Episode 390: Showing Up for Yourself

Welcome to the Komen Health Equity Revolution series on Real Pink — where patients, advocates, researchers and community partners come together to talk honestly about what's standing in the way of breast health equity, and what we're doing to change it.

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate identity, community and the courage it takes to live authentically. Today's conversation sits right at the heart of that. Because advocating for yourself, knowing your body and refusing to be dismissed, that's not just a health message. That's a love letter to who you are.

Our guest today is Shelby Smith. She was 30 years old when she noticed something felt off. No family history of breast cancer. Young, healthy, going about her life as a wife and mom to a 7-year-old daughter. But she trusted herself — and that decision changed everything.

Shelby faced a 12-centimeter tumor, a bilateral mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemo and 15 rounds of radiation. She did her own research, built her own notebook, asked her own questions — and came out the other side with a message she wants every young woman to hear: Know your normal. And when something doesn't feel right, advocate for yourself.

Key Takeaways:

Trust your instincts when something feels off
Self-advocacy can change outcomes
Being informed helps patients navigate treatment
Cancer can affect more than physical health
Including loved ones in the journey matters

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Shelby's Breast Cancer Story

02:07 Discovering a Lump and Seeking Answers

04:37 Diagnosis, Testing, and Receiving the News

10:07 Research, Self-Advocacy, and Navigating Treatment

17:33 Identity, Family, and Talking to Her Daughter

24:46 Life After Treatment and Advice for Young Women

Learn more at realpink.komen.org and komen.org

Real Pink, by Susan G. Komen, shares real stories and expert insights to support people navigating breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship.

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