Written by Annie Cavalier, MS, RDN, LD Many cancer patients are, understandably, very concerned about the food that they put into their bodies and how it affects their prognosis. Misinformation and a lack of clear guidelines on these topics only add to these anxieties. A question that commonly comes up when talking about cancer and nutrition is whether sugar feeds cancer cells. In this article, we will talk about the basics of how carbohydrates are metabolized and how this relates to cancer, as well as what that means for how you should be eating during your cancer treatment. Spoiler alert: As ..read more

One year after sharing her story of being diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer at the age of 36, Gigi is back with an update. Gigi recently shared with us the milestones she has accomplished since her diagnosis and how hope and her faith have been vital parts of her recovery. Read Gigi’s first blog post, Breast Cancer at 36: Conquering Fear with Hope and Community. A huge milestone achieved While Gigi was undergoing treatment for her breast cancer, she managed to attend college and eventually graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Gigi shares how th ..read more

Some breast cancer patients compare their experience of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care to a rollercoaster ride. For Trisha, who was visiting a local theme park on her 36th birthday in 2022, it was more of a whirlwind spin.  Trisha was riding the spinning teacups with her 8-year-old son, Ethan, when she got the call from her doctor: It was Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma with spread to the lymph nodes. Like the teacup ride she was on, Trisha’s head began spinning. “I could not believe what my doctor was telling me,” Trisha said. Trisha’s husband, Mike, remembers the same dizzy ..read more

March is Women’s History Month and is a time to reflect on and celebrate the women who have played and continue to play pivotal roles in American history and society. From leading advancements in science, the arts, societal change, medicine, and beyond, women have been vital forces in making America what it is today.  For a disease that affects 1 in 8 women in the United States, it is no surprise that women have been fundamental trailblazers in breast cancer study, research, support, and advocacy. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate these women and the many more who have contributed ..read more

By Lillie Shockney, RN., BS., MAS, HON-ONN-CG Palliative care can be a very valuable tool in an advanced cancer patient’s life. But palliative care is often misunderstood and even feared by patients, their caregivers, and their loved ones. Here is what you need to know when considering palliative care if you or a loved one has a serious illness, such as advanced-stage cancer. Palliative care explained Sometimes called “supportive care,” palliative care does not replace a patient’s primary treatment. Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on the management of symptoms or side ..read more

Q&A with Breast Health Expert, Lillie Shockney, RN., BS., MAS, HON-ONN-CG When you are deemed a “breast cancer survivor,” most people will expect you to feel pure joy, relief, and gratitude. However, these emotions are often drowned out with other feelings, including worry, anxiety, and sadness, which are all normal. While your physical health as a breast cancer survivor is clearly important, your emotional health also matters. To support your holistic wellness, two-time breast cancer survivor, former Director of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center, nurse, and NBCF medical expert Lillie Shockn ..read more

Written by Annie Cavalier, MS, RDN, LD Eating seasonally is by no means a new concept (it was the only option available before mass transportation of food became a thing), but it has recently regained so much popularity that you can find many restaurants around the country using phrases like “seasonal menus” and “farm to table” in their marketing. But what exactly is seasonal eating, and is it something you should be doing? Seasonal eating is exactly what it sounds like – eating foods that are in season. Different foods grow better in different times of the year, therefore affecting its peak h ..read more

Q&A with Breast Cancer Survivor & Everviolet Founder Keira Kotler Keira Kotler, a San Francisco-based visual artist and marketing professional, was shocked when her world was rocked by a breast cancer diagnosis at age 40. After her bilateral mastectomy, Keira was even more shocked to realize that one of the greatest obstacles she faced was her inability to find comfortable, supportive—and beautiful—garments to wear to facilitate her healing journey. After speaking with other breast cancer patients and survivors who shared that they, too, struggled to find functional, comfortable, and ..read more

Written by NBCF Chief Program Officer, Douglas Feil. All data is current as of June 2023. In 1990, Dr. Harold P. Freeman, a renowned surgeon at Harlem Hospital in NYC, started the first patient navigation program in the United States. After two decades as a surgeon, Dr. Freeman was overwhelmed by the amount of cancer patients diagnosed at late stages when the disease is most deadly and difficult to treat. He knew that many of his patients were dying of diseases like breast cancer that may have been caught earlier if screening techniques such as mammograms were more widely used.  Dr. Freem ..read more

Throughout her breast cancer journey, Bailey wondered again and again, “Why is everyone taking their time?” Waiting for tests, waiting for diagnoses, waiting for surgery, waiting for answers—in the end, the one person who made the most difference was Penny, Bailey’s patient navigator. This is Bailey’s story of finding support—and hope—during the waiting periods that often accompany a breast cancer diagnosis. While vacuuming her living room on an ordinary day in 2021, 27-year-old Bailey of North Branch, MI, felt a shooting pain in her left breast and later found a small lump. As a medical assis ..read more