Talking to My Tatas

Talking To My Tatas gives breast cancer patients and survivors easy access to the latest science from breast cancer researcher and survivor Dana Brantley-Sieders. From surgery, tumor genomic testing, and cutting-edge therapies to mental health, sexual health, and avoiding pseudoscience scams, she delivers the goods with a side of humor and hope.

Dana Brantley-Sieders, PhD, has been a biomedical breast cancer researcher for over twenty years, investigating molecular mechanisms that regulate breast cancer growth and metastasis. She is also an author, advocate, and breast cancer survivor. She lives in Nashville, TN.

Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: Breast Biology, Breast Cancer, and What to Expect When Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Chapter One: Can I talk to you about my personal relationship with my breasts? Chapter Two: Cancer 101: What (breast) cancer is and how it makes your body betray you Chapter Three: Diagnostics: Imaging, poking, and prodding to find breast cancer Chapter Four: Tumor gene expression profiling and surgical options - excise and examine Chapter Five: Radiation, chemotherapy, and molecularly targeted therapies - weapons of cancer destruction Chapter Six: Cancer doesn't discriminate, but we do: Disparities and cancer Part II: My Breast Cancer Story Chapter Seven: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, or a cancer diagnosis Chapter Eight: New boobs, new you? The toll breast cancer takes on your mental health and how to deal with it Chapter Nine: I laugh in the face of cancer-a few funny stories Part III: Science Savvy: Why You Should Listen to Your Doctor and Not Dave "Avocado Wolf," Gwyneth Paltrow, or Darla Shine Chapter Ten: Avoid the woo! How to spot scams and distinguish pseudoscience from what's legit when it comes to breast cancer Chapter Eleven: How to look past the sensational headlines and get the real scoop from science reporting Chapter Twelve: The post-cancer feminist manifesto: Academic researcher edition Chapter Thirteen: "Boring Science" and Why Chasing New and Shiny Isn't Always the Best Goal Part IV: Survivorship and Finding a New Normal Chapter Fourteen: My condition is chronic, but my tits are iconic Chapter Fifteen: Top ten things you can say/do when a friend/loved one is going through cancer, and what you should never say/do Chapter Sixteen: Life goes on: Moving forward with humor and hope Appendix Bibliography Notes Index About the Author