Board Chair Shannon Wiesedeppe carries a deep family history of breast cancer into every decision she helps make at The Rose. From hurricanes and COVID to a Co-Founder and CEO transition, she keeps The Rose focused on access, reimbursement realities, mobile coaches, and identical care for uninsured and insured women.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How Shannon was recruited to The Rose board through Junior League connections and early exposure to the mission.

2. What roles she has held within the Junior League and how that prepared her for board leadership.

3. How her family’s multi generational breast cancer history shapes her personal vigilance and advocacy.

4. What major events The Rose has weathered during her board tenure, including hurricanes, COVID, and large anonymous gifts.

5. How the board and staff worked together creatively to keep services going when many nonprofits closed.

6. Why the board chair role is central to managing CEO transitions and aligning leadership with the strategic plan.

7.  How collaboration and partnerships can extend The Rose’s services and why those relationships take patience and persistence.

8. What Shannon learned about insurance, government funding, and reimbursement and how these dynamics affect breast imaging access.

9. Why awareness and education remain urgent even after forty years, especially for women reaching screening age for the first time.

10. What single message she wants women to hear about The Rose’s role as a partner in making mammograms and next steps less stressful.

Timestamped Overview00:00 Board service, crises, and change
01:20 Joining The Rose board through Junior League connections
03:00 Family breast cancer history and personal vigilance
04:30 Surviving hurricanes, COVID, and funding shocks
06:00 Staff grit, creative problem solving, and board support
09:00 CEO oversight and navigating a founder transition
11:00 Strategic plan, partnerships, and collaborations
21:00 Learning reimbursement, funding, and insurance realities
24:00 Awareness, myths, and reaching each new generation
27:00 Why The Rose matters, access, and mobile mammography
29:00 Core message: The Rose as a partner through stressful care

Board Chair Shannon Wiesedeppe carries a deep family history of breast cancer into every decision she helps make at The Rose. From hurricanes and COVID to a Co-Founder and CEO transition, she keeps The Rose focused on access, reimbursement realities, mobile coaches, and identical care for uninsured and insured women.
Support The Rose <a href="https://secure.therose.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30118a?df_id=1480&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;1480.donation=form1&amp;NONCE_TOKEN=6FEB2388BD63E0937C3FD34555AF1B9F">HERE</a>.
Subscribe to Let&rsquo;s Talk About Your Breasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-about-your-breasts/id1666101320">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o9cXAie2Mfqhq6tQWrClj">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-lets-talk-about-your-brea-107408811/">iHeart</a>, and wherever you get <a href="https://therose.org/podcasts/">your podcasts</a>.
Key Questions Answered
1. How Shannon was recruited to The Rose board through Junior League connections and early exposure to the mission.
2. What roles she has held within the Junior League and how that prepared her for board leadership.
3. How her family&rsquo;s multi generational breast cancer history shapes her personal vigilance and advocacy.
4. What major events The Rose has weathered during her board tenure, including hurricanes, COVID, and large anonymous gifts.
5. How the board and staff worked together creatively to keep services going when many nonprofits closed.
6. Why the board chair role is central to managing CEO transitions and aligning leadership with the strategic plan.
7.&nbsp; How collaboration and partnerships can extend The Rose&rsquo;s services and why those relationships take patience and persistence.
8. What Shannon learned about insurance, government funding, and reimbursement and how these dynamics affect breast imaging access.
9. Why awareness and education remain urgent even after forty years, especially for women reaching screening age for the first time.
10. What single message she wants women to hear about The Rose&rsquo;s role as a partner in making mammograms and next steps less stressful.
Timestamped Overview00:00 Board service, crises, and change 01:20 Joining The Rose board through Junior League connections 03:00 Family breast cancer history and personal vigilance 04:30 Surviving hurricanes, COVID, and funding shocks 06:00 Staff grit, creative problem solving, and board support 09:00 CEO oversight and navigating a founder transition 11:00 Strategic plan, partnerships, and collaborations 21:00 Learning reimbursement, funding, and insurance realities 24:00 Awareness, myths, and reaching each new generation 27:00 Why The Rose matters, access, and mobile mammography 29:00 Core message: The Rose as a partner through stressful care

The Rose Breast Center of Excellence presents Let's Talk About Your Breasts with Dorothy Gibbons.

Each week, Dorothy hosts candid conversations with an array of people in the breast cancer community. From doctors and employees to donors and individuals who influence policy, you'll learn all there is to know about the disease which impacts so many women in our community.

The Rose Breast Center of Excellence presents Let's Talk About Your Breasts with Dorothy Gibbons.
Each week, Dorothy hosts candid conversations with an array of people in the breast cancer community. From doctors and employees to donors and individuals who influence policy, you'll learn all there is to know about the disease which impacts so many women in our community.

Let's Talk About Your Breasts

The Rose Breast Center of Excellence presents Let's Talk About Your Breasts with Dorothy Gibbons.


Each week, Dorothy hosts candid conversations with an array of people in the breast cancer community. From doctors and employees to donors and individuals who influence policy, you'll learn all there is to know about the disease which impacts so many women in our community.

The Rose Breast Center of Excellence presents Let's Talk About Your Breasts with Dorothy Gibbons.
 Each week, Dorothy hosts candid conversations with an array of people in the breast cancer community. From doctors and employees to donors and individuals who influence policy, you'll learn all there is to know about the disease which impacts so many women in our community.

Keeping Access and Compassion First in Every Board Decision

Diagnosed with breast cancer while living a health-conscious lifestyle, Nancy Martch aggressively battled her Stage 3B diagnosis head-on. Now, leveraging her yoga expertise, Nancy empowers others through personalized yoga therapy, blending acceptance and self-awareness into her healing approach.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did Nancy discover her breast cancer?

2. What kind of lifestyle was Nancy leading when she was diagnosed with cancer?

3. How has yoga helped Nancy cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatments?

4. Which specific yoga poses does Nancy find beneficial for relaxation and stress reduction?

5. What is the importance of self-assessment in yoga according to Nancy?

6. What is the role of non-competitive self-acceptance in Nancy's yoga practice?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Yoga therapy is personalized; classes are generalized.

05:04 Yoga integrates body awareness and lifelong practice.

07:37 Advocate for yourself; misdiagnosis taught me.

12:50 Acceptance and awareness: adapting self-care through challenges.

13:57 Breathing techniques helped manage panic effectively.

20:03 Teaching relaxation and breath exercises for self-use.

22:33 Yoga is adaptable and tailored to individual needs.

26:12 Diagnosis doesn't define us; posture can improve.

28:22 Self-love empowers us to support ourselves.

Diagnosed with breast cancer while living a health-conscious lifestyle, Nancy Martch aggressively battled her Stage 3B diagnosis head-on. Now, leveraging her yoga expertise, Nancy empowers others through personalized yoga therapy, blending acceptance and self-awareness into her healing approach.
Support The Rose <a href="https://secure.therose.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30118a?df_id=1480&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;1480.donation=form1&amp;NONCE_TOKEN=6FEB2388BD63E0937C3FD34555AF1B9F">HERE</a>.
Subscribe to Let&rsquo;s Talk About Your Breasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-about-your-breasts/id1666101320">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o9cXAie2Mfqhq6tQWrClj">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-lets-talk-about-your-brea-107408811/">iHeart</a>, and wherever you get <a href="https://therose.org/podcasts/">your podcasts</a>.
Key Questions Answered
1. How did Nancy discover her breast cancer?
2. What kind of lifestyle was Nancy leading when she was diagnosed with cancer?
3. How has yoga helped Nancy cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatments?
4. Which specific yoga poses does Nancy find beneficial for relaxation and stress reduction?
5. What is the importance of self-assessment in yoga according to Nancy?
6. What is the role of non-competitive self-acceptance in Nancy's yoga practice?
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Yoga therapy is personalized; classes are generalized.
05:04 Yoga integrates body awareness and lifelong practice.
07:37 Advocate for yourself; misdiagnosis taught me.
12:50 Acceptance and awareness: adapting self-care through challenges.
13:57 Breathing techniques helped manage panic effectively.
20:03 Teaching relaxation and breath exercises for self-use.
22:33 Yoga is adaptable and tailored to individual needs.
26:12 Diagnosis doesn't define us; posture can improve.
28:22 Self-love empowers us to support ourselves.

Yoga Therapy and Breast Cancer: Insights from a Survivor

After losing her mother to de novo metastatic breast cancer, Elise turned grief into long term advocacy and board service at The Rose. She demystifies modern metastatic care, clinical trials, and lifelong treatment while urging women of every age to push for screenings and answers.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

10 Key Questions Answered

1. How Elise became involved with The Rose board and metastatic breast cancer advocacy.

2. What happened during her mother’s initial breast cancer diagnosis and why it was classified as de novo metastatic.

3. How metastatic breast cancer treatment looked in the early 1990s, including bone marrow transplant approaches.

4. What key advances have changed metastatic breast cancer care since her mother’s time, such as genetic testing and subtype specific treatments.

5. How clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer usually work today and why they rarely involve placebo without treatment.

6. Why metastatic patients often need lifelong treatment and careful monitoring to stay on effective therapy as long as possible.

7. How advocacy groups and steering committees at MD Anderson direct research funds toward metastatic specific projects.

8. Why self advocacy and persistence with providers can be critical, especially for younger women seeking mammograms or additional testing.

9. How Elise balances her volunteer work, legal background, and family life while staying active on multiple boards and committees.

10. What message she wants women and families to remember about screening, self care, and not putting their own health last.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Board recruitment and early connection to The Rose
02:30 High risk programs, navigation, and genetic testing
03:45 Mother’s de novo metastatic diagnosis and treatment in the 1990s
08:30 Limited options then versus today’s targeted therapies
10:00 Role of subtyping, genetics, and clinical trials now
11:30 How trials work, ongoing treatment, and progression
13:00 Starting early mammograms and self advocacy in her 30s
17:30 Younger women, “too young” barriers, and trusting your body
21:30 Advanced breast cancer steering committee and research funding
24:30 Boot Walk fundraising and metastatic specific projects
28:00 Broader volunteer work and intensity of patient needs
31:00 Navigation, uninsured women, and final call to advocate

After losing her mother to de novo metastatic breast cancer, Elise turned grief into long term advocacy and board service at The Rose. She demystifies modern metastatic care, clinical trials, and lifelong treatment while urging women of every age to push for screenings and answers.
Support The Rose <a href="https://secure.therose.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30118a?df_id=1480&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;1480.donation=form1&amp;NONCE_TOKEN=6FEB2388BD63E0937C3FD34555AF1B9F">HERE</a>.
Subscribe to Let&rsquo;s Talk About Your Breasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-about-your-breasts/id1666101320">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o9cXAie2Mfqhq6tQWrClj">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-lets-talk-about-your-brea-107408811/">iHeart</a>, and wherever you get <a href="https://therose.org/podcasts/">your podcasts</a>.
10 Key Questions Answered
1. How Elise became involved with The Rose board and metastatic breast cancer advocacy.
2. What happened during her mother&rsquo;s initial breast cancer diagnosis and why it was classified as de novo metastatic.
3. How metastatic breast cancer treatment looked in the early 1990s, including bone marrow transplant approaches.
4. What key advances have changed metastatic breast cancer care since her mother&rsquo;s time, such as genetic testing and subtype specific treatments.
5. How clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer usually work today and why they rarely involve placebo without treatment.
6. Why metastatic patients often need lifelong treatment and careful monitoring to stay on effective therapy as long as possible.
7. How advocacy groups and steering committees at MD Anderson direct research funds toward metastatic specific projects.
8. Why self advocacy and persistence with providers can be critical, especially for younger women seeking mammograms or additional testing.
9. How Elise balances her volunteer work, legal background, and family life while staying active on multiple boards and committees.
10. What message she wants women and families to remember about screening, self care, and not putting their own health last.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Board recruitment and early connection to The Rose 02:30 High risk programs, navigation, and genetic testing 03:45 Mother&rsquo;s de novo metastatic diagnosis and treatment in the 1990s 08:30 Limited options then versus today&rsquo;s targeted therapies 10:00 Role of subtyping, genetics, and clinical trials now 11:30 How trials work, ongoing treatment, and progression 13:00 Starting early mammograms and self advocacy in her 30s 17:30 Younger women, &ldquo;too young&rdquo; barriers, and trusting your body 21:30 Advanced breast cancer steering committee and research funding 24:30 Boot Walk fundraising and metastatic specific projects 28:00 Broader volunteer work and intensity of patient needs 31:00 Navigation, uninsured women, and final call to advocate

Early Screening, Genetic Testing, and Hope After Loss to Metastatic Breast Cancer

How does one man's dedication to community health reshape cancer prevention efforts in Texas?

Carlton Allen's passion for public health and population health, sparked during his academic years, led him to an influential role in the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Through his guidance, CPRIT addresses significant cancer burdens and health disparities statewide. Meanwhile, Allen champions the Texas Cancer Plan as a comprehensive roadmap for continued progress in cancer prevention and care.

Key Questions Answered

1. How did Carlton Allen get into public health?

2. What differentiates public health from direct patient care according to Carlton?

3. Where did Carlton Allen complete his education?

4. How did Carlton Allen integrate community health workers (CHWs) into clinical operations?

5. What are the challenges in obtaining funding for community health workers?

6. What is the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and what roles does it play?

7. How does CPRIT impact cancer prevention and research in Texas?

8. What frustrations does Carlton Allen face in his role at CPRIT?

9. What was Carlton Allen’s role in the Texas Cancer Plan?

10. What values does Carlton hope to instill in his children based on his community work?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Community Health Workers' Impact

03:42 Healthcare Worker Reimbursement Challenge

07:46 Expanding Healthcare Outreach with Grants

10:07 Visiting Texas Prevention Grantees

13:27 Advancements in Cancer Prevention

16:51 Cancer Secrecy in Males

21:14 Inclusive Cancer Care Guidelines

25:57 Community Engagement and Volunteerism

27:56 Raising Hardworking, Community-Minded Children

Learn more about CPRIT here.

Support The Rose HERE.

Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.

How does one man's dedication to community health reshape cancer prevention efforts in Texas?
Carlton Allen's passion for public health and population health, sparked during his academic years, led him to an influential role in the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Through his guidance, CPRIT addresses significant cancer burdens and health disparities statewide. Meanwhile, Allen champions the Texas Cancer Plan as a comprehensive roadmap for continued progress in cancer prevention and care.
Key Questions Answered
1. How did Carlton Allen get into public health?
2. What differentiates public health from direct patient care according to Carlton?
3. Where did Carlton Allen complete his education?
4. How did Carlton Allen integrate community health workers (CHWs) into clinical operations?
5. What are the challenges in obtaining funding for community health workers?
6. What is the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and what roles does it play?
7. How does CPRIT impact cancer prevention and research in Texas?
8. What frustrations does Carlton Allen face in his role at CPRIT?
9. What was Carlton Allen&rsquo;s role in the Texas Cancer Plan?
10. What values does Carlton hope to instill in his children based on his community work?
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Community Health Workers' Impact
03:42 Healthcare Worker Reimbursement Challenge
07:46 Expanding Healthcare Outreach with Grants
10:07 Visiting Texas Prevention Grantees
13:27 Advancements in Cancer Prevention
16:51 Cancer Secrecy in Males
21:14 Inclusive Cancer Care Guidelines
25:57 Community Engagement and Volunteerism
27:56 Raising Hardworking, Community-Minded Children
Learn more about CPRIT <a href="https://cprit.texas.gov">here</a>.
Support The Rose <a href="https://secure.therose.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30118a?df_id=1480&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;1480.donation=form1&amp;NONCE_TOKEN=6FEB2388BD63E0937C3FD34555AF1B9F">HERE</a>.
Subscribe to Let&rsquo;s Talk About Your Breasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-about-your-breasts/id1666101320">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o9cXAie2Mfqhq6tQWrClj">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-lets-talk-about-your-brea-107408811/">iHeart</a>, and wherever you get <a href="https://therose.org/podcasts/">your podcasts</a>.

Keeping Access and Compassion First in Every Board Decision

Let's Talk About Your Breasts

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