Bone Health 101: Why You Should Get a DXA Scan, How to Maintain Your Bones During Breast Cancer Treatment and More!
I simply can’t believe that I’m about to dive into the third season of my, “Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful” podcast! I’ve interviewed so many knowledgeable experts and fearless advocates, and have especially enjoyed creating episodes for the #beautifultothebone bone health series which was made possible by Amgen.
Ever since I had my first DXA scan just over a year ago, I’ve been on a mission to keep you educated about bone health as it relates to breast cancer as well as keep you informed about the importance of fracture prevention.
Just in case you missed any of the #beautifultothebone episodes, here are some highlights from the past few months:
Bone Health & Menopause: What Women Need To Know
Back in August (Season 2, Episode #29) I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Andrea Singer, Associate Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Medstar Georgetown University & Chief Medical Officer of the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. We had a very in-depth and valuable conversation about bone health as it relates to breast cancer and menopause. Grab a pen because by listening to this episode, you’ll learn practical ways to prevent bone loss, how to maintain strong bones even if you’re post menopausal or undergoing breast cancer treatment, and so much more!
Flexing After Cancer: How To Keep Your Bones Strong & Healthy After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Last September, I sat down with someone who I feel like I’ve known forever, although we’ve never actually met in person. To know her is to love her, please meet my amazing friend and bone health advocate Tricia Totten. Do not miss this one (Season2, Episode #32) and definitely be sure to follow her on IG @flexing_after_cancer! This 56 year-old breast cancer thriver, bone health and fitness advocate shares her first hand experience about how to keep your bones strong and healthy after a breast cancer diagnosis and menopause. Tricia is such a great example of being super proactive and advocating for your bone health!
Let’s Meet A Bone Health & Breast Cancer Change Maker!
October was a big month! Not only was it Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it was also Osteoporosis Awareness Month and the debut of the #AllAboutTheBreak campaign that I partnered 0n with TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Carrie’s TOUCH. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rev. Tammie Denyse, Founder of Carrie’s TOUCH (Season 2, Episode #35) for her extensive knowledge and experience as it relates to bone health and breast cancer. This high energy and insightful interview is packed with so many great insights including secondary fracture prevention, osteoporosis risks for postmenopausal women, and moving the needle on racial disparity. Tammie shares a wealth of knowledge that she has gained through many years as a dedicated advocate. You won’t want to miss this special episode which was part of the #itsallaboutthebreak bone health campaign!
Host Melissa Berry speaks with Dr. Edward Fox, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery. He is a professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Chief of the Division of Orthopedic Oncology, and a professor in the Department of Medicine at the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Health., to talk about the importance of having a bone health plan and advocating for yourself. Learn about overlapping fracture risk such as menopause and breast cancer, who can get a DXA scan and when the best point of entry is for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Fox works closely with American Bone Health, so be sure to use their fracture risk calculator right here. Discuss the results with your healthcare provider so you can develop your own bone health plan. Thank you Amgen for making this episode possible!
Host Melissa Berry speaks with Dr. Edward Fox, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery. He is a professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Chief of the Division of Orthopedic Oncology, and a professor in the Department of Medicine at the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Health., to talk about the importance of having a bone health plan and advocating for yourself. Learn about overlapping fracture risk such as menopause and breast cancer, who can get a DXA scan and when the best point of entry is for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Fox works closely with American Bone Health, so be sure to use their fracture risk calculator right here. Discuss the results with your healthcare provider so you can develop your own bone health plan. Thank you Amgen for making this episode possible!
Everyone Needs A Bone Health Plan
Dr. Edward Fox was such an amazing interview (Season 2, Episode 37)! He’s an orthopedic surgeon specializing in musculoskeletal oncology surgery, professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Chief of the Division of Orthopedic Oncology, and a professor in the Department of Medicine at the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Health. We had a great convo about the importance of having a bone health plan and advocating for yourself, overlapping fracture risks such as menopause and breast cancer, who can get a DXA scan and when the best point of entry is for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Fox works closely with American Bone Health, so be sure to use their fracture risk calculator right here. The key takeaway? Be sure to discuss the results with your healthcare provider so you can develop your own bone health plan.
What Do You Mean I Have Osteoporosis?
This was one of my favorite episodes! Meet my new friend Jennifer Lopez (yes, you can totally call her J-Lo!) Space technologist, National Geographic Explorer, and TNBC Thriver. Not only is Jennifer is on a mission to make the world better through technology and to help unravel secrets of the cosmos, but she’s also a triple negative breast cancer thriver who discovered that she has advanced osteoporosis as a result of her treatment. Tune in (Season 2, Episode #40) for this very candid and eye-opening conversation about the importance of advocating for your bone health before your cancer treatment even begins.
The 2022 Bone Health Highlight Reel!
And for the grand finale of 2022, yours truly hosted the final #beautifultothebone podcast episode (Season 2, Episode #44) featuring some of my favorite experts and advocates. I’ve learned so much about bone health as a result of my own personal bone health journey as well as the interviews that I’ve shared on this special series. Tune in to hear Melissa my favorite bone health tips and insights from leading advocates and experts. In just under an hour you’ll have enough information to advocate for your own bone health and you’ll feel super inspired to get a DXA scan!
I hope you enjoy listening to these episodes as much as I enjoyed creating them for you! Bottom line? Don’t wait to get your DXA scan and take action to ensure that you’ve got strong, healthy bones no matter what other health challenges you may be faced with. And a big thank you to Amgen for helping me to make it all happen!
