Terri Coutee, founder and CEO of the DiepCFoundation, is a two time breast cancer survivor who is relentless in her efforts to ensure that both women and men are educated and equipped to make post-mastectomy reconstruction decisions. Terri joined us to discuss her role as a Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Affiliate.

Ben Ho Park, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and associate director for Research Training and Education and associate director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. 

Dr. Park is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and he leads a research program using genetic approaches for developing new diagnostics and therapies for breast cancer.  More recently, his laboratory has been focused on developing circulating plasma tumor DNA for individualized therapies in early stage breast cancer. 

Dr. Park received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins in 2002.

Minas Chrysopoulo, MD of PRMA Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, TX, a specialist in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction.

Dr. C  has been named one of America’s Top Surgeons and is routinely featured in the media for his contributions in the field of breast reconstruction.Dr. C has dedicated his professional life to advocating for breast cancer patients. He strongly believes that shared decision making between the physician and patient is crucial in achieving the best results and has built his practice on this philosophy.

Amy Black of Amy Black Tattooing & Pink Ink Fund

Amy Black , an award winning tattoo artist based in Richmond, VA is absolutely inspiring as she uses her art to nurture the healing process faced by men and women as they seek to embrace themselves post mastectomy. Amy has played a critical role in the reconstruction process serving clients from the United States and around the world.

Amy realized that #CancerCosts impact everyone, particularly when it comes to post mastectomy reconstruction. As a result, she founded a not-for-profit, the Pink Ink Fund in 2011, to provide financial assistance.  Amy is committed to educating individuals affected by breast cancer, future technicians, and the medical community regarding nipple and areola tattooing. You can visit Amy’s Gallery here .

Terri Coutee and Diep Flap Breast Reconstruction

Terri Coutee is a 2x Breast Cancer Survivor, Founder/Director of 501(c)(3), and an Educator for Breast Reconstruction Options. Her blog, DiepCJourney: Reconstructing A Purposeful Life explores the world of cancer advocacy, survivorship and education. Her foundation, DiepCJourney Foundation, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing education and resources to empower women and men with information to make an informed decision about options for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

For anyone facing breast reconstruction–or anyone with a friend or loved one in this position–this is a must watch.

Theodora Ross, MD, PhD: A First Hand Look at Cancer and Genetics

Dr. Ross directs UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Cancer Genetics Program, which sees more than 2,000 patients every year. Her book, A Cancer in the Family: Take Control of Your Genetic Inheritance, tells her own story confronting one’s genetic heritage and the power that that knowledge can bring.  A must read and a must watch!

Does a Virus Cause Breast Cancer?  with Kathleen Ruddy, MD

Dr. Ruddy looks at the global research for a vaccine to PREVENT breast cancer and the American for-profit medical system’s lagged response. Her book, Of Mice and Women traces the political history of breast cancer vaccine research, how it’s been side tracked, and the promise it holds.

A 2017 update:

Don’t Ignore Stage 4

#AllThingsCancer Co-Host Michael Kovarik leads the discussion of stage 4 breast cancer and the need for research for both men and women.

Single With Cancer?

Cancer is challenging for everyone, but what if you’re single? Tracy Maxwell, author, coach and cancer survivor takes a look at coping with cancer as a single person.

Advocating for What You Need

Beth Caldwell is a wife and mom, a former civil rights attorney, and a metastatic breast cancer activist. Beth is also a founding member of MetUp, an activist community committed improving the lives of women and men living with metastatic breast cancer through direct action.

Beth lives with metastatic breast cancer, a diagnosis that carries a 33 month average survival rate which makes it a terminal disease. Beth is currently challenging a decision by her insurance company to deny her access to a drug cocktail that has shown great promise in clinical trials given the characteristics of her disease. She joins us to discuss what led her to this point and the many ways that #CancerCosts along with the current state of MetUp activity.

Leslie R. Schover, PhD, is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist specializing in sexual problems and infertility related to cancer treatment and other chronic illnesses. In 2016 she received the Holland Distinguished Leadership Award from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field. Her PhD research in clinical psychology at UCLA was supported by a Woodrow Wilson Research Grant in Women’s Studies. Her specialty training continued as a postdoctoral fellow in sex therapy and research at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She became an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1982, doing clinical work and research on cancer and sexuality. From 1986 to 1999 she was a Staff Psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, returning to MD Anderson in 1999 where she continued to create and evaluate innovative treatment programs until she retired in early 2016 from her position as Professor of Behavioral Science. She now devotes her full time to Will2Love empowering cancer survivors and their loved ones with expert guidance on the journey to sexual wellness and parenthood.