109: Cryoablation, Patient Choice, and the Future of Breast Cancer with Dr. Hania Bednarski

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons welcomes Dr. Hania Bednarski, a breast surgeon pioneering cryoablation as an alternative to conventional breast cancer surgery.

For decades, breast cancer treatment has changed little—yet Dr. Bednarski is forging a new path, reducing trauma while preserving women’s wholeness. She shares her journey from trauma and hand surgery into breast care, and ultimately into cryoablation. Together, she and Dr. Jenn explore why this approach matters, how it’s performed, and what it means for the future of breast cancer care.

The conversation challenges assumptions about mammograms, chemotherapy, lymph node surgery, and hormones. Both physicians stress the importance of autonomy, personalized treatment, and a future where patient choice—not rigid protocols—guides care.

This episode is essential for women navigating breast health, practitioners curious about new frontiers, and anyone passionate about transforming medicine from invasive to empowering.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Dr. Bednarski’s career led her to cryoablation
• Why conventional surgery can cause lasting trauma
• What cryoablation is, how it works, and who it helps
• Why informed consent and patient choice matter
• The pitfalls of mammograms and over-diagnosis
• How cryoablation may engage the immune system
• Why lymph node surgery is diagnostic—not curative
• The truth about estrogen and breast cancer risk
• How financial incentives block innovation

💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 Intro & why treatment hasn’t changed
 02:30 Dr. Bednarski’s early career & pivot to breast surgery
 07:40 Learning from the patient perspective
 12:00 Training, conferences, and discovering cryoablation
 18:20 From benign tumors to cancer treatment
 22:45 Expanding cryoablation to more patients
 25:00 Why chemo and radiation aren’t always needed
 27:50 Rethinking screening and autonomy
 36:00 The challenge of DCIS and over-diagnosis
 45:15 Who qualifies—and who doesn’t—for cryo
 50:00 Stage 4 disease, the immune system, and the abscopal effect
 56:45 Estrogen, hormones, and cancer myths
 59:00 Why many physicians resist cryo
 01:00:54 Trials, FDA approval, and barriers to adoption
 01:05:10 The role of surgeon societies & politics
 01:12:16 Imaging, MRI vs QT, and cryo follow-up
 01:16:54 The emotional impact of preserving the breast
 01:19:16 How to find Dr. Bednarski and Serenity Surgery & Wellness

To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit:
https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK

To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide

To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.

Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons