Pinktober: Navigating the pink money grab
What to look for if you want to do something that will truly support women with breast cancer
Hello and welcome to our second newsletter! I hope you enjoyed the first one. Also, have you checked out season 2 of the podcast? Don’t you love listening to Natasha’s beautiful English accent? I truly value getting emails and messages from y’all, and I answer each one personally and honestly care about your journey, struggles and triumphs. Feel free to give any feedback or ask questions by replying to this newsletter or DM me on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast. We so appreciate you following us and recommending the podcast to others.
Huge hugs!❣️Kristen
What’s happening 🗞️
🍈🍈 In the first episode of Natasha’s story, we heard how her husband ended their 25-year marriage. Her mom suggested his departure may have been a silver lining which tipped us off to an unpleasant finding:
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance researchers found that couples are 6x more likely to split up when the woman has the cancer diagnosis. Although studies have been done on divorce in cancer patients, the researchers noticed a pattern in their patients and realized no data had existed that examined gender in this issue.
We also noticed this ugly phenomenon trending on TikTok 😳
🍈🍈 We just (this morning!) recorded an interview with none other than Dana Donofree, founder and CEO of Ana Ono Intimates, to bring you a complete shopping list for surgery. We might have fangirled through the entire recording. Watch for this special episode coming in October.
🍈🍈 Since we’re on the topic of Ana Ono, if you are shopping for new post-surgery bras, pajamas, or loungewear you’re in luck. Use the combo of this link + promo code STORIES15 to get 15% off your purchase and help support our mission.
🍈🍈 Kristen’s chemo toenail finally came off and she can actually walk with less pain. What’s “chemo toe”? Trust us, don’t Google it. You’ll know it when you get it.
🍈🍈 Pinktober (aka Breast Cancer Awareness month) is near, and that means the pink money grab is just around the corner. If you want your dollars or time to have a direct impact, avoid causes which just drive awareness and look for local organizations that actually help like Metaviver, Breast Cancer Research Fund, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, The Breasties, and especially your local orgs.
🍈🍈 We’re reading a new book called Flat and Happy: Mastectomy and Flat Closure, a Personal, Practical Guide by Katrin van Dam. This book is not a cancer memoir but instead a guidebook for patients facing a frightening diagnosis and a complicated menu of treatment options. We’ll talk to Katrin on the podcast soon — read it with us and send us your questions to ask her!
🎃🎃 Austin folks! Are you big fans of the Halloween season? Don’t forget to send us an email if you’d like to join the Axis podcast team in volunteering for Scare for a Cure supporting BCRC of Austin.
Our latest episode 🎧
Day 0, Part 2: The Pathologist Never Calls With Good News
As a nurse, it was easy for Natasha to think of all the things the almond-sized lump in her armpit could be other than cancer, so she moved along with her busy life. When she realized it was not going away, her doctor sent her for a mammogram.
Another podcast we ❤️
Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful 👑
On Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful, Host and veteran fashion and beauty publicist Melissa Berry interviews actual experts about health and beauty topics you probably didn’t even know you needed to worry about like bone health, genetics, and teeth. She unapologetically prioritizes looking good to preserve your mental health, even while feeling horrible.
Things Kristen ❤️s Right Now
Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart
“Atlas of the Heart helps define and differentiate emotions. When you can name them, you can deal with and diffuse them. This has helped me with all the emotions that come simultaneously with cancer.” -Kristen
Thank You
🙏 Thank you to R.S. in Houston who sent us this note: “I am 39 years old, recently diagnosed and about to have my DMX with reconstruction, or demo and rebuild as Kristen says! I have listened to every episode at least twice and I can’t thank you enough! I have learned so much and feel so empowered. Whatever my future holds I feel ready, because of this podcast. I love that your mission is to promote more imaging in addition to the stupid mammogram. I have extremely dense breast tissue and a family history so I was recommended MRI and that is what caught my cancer - not the mammogram! Thank you for bringing important info to those who need it and for being a bright light! Xoxoxox”.
🙏 Thank you for following along with both Kristen and Natasha’s stories. Keep on listening as we aim to be a resource for you wherever you are in your journey.