In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen sits down with Dr. Nina Tamirisa, breast surgical oncologist and associate professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Known for her patient-first philosophy, Dr. Tamirisa breaks down what every woman should know about breast surgery, treatment options, and advocating for yourself. From lumpectomy vs. mastectomy to breast reconstruction, shared decision-making, fertility concerns, and the rise of breast cancer in younger Black women, Dr. Tamirisa offers practical, compassionate insight that could save lives. She explains why listening matters as much as treatment, how lifestyle factors like age and density influence care, and what questions women should be asking their doctors. This conversation is a must for survivors, caregivers, and women who want to understand their choices, reduce fear, and approach their treatment care with confidence. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org KEY POINTS: - [0:00] Introduction - [6:19] Meet Dr. Nina Tamirisa, breast surgical oncologist at MD Anderson - [7:46] The role of breast surgical oncologists vs. medical oncologists - [8:03] Why listening to patients is central to care - [9:07] Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy - [11:02] Options for women with large tumors and reconstruction choices - [14:01] Building trust with patients in moments of fear - [16:06] Questions every woman should ask her surgeon - [17:18] How age, fertility, and lifestyle affect treatment planning - [18:52] The rise of breast cancer in young Black women - [20:11] Treating women with multiple cancers in different breasts - [20:52] “Their outcome is my outcome” – Dr. Tamirisa’s philosophy - [22:22] Challenges after surgery, including lymphedema and healing - [35:34] Dr. Tamirisa’s vision for patient care and reducing disparities QUOTES: “What we're offering to you for treatment is really tailored treatment, so we're taking into account that these are the important things in your life, but we also want to offer the best in the oncologic care.” – Dr. Nina Tamirisa “Part of what drew me to surgery, I think, is that I really, really care about my patients. And I think when you make an incision, you kind of own all the things that come with that, so it ties you to that patient forever.” – Dr. Nina Tamirisa “I always try to ask what's important to you, what matters to you, and then we were going to do our best to do whatever we can to treat this and make sure it doesn't come back.” – Dr. Nina Tamirisa RESOURCES: Dr. Nina Tamirisa Website - mdanderson.org/profiles/nina_tamirisa  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast

On today’s episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen sits down with Dee Manuel Cloud, a two-time breast cancer survivor, recovery strategist, and unapologetic truth-teller. Diagnosed first at 35 (and again at 38), Dee shares how stress, suppressed emotions, and “suffering in silence” shaped her journey as well as how she transformed her pain into purpose. From leaving an unhappy marriage, to walking away from a high-stress job, to embracing her truth as a member of the LGBTQ community, Dee opens up about the life changes that helped her not only survive but thrive. Now 17 years in remission, Dee calls herself a breast cancer recovery strategist and equips women to prioritize their health, reduce stress, set boundaries, and live authentically. She also speaks powerfully about why Black women must advocate for themselves, how stress and systemic inequities impact survivorship, and why living boldly is the only way forward. Tune in as this episode is a masterclass in resilience, advocacy, and authenticity. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org  🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship! KEY POINTS:  - [0:00] Introduction  - [3:20] Dee’s first breast cancer diagnosis at 35 - [6:43] A second diagnosis at 38 and the wake-up call about stress - [8:42] Treatment decisions: from lumpectomy to mastectomy - [12:05] Alopecia, wigs, and navigating hair loss with humor - [15:15] What she wishes she had done differently the first time - [16:14] The cost of silence and suppressed emotions - [17:30] Divorce, career changes, and coming out authentically - [19:52] Survivorship is more than ringing the bell… - [20:58] Becoming a “breast cancer recovery strategist” - [26:50] Why the Strong Black Woman narrative is dangerous - [30:51] What to say to young women newly diagnosed  - [39:29] Finding joy and purpose in helping women reduce stress QUOTES: "It's easier to live a healthy lifestyle than it is to manage sickness." – Dee Manuel Cloud "Quality of life is just as important as quantity of life." – Dee Manuel Cloud "Some gifts come wrapped in sandpaper, right? That's what breast cancer was for me… It taught me authenticity. It taught me vulnerability. It taught me to not live in fear and to go after the life I want instead of the life I thought I was supposed to want." – Dee Manuel Cloud "We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the system of our strategies." – Dee Manuel Cloud RESOURCES:  Dee Manuel Cloud  Website - https://www.deemanuelcloud.com/  Website - https://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/  IG -  https://www.instagram.com/sistersnetwork/ 

When doctors dismiss your symptoms, it can cost you everything. In this powerful segment from SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, award-winning journalist and two-time breast cancer survivor Athena Jones shares why Black women must challenge their doctors, push for screening, and ask for proof — not reassurance. She explains how insisting on answers saved a 31-year-old woman’s life, why bringing someone with you to appointments matters, and how sisterhood through Sisters Network Inc. offers life-saving support. ✨ This clip is a must-watch for any woman who’s ever felt dismissed in a doctor’s office. Self-advocacy saves lives. RESOURCES:  Athena Jones IG - @iamathenajones Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

On today's episode, award-winning journalist and former CNN correspondent Athena Jones opens up about her journey as a two-time breast cancer survivor.  Athena shares how early detection, resilience, and advocacy shaped her fight for breast cancer. She discusses the disparities affecting Black women, the urgent need for research and policy change, and her forthcoming documentary, Sisters Keepers, which exposes the racial inequities in breast cancer care. She also highlights some of the survival and systemic barriers, as well as the hope that technology and community can bring.  Here’s the real deal: we don’t just need awareness — we need action. Tune in!  ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org  KEY POINTS:  - [00:00] Introduction - [2:59] Athena’s first diagnosis at age 36 - [5:01] On choosing double mastectomy & reconstruction treatment - [6:47] Diagnosed again at 39: Chemo, radiation, and another fight for survival. - [7:50] Athena continues being a White House reporter (while undergoing chemotherapy). - [11:22] How therapy and a support system helped Athena - [12:51] Launching Sisters Keepers documentary - [17:44] Breast cancer risk models rely on white populations, excluding women of color. - [22:13] The gap and crisis in Black Women’s Health - [32:53] Hope in AI Technology: New tool “Mirai” - [39:58] Embracing the journey as a journalist to advocate QUOTES:  “I did a double mastectomy. I was 36 years old… I had no family history I was aware of. This is why it wasn't on my radar.” – Athena Jones “My breast cancer wasn't hereditary. It was something else. But no one can give me a straight answer as to what caused it, which is so true in so many cases.” – Athena Jones “I chose to keep working. I'm a journalist. I had a kind of high-powered job, and I was obsessed with continuing to advance in my career, and I didn't want to pause for this pesky but deadly, potentially health problem.” –  Athena Jones RESOURCES:  Athena Jones IG - @iamathenajones Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

Black breast cancer survivors carry invisible grief - the loss of hair, fertility, mobility, relationships, and life before diagnosis. In this powerful 5-minute segment from SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, Dr. John Onwuchekwa reframes grief as a language, not a journey. He explains why joy and sadness can coexist, why “getting over it” is the wrong expectation, and how learning to speak grief brings healing, peace, and connection. ✨ Watch this if you’ve ever felt unseen in your pain. Grief doesn’t end, we just become fluent in it. RESOURCES John Onwuchekwa  Website | johno.co IG | @jawn_o Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

Grief is more than death. Sometimes, it’s seen in the silent ache of lost selves, broken bonds, changing bodies, and futures that never arrived. In this conversation, Dr. John Onwuchekwa helps us reframe grief not as a journey with an end, but as a language we must learn to speak. As an Atlanta-based pastor, author, and entrepreneur, John shares why grief so often feels isolating, how every grief story is also a love story, and how community and safe spaces can transform sorrow into healing. He tells us that, “It's more helpful for us to think of grief not as a journey, but a language. And the goal of a language is not to finish, it's to become fluent.”  Tune in to hear a perspective on grief that will leave you feeling seen, understood, and better equipped to navigate loss. KEY POINTS - [2:01] What is ambiguous grief? - [3:47] The hardest part isn’t the loss itself. - [6:35] How joy and sadness can coexist. - [8:44] Grief is not a journey; it’s a language. - [11:22] Why grief needs safe spaces and connection. - [14:13] Every grief story is a love story. - [16:53] Ways to help survivors process and move forward. - [18:23] How to support someone grieving. - [29:16] There’s no right or wrong way to handle grief. QUOTES “The biggest problem is not the loss, it is the loneliness that comes after that loss.” – John Onwuchekwa “Grief starts, but it does not have an end. And so if we continue to think about grief as a journey and talk through it like that, then what we do is we tend to send folks in search of light at the end of a closed tunnel.” – John Onwuchekwa “The more ambiguous the loss, the more tangible the comfort needs to be. So, the more ambiguous the loss, the more we need to work to create some type of ritual or place or something that people can tangibly come back to…”  – John Onwuchekwa RESOURCES John Onwuchekwa  Website | johno.co IG | @jawn_o Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

When Love & Marriage: Huntsville star Kimberlee Scott faced triple negative breast cancer, she leaned on faith, family, and a village of support to get through. In this powerful clip from SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, Kimberlee opens up about the unexpected blessings that carried her through treatment — from her husband’s unwavering love to friends who showed up on her hardest days. She also shares how fans, strangers, and even social media played a role in her healing, and why she’s now using her platform to support other women walking the same journey. ✨ Watch this if you’ve ever felt alone in your fight — Kimberlee’s story is proof that faith, sisterhood, and community can pull you through anything. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship presented by Sisters Network Inc. RESOURCES:  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

On this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen sits down with reality star and breast cancer survivor Kimberlee Scott from Love & Marriage: Huntsville. Known for her transparency and courage, Kimberlee opens up about her 2022 diagnosis with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer that disproportionately impacts Black women. In this emotional and powerful conversation, Kimberlee shares how she first discovered a lump while watching the NBA Finals, the whirlwind journey from diagnosis to treatment, and the role her husband, family, friends, and even her fans played in her survivorship. She also explains why she chose to go public with her story, how she’s using her platform to amplify awareness, and why early detection and self-advocacy are non-negotiable. For women under 40 and for anyone walking this journey: Kimberlee’s story is proof that you are not alone, and survivorship is possible. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org  KEY POINTS:  - [0:00] Introduction: - [0:48] Meet Kimberlee Scott of Love & Marriage: Huntsville - [2:25] Discovering a lump at home and getting diagnosed in 2022 - [4:40] Facing triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) - [7:14] Family history and genetic testing results - [9:32] Why Kimberlee chose to share her diagnosis publicly - [12:59] Launching “Bowling for Boobies” and giving back through fundraising - [15:54] The importance of support systems in survivorship - [18:44] Finding strength in faith and navigating treatment with resilience - [22:40] Choosing joy and showing up for life after cancer - [24:27] Proudest moments and giving hope to others through advocacy - [29:36] Encouragement from strangers and the power of small words - [30:28] Kimberlee’s message of faith and hope for every sister QUOTES: "Everything happens for a reason, even if I don't know the reason at the time, everything happens for a reason." – Kimberlee Scott "If I can reach one person and help them. Go get a mammogram. Walk with them. Go with them. Hold their hand. Courage, encourage them. That's my goal." – Kimberlee Scott "Friends raise your spirits. The other caveat I wasn't expecting was fans...the people that reached out to me via fanship were unbelievable." – Kimberlee Scott "We can do it. Life, love, Jesus, just my spirituality gives me hope for everybody, and the fight to keep trying to figure out how we can change the numbers, how we can make this face look different." – Kimberlee Scott RESOURCES:  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

Why are young Black women being diagnosed with breast cancer at higher rates and younger ages? In this eye-opening segment, Dr. Lisa Newman, Chief of Breast Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains the genetic connection between African ancestry and breast cancer risk. Dr. Newman breaks down her groundbreaking research on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), ancestry, and the science of oncologic anthropology — revealing how history, biology, and health inequities intersect. This is essential knowledge for every Black woman, survivor, and caregiver. 🎙️ Watch, learn, and share. Early detection and awareness save lives. RESOURCES: Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Black women, and many sisters are being diagnosed young, late, and even without the care they deserve.  In this powerful episode, world-renowned surgical oncologist Dr. Lisa Newman joins SIS: Sisters In Survivorship to break down the Black breast cancer crisis. Dr. Newman shares decades of research on why Black women face higher risks of aggressive breast cancers like triple negative, how ancestry and genetics play a role, and the urgent need for early detection and self-advocacy. She also opens up about her personal connection to the fight, losing her own sister to triple-negative breast cancer. Every sister deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. This episode is your invitation to join the movement: for better care and better futures. Together, we can stop the silence and start saving lives. Learn more at sistersnetworkinc.org.  KEYPOINTS:  00:00 – Dr. Lisa Newman on the state of Black women and breast cancer today 02:26 – Why triple-negative breast cancer is more common in Black women 05:43 – The role of ancestry, genetics, and environment in breast cancer risk 15:00 – How delayed diagnoses devastate outcomes for young Black women 18:00 – Why early detection and mammograms matter more than ever 20:00 – “Stop the Silence”: the Sisters Network's mission to break stigma 25:00 – Dr. Newman’s personal story of losing her sister to breast cancer 31:31 – The promise of research, AI, and representation in medicine 35:45 – A message of hope and action for every Black woman QUOTES:  “Triple negative breast cancers are twice as common in African-American women… regardless of the age or the stage at diagnosis.” –  Dr. Lisa Newman “Losing my sister to triple-negative breast cancer has made every patient I meet mean that much more to me. That’s why we have to continue this battle.” –  Dr. Lisa Newman “When we look at the data regarding disparities, we can’t just think of them as mysteries. These patterns have been ignored for decades. We cannot ignore them any longer.” –  Dr. Lisa Newman Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured

What happens when a diagnosis feels like a death sentence? For Karen Eubanks Jackson, it became the beginning of a movement. In this powerful segment of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, Karen shares how she survived breast cancer four times, how she could sense cancer in her body even when tests came back clear, and why early detection is so critical for Black women. She also reveals the moment she realized there was no national organization supporting African American women with breast cancer — and how that void inspired her to create Sisters Network Inc., now with 30+ survivor-run chapters across the country. For Karen, Sisters Network is more than an organization. It is her life’s purpose. It is proof that advocacy, community, and policy change can save lives and shape a better future for Black women. This is a story of resilience, faith, and sisterhood. It is also a call to action: trust your body, speak up for your health, and join a movement that will not stop until every sister is seen, heard, and supported. ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship

The premiere of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship begins with the story that started it all. Host Caleen Allen sits down with her mother, Karen Eubanks Jackson, founder and CEO of Sisters Network, Inc., a four-time breast cancer survivor, and the woman widely known as the pioneer of the Black breast cancer movement. In this intimate mother-daughter conversation, Karen shares her journey from a stage two diagnosis in 1993 to building the nation’s only African American breast cancer survivorship organization. She reflects on what it meant to survive breast cancer four times, how she transformed her pain into purpose, and why she fought to create a national sisterhood of support for Black women. This episode is not only a celebration of Karen’s legacy, but also a passing of the torch as Caleen prepares to lead the next chapter of Sisters Network. Together, they talk about early detection, the need for advocacy, and the power of building community so no woman has to fight alone. If you are a survivor, caregiver, or advocate, this episode will inspire you to take action and remind you that every sister deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. “They gave me a diagnosis. I gave them a movement.” – Karen Jackson KEY POINTS:  00:00 – Introduction 02:21 – Karen’s first diagnosis in 1993 03:01 – On facing fear and believing she only had “five years to live” 05:04 – Sisters Network and its journey in creating sisterhood and hope 07:48 – Why self-advocacy is critical for Black women fighting breast cancer 11:22 – Be screened early: why age 40 is too late for women 12:30 – On choosing joy and resilience moving forward 17:14 – Colleen on stepping into her mother’s legacy 21:07 – Celebrating 30 years of Sisters Network at NASDAQ billboard in NY Times Square QUOTES: “The first time I was diagnosed, I was afraid. Now I’m unstoppable.” –  Karen Jackson “I want to do my part as the CEO of Sisters Network to make sure that the movement includes that age group, because that's our future; they need to be not just they, but women their age, need to be better prepared, so that that early detection will definitely be something that will save their lives.” – Karen Jackson “It absolutely gave me my purpose. I’m grateful to have taken the time to develop an organization that has done great works in the community.” – Karen Jackson “Life is precious… and for us to move forward, you have to know that there’s a better life if you choose it.”  RESOURCES:  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured

Welcome to SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, a new podcast brought to you by Sisters Network Inc., the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in America. This show is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black women in navigating breast cancer – especially in educating all women on how to advocate for their breast health. In every episode, host Caleen Allen (Vice President), brings together survivors, medical experts, caregivers, and advocates for real, unfiltered conversations that matter. From early detection and genetic risk to mental health, motherhood, and survivorship, SIS provides culturally relevant insights, critical resources, and the supportive sisterhood that every woman deserves. Hear real conversations with survivors, medical experts, caregivers, and advocates about: Early detection and mammograms Genetic risk and family history Mental health during and after treatment Motherhood and survivorship Advocacy, sisterhood, and support ✨ Because every sister deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. 🔔 Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship. RESOURCES Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured 

Welcome to SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, a new podcast brought to you by Sisters Network Inc., the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in America. This show is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black women in navigating breast cancer – especially in educating all women on how to advocate for their breast health. In every episode, host Caleen Allen (Vice President), brings together survivors, medical experts, caregivers, and advocates for real, unfiltered conversations that matter. From early detection and genetic risk to mental health, motherhood, and survivorship, SIS provides culturally relevant insights, critical resources, and the supportive sisterhood that every woman deserves. Hear real conversations with survivors, medical experts, caregivers, and advocates about: Early detection and mammograms Genetic risk and family history Mental health during and after treatment Motherhood and survivorship Advocacy, sisterhood, and support ✨ Because every sister deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. 🔔 Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship. RESOURCES Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @sistersnetworkinc.8895/featured