A casual night watching sports, a quick breast self-exam, and a lump that did not belong there.

Faced with no insurance and four months of not knowing what to do, Felicia Kent walked into a neighborhood clinic, received a referral to The Rose, and heard the three words that changed everything: you have cancer.

In this episode, she talks about choosing a treatment center, using research and strict adherence to medication to blunt chemo side effects, and learning to live with radiation fatigue, lymphedema, neuropathy, and a body that will never be the same.

She also shares how faith, a determined daughter, an emotional support dog, and a calling to serve other survivors led her to start a nonprofit, finish her psychology degree, and focus on practical support and early mammograms in the African American community.

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 Felicia find her lump and what kept her from seeking help immediately?

2. How does someone without insurance get from a neighborhood clinic to The Rose for diagnostic care?

3. What does it feel like to hear “you have cancer,” and how did Felicia share that news with her family?

4. How did she choose a treatment center and manage chemo, surgery, and radiation side effects day to day?

5. What practical strategies helped her reduce chemo side effects like nausea, mouth sores, and nosebleeds?

6. How is she now supporting other patients through a nonprofit, church outreach, and peer-to-peer work?

7. Why are mindset, faith, and social support so critical during and after breast cancer treatment?

8. How is she raising awareness about mammograms and access within the African American community?

9. What long-term issues like lymphedema, neuropathy, and fear of recurrence does she still live with?

10. How does an emotional support dog, movement, and counseling help manage post-treatment anxiety?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Episode opens, Felicia’s story as an uninsured survivor who reached The Rose through a neighborhood clinic is introduced.
01:20 Guest host Shannon McNair welcomes Felicia and asks how she discovered her lump and used self-exams.
01:40 Felicia describes finding the lump by chance, lacking insurance, and remembering The Rose from boutique work.
02:40 She visits a nearby clinic, receives an immediate referral to The Rose, and later credits the team with saving her life.
04:30 Telling her sister, leaning on prayer, and deciding early to be a testimony for others facing cancer.
06:20 What she wishes she had known about treatment, side effects, and why she followed medication instructions exactly.
07:40 Lesser-discussed chemo and radiation side effects like mouth sores, nosebleeds, and fluid issues, and how she managed them.
08:40 Birth of her nonprofit work, finishing a psychology degree during treatment, and pursuing community health worker training.
09:50 Current advocacy: blogs, peer-to-peer conversations, holiday outreach, and small gifts to patients during treatment.
10:40 Common questions she hears about insurance, alternatives, and staying positive through harsh treatments.
12:10 How to support someone with cancer when you do not know what to say, including quiet presence and simple statements of love.
13:40 Encouraging friends and family to show up with meals, learning, and practical help, while survivors learn to express what they need.
16:30 Holiday and year-round programs for patients, including Christmas deliveries, Valentine outreach, and church-based change collections for donations to The Rose.
19:10 Focus on education and early detection in the African American community, especially for younger women and those wary of treatment.
20:30 Balancing chemo, lumpectomy, graduation, radiation, and then managing fluid buildup and other late effects.
23:50 How an emotional support dog, daily walks, and therapy help manage anxiety and fear of recurrence after treatment.
26:00 Decision to delay reconstruction, experiences losing a young niece and a church member to breast cancer, and why that fuels her advocacy.
27:20 She reflects on cancer as an ongoing learning experience, the importance of mental health care, and continuing in support groups.

A casual night watching sports, a quick breast self-exam, and a lump that did not belong there.
Faced with no insurance and four months of not knowing what to do, Felicia Kent walked into a neighborhood clinic, received a referral to The Rose, and heard the three words that changed everything: you have cancer.
In this episode, she talks about choosing a treatment center, using research and strict adherence to medication to blunt chemo side effects, and learning to live with radiation fatigue, lymphedema, neuropathy, and a body that will never be the same.
She also shares how faith, a determined daughter, an emotional support dog, and a calling to serve other survivors led her to start a nonprofit, finish her psychology degree, and focus on practical support and early mammograms in the African American community.
Support The Rose <a href="https://secure.therose.org/site/Donation2%3Bjsessionid=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 Felicia find her lump and what kept her from seeking help immediately?
2. How does someone without insurance get from a neighborhood clinic to The Rose for diagnostic care?
3. What does it feel like to hear &ldquo;you have cancer,&rdquo; and how did Felicia share that news with her family?
4. How did she choose a treatment center and manage chemo, surgery, and radiation side effects day to day?
5. What practical strategies helped her reduce chemo side effects like nausea, mouth sores, and nosebleeds?
6. How is she now supporting other patients through a nonprofit, church outreach, and peer-to-peer work?
7. Why are mindset, faith, and social support so critical during and after breast cancer treatment?
8. How is she raising awareness about mammograms and access within the African American community?
9. What long-term issues like lymphedema, neuropathy, and fear of recurrence does she still live with?
10. How does an emotional support dog, movement, and counseling help manage post-treatment anxiety?
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Episode opens, Felicia&rsquo;s story as an uninsured survivor who reached The Rose through a neighborhood clinic is introduced. 01:20 Guest host Shannon McNair welcomes Felicia and asks how she discovered her lump and used self-exams. 01:40 Felicia describes finding the lump by chance, lacking insurance, and remembering The Rose from boutique work. 02:40 She visits a nearby clinic, receives an immediate referral to The Rose, and later credits the team with saving her life. 04:30 Telling her sister, leaning on prayer, and deciding early to be a testimony for others facing cancer. 06:20 What she wishes she had known about treatment, side effects, and why she followed medication instructions exactly. 07:40 Lesser-discussed chemo and radiation side effects like mouth sores, nosebleeds, and fluid issues, and how she managed them. 08:40 Birth of her nonprofit work, finishing a psychology degree during treatment, and pursuing community health worker training. 09:50 Current advocacy: blogs, peer-to-peer conversations, holiday outreach, and small gifts to patients during treatment. 10:40 Common questions she hears about insurance, alternatives, and staying positive through harsh treatments. 12:10 How to support someone with cancer when you do not know what to say, including quiet presence and simple statements of love. 13:40 Encouraging friends and family to show up with meals, learning, and practical help, while survivors learn to express what they need. 16:30 Holiday and year-round programs for patients, including Christmas deliveries, Valentine outreach, and church-based change collections for donations to The Rose. 19:10 Focus on education and early detection in the African American community, especially for younger women and those wary of treatment. 20:30 Balancing chemo, lumpectomy, graduation, radiation, and then managing fluid buildup and other late effects. 23:50 How an emotional support dog, daily walks, and therapy help manage anxiety and fear of recurrence after treatment. 26:00 Decision to delay reconstruction, experiences losing a young niece and a church member to breast cancer, and why that fuels her advocacy. 27:20 She reflects on cancer as an ongoing learning experience, the importance of mental health care, and continuing in support groups.

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.