A film about breast cancer became personal before its release.

Producer Erin E. Mitchell joins Roxann Hayford to discuss Outriding the Devil and her own recent breast cancer diagnosis. She shares why she initially delayed having a lump checked, how the woman featured in her film became a source of strength, and what her first chemotherapy treatment taught her about asking questions, reporting symptoms, and accepting support.

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Key Questions Answered

1. What story does Outriding the Devil tell, and how does it connect rodeo, breast cancer, and a return to competition?

2. What did Erin’s role as senior producer involve in bringing the film to audiences?

3. How did watching a young barrel racer at the Tucson Rodeo draw Erin into the sport?

4. Why did Erin initially delay getting a breast lump checked, and what finally prompted her to seek care?

5. How did having no family history and no previous mammograms influence her perception of breast cancer risk?

6. What diagnosis did Erin receive, and why did she choose to share her experience only six weeks into the journey?

7. How did the woman featured in her film become a source of encouragement and a “map” for facing treatment?

8. What surprised Erin about her first chemotherapy cycle and the connection between her medication and the film’s title?

9. How did family and friends provide practical support in ways she had not anticipated?

10. How did speaking up about symptoms, medication questions, and her family’s cardiac history influence her care?