Vanessa Risetto on Self-Advocacy, Treatment & Healing from HER2+ Breast Cancer

What happens when a registered dietitian and healthcare CEO becomes the patient?In this deeply candid conversation, I sit down with Vanessa Risetto, RD — CEO and co-founder of Culina Health — to share her personal journey through HER2-positive breast cancer, from the subtle signs that led to her diagnosis to the empowered, individualized path she took through treatment and healing.Vanessa opens up about the early symptoms she knew weren’t right — even when doctors reassured her she was fine — and why trusting your intuition and advocating for yourself in the medical system can be lifesaving. Together, Jamie and Vanessa explore what it truly means to build the right cancer care team, ask better questions, and move beyond a one-size-fits-all treatment approach to find what aligns with your body and needs.This episode also dives into the emotional and mental landscape of cancer: the overwhelm of conflicting “healing” advice, the pressure of doing everything perfectly, and why stress itself can become a hidden burden in recovery. Vanessa shares how her faith supported her resilience, how her relationship with food evolved after diagnosis, and why doctors — while essential — don’t always have every answer when it comes to whole-person healing.You’ll also hear an honest conversation about survivorship realities: why well-intentioned words can miss the mark, why life must exist beyond illness, and how reclaiming normalcy is part of healing.This is an empowering, nuanced discussion for anyone navigating cancer — or supporting someone who is — and a reminder that informed self-advocacy and individualized care matter deeply.✨ In this episode, we discuss:• Early signs and symptoms that led to Vanessa’s breast cancer diagnosis• Trusting your intuition when doctors say you’re “fine”• How to advocate for yourself in the healthcare system• Finding and building the right cancer care team• Personalizing treatment vs one-size-fits-all oncology• Information overload and stress in the modern healing world• The role of faith in coping with cancer• Nutrition and eating habits after diagnosis• Why doctors don’t always have every answer• Living life beyond cancer and reclaiming normalcy• What support actually feels helpful during illnessIf you or someone you love is navigating breast cancer, survivorship, or medical self-advocacy, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and hope.---To connect with Vanessa or learn more about her offerings at Culina Health visit www.culinahealth.com or connect with her on Instagram @vanessarisettord