Recently Diagnosed is a five-episode podcast series created to guide you through the earliest days of a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Bringing together leading oncologists, mental health experts, nurse navigators, and patients currently living with stage 4 disease , this series offers a clear, compassionate view of what lies ahead—medically, emotionally, and practically.
From understanding your diagnosis and treatment options to navigating uncertainty, support systems, and everyday life, each episode is designed to help you feel more grounded, informed, and less alone—no matter where you are in the process.
What Does Your Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis Mean?
The landscape of metastatic breast cancer treatment has transformed dramatically, with new options emerging every six months. In this episode, we examine what a stage 4 diagnosis really means for patients with hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and explore how treatment approaches have evolved from limited endocrine therapies to a comprehensive range of targeted options.
We discuss the critical balance between disease control and quality of life, the importance of support systems, and practical strategies for navigating this complex journey with hope and agency.
About Dr. Maryam Lustberg
Dr. Lustberg is Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she has witnessed firsthand the rapid evolution of metastatic breast cancer treatment and specializes in helping patients navigate complex treatment decisions while maintaining quality of life.
In this episode, we explore:
(02:02) What is stage 4 or metastatic breast cancer?
(04:31) Hormone-positive, HER2-negative subtype characteristics and prognosis
(07:18) Treatment timing decisions and the importance of information gathering
(10:09) Monitoring strategies: scans, symptoms, and quality of life assessments
(13:35) Adjusting to open-ended treatment duration
(16:33) The measurable impact of hope and social support on outcomes
(19:42) How treatment options have completely changed in the past two decades
(21:13) Exercise as medicine: practical movement strategies for patients
(22:44) Mental health support tools and pharmacological options
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30 Mar 2026
What I Wish I'd Known About MBC
In this episode, we hear from two women navigating life with hormone-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Megan and Lisa share their experiences from those first devastating weeks through finding community, purpose, and even joy. They discuss the unique emotional challenges of a stage 4 diagnosis, why specialized support groups matter, and how accepting this new reality opened unexpected doors to deeper connections and clearer priorities in their lives.
About Megan and Lisa
Megan was initially diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2020 and received her metastatic diagnosis in 2023 at age 48. Lisa, a former pilot, was first diagnosed in 2020 and learned her cancer had metastasized in May 2024. Both women are living with metastatic breast cancer while raising young families.
In this episode, we explore:
(01:46) Megan's journey from early stage to metastatic diagnosis
(03:38) Lisa's diagnosis story and career impact
(06:13) First reactions to hearing "stage 4"
(08:17) Getting through those devastating early weeks
(11:18) Building support systems and finding community
(14:12) Why stage-4-specific support groups matter
(16:18) Lisa's path to finding her breast cancer community
(20:29) Essential advice for newly diagnosed patients
(24:01) Finding joy and purpose within the diagnosis
(29:56) The importance of hope in metastatic cancer
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30 Mar 2026
Waiting and Living With Uncertainty
The hardest moments often happen away from the hospital – during the days and weeks between scans, treatments, and appointments. In this episode, we explore the emotional challenges of living with metastatic breast cancer and talk about practical strategies for managing anxiety, uncertainty, and the "will I be able to" questions that keep patients awake at night. We discuss actionable techniques you can use in the moment for acute anxiety, how to reset priorities while maintaining hope, and why specialized mental health support makes all the difference in cancer care.
About Kristy Case
Kristy Case is a licensed oncology social worker with nearly 20 years of experience supporting people through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She specializes in helping patients navigate the emotional challenges of living with advanced disease and building sustainable support networks throughout their cancer journey.
In this episode, we explore:
(01:48) Common concerns: the "will I be able to" fears
(03:53) Why the time between appointments is often hardest
(05:46) Practical strategies for feeling better day to day
(08:49) Emergency techniques for acute anxiety and overwhelm
(12:57) Resetting priorities and managing energy wisely
(15:41) Living with uncertainty while moving forward
(17:14) Hope versus toxic positivity in cancer care
(20:38) Integrating mental health with medical treatment
(22:47) Why specialized cancer experience matters in therapy
(25:05) One key takeaway: support is available to you
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30 Mar 2026
The Untapped Powers of Your Nurse Navigator
When you're diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, everything feels overwhelming. But there's one member of your care team who can make all the difference: your nurse navigator. In this episode, we explore how these specialized advocates help you tackle financial barriers, protect life milestones, and ensure your treatment plan aligns with what matters most to you. From asking the right questions at appointments to accessing resources you didn't know existed, we break down how to get the most from this crucial relationship and what to do if you don't have this support.
About Lilly Shockney
Lilly Shockney is the former administrative director of the Breast Center at Johns Hopkins and co-founder of the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators. She continues to serve on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is a leading voice in patient advocacy and cancer survivorship programs.
In this episode, we explore:
(02:54) Three essential questions your navigator should ask at every visit
(05:24) How to advocate for yourself when navigator support falls short
(09:29) The three biggest practical barriers: finances, transportation, and work
(11:24) Financial resources specifically available for metastatic breast cancer patients
(12:34) Protecting life milestones and timing treatment around what matters
(15:26) Preparing questions and getting the most from oncology appointments
(16:52) Nine elements for taking control of the rest of your life
(20:55) Gone from our sight: by Rev. Luther F. Beecher. Reframing end-of-life conversations
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30 Mar 2026
Cutting Edge Treatments: Here's What Coming Next
The pace of change in metastatic breast cancer treatment is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. In this episode, we examine the groundbreaking therapies emerging from recent clinical trials and explore what this rapid evolution means for patients living with HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic disease. We discuss how precision medicine is reshaping treatment strategies, the promise of combination therapies, and why the next five years could fundamentally transform how we approach this complex disease.
About Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky
Dr. Teplinsky is Head of Breast and Gynecologic Medical Oncology at Valley Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She specializes in metastatic breast cancer treatment and is a recognized expert in precision oncology approaches for advanced disease.
In this episode, we explore:
(03:07) Progress in hormone receptor-positive metastatic disease
(05:57) Late-stage trials ending soon
(07:36) The groundbreaking SERENA-6 trial and preemptive treatment switching
(11:25) Balancing hope with realistic expectations
(13:12) Accessing cutting-edge treatments outside major cancer centers
(16:34) When and how to pursue clinical trials throughout your journey
(18:22) Understanding what makes a new treatment right for you
(22:47) The treatment landscape five years from now
(23:59) What's coming next
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