Real Pink

Winnie Marquart, a member of the SC Johnson family and a three-time breast cancer survivor, has been through 27 years of diagnoses, treatments, recurrences, and uncertainty, but she has also experienced something else: more time. Winnie credits advances in research and treatment with giving her more moments with the people she loves and more opportunities to make a difference. On today's Real Pink, Winnie is here to talk about what the 27 years have taught her about resilience, gratitude, advocacy, and hope — and why she believes no woman should have to delay potentially lifesaving care because of cost. Takeaways Advances in breast cancer research and treatment have allowed Winnie to live longer with metastatic breast cancer Hope and resilience helped Winnie navigate three breast cancer diagnoses over 27 years Early detection and affordable mammograms are essential, and no one should have to delay potentially lifesaving care because of cost Chapters 00:01 – Winnie's 27-year breast cancer journey 00:03 – Three diagnoses and the impact on her family 00:13 – How research and treatment advancements gave Winnie more time 00:17 – Breast cancer T-shirts and keeping her family hopeful 00:23 – Advocacy, early detection, and hope for the future Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Welcome to Part 2 of our episode with Isabel O’Gara! To listen to Part 1, check out our episode from October 26, 2026. Isabel O'Gara was pregnant when she was diagnosed with a later-stage, pregnancy-associated breast cancer — a diagnosis she almost didn't get the chance to catch early in a system where women's symptoms are so often waved away. Isabel's experience was different: Her care team at Yale New Haven took her seriously and responded quickly, a contrast she's determined to talk about openly. Isabel had breastfed her daughter for 20 months and hoped to do the same with her son. Treatment changed that plan, and she's been honest about the breakdown that came with grieving an experience she expected to have. That loss is part of what's pushed her into advocacy — including supporting what's known as Connie's Bill, legislation aimed at covering formula and donor milk for parents who medically cannot breastfeed because of cancer or other serious illness. As she finishes chemotherapy and prepares for a mastectomy, Isabel joins Real Pink to talk about listening to your body during pregnancy and postpartum, pushing back when something feels wrong and why she's using her voice — including as a participant in Komen's Don't Fail the Girls campaign this NBCAM. This episode is part of our Health Equity Revolution series, which lifts up the voices, stories and solutions of the communities most impacted by breast cancer disparities. Make sure to follow Isabel and her journey on Instagram @isabel.ogara and TikTok @Isabelogara Takeaways Pregnancy and postpartum symptoms can mask breast cancer warning signs Breast exams during prenatal and postpartum care could help identify concerning changes earlier A strong support system is essential during cancer treatment Trust your body and advocate for yourself Chapters 01:29 — Why Breast Cancer Symptoms Get Missed During Pregnancy and Postpartum 06:29 — Raising Young Children During Cancer Treatment 12:15 — Preparing for a Double Mastectomy 16:08 — Isabel’s Role in the Don’t Fail the Girls Campaign 20:36 — Isabel’s Message to Mothers and Young Women Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Isabel O'Gara was pregnant when she was diagnosed with a later-stage, pregnancy-associated breast cancer — a diagnosis she almost didn't get the chance to catch early in a system where women's symptoms are so often waved away. Isabel's experience was different: Her care team at Yale New Haven took her seriously and responded quickly, a contrast she's determined to talk about openly. Isabel had breastfed her daughter for 20 months and hoped to do the same with her son. Treatment changed that plan, and she's been honest about the breakdown that came with grieving an experience she expected to have. That loss is part of what's pushed her into advocacy — including supporting what's known as Connie's Bill, legislation aimed at covering formula and donor milk for parents who medically cannot breastfeed because of cancer or other serious illness. As she finishes chemotherapy and prepares for a mastectomy, Isabel joins Real Pink to talk about listening to your body during pregnancy and postpartum, pushing back when something feels wrong and why she's using her voice — including as a participant in Komen's Don't Fail the Girls campaign this NBCAM. This episode is part of our Health Equity Revolution series, which lifts up the voices, stories and solutions of the communities most impacted by breast cancer disparities. Make sure to follow Isabel and her journey on Instagram @isabel.ogara and TikTok @Isabelogara Takeaways Prioritize your health to be there for your children. Early evaluation of breast changes can make a difference. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer requires coordinated care. Connie's Bill aims to improve access to infant feeding support. Chapters 01:16 — Isabel's breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy 04:28 — Balancing cancer treatment and motherhood 07:03 — The importance of early detection and coordinated care 14:16 — Losing the opportunity to breastfeed 17:42 — Connie's Bill and access to formula coverage Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Breast cancer affects everyone differently, but the struggles and challenges this community experiences are real. We’re talking openly and honestly about just how difficult a diagnosis, treatment and living with metastatic breast cancer can be. Yakima and Lexi are here today to share more of their personal breast cancer stories and how that led them to working for Susan G. Komen. They are also featured in Komen’s new “Don’t Fail The Girls” campaign, which just launched and seeks to make ending breast cancer deaths urgent and front and center for a younger generation. Takeaways Trust your instincts and advocate for your breast health, regardless of age. Accept support from friends, family, and others who understand your journey. Sharing personal stories helps young women feel less alone and find community. Breast cancer treatment decisions require education, self-advocacy, and personal choice. Everyone deserves access to quality breast cancer care, regardless of age, race, or location. Chapters 01:08 – Lexi and Yakima’s breast cancer diagnoses 12:17 – Finding strength through support and community 17:49 – Sharing stories and navigating difficult treatment decisions 28:31 – Living with long-term effects of breast cancer 32:05 – The “Don’t Fail the Girls” campaign and improving access to care Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Imagine spending more than 30 years working in oncology and then suddenly finding yourself on the other side of that conversation. Today’s guest, Lily Cabezon, is a senior physician assistant in urologic oncology. After becoming very sick with COVID in 2020 and losing significant weight, Lily discovered a lump in her breast. Her mammogram revealed a mass that led to a Stage 1 diagnosis. Before beginning chemotherapy, staging scans revealed that the cancer had metastasized to her spine. She went on to undergo chemotherapy, spine treatment, a year of immunotherapy, and a bilateral mastectomy with extensive reconstruction. Lily is here today to talk to us about how she kept going through it all and how breast cancer changed her perspective. After years of telling patients that they had cancer, she suddenly understood what that word meant from the other side—not just for the patient, but for everyone who loves them. We are thrilled to have Lily on Real Pink and in our Don't Fail the Girls campaign this October. Breast cancer is personal for her, and she knows how much is at stake. She’s using her voice to help make breast cancer impossible to ignore and to help drive the research, support and action needed to end it. Takeaways A cancer diagnosis can transform how you understand the patient experience Healthcare delays and barriers can have a profound emotional impact Patients deserve to make informed choices about their own treatment Documenting the difficult parts of treatment can help others feel less alone Chapters 00:01:44 — Lily’s breast cancer diagnosis 00:04:24 — Going from stage one to stage four 00:07:23 — Seeing cancer from the patient’s perspective 00:11:31 — Documenting reconstruction and recovery 00:21:22 — Living with metastatic breast cancer Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

What if a simple at-home DNA test changed the entire course of your life? At 28 years old, today’s guest received a call that revealed she had a high probability of carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation. Genetic testing confirmed it, and suddenly, her family's history of cancer took on a deeply personal meaning. Her aunt, who also carried the mutation, was dying of ovarian cancer at the time. This pushed Margot Casino to make a series of decisions to protect her family's future including undergoing preventive surgeries and IVF with genetic screening. While in the process of taking steps to reduce her risk, Margot was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at just 31 years old. As a wife and a mother to two young boys, she’d already been doing everything she believed she could to protect herself from breast cancer, yet she still heard those dreaded words. Margot is here today to discuss the importance of knowing your family history, understanding your genetics, and paying attention when something feels different in your body. This October, Margot also decided to be part of Komen’s Don't Fail the Girls campaign because breast cancer is personal for her, and she knows how much is at stake. She’s using her voice to help make breast cancer impossible to ignore and to help drive the research, support and action needed to end it. Takeaways Knowing your breast cancer risk can help make an informed decision about your health Support from family and friends help through treatment and serious complications Younger women need to take breast cancer risk seriously Chapters 00:01 — Discovering a BRCA1 mutation 04:40 — Choosing IVF with genetic screening 08:12 — Preventative surgeries and breast cancer diagnosis 16:50 — Treatment, sepsis and recovery 21:47 — Looking forward and helping others Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution series on Real Pink — where patients, advocates, researchers and community partners come together to talk honestly about what's standing in the way of breast health equity and what we're doing to change it. I'm your host, Adam Walker. This month is Hispanic Heritage Month, and we're honoring it by talking about something a lot of young women don't expect to be part of their story this early: Needing to have a mammogram as a young adult. Our guest today is Yaleska Sosa, a senior at Northwestern University studying biological sciences and global health, and a Komen College Ambassador. During a routine appointment, doctors found a mass and referred her for a mammogram — an experience that, combined with her family's history of cancer, turned a scare into a mission: making sure other young women, especially in the Hispanic/Latino community, have the information she wishes she'd had. Yaleska, welcome to Real Pink. Takeaway Breast cancer can affect people at any age, even those who consider themselves healthy. Knowing your body can help you notice changes and take action sooner. Family history and cultural experiences can shape how people understand their health. Sharing accessible health information can help young people feel more informed and empowered. One conversation or small act of awareness can have an impact beyond what we may ever see. Chapters 00:01 — Yaleska’s unexpected mammogram 06:00 — Deciding whether to tell her mom 06:47 — Knowing your body and your culture 09:39 — Discovering the impact of breast cancer 13:55 — Encouraging young women to know their bodies Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

When we think about breast cancer, many of us still picture someone much older. But the reality is that young women can—and do—face this diagnosis, even when breast cancer is the furthest thing from their minds. Today’s guest was just 35 years old when her life changed and she suddenly found herself navigating treatment decisions while raising 3 young children. Amanda Lutricuso’s story is a powerful reminder that you’re never too young to pay attention to your body and to speak up when something is wrong. Cancer may have changed the course of her life, it also changed her perspective on what matters most. Key Takeaways Breast cancer can happen at any age, even without family history. A strong family support system can help manage treatment. Young women should advocate for themselves when something feels wrong. Chapters 00:01:19 Finding the lump 00:03:22 Processing the diagnosis 00:08:07 Balancing treatment and motherhood 00:12:29 Chasing every dream 00:16:07 Advocating for your health Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

Technology is rapidly changing the world around us – and the same is true in women’s health. Artificial Intelligence holds enormous promise in understanding risk, detecting cancers earlier and improving treatment options and outcomes for breast cancer patients – but how do we get there and what should we be aware of along the way? Today we’re welcoming Jillian Wright, the CEO of Onsite Women’s Health, the leading provider of convenient, in-office breast health imaging services across the U.S., and Jane Perlmutter, a survivor of multiple cancers and devoted member of Susan G. Komen Advocates in Science program, which brings the patient voice to scientific research and clinical decisions. Takeaways AI can improve breast cancer detection and diagnosis AI can make breast imaging more consistent and effective Patients need a voice in how AI is used in healthcare AI must be developed with diversity, privacy and equity in mind Personalized care could reshape the future of breast cancer screening Chapters 00:00 — The promise of AI in breast health 05:12 — Understanding breast cancer risk 10:29 — How AI is transforming breast imaging 19:28 — The concerns around AI in healthcare 24:40 — The future of AI and cancer care Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

The first 30 days after being diagnosed with breast cancer can feel devastating. You’re processing a lot of information, dealing with emotions and often trying to figure out what to do next. Joining us on Real Pink’s 400th episode today is Jennifer Omholt, a journalist and 24-year cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer when her son was just 16 months old. In the wake of her diagnosis, she desperately searched for something to ease her fear and confusion, but found nothing that offered comfort or clarity. Over the next two decades, she set out to create the resource she wished she’d had, so that no one would need to face the shock of a cancer diagnosis alone. Jennifer is here today to share her story and what helped carry her though her breast cancer experience. Key takeaways: You don’t have to solve cancer all at once; focus on the next best step. Finding the right medical team can make a profound difference in your care. Self-advocacy means asking questions, trusting your instincts, and seeking second opinions. Letting others help can ease the emotional and practical burden of cancer. The fear of a diagnosis can fade as you gain knowledge, confidence, and a sense of control. Chapters 00:01:23 — A stage three diagnosis with a 16-month-old son 00:03:25 — Finding ways to manage fear and uncertainty 00:07:57 — The first 30 days after a breast cancer diagnosis 00:09:59 — Building a medical team you can trust 00:15:07 — Why self-advocacy can change your treatment Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.