, her cancer treatment and general way of life took a turn. She had just started the second, much tougher chemo regimen and was still trying to go full speed with work, kids, etc. Her body shut down, and she ended up in the ER and hospital for observation. Meanwhile, Hurricane Harvey was headed towards Houston. Ultimately, her home, belongings and children’s school were destroyed in the catastrophic flood. At that point, she had no choice but to let God move an extended village into her life. Family, friends, coworkers and community near and far rallied to help pull through the remaining cancer treatment and year-long recovery from the flood.

Today, Dwan fundraises and advocates for cancer resources (education, research, prevention, access to treatment, etc.). She is a Thriver for The V Foundation for Cancer Research and a member of the Advance Team (volunteer board) at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

About For the Breast of Us

For the Breast of Us is the first inclusive community dedicated to supporting women of color affected by breast cancer. Our mission is to amplify the voices, experiences, and needs of this diverse community by providing resources, support, and education tailored to their unique challenges. Each episode of our podcast delves into topics that range from personal survivor stories and expert health insights to advocacy efforts and wellness strategies, all designed to empower and uplift. Join us as we build a vibrant network of support and transform the narrative of breast cancer survivorship for women of color.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

• IG & Threads: @forthebreastofus