Episode 26: Breast Cancer Survivor and "Previvor" 101 with Kim Robinson & Vanessa Vance

Send us a textHave you ever thought about the power of intuition? Kim Robinson, a breast cancer survivor, did. Kim's lemon-sized tumor could be FELT but NOT SEEN on imaging-3D mammography or Breast MRI. Not only did she feel something was off before her diagnosis, but she also found her voice to advocate for herself w/ her insurance company, leading to her early detection of cancer. Kim shared her journey from being diagnosed w/ stage 1A breast cancer in 2016 to undergoing double mastectomy w/ expanders in 2018 and implants in 2019. She ultimately had them explanted and opted for the DIEP Flap surgery at Center For Restorative Breast Surgery Vanessa Vance, a "Previvor", and now an advocate for Previvors,  joins us to share her proactive steps to reduce her own risk of cancer through a preventative mastectomy and breast reconstruction. She was better able to make those decisions through her serendipitous friendship with Kim. Throughout the episode, we delve into the importance of self-advocacy and patient rights. We discussed the role of social media in rallying patient advocates and the medical community to keep the S codes in place after the 2019 changes that would make it considerably more difficult for many women to be able to have the DIEP Flap surgery. Kim and Vanessa share their experiences w/ genetic testing and the ways to navigate the healthcare system, as well as their emotional journey in coming to terms w/ their body image post-surgery and the importance of supportive communities in helping them through their journeys. Vanessa recommends following Dr. Elizabeth Potter's IG account and her nonprofit Community Breast Surgery Alliance for more resources on advocacy. Kim suggests joining a local breast cancer group or the ABC program at the YMCA. This episode is a treasure trove of resources, experiences, and advice for those on a breast cancer journey and those who are Previvors wanting to know more about how they can take steps to reduce to risk of breast cancer.Join Jamie Vaughn! Contact:EMail Kim Robinson Vanessa IG Vanessa LinkedIn Resources: Center For Restorative Breast Surgery Are you loving the Test Those Breasts! Podcast? You can show your support by donating to the Test Those Breasts Nonprofit @ https://testthosebreasts.org/donate/ Where to find Jamie:Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Test Those Breasts Facebook Group LinkTree Jamie Vaughn in the News! Thanks for listening! I would appreciate your rating and review where you listen to podcasts!I am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers, therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .