Jennifer Parrish, Manager of Business Services at the Lighthouse of Houston, joins Dorothy to share her story. Parrish talks about managing work at the Lighthouse of Houston, overcoming transportation issues for treatments, and addressing misconceptions around breast cancer. Despite facing breast cancer, legal blindness, and personal loss, Jennifer's resilience and positive attitude shine. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeks to inspire others through The Lighthouse’s podcast, Si...
May 14, 2026•33 min•Season 4Ep. 489
En este episodio, conversamos con la Dra. Cotes, radióloga experta en salud mamaria, para aclarar muchos de los mitos y preocupaciones comunes que existen sobre la mamografía. Desde la temida radiación hasta los diferentes tipos de exámenes disponibles, la Dra. Cotes nos explica de manera sencilla cómo la mamografía es una herramienta segura y crucial para detectar el cáncer de mama en etapas tempranas. Además, hablamos sobre el impacto de la densidad mamaria y la importancia de los exámenes anu...
May 13, 2026•28 min•Season 4Ep. 488
Being uninsured, speaking a different language, or not understanding a 40-page form should never decide who lives or dies. In this episode, patient navigators Laura Tovar and Elizabeth Esparza walk us through what really happens after an uninsured woman hears “you have breast cancer” at The Rose. They explain how they review applications before diagnosis, sit in the room with the radiologist, and answer the first question they always hear: “How am I going to pay for this?” They also talk about t...
May 12, 2026•31 min•Season 4Ep. 487
Jennifer Pareya's support for The Rose spans more than twenty years and it all started with her mom’s breast cancer experience. Jennifer’s mom, Judy, was diagnosed at The Rose and after beating breast cancer, she insisted on the family giving back. And they’ve done so tenfold. From fundraisers at the Lighthouse Pub to Bikers Against Breast Cancer, they’ve spent many years advocating on behalf of uninsured women in Texas. Now, she champions the adult beverage stand at the iconic Shrimp Boil. But ...
May 07, 2026•15 min•Season 4Ep. 486
Nonprofit leaders dream of someone walking in and saying, “I’m going to give you a million dollars.” Very few ever see it happen. In this episode, a longtime supporter explains why she chose to fund multiple mobile coaches, help open an East Texas Regional Service Center, and seed The Rose’s Mammogram to Medical Home program instead of paying for brick and mortar. She talks about dividing her mother’s unrestricted giving fund among education, medical care, and conservation, and why she looks for...
May 05, 2026•34 min•Season 4Ep. 485
Dorothy sits down with Dr. Wei Yang, a renowned professor and breast radiologist. Dr. Yang emphasizes the significance of mammography, recommending annual screening starting at age 40 for women at average risk. During this conversation, you’ll hear about the benefits of digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) and breast MRI for women at elevated risk, highlighting the positive outcomes associated with early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Dr. Yang underscores the importance of early detecti...
Apr 30, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 484
During this mashup episode, you’ll hear from supporters of Hats and Henna High Tea, a community driven event that celebrates survivors, supports patients, and raises critical funds for The Rose. These are supporters, caregivers, and champions. They talk about mothers and mothers in law facing breast cancer, the sacrifices families make, and the resilience that shows up in hospital rooms, small businesses, and dance floors. Hats and Henna Hight Tea brings culture, art, and local leadership togeth...
Apr 28, 2026•9 min•Season 4Ep. 483
Diagnosed with breast cancer while living a health-conscious lifestyle, Nancy Martch aggressively battled her Stage 3B diagnosis head-on. Now, leveraging her yoga expertise, Nancy empowers others through personalized yoga therapy, blending acceptance and self-awareness into her healing approach. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . Key Questions Answered 1. How did Nancy discover her breast ...
Apr 23, 2026•31 min•Season 4Ep. 482
After losing her mother to de novo metastatic breast cancer, Elise turned grief into long term advocacy and board service at The Rose. She demystifies modern metastatic care, clinical trials, and lifelong treatment while urging women of every age to push for screenings and answers. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . 10 Key Questions Answered 1. How Elise became involved with The Rose board...
Apr 21, 2026•35 min•Season 4Ep. 482
How does one man's dedication to community health reshape cancer prevention efforts in Texas? Carlton Allen's passion for public health and population health, sparked during his academic years, led him to an influential role in the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Through his guidance, CPRIT addresses significant cancer burdens and health disparities statewide. Meanwhile, Allen champions the Texas Cancer Plan as a comprehensive roadmap for continued progress in cancer p...
Apr 16, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 480
En este episodio, la Dra. Cotes, profesora asistente y jefa de la división de imágenes mamarias en UT Health en Houston, comparte su inspiradora historia, desde su Colombia natal hasta convertirse en una destacada radióloga mamaria en los EE.UU., su misión de servir a la comunidad hispana y su transición de The Rose a UT Health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 15, 2026•23 min•Season 4Ep. 479
Diagnosed with DCIS while underinsured and between jobs, Ayanna Wilcher found compassionate biopsy care at The Rose and chose her own path through mastectomy and multiple opinions. Now, she leads survivor work and Rising in Grace, delivering post mastectomy comfort kits and community. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . Key Questions Answered 1. How Ayanna’s life and work shifted in the yea...
Apr 14, 2026•34 min•Season 4Ep. 478
Board Chair Shannon Wiesedeppe carries a deep family history of breast cancer into every decision she helps make at The Rose. From hurricanes and COVID to a Co-Founder and CEO transition, she keeps The Rose focused on access, reimbursement realities, mobile coaches, and identical care for uninsured and insured women. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . Key Questions Answered 1. How Shannon ...
Apr 09, 2026•33 min•Season 4Ep. 477
Interim CEO Katherine Parsley brings decades of courtroom, nonprofit, and judicial experience to The Rose. As a longtime patient and daughter of a survivor, she centers early mammograms, steady leadership, and practical encouragement for a largely women led team in transition. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . Key Questions Answered 1. How did a legal and nonprofit career lead to serving ...
Apr 07, 2026•28 min•Season 4Ep. 476
As the Executive Director of The Jung Center, Dr. Fitzpatrick's not only given the Rose community hope in the darkest of times, such as during the pandemic, but he’s also done so for countless others in the Houston area. During this conversation, Dorothy and Dr. Fitzpatrick talk about past challenges and how they’ve impacted the breast cancer community. He also discusses the need for caregivers to embrace self-care and encourages breast cancer patients to engage in self-acceptance. Additionally,...
Apr 02, 2026•33 min•Season 4Ep. 475
Forty years at The Rose taught our co-founder and CEO Dorothy Gibbons this: you don’t walk away from women, even when the system does. In this farewell episode, Dorothy share the stories that shaped her, why she's stepping back, and why your support and your stories still matter. Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let ’ s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and wherever you get your podcasts . Key Questions Answered 1. How were Dorothy and Dr. Dixie received as two w...
Mar 31, 2026•30 min•Season 4Ep. 474
How does a simple flyer lead a high school student to a life-saving discovery? Monserrat Duron’s decision to perform a self-exam after attending a college fair changed the trajectory of her life. Upon finding a lump, she faced unimaginable challenges due to a lack of insurance. Yet, with the support of The Rose and the steadfast care of Dr. Bonefas, she navigated a grueling journey towards recovery and advocacy. More than a decade after her diagnosis at just 18 years old, Montserrat shares her e...
Mar 26, 2026•40 min•Season 4Ep. 473
Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection. Please consider sharing this episode, or making a donation at therose.org so more women receive breast cancer screening and care. Subscribe to Let ’ s T...
Mar 24, 2026•52 min•Season 4Ep. 472
Samina Farid built her career in oil and gas, founded her own company, and forged ahead in spaces where women are rarely seen. Through it all, she faced cancer twice and found strength that reshaped both her health and her work. - Breaking barriers as the only woman in the room - Building success in a male-dominated industry - Facing cancer two times and turning challenges into purpose Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let ’ s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart , and...
Mar 19, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 471
Dr. Melillo and Dorothy Gibbons started The Rose because they were tired of telling women, “You have cancer, and there’s nowhere for you to go.” Forty years later, they're still in that same fight. In this conversation, Dr. Melillo walks us from those early days of oil‑bust Houston and charity‑hospital waiting lists to today’s harsh reality: we can diagnose, but for too many uninsured and underinsured women, we can’t get them into treatment. She shares her newest dream: a St. Jude‑style breast h...
Mar 17, 2026•37 min•Season 4Ep. 470
Support comes to life at the "Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon," where advocates, survivors, board members, and friends stand shoulder to shoulder for women’s health in the community. In this episode: - Hear from an emcee who connects with women over shared experiences - Meet board members who bring The Rose’s mission to new supporters - Listen to how others are making community care a priority Support The Rose HERE . Subscribe to Let ’ s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts , Spotify ...
Mar 12, 2026•6 min•Season 4Ep. 469
¿Qué es exactamente una mamografía? ¿Duele? ¿Qué pasa cuando llegas? Kathia nos explica el proceso, rompe mitos y comparte por qué muchas mujeres latinas dudan en llamar. Si alguna vez lo ha pospuesto por miedo o falta de información, este episodio es para usted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 11, 2026•4 min•Season 4Ep. 468
Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced Stage 0 DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “Stage 2 HER2‑Positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to move fast on treatment—then turn around and use their experience to champion The Ros...
Mar 10, 2026•34 min•Season 4Ep. 467
Being a doctor has its challenges, but imagine starting out when women weren't always accepted in medicine. Dr. Elizabeth Bonefas built a practice, stood up for her patients, and guided many through tough breast cancer battles. Dr. Bonefas is the Speaker at this year's Everything's Coming Up Roses Luncheon; you don't want to miss this episode! - She helped care for our youngest ever diagnosed breast cancer patient at The Rose (listen to that episode here ) - She saw surgical and health care chan...
Mar 05, 2026•33 min•Season 4Ep. 466
Shelley didn’t see herself as “an honoree.” She saw herself as a working mom in a male‑dominated industry who just wanted to stay ahead of breast cancer. In this conversation, she walks us through the mammogram she almost didn’t get, receiving the news of a Stage 0 DCIS diagnosis, and the 10 years of follow‑up, skin checks, and colonoscopies that followed. Her story reminds us that early detection, asking questions, and having access to care—like the care The Rose offers uninsured and underinsur...
Mar 03, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 465
Road grit meets breast cancer courage in this wild ride from Daytona to Homer that turns one biker into a full‑on breast health champion for his fiance Kathy and uninsured women at The Rose. - Why one long‑distance biker took on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to honor his fiancée Kathy and support uninsured women with breast cancer at The Rose. - The brutal, beautiful 11,000‑mile route from Florida through Hurricane Debby, the Keys, the red rocks, Canada, and into Homer, Alaska—and what those...
Feb 26, 2026•30 min•Season 4Ep. 464
Personal connections the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon . Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigation as the most critical lifelines The Rose offers in vulnerable communities. During this episode, she lays ...
Feb 24, 2026•28 min•Season 4Ep. 463
Why is community support crucial during health crises? In this episode, Dorothy and Nancy Strohmer delve into the significance of showing support and care for others during tough times. Nancy shares her journey through a health crisis, highlighting the importance of receiving support from friends, family, and the community. This experience inspired her mission to help others through awareness and resources. The conversation underscores the role of faith and community in coping during a crisis. D...
Feb 19, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 462
Barriers shape the path to care. Emily Reis describes her role as a community engagement navigator for the Rose, connecting rural and urban communities to breast cancer screening resources. She covers Brazos Valley’s counties, teaches early detection, and works with clinics and facilitators to organize mobile mammogram days. Service relies on partnerships and word of mouth. Please consider sharing this episode, or making a donation at therose.org so more women receive breast cancer screening and...
Feb 17, 2026•32 min•Season 4Ep. 461
How do you respond when a friend faces a diagnosis that changes everything? What does real support look like during breast cancer treatment? In this episode, you’ll hear how friendship, early detection, and self-advocacy made a difference. You’ll also learn about the challenges of treatment, the role of caregivers, and ways communities rally when it’s needed most. - Discover what it takes to face fear and make critical decisions. - Hear two friends describe finding strength and asking for help. ...
Feb 12, 2026•44 min•Season 4Ep. 460
