Episodes

  • Navigating Side Effects, Fear of Recurrence, and Life After Treatment

    Navigating Side Effects, Fear of Recurrence, and Life After Treatment
    May 26 2026
    A casual night watching sports, a quick breast self-exam, and a lump that did not belong there. Faced with no insurance and four months of not knowing what to do, Felicia Kent walked into a neighborhood clinic, received a referral to The Rose, and heard the three words that changed everything: you have cancer. In this episode, she talks about choosing a treatment center, using research and strict adherence to medication to blunt chemo side effects, and learning to live with radiation fatigue, lymphedema, neuropathy, and a body that will never be the same. She also shares how faith, a determined daughter, an emotional support dog, and a calling to serve other survivors led her to start a nonprofit, finish her psychology degree, and focus on practical support and early mammograms in the African American community. Support The Rose HERE. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. Key Questions Answered 1. How did Felicia find her lump and what kept her from seeking help immediately? 2. How does someone without insurance get from a neighborhood clinic to The Rose for diagnostic care? 3. What does it feel like to hear “you have cancer,” and how did Felicia share that news with her family? 4. How did she choose a treatment center and manage chemo, surgery, and radiation side effects day to day? 5. What practical strategies helped her reduce chemo side effects like nausea, mouth sores, and nosebleeds? 6. How is she now supporting other patients through a nonprofit, church outreach, and peer-to-peer work? 7. Why are mindset, faith, and social support so critical during and after breast cancer treatment? 8. How is she raising awareness about mammograms and access within the African American community? 9. What long-term issues like lymphedema, neuropathy, and fear of recurrence does she still live with? 10. How does an emotional support dog, movement, and counseling help manage post-treatment anxiety? Timestamped Overview 00:00 Episode opens, Felicia’s story as an uninsured survivor who reached The Rose through a neighborhood clinic is introduced.01:20 Guest host Shannon McNair welcomes Felicia and asks how she discovered her lump and used self-exams.01:40 Felicia describes finding the lump by chance, lacking insurance, and remembering The Rose from boutique work.02:40 She visits a nearby clinic, receives an immediate referral to The Rose, and later credits the team with saving her life.04:30 Telling her sister, leaning on prayer, and deciding early to be a testimony for others facing cancer.06:20 What she wishes she had known about treatment, side effects, and why she followed medication instructions exactly.07:40 Lesser-discussed chemo and radiation side effects like mouth sores, nosebleeds, and fluid issues, and how she managed them.08:40 Birth of her nonprofit work, finishing a psychology degree during treatment, and pursuing community health worker training.09:50 Current advocacy: blogs, peer-to-peer conversations, holiday outreach, and small gifts to patients during treatment.10:40 Common questions she hears about insurance, alternatives, and staying positive through harsh treatments.12:10 How to support someone with cancer when you do not know what to say, including quiet presence and simple statements of love.13:40 Encouraging friends and family to show up with meals, learning, and practical help, while survivors learn to express what they need.16:30 Holiday and year-round programs for patients, including Christmas deliveries, Valentine outreach, and church-based change collections for donations to The Rose.19:10 Focus on education and early detection in the African American community, especially for younger women and those wary of treatment.20:30 Balancing chemo, lumpectomy, graduation, radiation, and then managing fluid buildup and other late effects.23:50 How an emotional support dog, daily walks, and therapy help manage anxiety and fear of recurrence after treatment.26:00 Decision to delay reconstruction, experiences losing a young niece and a church member to breast cancer, and why that fuels her advocacy.27:20 She reflects on cancer as an ongoing learning experience, the importance of mental health care, and continuing in support groups.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    29 mins
  • Holistic Care for Breast Cancer Survivors

    Holistic Care for Breast Cancer Survivors
    May 21 2026

    Marcella Herrera from the Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center joins the show to talk about the ways their all-volunteer staff helps survivors thrive after fighting the battle of their lives.

    During this episode, you'll learn about the wide array of programs offered, as well as the importance of having an empathetic shoulder to lean on (that's not a relative). And finally, Marcella tells Dorothy why providing support for survivors and their families could be the most important medicine.

    Learn more about the Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center here.

    Help us grow the show by leaving a review on your podcast platform and sharing with your family and friends. And please consider supporting our mission at therose.org. Your help could help save the life of an uninsured woman.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    30 mins
  • How The Rose's Mobile Mammograms Bring Screening to 45 Counties

    How The Rose's Mobile Mammograms Bring Screening to 45 Counties
    May 19 2026

    Some women clear their calendar for a mammogram. Others step onto a 40-foot pink coach in their office parking lot.

    As director of mobile services at The Rose, Shelly Kot oversees a five-coach fleet that delivers the same 3D screening you’d get in a center to women across 45 counties in Southeast Texas.

    During this conversation, she talks about the moving parts that keep those rolling clinics on the road, the sick feeling when a generator or quality check shuts a day down, and why she still puts on a badge and does mammograms herself.

    She also shares how being raised by her grandparents, working inside both nonprofit and for-profit systems, and parenting a daughter shapes the way she teaches women to push for answers when something feels wrong.

    Support The Rose HERE.

    Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

    Key Questions Answered

    1. How does The Rose’s mobile mammography program work for workplaces, churches, and schools?

    2. What is the difference between screening on a coach and services at a breast center?

    3. How far do The Rose’s five mobile coaches travel across Southeast Texas?

    4. What happens when a mobile coach or critical equipment breaks down on screening day?

    5. How do quality checks on the road protect patients and keep standards high?

    6. Why did Shelly choose radiology and then specialize in mammography?

    7. What did she learn working in both nonprofit and for-profit breast centers?

    8. How does she support fearful patients during mammograms and biopsies?

    9. What life lessons from her grandmother guide how she works and leads?

    10. What does it mean for women to advocate for themselves when something feels wrong in their bodies?

    Timestamped Overview

    00:00 Episode begins, mobile mammography program introduced.
    02:00 Role overseeing five mobile coaches and 45 counties.
    03:00 How workplaces, schools, and partners schedule a mobile coach.
    03:30 Same 3D technology on coaches as in The Rose’s centers.
    05:00 Breakdowns, generators, and failed quality checks that can cancel a full day.
    06:00 Daily quality control on moving coaches and why it matters.
    07:30 Choosing radiology, then focusing on mammography and caring for women.
    11:00 Seeing the difference between nonprofit and for-profit breast centers.
    13:00 A typical mobile day, early starts, and full screening schedules.
    14:00 Why she still performs mammograms as a director to stay close to patients.
    17:30 The Rose’s mission to serve insured and uninsured women alike.
    19:30 Life with a police officer husband and their “no work talk” rule.
    20:30 Being raised by her grandparents and lessons from her grandmother.
    23:00 Hopes for her daughter’s health and self-advocacy.
    24:30 Core life lesson about kindness and the lasting impact of words.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    27 mins
  • Blindness, Breast Cancer, and Bold Choices: One Woman’s Unyielding Spirit

    Blindness, Breast Cancer, and Bold Choices: One Woman’s Unyielding Spirit
    May 14 2026

    Jennifer Parrish, Manager of Business Services at the Lighthouse of Houston, joins Dorothy to share her story. Parrish talks about managing work at the Lighthouse of Houston, overcoming transportation issues for treatments, and addressing misconceptions around breast cancer.

    Despite facing breast cancer, legal blindness, and personal loss, Jennifer's resilience and positive attitude shine. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeks to inspire others through The Lighthouse’s podcast, Sightless Voices, Unleashing Potential.

    Support The Rose HERE.

    Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

    Key Questions Answered

    1.) What was Jennifer Parrish's oncotype score, and what did it imply?

    2.) Why did Jennifer Parrish opt for surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes?

    3.) How did Jennifer Parrish rate the difficulty of her breast cancer journey?

    4.) Did Jennifer Parrish have time to grieve her father's passing?

    5.) What challenges did Jennifer Parrish face in navigating healthcare facilities and appointments?

    6.) What actions did Jennifer Parrish take to make her cancer experience more enjoyable?

    7.) How did Jennifer Parrish manage her work during radiation therapy and her cancer treatments?

    Timestamped Overview

    00:00 Jennifer Parrish: Inspiring journey overcoming challenges, inspiring empowerment.

    03:40 Moved for better opportunities, settled in Houston.

    06:41 Navigating challenges delays mammogram for blind patient.

    09:46 Family support and friendships during cancer treatment.

    15:11 Podcast helps raise awareness about cancer support services.

    15:56 Used Google Maps, brushed up on Spanish.

    22:11 Blindness intertwined with breast cancer challenge, manageable.

    25:35 Need to relax more during recovery time.

    27:00 Overheating scare during daily afternoon walk.

    31:01 Understanding real issues fosters connection and empathy.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    33 mins
  • El miedo a la mamografía: Lo que necesitas saber para estar tranquila

    El miedo a la mamografía: Lo que necesitas saber para estar tranquila
    May 13 2026

    En este episodio, conversamos con la Dra. Cotes, radióloga experta en salud mamaria, para aclarar muchos de los mitos y preocupaciones comunes que existen sobre la mamografía. Desde la temida radiación hasta los diferentes tipos de exámenes disponibles, la Dra. Cotes nos explica de manera sencilla cómo la mamografía es una herramienta segura y crucial para detectar el cáncer de mama en etapas tempranas. Además, hablamos sobre el impacto de la densidad mamaria y la importancia de los exámenes anuales, así como las últimas innovaciones tecnológicas, como la resonancia magnética y los ultrasonidos, que ayudan a mejorar los diagnósticos. Si tiene duda sobre su salud mamaria o la mamografía, este episodio es para usted.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    28 mins
  • Access to Treatment Takes More Than a Pathology Report

    Access to Treatment Takes More Than a Pathology Report
    May 12 2026
    Being uninsured, speaking a different language, or not understanding a 40-page form should never decide who lives or dies. In this episode, patient navigators Laura Tovar and Elizabeth Esparza walk us through what really happens after an uninsured woman hears “you have breast cancer” at The Rose. They explain how they review applications before diagnosis, sit in the room with the radiologist, and answer the first question they always hear: “How am I going to pay for this?” They also talk about the maze behind assistance programs for uninsured patients, what it takes to keep coverage from lapsing in the middle of chemo, and the impossible choices some families face during their breast cancer journey. Along the way, Laura and Elizabeth share what it costs them emotionally to carry these stories, why they sometimes cry with husbands and children, and how quilts, gas cards, summer camps, and rent assistance become part of making sure no woman has to face breast cancer or the paperwork alone. Support The Rose HERE. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. Key Questions Answered 1. What does “patient navigation to treatment” mean at The Rose, and how is it different from scheduling or basic navigation? 2. How do Laura and Elizabeth first learn about a woman, and what happens between her initial mammogram and a positive diagnosis? 3. What are the main treatment access programs for uninsured women in this episode (Harris Health/Gold Card and Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer)? 4. Who qualifies for Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer, and how do income, age, citizenship, and “working quarters” factor in? 5. Why do many newly diagnosed women worry more about cost and payment than about the cancer itself? 6. How do navigators match patients with facilities and oncology practices that actually accept their specific Medicaid HMO plan? 7. What happens when Medicaid coverage lapses during chemo, and how do Laura and Elizabeth intervene to get treatment restarted? 8. How do they explain a breast cancer diagnosis differently to small children, teenagers, and spouses, and why are husbands often the most visibly shaken? 9. What are some of the hardest situations they see, including women moving counties or divorcing to meet eligibility rules, or being asked for large deposits to start chemo? 10. How do Laura and Elizabeth support patients with complex applications, missing documents, language barriers, and repeated denials from eligibility offices? 11. What other practical resources do they connect families to, such as food assistance, utility and rent support, camps for kids, gas cards, wigs, bras, and comfort items? 12. How do they cope with the emotional toll of this work while trying to remain steady for patients and their families? Timestamped Overview 00:00 Dorothy opens with how insurance status, language, and paperwork can determine who lives or dies, and introduces patient navigators Laura Tovar and Elizabeth Esparza.01:45 Laura and Elizabeth share how long they have been at The Rose and the roles they held before moving into patient navigation to treatment.02:35 Dorothy explains “sponsorship” as intake for assistance programs and why The Rose avoids the word “charity.”03:10 Elizabeth defines patient navigation to treatment as helping mostly uninsured, newly diagnosed women find a path into actual cancer care.03:50 Elizabeth describes reviewing applications a day or two before diagnosis to anticipate which treatment program might fit.04:25 Laura walks through what happens on the day a woman learns she has breast cancer and how navigators stay with her after the radiologist leaves.05:30 Elizabeth outlines key treatment programs: Harris Health (Gold Card) for county residents and Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer (MBCC).06:00 Laura and Elizabeth explain MBCC eligibility, including age limits, income guidelines, citizenship, legal residency, five-year residency rules, and working quarters.08:20 They describe the questions women ask first after diagnosis, centered on cost, payment, and whether existing coverage at The Rose will extend to treatment.09:20 Laura explains why The Rose refers many MBCC patients to Texas Oncology and how they choose facilities that accept specific Medicaid HMO plans.10:30 They discuss how confusing HMO choices and insurance concepts are for women who have never had coverage and fear they will have to “pay it back.”11:20 Dorothy notes that many major cancer hospitals do not accept these plans, increasing reliance on a smaller network of providers.12:00 Laura and Elizabeth talk about the need to renew Medicaid every 12 months, how patients can forget during treatment, and what happens when coverage expires mid-chemo.12:35 They describe calling Medicaid, troubleshooting reasons for termination, and sometimes getting coverage reinstated within days.13:40 Dorothy asks how ...
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    31 mins
  • Following Mom’s Lead by Paying it Forward to The Rose

    Following Mom’s Lead by Paying it Forward to The Rose
    May 7 2026

    Jennifer Pareya's support for The Rose spans more than twenty years and it all started with her mom’s breast cancer experience.

    Jennifer’s mom, Judy, was diagnosed at The Rose and after beating breast cancer, she insisted on the family giving back. And they’ve done so tenfold.

    From fundraisers at the Lighthouse Pub to Bikers Against Breast Cancer, they’ve spent many years advocating on behalf of uninsured women in Texas.

    Now, she champions the adult beverage stand at the iconic Shrimp Boil.

    But it’s more than that.

    Jennifer understands the life-saving importance of mammograms and encourages insured women to schedule their mammograms at The Rose so that uninsured women can be seen as well. It's a simple act that makes a big impact.

    Learn more at therose.org/shrimpboil.

    Key Questions Answered

    1.) How has Jennifer Pareya and her family supported The Rose for over two decades?

    2.) Why is it important for Jennifer to bring two insured women with her to her mammogram appointments?

    3.) What are Jennifer’s favorite moments from past Shrimp Boils?

    Chapters

    00:00 Jennifer's Fundraising Journey

    02:44 The Shrimp Bowl: A Fun and Successful Fundraiser

    03:40 Giving Back to the Rose

    07:06 Jennifer's Strategy for Fundraising

    09:29 The Impact of the Rose and Paying It Forward

    10:53 Special Memories at the Shrimp Boil

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    15 mins
  • A Women's Bakery, Orphaned Elephants, and Rural Breast Care: Giving With a Bigger Picture

    A Women's Bakery, Orphaned Elephants, and Rural Breast Care: Giving With a Bigger Picture
    May 5 2026
    Nonprofit leaders dream of someone walking in and saying, “I’m going to give you a million dollars.” Very few ever see it happen. In this episode, a longtime supporter explains why she chose to fund multiple mobile coaches, help open an East Texas Regional Service Center, and seed The Rose’s Mammogram to Medical Home program instead of paying for brick and mortar. She talks about dividing her mother’s unrestricted giving fund among education, medical care, and conservation, and why she looks for small organizations whose work sends “tentacles” into whole communities and generations. From a women’s bakery in Africa that feeds thousands of children and sends girls to school, to knowledge mobiles, orphaned elephants, and seed grants for students, she returns over and over to one idea: food and health give people a chance at any future. Support The Rose HERE. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. Key Questions Answered 1. Why did this donor decide to fund mobile mammography coaches instead of buildings or equipment alone? 2. What led her to support The Rose’s Mammogram to Medical Home program for uninsured women without a doctor? 3. How does she evaluate nonprofits and decide where her giving can reach the most people? 4. What impact has her support had on The Rose’s reach across rural counties in Texas? 5. How does the women’s bakery in Africa change entire families and communities over time? 6. Why is conservation, especially in Africa, a core part of her philanthropy? 7. How have personal family health issues shaped her interest in medical research and smaller organizations? Time-stamped Overview 00:00 Episode begins, Dorothy welcomes a returning donor and recaps her support for coaches, machines, and the East Texas hub.01:00 Dorothy remembers the first meeting, meant to discuss Hispanic outreach, that turned into a million-plus-dollar commitment.03:00 Donor explains why she dislikes brick-and-mortar projects and pushed instead for funding a mobile coach.04:00 She shares why serving uninsured and Hispanic communities and multiple rural counties made the coach gift feel right.05:00 She describes hearing from a friend whose East Side clinics routinely send women to The Rose.06:40 Background on the unrestricted giving fund her mother left, and how she divided it among education, medical care, and conservation.07:30 Story of the women’s bakery in Africa, where uneducated women become bakers, feed thousands of children, and send girls to school.09:30 Benny’s journey from hungry child to baker and first in his family to pursue higher education.12:00 Why she prefers projects with “tentacles” that ripple across generations rather than one-time efforts.13:15 Family roots in geological conservation and how that grew into wildlife and environmental work in Africa.14:30 Description of funding “knowledge mobiles” in Botswana that teach children and teachers about animals and conservation.15:30 Support for vehicles and projects in Madagascar and elsewhere that combine conservation, education, and livelihoods.16:45 How a first trip to Kenya and later bird-watching deepened her awareness of poverty and need.18:00 Why she values organizations where 100 percent of donations flow directly to field partners.19:00 How she vets small organizations through trusted partners and prefers to give seed money.21:00 Dorothy recalls how the donor also seeded the Mammogram to Medical Home program after a declined grant.22:00 Structure of the Mammogram to Medical Home model and why it is unusual in mammography.23:30 Donor shares why reducing fear and complexity for uninsured women matters so much to her.24:20 She reflects on being raised to help people regardless of background and to treat everyone with respect.24:50 Dorothy describes how the coaches and the Lufkin hub expanded The Rose’s reach far beyond Houston.26:00 Dorothy notes the donor’s humility and curiosity, always learning servers’ stories and quietly backing new programs.27:30 Donor shares her introverted childhood and how marriage nudged her into connection and a wide circle of friends.28:20 She considers future giving priorities, including food security on Native reservations and broader food and health efforts.30:30 Examples of seed grants for arts and music students at universities who lack funds for travel, internships, and competitions.31:30 Final reflection that food and health give people a foundation for any future, followed by closing thanks and call to support The Rose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    34 mins