Claim OwnershipLive from Stage 4: MBC News for Us, by Us
Subscribed: 1Played: 3
Subscribe
© 2026 Live from Stage 4: MBC News for Us, by Us
Description
Could a cure for breast cancer be closer than you think? Welcome to "Live from Stage 4" — a bold, hopeful podcast where people living with metastatic breast cancer, clinicians, and researchers take center stage. We share real stories, decode the science, and spotlight the ideas and breakthroughs that matter — for patients, caregivers, and anyone who believes progress is possible. This podcast is for us, by us, and all about us.
22 Episodes
Reverse
Living with metastatic breast cancer isn't just about medical treatments—it's a significant time commitment that impacts every aspect of daily life. In this episode of "S**T We Deal With Shorts," Dr. Jill Tirabassi examines a 2025 JAMA Network Open study that quantifies exactly how much time patients with metastatic breast and ovarian cancer spend managing their disease. The research reveals eye-opening statistics: patients averaged one out-of-home cancer-related visit per week, with travel a...
What if a misdiagnosis nearly cost you your life—and AI became your second opinion? In this episode, we sit down with Steve Brown, CEO of CureWise, and Lisa Booth, both living with cancer and pioneering the use of AI to navigate their treatment journeys. Steve, a tech veteran, was diagnosed with rare blood cancer in the emergency room after months of missed symptoms. When he fed his medical records to an AI agent he'd built, it immediately spotted what his doctors had overlooked. That AI beca...
In one of the most powerful conversations we've ever recorded, Dar Finkelstein—known throughout the metastatic breast cancer community as "The Queen of Joy"—shares her decision to stop treatment and transition to hospice care. After nearly seven years with metastatic breast cancer and 20 years total since her original diagnosis, Dar opens up about the impossible choice many in the MBC community eventually face: quality of life versus quantity of time. With remarkable candor and grace, she dis...
Join us for a moving conversation with Gary Thompson, creator of the Team Powdered Donut™️ podcast and advocate for the metastatic breast cancer community. After losing his wife Maureen to stage IV breast cancer in 2014, Gary has dedicated over a decade to cancer advocacy, keeping her memory alive through a simple yet profound tradition—powdered donuts. In this episode, Gary shares the origin of his podcast name, the challenges of raising three children as a widower, and why he's embarking on...
In this short episode, hosts Abigail Johnston and Melanie Sisk dive deep into one of the most challenging symptoms cancer patients face: insomnia. Both hosts share their personal struggles with sleep disruption following their cancer diagnoses and explore how the cancer experience—combined with treatment side effects and life changes like menopause—can profoundly impact rest. Abigail and Melanie discuss practical strategies they've discovered for better sleep, from creating the ideal be...
In this powerful episode, Victoria Goldberg sits down with Lesley Stephen MBE, a patient advocate from Edinburgh, Scotland, who has defied all odds living 12 years with stage 4 HER2+ metastatic breast cancer—far beyond her initial prognosis of "a year or two." Lesley shares her remarkable story: from being a busy communication consultant and mother of four who thought she had a simple chest infection, to receiving the devastating news of extensive metastatic disease in her lungs, liver, and b...
In this episode of our Symptoms Spotlight series, hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston tackle a topic many cancer patients experience but few feel comfortable discussing—constipation. From understanding what constipation really looks like (hint: it's not always what you think) to practical remedies you can try at home, this episode breaks down the stigma around bowel health. Melanie, a nurse and cancer patient on CDK4/6 inhibitors, shares her go-to over-the-counter solutions like MiraLax a...
Join hosts Victoria Goldberg and Dr. Jill Tirabassi for a special episode where they take a break from their usual metastatic breast cancer discussions to dive deep into their latest obsession: the HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry." In this fun and heartfelt conversation, Victoria and Jill explore why this hockey romance has captured their hearts and become the perfect escape during difficult times. They discuss their favorite episodes (especially that emotional tunnel scene in episode 5), the ...
In this candid episode of Symptoms Spotlight, hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston tackle one of the most disruptive yet often under-discussed side effects of cancer treatment: diarrhea caused by cancer medications. Melanie and Abigail share their personal experiences managing different grades of diarrhea, from mild disruptions to severe grade three episodes that can mean seven to 10 extra bathroom trips per day. They discuss the real impact on quality of life, including the embarrassment ...
In this episode of our Podcasters Roundtable series, we sit down with Melissa Berry, the voice behind "Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful" and founder of Cancer Fashionista. Before her Stage 1 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis at 42, Melissa was a fashion and beauty publicist working with Vogue editors and celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker. When she couldn't find beauty and fashion resources for cancer patients all in one place, she created them herself—starting with a simple list that has ...
Join hosts Melanie Sisk and Abigail Johnston as they shine a light on the real experiences of managing cancer symptoms. In each episode of the Symptoms Spotlight series of short episodes, we explore different symptoms caused by cancer or its treatment, sharing practical insights and hard-won wisdom directly from patients who've been there. This isn't just medical information—it's peer-to-peer support at its finest. Melanie and Abigail believe that patients learn best from each other, and that...
Welcome to the first episode of 2026! Join host Victoria Goldberg in conversation with Dr. Francisco Esteva, a prominent board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the research and treatment of breast cancer, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, and Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, as they dive deep into the groundbreaking research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. I...
In this episode, co-hosts Victoria Goldberg and Martha Carlso are joined by Josh Newby, Founder and Executive Director of Theresa’s Research Foundation (TRF), for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of metastatic breast cancer research and advocacy. Josh shares the origins and mission of his foundation, the challenges faced in funding and organizing medical conferences, and the shift toward curative approaches for metastatic breast cancer. The discussion covers the impact of...
What happens when one person’s story becomes a beacon of hope for thousands? In this powerful episode, host Victoria Goldberg sits down with Tami Bowling, creator of LightUp MBC Live, to explore her path from a shocking metastatic breast cancer diagnosis to becoming a passionate advocate and fundraiser. Tami opens up about her early days navigating uncertainty, the emotional impact on her family, and how she transformed adversity into action. Discover the inspiring origins of LightUp MBC—a ca...
In this episode we get urgent and personal: with deep cuts to NIH and NCI funding threatening labs, jobs, and future treatments, what happens to science — and to patients — when the pipeline is squeezed? To make that real, we’re talking with Na Zhao, a research assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. We follow Na’s experience as she navigates a pivotal moment in her research career. Facing institutional financial challenges and limited startup support, Na remains undeterred,...
Join us for a powerful conversation with Dr. Rebecca Shatsky, Director of Breast Medical Oncology at UC San Diego, as she shares her experiences fighting for patients with breast cancer. In this episode, Dr. Shatsky discusses the growing challenges clinicians face—from insurance denials and funding cuts to the emotional toll of burnout and the spread of cancer misinformation. Hear real stories about advocating for life-saving treatments, navigating the complexities of clinical trials, and the...
In this episode, hosts Victoria Goldberg and Abigail Johnston sit down with Samira Daswani, host of "The Patient From Hell" podcast, for a candid and insightful conversation about patient advocacy, storytelling, and the evolving landscape of cancer care. Samira shares her path from reluctant podcast guest to passionate host, highlighting the importance of amplifying patient voices and democratizing information for those navigating cancer diagnoses—especially in communities where open discussi...
In today's episode, the first in our ongoing “Live Chat” series — informal conversations with members of the medical community, advocates, and patients about what matters most to them and to us, hosts Victoria Goldberg and Dr. Ellen Landsberger are joined by Dr. Sherry Shen, a breast cancer medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for a clear, patient-centered conversation on the evolving role of SERDs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders) in hormone receptor–positive m...
This is the first episode of the recurring MBC Insiders series created by and starring the podcast team. In the first episode, published on October 13th, the National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, we meet seven panelists with 80+ years living with Metastatic Breast Cancer between them and they are here to share the hard-won wisdom of true MBC insiders. We'll explore the issues that matter most to people living with MBC, including how the language clinicians and media use...
In this episode of "Live from Stage 4: MBC News for Us, by Us," host Victoria Goldberg sits down with Dr. Gloria Echeverria, a leading researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, to discuss the urgent challenges facing cancer research in the United States. Dr. Echeverria shares her career path from PhD student to running her own lab, focusing on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)—one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease. The conversation delves into the rea...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States