Ahead of our Pink Ribbon All Request Show - where you can choose the playlist as we try to create as much noise, awareness and donations for the Breast Cancer Foundation as possible - More Drive host Sarah Gandy caught up with breast cancer surgeon & physician, bestselling author, women's health advocate and all around legend Dr. Kristi Funk.
Breast Cancer can affect anyone and everyone, including our very own Sarah who at 36 was diagnosed with the disease after finding a lump in her breast.
Sarah and Dr. Funk’s wide ranging conversation has been split into a four part podcast covering a whole bunch of important topics, and you can listen to each part below.
First, Sarah and Dr. Funk discussed Angelina Jolie’s preventative surgery and Sheryl Crow’s early detection, as well as the impacts of diet, weight and alcohol on the risk of breast cancer.
“It was such an empowering decision on her part to be such a… symbol of femininity and sexuality,’ Dr. Funk said of Jolie.
“To put herself out there publicly to say ‘this is a mutation that I carry. This is what it means and this is what I did about it’ really set her up for criticism and being misunderstood, and she was willing to take that risk.”
“All in the name of spreading a message to save lives.”
The second part of their chat covers off the surprising benefits of mushrooms and green tea while also talking through misconceptions about cancer cures and debunking ineffective treatments.
“When I was going through treatment, I would have strangers message me on social media and tell me remedies for cancer, pineapples and lemons and all like weird mushrooms and all kinds of odd things that they believe would cure my cancer,” Sarah said.
On mushrooms, Dr. Funk shared that there's good evidence from a Chinese study that women who ate 10 grams worth of ‘cheapo white button mushrooms’ versus non-mushroom eaters had a 64% drop in breast cancer.
“They drink a lot of green tea, so those who had the mushroom plus green tea - 89% less breast cancer.”
Part three gets down into the nitty gritty of managing medically induced menopause, and you’ll hear more about supportive symptom management measures like sleep, sun exposure and CBD.
The chat wraps up with Sarah and Dr. Funk discussing the advancements in immunotherapy and the importance of breast cancer awareness and self-checks.
“Why is it so important that we give so much attention to breast cancer?”, Sarah asked.
“It surpassed lung in 2020 as the number one malignant tumor diagnosed on planet earth” (including male breast cancer).
“That's not the trophy we wanted at all, ever.”
“I think that's why it's so critical. It's an ever increasing number year after year. The American Cancer Society came out on October 1st, 2024 with alarming stats that the incidence of breast cancer since 2012 has gone up year after year with no end in sight, but specifically a 1.4% increase year after year in women under 50.”
“So we not only are having higher numbers, but they're getting younger in age. And this is a tr
end that is very frightening.”
Listen to the full special and make sure you get around our Pink Ribbon All Request Show tomorrow afternoon!
Big Boss Bosto has handed you the reins, which means YOU choose the music we play on the show, and money you help raise for the Breast Cancer Foundation helps fund early detection education, supporting those with breast cancer, research & medical grants and advocacy.
To request a song, click here, donate to Breast Cancer Foundation, and you’re in!
