Do angels really exist? According to Vanessa Jackson, indeed they do and hers helped her survive breast cancer and domestic violence. From the safety of a shelter, and uninsured, she faced a diagnosis and treatment, but despite the worst of circumstances, Vanessa Jackson’s spirit remained unbroken. And today, we hear her story. Vanessa shares the hurdles she encountered and the support she received from The Rose and Angels Surviving Cancer. Throughout her experience, Vanessa was guided by her as...
Apr 16, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 224
Aeliya Jaffar’s story is both harrowing and inspiring. She’s a former pharmacist who was diagnosed with breast cancer one year postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic. As if that’s not enough heartache, her paternal grandmother passed away. During this episode, Aeliya gets candid about her struggles, her triumphs, and she shares her story with an unflinching attitude of strength and heroism with a touch of humor. Help us grow the show by leaving a review on your podcast platform and sharing with...
Apr 11, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 223
In this inspiring episode, Chantel Williams takes us on a remarkable journey, sharing her background as a military brat and her transition from logistics to finance. She candidly discusses how she and her husband took the leap and purchased the AFP Group, embarking on a new chapter as financial advisors. Chantel's involvement with the Junior League of Houston is a testament to her commitment to community service. As the outside board representative for The Rose, she offers a unique perspective, ...
Apr 09, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 222
Jessica Duckworth is The Rose's Chief Operating Officer and mammographer. As the world began to shut down at the beginning of 2020, Jessica found a lump in her breast. In an effort to care for The Rose's patients, she put off screening and went full throttle, making sure they were cared for. As you might have predicted, this didn't bode well. Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer. During this episode, you'll hear about her two year journey. And why it's important to listen to your body. Learn...
Apr 04, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 221
In this eye-opening episode, CEO and co-founder of The Rose, Dorothy Gibbons, sheds light on the alarming rise of breast cancer diagnoses among young women, particularly those who were pregnant or had given birth within the past five years. She shares real life stories of The Rose’s patients and the consequences young women face. Being pregnant or a new mother has enough challenges but that’s when it is more important than ever for women to remain vigilant and never ignore any new or persistent ...
Apr 03, 2024•7 min•Season 2Ep. 220
An afternoon of yard work changed her life. Uninsured and discovering she had breast cancer, 37-year-old Ana Henriquez talks about her challenges and what it took to survive. With raw honesty, she dives into the emotional toll of losing her hair, saying goodbye to her breasts, and the unwavering love and encouragement she received from her husband and family. Ana emphasizes the critical importance of self-examination and urges all women to listen to their bodies, heeding the subtle signs that co...
Apr 02, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 219
Crowd favorite Dr. Raz joins Dorothy for a new spinoff series called “Mammograms and More.” During this conversation, Dr. Raz sheds light on the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer early. He gets granular by explaining what a mammogram is and why it’s important to have one every year. Changing guidelines have left many women confused over the year, and Dr. Raz’s insights clear the air. He emphasizes the need for consistency and punctuality in mammogram screenings to catch cancer ...
Mar 28, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 218
What happens when your best friend has breast cancer, and that best friend happens to be your mother? Today, you’ll hear the story of Matt Wallace. Matt’s a writer and healthcare IT professional. He’s also the son of The Rose’s COO Jessica Duckworth, who was featured in episode twelve of season one. He opens up about the balance of supporting his mother through her treatment while managing his own emotional journey. He sheds light on the significance of being present for loved ones, not just in ...
Mar 26, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 217
This Women's History Month, The Rose celebrates trailblazers within the breast cancer community. Chris Noble retired and embarked on every retiree's dream. She traveled the world and had a blast. But then she got bored. So she got involved with The Rose and formed lifelong friendships. All while advocating for breast health in the Black community. Learn more about what The Rose does throughout the Greater Houston area at therose.org . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 21, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 216
This Women's History Month, The Rose celebrates trailblazers within the breast cancer community. Waitresses and restaurant workers throughout the city struggle to access basic healthcare. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re reminded of Dr. Lori Choi, a woman fighting for change. As the founder of I'll Have What She's Having , an organization dedicated to improving healthcare access for those in the restaurant industry, she provides unique insight as to why we need improved public policy...
Mar 19, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 215
This Women's History Month, The Rose celebrates trailblazers within the breast cancer community. What can we do to feed ourselves better food so we can live our best lives? Dr. Dixie Melillo joins Dorothy to answer that question, and others. And these are hard truths we all need to hear. She and Dorothy talk about nutrition as it pertains to not only cancer, but to overall health. The conversation also shines a spotlight on the healthcare system’s biggest issues, the role of processed foods, and...
Mar 14, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 214
To say Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick helped The Rose navigate the pandemic would be an understatement. As the Executive Director of The Jung Center, he’s not only given our community hope in the darkest of times, but he’s also done so for countless others in the Houston area. During this conversation, Dorothy and Dr. Fitzpatrick talk about the past four years and how they’ve impacted the breast cancer community. He’ll talk about the need for caregivers to embrace self-care and encourages breast cancer pa...
Mar 12, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 213
Gone are the days of putting ourselves last. As the battle against breast cancer continues, we, women, must prioritize our health. After all, if we don’t have health, we literally can’t care for the most important people in our lives. Making self-care essential starts today. And it must continue tomorrow, and all the days that follow. The purpose of this podcast shines a light on the importance of self-care and wellbeing and how the two go hand in hand. You’ll hear from a variety of guests with ...
Mar 07, 2024•5 min•Season 2Ep. 212
This Women's History Month, The Rose celebrates trailblazers within the breast cancer community. The Rose’s annual Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon happens on March 27th. This year’s honoree is Nancy Craig. Nancy joins Dorothy to discuss her role and share why it’s important to her to spread The Rose’s mission. She shares her personal experience with breast cancer, including early detection and treatment. We couldn’t have found a better advocate than Nancy, and you’ll hear why. The conversa...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 211
In honor of Black History Month, we’ll revisit the story of Lorraine Fox. Breast cancer stole her sister and threatened to take her life as well. But she stood up and fought. Dorothy and Lorraine talk about the grit that helped her navigate a breast cancer diagnosis while raising her two-year old son and five-year old nephew. Years later, Lorraine and her son De’Aaron Fox—a star player for the Sacramento Kings, formed the Fox Whole Family Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting breast ca...
Feb 29, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 210
Peter Remington is a business coach with a passion for paying it forward. But it was a friend with breast cancer who gave him the title “Chief Possibility Officer.” Years later, he still holds the title. During this conversation, you’ll hear why “Chief Possibility Officer” is a perfect fit for Peter. He and Dorothy talk about percolating vs circulating through life, the importance of intuition, and how to overcome limiting beliefs. Peter also shares how he supported his sister through her breast...
Feb 27, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 209
Black women face a 40% higher risk of breast cancer. Add family history to the mix and still, Kim Roxie refuses to be deterred. In honor of Black History Month, we’ll revisit her story and that of her mother’s. As one of The Rose’s biggest supporters in the black community and the visionary behind LAMIK Beauty, a cosmetics line tailored to women of color featuring vegan, natural, and organic products, Kim's journey epitomizes resilience and empowerment. We’ll talk about the impact of losing her ...
Feb 22, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 208
Booze and Boobs is our largest third party fundraising event. Event organizers Star Hand, who you heard in episode thirty, and Chloe Di Leo raise more and more funds every year. And for that we’re grateful. That’s because third party funds can be dispersed without restrictions, which means we can reach more women. During this powerful mashup episode, you’ll hear from Chloe, and survivors-turned-supporters of The Rose. They’ll share their personal stories, and why it’s important to them to help t...
Feb 20, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 207
Alicia Um says to step out on faith. The 2008 recession left her family broke and a breast cancer diagnosis made matters worse. With nowhere to turn, her husband moved out of state to find work while she underwent treatment, all while raising kids. During this conversation, you’ll hear from both Alicia and her husband, Aaron. They discuss their faith, the importance of staying positive, and how their taekwondo gym is inspiring young children to pay it forward to The Rose. Help us share the missi...
Feb 13, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 206
No patient wants to hear from Dr. Rosanne Popp if they don’t show up to an appointment. That’s the level of accountability she holds patients to and because she does, thousands of uninsured women have benefitted from breast health services. During this episode, Dorothy dives deep into their longtime partnership, as well as the misconceptions of the uninsured and why it’s important to hold patients accountable. Dr. Popp is also speaks on her experience as a nun and why she calls herself “the home...
Feb 06, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 205
“Can’t never could do nothing.” Those are the words of the late Bob Domec, one of The Rose’s most cherished supporters and board members. Our next guest, Terri Snider, remembers those words—the words of her father—quite often, as she battles cancer for the second time. You’ll hear a lot about the importance of positivity during this conversation. You’ll also hear about her first battle with cancer. Which drives home the importance of questioning one’s doctors and getting a second opinion. As she...
Jan 30, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 204
How far would you go to ensure your loved one had the best medical care possible? Ellen Elam drove her sister Cindy across Texas, headed west to New Mexico, up north to Oklahoma, and eastward to Florida. It started when she was unhappy with the care Cindy received in Dallas. What happened afterward involved a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in Houston, and a fight for her sister’s life. During this conversation, Ellen shares her family’s story. And you’ll also hear why Ellen's dream is that e...
Jan 23, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 203
Cortney Cole-Hall is a true renaissance woman. From corporate executive to real estate mogul, she’s enjoyed much success. But the loss of her mother inspired something that has saved Houston area women from debt collectors. And homelessness. She founded Pink Door Nonprofit because she didn’t want women to experience what her mom had to endure: trouble paying bills. During this conversation, Dorothy and Cortney talk about Pink Door’s inception, its eventual sunsetting, and how this all ties back ...
Jan 18, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 202
In this mini-episode, Dorothy talks about the importance of setting goals for the new year. She sets one-hundred six goals every year. ONE-HUNDRED SIX! Dorothy will go over why she writes hers down and how we should write ours down. Keyword: WRITE. You'll the exact words to use and which ones to avoid at all costs. We'd love to know your goals for 2024. After writing them down, tag us on Facebook and Instagram. We're rooting for you! Help us share the mission of The Rose by subscribing to Let’s ...
Jan 16, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 201
Courtney Clark shares her courageous journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant. Through candid storytelling, Courtney discusses with Dorothy the challenges, emotions, and triumphs of navigating cancer treatment amid pregnancy. This moving podcast touches on the complexities faced by women battling breast cancer especially during pregnancy, and emphasizes the importance of support, awareness, and early detection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 28, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 175
In this three-in-one episode, listeners will hear about Ashma Khanani-Moosa’s battle and victory against breast cancer and how her resilience is mirrored by her husband, Dr. Abdul Moosa, and their children, Fatima and Isa. Dr. Moosa and their children articulate the emotional challenges and strength they discovered alongside Ashma during her fight. This powerful episode serves as a testament to the far-reaching effects of breast cancer on families facing this challenge together. See omnystudio.c...
Dec 19, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 174
In this compelling episode of "Let's Talk About Your Breasts," Dorothy welcomes Claudia Farinola. Claudia discusses the challenges and enduring effects stemming from her battle with breast cancer and how, despite her own struggles, she has helped the Emma Jacobs Breast Cancer Foundation raise thousands of dollars for The Rose. This heartfelt conversation sheds light on the long-term ramifications breast cancer survivors may face and highlights the profound impact of community support. See omnyst...
Dec 12, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 173
Surviving breast cancer in her twenties, Marisol Guerrero attributes her survival to a single piece of paper—a sponsorship form to The Rose. Marisol's powerful story highlights the importance of early detection and self-advocacy in breast health. Her commitment to helping others echoes through her advocacy work for The Rose, aiming to spread awareness and support for breast cancer prevention and care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 05, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 172
During this solo episode, Dorothy dives into all the things she learned over the course of season one of Let's Talk About Your Breasts . From survivorship to physician advice, our inaugural season has taught the staff at The Rose so much. Notable quotes: 1.) "I used to say we needed a Rose patient navigation program in every hospital. After this season, I've come to believe that what we need is some kind of educational program for being a caregiver. That's one of the hardest jobs around. And kee...
Nov 28, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 171
Fundraising Director Shannon McNair joins the show to give us an update on all things Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was another "BCAM" for the record books and it's all thanks to you . From individual bake sales to large companies, so many people pledged their support for the uninsured. Some own restaurants or car dealerships, others rallied their family and friends to hold a golf tournament. All will make a difference in the lives of our patients. And for that, we're thankful. Please consid...
Nov 21, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 170
