Episode: #4

Guest: Dr. Prashanth Venkatesh

Topic: Healthcare Navigation | Cardio-Oncology | Heart Valve Disease

The treatments that saved your life shouldn't be the ones that sideline your heart. If your symptoms are being dismissed as 'stress' or 'aging,' it’s time to change the conversation.

In this episode, host Mary Burrell sits down with Dr. Prashanth Venkatesh (Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai) to uncover the "hidden whispers" of the heart. We’re diving into why past radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy often leave structural signatures that standard tests miss and how to ensure you aren't lost in the "diagnostic gap" of heart valve disease.

Why This Episode is Essential:

The "Lost Decade": Why a delay in medical screening guidelines means survivors must now take a strategic approach to cardio-oncology.

Beyond the Standard Echo: Discover the structural "red flags" and advanced imaging clues that reveal the true impact of past cancer treatments.

The Advocacy Pivot: Learn the exact, high-impact question to ask your doctor to ensure your oncology history stays at the center of your cardiovascular care.

Don’t let your history be a footnote. Learn how to architect a resilient model of care that protects your heart for the long term.

Tune in to shift the narrative from fragmented survival to strategic advocacy. Let’s build the bridge the system forgot.

Clinical Resources.

The Self-Advocacy Masterclass: Cancer Survival Toolbox — Free audio lessons on navigating the system and solving medical challenges.

The Clinical Roadmap: CardioSmart: Cancer Treatment and Your Heart Provides a visual and easy-to-understand breakdown of why the heart needs monitoring after treatment and exactly what symptoms to watch for.

Explore the Whole Picture:

Learn more about our Guest: ⁠Dr. Venkatesh⁠

Visit our Website: ⁠https://www.maryburrell.com/⁠

Connect with Us: info@maryburrell.com

Subscribe to the Show: ⁠Heart2Heart Talk

Championing the whole heart—yours, ours and theirs.

#Heart2HeartTalk #CardioOncology #PatientAdvocacy #CedarsSinai #HeartValveDisease #IntegratedCare

Episode: #3

Guest: MARY BURRELL

Topic: Healthcare Navigation, Caregiving & Invisible Labor

When the system fails to communicate, the caregiver becomes the bridge. But what happens when that bridge is stretched to the breaking point?

In this episode, host Mary Burrell addresses the "empty chair" at the table, a powerful metaphor for the invisible labor and exhaustion that define the modern caregiving experience. We’re shining the light on the high-stakes project management that families are forced to master overnight just to keep their loved ones from falling through the systemic cracks.

Why You Need to Listen:

The "Invisible Labor": Recognizing the shift from family member to "Clinical Coordinator" and the mental load that follows.

The Systemic Disconnect: Why experts staying in their "lanes" forces you to become the primary investigator of your own health.

Infrastructure vs. Advocacy: Understanding the gap between medical treatment and the actual navigation of a fragmented system.

If you’ve ever felt like the only thing holding a medical journey together is your own persistence, this episode is your validation. Tune in to shift the narrative from fragmented survival to strategic advocacy. Let’s build the bridge the system forgot.

Explore the Whole Picture:

Visit our Website: https://www.maryburrell.com/

Connect with Us: info@maryburrell.com

Subscribe to the Show: https://tinyurl.com/5xhk3pr7

Championing the whole heart—yours, ours and theirs.

#Heart2HeartTalk #PatientAdvocacy #CaregiverSupport #HeartValveHealth #IntegratedCare

Episode: #2

Guest: Ken Aster

Topic: Carcinoid Heart Disease, Rare Disease Advocacy & Invisible Battle

When a neuroendocrine tumor silently triggers a 'hormone storm,' your heart valves become the collateral damage. How do you lead a business when your body is fighting a war no one can see?

In Episode 2, host Mary Burrell is joined by Ken Aster, Co-Founder of Prosum and a Southern California business leader. Ken’s journey is a masterclass in integrated leadership balancing a high-stakes career with the sudden reality of Carcinoid Heart Disease.

After a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) began damaging his heart valves from the inside out, Ken underwent two transcatheter valve replacements. Today, he pulls talks about the "Invisible Illness" experience looking perfectly healthy to the outside world while navigating a life-threatening medical crisis.

Strategic Insights from This Episode:

The Internal Storm: A breakdown of how hormones cause heart valves to become thick and stiff, and why these symptoms are so often missed.

The "Invisible" Burden: The emotional and physical weight of managing a rare diagnosis while maintaining professional and family responsibilities.

The Advocacy Protocol: Mary and Ken discuss the specific clinical "hard stops"—including the 5-HIAA urine test and NT-proBNP blood test—that every patient needs to secure their own roadmap to care.

Rarity is never an excuse for a missed diagnosis. Tune in to learn how to turn a "random Tuesday" struggle into a strategic fight for your life.

Explore the Whole Picture:

Connect with our Guest: Learn more about Ken’s professional work at ⁠Prosum⁠.

Visit our Website: https://www.maryburrell.com/

Connect with Us: info@maryburrell.com

Resources for Patients & Families:

The Healing NET Foundation: Access the ⁠Medical Hub⁠ for guides on Carcinoid Heart Disease.

NET Research Foundation (NETRF): Comprehensive ⁠Patient Guides⁠ and specialist databases.

LACNETS: Expert ⁠Video Library⁠ on "invisible" symptoms.

Tune in to shift the narrative from fragmented survival to strategic advocacy. Let’s build the bridge the system forgot.

Championing the whole heart—yours, ours and theirs.

#Heart2HeartTalk #CarcinoidHeartDisease #NETCancer #PatientAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #HeartValveHealth #RareDisease #StructuralHeart