Call Your Doctor

Breast cancer is one of those diagnoses that almost every woman thinks about at some point. Maybe you’ve had a mammogram callback, maybe you found a lump, maybe your mother, sister, best friend, coworker, or you have been diagnosed. Or maybe you’ve wondered, what can I actually do to lower my risk? But here’s the thing - most of what women hear about breast cancer focuses on finding it and treating it, we hear much less about everything that comes before and after, and the after can be enormous.  What happens to your fertility if you’re diagnosed before you’ve finished building your family? What happens when chemotherapy or hormone therapy puts you into a state of menopause a decade before you expected it? Can you ever take hormones again? Is pregnancy safe after breast cancer? And after treatment ends, and everyone tells you “you’re cancer free - go live your life”…what does that actually look like? Our guest today has made it her mission to talk about these exact issues.  Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in breast and gynecologic cancers. She’s the head of the breast and gynecologic medical oncology department at Valley Health System in New Jersey, and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is where Dr. Sekhon and Dr. Robbins met and trained together. Dr. Teplinsky is also the host of Interlude podcast, a passionate women’s health advocate and author of Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is so much bigger than wearing a pink ribbon. In this episode, Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Dr. Alicia Robbins sit down with Dr. Teplinsky to discuss what women actually need to know about their risk, prevention, diagnosis, hormones, fertility, and what happens when treatment is done, but you’re still figuring out how to live in your body again.  Breast health isn’t just something that we should start thinking about after there’s a problem. We should be evaluating our own risk, better understanding our family history, knowing what screening we need, and knowing what changes in our body deserve attention, as well as taking care of ourselves in a holistic way outside of just actual breast cancer treatment. For anyone listening who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or loves someone who has, we hope this conversation makes clear that you’re allowed to care about more than just simply surviving. Follow @drteplinsky to hear more from her and find her book Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer here.IF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: When should I get my first mammogram? Also You: Will eating soy increase my risk of breast cancer?? 3AM You: Wait…can people with breast cancer not have children????  IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… What can I actually do to lower my risk of breast cancer? How often should I get mammograms? What are the misconceptions about breast cancer? Is all breast cancer the same? How does chemotherapy affect fertility? What are the treatment options for breast cancer? Does soy increase breast cancer risk? When should I consider risk preventing surgery? How early should I get a mammogram? Does menopausal hormone therapy cause cancer? What are the long-term risks of breast cancer? Is vaginal estrogen safe for someone with breast cancer? Can breast cancer happen in my 30s? When can I ask my doctor for a breast cancer risk assessment? What are symptoms of breast cancer, if any? Will chemotherapy make me go into early menopause? Can thermography replace mammograms in breast cancer screening? What’s the difference between freezing eggs and preserving embryos? How does family history play a role in breast cancer risk? Does alcohol play a role in breast cancer risk? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Let’s continue the conversation! Leave us a voicemail with your questions at 754-CALLDOC (754) 225-5362. Nothing is off limits.  Follow Us on Instagram:  @callyourdoctorpodcast  @lucky.sekhon   @aliciarobbinsmd THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to instanthydration.com/CALLYOURDOCTOR and use our promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR for over 40% off your first subscription order.Quince: Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/callyourdoctor. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CALLYOURDOCTOR at https://www.oneskin.co/CALLYOURDOCTOR #oneskinpodAlloy: Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code CALLYOURDOCTOR for 20% off your first order!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.Caraway: Right now, you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set vs buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway’s full Kitchenware collection. Visit Carawayhome.com/callyourdoctor to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code callyourdoctor at checkout.Cozy Earth: Head to cozyearth.com and use my code CALLYOURDOCTOR for up to 20% off.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Doctor’s appointments can be intimidating. It’s a universal experience. And everyone wants to feel like their doctor is invested in them. As two doctors who are on the other side of things, we know how it feels when you walk into a sterile environment where you’re given a limited amount of time to be assessed and have all your questions answered. In today’s episode, Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Dr. Alicia Robbins are giving you all the hacks and practical tips on how to get the most out of your doctor’s appointments. It’s enough to be a patient dealing with a medical problem, but navigating the healthcare system and coordination of everything that needs to be done is no small feat and can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure. Most doctor appointments are 15 minutes, or even less, and we are here to help you be prepared to use every single moment of that visit wisely. Dr. Sekhon and Dr. Robbins share how you should prep for your appointment, what to prioritize when you’re actually there, and the questions you should ask before you walk out the door. This episode stresses the importance of knowing enough to be able to participate actively and proactively in your medical care. There are so many good doctors—you don’t go through years of grueling training without having a purpose or a reason behind it. Is it an optimal healthcare system? No. But this is all about being strategic, efficient, and maximizing as much as we can. You can get a lot more out of your experience and have better care if you are able to self-advocate, and today’s episode is really about giving you those tools. Plan it, be strategic, know your story, understand your options, speak up when something doesn’t make sense, and remember that your doctor has seen it all, so don’t be embarrassed to be vulnerable. And yes, crying IS normal!  We hope this episode inspires you to take your health into your own hands. The best care isn’t a doctor dictating what happens to a passive patient, it’s a partnership. IF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow...I’m feeling nervous about it... Also You: What should I ask my doctor? Can I ask them about this health trend I saw on TikTok? 3AM You: Wait…do I only get 15 minutes with them? What should I prioritize???  IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… What should I bring to my doctor’s appointment? Is it normal to be anxious going into a doctor’s appointment? Should I bring up other health concerns at my annual check-up? How honest should I be with my doctor? Will my doctor be upset if I bring up medical advice I saw on social media? How do I advocate for myself without being confrontational? What questions should I ask my doctor before I walk out? Can I record my doctor’s appointment, or take notes? Do doctors get annoyed if you bring someone with you? How can I not be an annoying patient but still get the answers I’m looking for? What are the doctor red flags that I should lookout for? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Let’s continue the conversation! Leave us a voicemail with your questions at 754-CALLDOC (754) 225-5362. Nothing is off limits.  Follow Us on Instagram:  @callyourdoctorpodcast  @lucky.sekhon   @aliciarobbinsmd THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to instanthydration.com/CALLYOURDOCTOR and use our promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR for over 40% off your first subscription order.Quince: Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/callyourdoctor. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CALLYOURDOCTOR at https://www.oneskin.co/CALLYOURDOCTOR #oneskinpodAlloy: Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code CALLYOURDOCTOR for 20% off your first order!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.Caraway: Right now, you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set vs buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway’s full Kitchenware collection. Visit Carawayhome.com/callyourdoctor to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code callyourdoctor at checkout.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You called? We answered. In this episode, Dr. Alicia Robbins and Dr. Lucky Sekhon are responding to voicemails sent in by listeners with questions about a variety of women’s health concerns. “How do I know if you have PMOS or Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA), or do I have both?” “I’ve done loads of testing to see if I had anything affecting my infertility and very little has been found, so why can’t I get pregnant?” “Is patch estrogen better than the pill for perimenopausal women who suffer from migraines with aura?” These are the kinds of nuanced questions we love—the topics you might be embarrassed to ask about, the symptoms you’re googling 17 times, and the questions you forgot to ask at your doctor’s appointment. Dr. Robbins and Dr. Sekhon navigate their answers to these callers by using actual stories from their real-life experiences as menopause and fertility experts. They explain what the clues are when diagnosing a patient with PMOS or HA, how having a hysterectomy could, or could not, affect perimenopause, and dive into the most frustrating thing that Dr. Sekhon sees couples go through—unexplained infertility. On the trending topic of Alix Earle finding out she’s a BRCA 2 carrier, Dr. Robbins shares what is important for women to know about BRCA gene mutations, and what the misconceptions are when it comes to taking the birth control pill and hormone therapy. For the women with thin uterine lining after ovulation, Dr. Sekhon explains what protocols she follows in her own practice to provide support and improve uterine lining thickness. Dr. Sekhon and Dr. Robbins also speak on their past struggles as shift workers, knowing how much stress this type of work puts on one’s physiology, and they give practical solutions on how someone can best optimize their fertility in these circumstances.  If there’s one thing that the questions in this episode proved, it’s that reproductive health is rarely as simple as one symptom, one lab value, or one diagnosis. The context behind every individual’s situation matters. Thank you to everyone who called in. Keep leaving voicemails to be featured on a future episode! The Science Behind Sleep with Dr. Saema Tahir of @thenycsleepdoctorPCOS: The Hormonal Group Chat Gone WrongPMOS (formerly known as PCOS) Part 2: Connecting the Hormonal DotsYou Lost Your Period… Now What? Understanding Hypothalamic AmenorrheaIF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: My lab tests are all fine….why can’t I get pregnant? Also You: My iron levels are low….how can I increase them without eating red meat?? 3AM You: Wait…is working the night shift affecting my fertility????  IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… How do you know if you have PMOS or Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA)? Should I take out my ovaries? What are the risks? What is the truth about the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations? Can you be on the pill if you have BRCA gene mutations? What does it mean if you have a thin uterine lining after ovulation? What are the underlying risk factors of having a thin uterine lining? How can you treat migraines in perimenopause? Why do women get migraines in perimenopause? What is the recommended level of ferritin? Do I need to eat red meat to increase my iron levels? Does perimenopause look different if you had a hysterectomy? Is the lower dose patch estrogen better than the pill if you have migraines with aura? How can I support my fertility as a shift worker? Should I be taking Vitamin D and/or CoQ10? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Let’s continue the conversation! Leave us a voicemail with your questions at 754-CALLDOC (754) 225-5362. Nothing is off limits.  Follow Us on Instagram:  @callyourdoctorpodcast  @lucky.sekhon   @aliciarobbinsmd THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to instanthydration.com/CALLYOURDOCTOR and use our promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR for over 40% off your first subscription order.Quince: Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/callyourdoctor. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CALLYOURDOCTOR at https://www.oneskin.co/CALLYOURDOCTOR #oneskinpodAlloy: Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code CALLYOURDOCTOR for 20% off your first order!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.Caraway: Right now, you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set vs buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway’s full Kitchenware collection. Visit Carawayhome.com/callyourdoctor to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code callyourdoctor at checkout.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your favorite podcast doctors are solo this week! Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Dr. Alicia Robbins are here to answer all of your burning women’s health questions in this listener Q&A. They asked you what you wanted to know about fertility, pregnancy, hormones, perimenopause, menopause—and you definitely delivered. In this rapid-fire Q&A, Dr. Sekhon and Dr. Robbins focus on answering the highest yield questions that they get online and in their practice. A reminder that nothing in this episode should be taken as individualized medical advice, but they hope their generalized advice inspires you to have a low threshold when it comes to asking your doctor questions and seeking out experts. “I have diminished ovarian reserve, should I stop trying naturally?” “What should I avoid after an embryo transfer?” “Why did my sleep quality suddenly decline when I entered my 40s?” “I’ve had two miscarriages, should I just do IVF?” These are real questions that women want answers to. Dr. Sekhon and Dr. Robbins address the multiple factors that are often overlooked when it comes to sleep issues, low libido, fertility testing, recurrent pregnancy loss, and so much more. They give you the inside scoop on what they tell their own patients, and the processes and tests they use to determine the cause of the problem. By the end of this episode, they hope you feel less alone in your health struggles, gain confidence to talk to your doctor about the symptoms you’re experiencing and feel more comfortable discussing taboo topics with your friend group. The common thread here is that women’s health is on a continuum, everything is interrelated, one person’s experience doesn’t tell the whole story, and context is so important when addressing health issues. IF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: Wait... my doctor wants me to try hormone replacement therapy... Also You: Does estrogen cause breast cancer? I’ve seen some rumors... 3AM You: Wait but if I do IVF...can ovarian stimulation put me at a higher risk for breast cancer??? IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… What is an AMH test and what can it tell you? Is my low AMH holding me back from trying naturally? Can you get pregnant during menopause? What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause? Can I exercise after an embryo transfer? Why did my sleep suddenly decline when I entered my 40s? Does it matter what time I take progesterone? Are cooling mattresses worth it? When should I consider IVF? Does hormone therapy cause breast cancer? What is an HSG? What tests do I need to get before deciding to do IVF? Are fibroids causing my infertility? What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome (ALPS) and is there a solution? What are the symptoms of perimenopause? Is coffee the cause of my miscarriage? Are there medications to help with low libido? Is sex therapy worth it? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Let’s continue the conversation! Leave us a voicemail with your questions at 754-CALLDOC (754) 225-5362. Nothing is off limits.  Follow Us on Instagram:  @callyourdoctorpodcast  @lucky.sekhon   @aliciarobbinsmd THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to instanthydration.com/CALLYOURDOCTOR and use our promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR for over 40% off your first subscription order.Quince: Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/callyourdoctor. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CALLYOURDOCTOR at https://www.oneskin.co/CALLYOURDOCTOR #oneskinpodAlloy: Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code CALLYOURDOCTOR for 20% off your first order!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.Caraway: Right now, you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set vs buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway’s full Kitchenware collection. Visit Carawayhome.com/callyourdoctor to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code callyourdoctor at checkout.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Dr. Alicia Robbins are joined by renowned OB/GYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, better known as Dr. A, to talk about what comprehensive women's healthcare should actually look like. Dr. A shares why she refuses to dismiss her patients' symptoms, why a Pap smear is only one small piece of an annual exam, and why these exams should be viewed holistically.  The conversation takes a deeper look into breast cancer prevention after Dr. A opens up about her own experience discovering that her lifetime breast cancer risk was dramatically higher than she expected and how a breast MRI helped uncover early breast cancer in Olivia Munn after her initial imaging was negative. They also discuss the importance of pelvic ultrasound, what a Pap smear actually screens for, why endometriosis and PCOS can go undiagnosed for years, and how women can become better advocates for themselves without falling into the misinformation trap.  Dr. A fervently speaks on why celebrity health stories can actually be powerful public health tools, how social media can both educate and mislead, and why finding a doctor who truly listens may be one of the most important things you can do for your health. Follow Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi - @drthaisaliabadi IF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: Wait... a Pap smear doesn't actually check my uterus or ovaries??? Also You: How do I know if I'm actually high-risk for breast cancer? 3AM You: Okay but what if my mammogram is normal and there's STILL something there???  IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… What does a Pap smear actually check for? Should I get a pelvic ultrasound? What is the Tyrer-Cuzick score? How do I calculate my lifetime breast cancer risk? What does dense breast tissue mean? Do I need a breast MRI? Can a mammogram miss breast cancer? What age should I start breast cancer screening? Can endometriosis be missed? How do you know if you have PCOS? Should I get my AMH tested? How do I advocate for myself at the doctor? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Let’s continue the conversation! Leave us a voicemail with your questions at 754-CALLDOC (754) 225-5362. Nothing is off limits.  Follow Us on Instagram:  @callyourdoctorpodcast  @lucky.sekhon   @aliciarobbinsmd THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to instanthydration.com/CALLYOURDOCTOR and use our promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR for over 40% off your first subscription order.Quince: Upgrade your everyday. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/callyourdoctor. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Alloy: Your sex life doesn't have to change just because your hormones did. Visit myalloy.com and use code CALLYOURDOCTOR for $20 off your first order!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code CALLYOURDOCTOR and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.Caraway: Right now, you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set vs buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway’s full Kitchenware collection. Visit Carawayhome.com/callyourdoctor to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.