On this deeply personal episode of SHE MD, co-host Mary Alice Haney sits down with her lifelong best friend, Stacey Hunt, to share the story of how listening to the podcast led Stacey to advocate for herself, and ultimately, catch her breast cancer early enough to save her life.

After hearing the Olivia Munn episode and learning about lifetime breast cancer risk assessments, dense breast tissue, and the importance of MRIs for high-risk women, Stacey decided to take action. Despite having a recent “clear” mammogram and no symptoms, she pushed for additional testing after learning her lifetime risk score was 28%. That MRI revealed a tiny invasive lobular breast cancer hidden beneath extremely dense breast tissue; something her mammogram missed entirely.

Together, Stacey, Mary Alice, and Thais Aliabadi have an emotional and eye-opening conversation about self-advocacy, early detection, dense breasts, genetic testing, the realities of a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment decisions, reconstruction options, menopause after cancer, and the emotional toll that comes with survivorship. This episode is both a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives and a call for every woman to know her lifetime risk of breast cancer.

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Sponsors

Myriad: Go to GetMyRisk.com to learn more about hereditary cancer testing and how you can use Myriad’s virtual care option for fast, at-home testing - no office visit required.

What You’ll Learn

• Why every woman should know her lifetime breast cancer risk score
• The difference between 2D and 3D mammograms
• Why women with dense breasts may need ultrasounds and MRIs
• What the Myriad genetic test measures
• The difference between ductal and lobular breast cancer
• Why invasive lobular cancer can be harder to detect
• How to advocate for yourself when a doctor dismisses your concerns
• The emotional reality of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis
• The connection between menopause, breast cancer, and hormone replacement therapy
• Non-hormonal options for managing menopause symptoms after breast cancer
• Why repetition and education empower women to take control of their health

Key Timestamps

00:00 Why You’re Tired Even When You’re Doing Everything Right

01:40 The Random Phone Call That Changed Everything

02:30 This Story Honestly Scared Me

03:29 The Podcast Episode That Literally Saved Her Life

04:14 The Breast Cancer Test Nobody Told Her About

05:42 She Got Her Results Back… And Freaked Out

09:16 Her Doctor Basically Said “You’re Fine”

11:58 When Your Doctor Makes You Feel Dramatic

13:26 The MRI That Found What Everyone Missed

14:11 The Type Of Breast Cancer That Hides

16:49 The Call Nobody Ever Wants To Get

19:18 What Having Cancer Actually Feels Like

22:50 Why She Removed Both Breasts

30:44 The Hormone Question Everyone is Asking

41:58 How Cancer Completely Changed Her Perspective

43:49 The Advice Every Woman Needs To Hear

Key Takeaways

• Earl