Breast Cancer Survivors of Sarasota

09/30/2026

National Previvor Day 🌸 September 30, 2026

A previvor carries a significantly higher risk of breast cancer because of family history or a genetic mutation — but has not been diagnosed. It's a lifelong journey of complex decisions about screening, prevention, body image, and the future, often alongside trauma, anxiety, and grief that aren't always acknowledged.

Choices can include frequent screening, medications, or risk‑reducing surgery. And the impact reaches families, relationships, and generations.

🌸 Why September 30?
In 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives established National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day. The week sits between Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), highlighting the link between the two. Up to 25% of ovarian and about 10% of breast cancers are hereditary.

🌿 Who is affected?
Risk goes far beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 — it includes Lynch syndrome and genes like ATM, BRIP1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, and RAD51C/D. As many as 90% of people with a cancer‑predisposing mutation don't know it.

🌟 How far we've come
* 2008: GINA passed, protecting against genetic discrimination.
* 2013: The Supreme Court struck down exclusive BRCA patents, making testing more accessible.

Progress is real, but the emotional weight remains. That's why support matters.

🤝 How you can help
* Ask instead of assuming.
* Listen and validate.
* Offer practical support.
* Remember: there is no single "right" path.

💪 Previvors aren't "waiting for cancer." They're rewriting the narrative.
Today we honor those who choose knowledge over fear, and action over silence.

📣 Take action today
✔️ Learn your family history
✔️ Ask your doctor about genetic counseling
✔️ Share this post with someone who needs to know they're not alone

Together, we create a world where previvors feel seen, heard, and supported. 💗

09/26/2026

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is welcoming a new breast surgical oncologist to the health system’s First Physicians Group (FPG) network.

Olivia D’Angelo, MD, will be accepting patients at First Physicians Group’s Breast Surgical Oncology practice.

Dr. D’Angelo is a board-certified breast surgical oncologist dedicated to the treatment of both breast cancer and benign breast disease. Dr. D’Angelo works closely with her colleagues to provide a comprehensive treatment plan and the highest quality of multidisciplinary care for her patients. She specializes in treating patients with breast cancer, benign breast conditions, breast masses, ni**le discharge, and high-risk breast lesions, as well as patients at increased risk or inherited risk of breast cancer. She performs the following surgical procedures: excisional breast biopsy, lumpectomy for breast conservation, oncoplastic breast surgery in collaboration with a plastic surgeon, mastectomy including flat aesthetic closure, skin-sparing and ni**le sparing for both cancer and risk-reduction, and axillary lymph node procedures.

Dr. D’Angelo received her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her general surgery residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Miami in Miami, Florida. She completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine.

First Physicians Group Breast Surgical Oncology is located in the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion at 1941 Waldemere Street on the 6th floor in Sarasota. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. D’Angelo call (941) 262-0151.

https://youtu.be/mmzdgAUEMLw?is=kozWP9l6fzozGy6U

Olivia D'Angelo is a breast surgical oncologist with First Physicia...

09/23/2026

Being “a little extra” after surviving the hardest thing life can throw at you isn’t a flaw — it’s a victory lap. ✨
It’s proof that you’re still here, still shining, still claiming joy with both hands. That sparkle, that boldness, that refusal to shrink? That’s not indulgence. That’s recovery in motion. That’s your body and spirit remembering how to celebrate being alive.
Survivors don’t just get permission to live loudly — they earn it. 💖
They earn the right to dress up for no reason, to treat themselves without guilt, to laugh too hard, to take the big slice of cake, to say yes to pleasure and no to anything that drains their peace. After fighting a battle that demanded everything, choosing joy becomes a form of medicine.
To every fierce survivor:
Keep glowing. Keep thriving. Keep taking up space.
Your brightness is not “too much.” It’s exactly right for a life reclaimed. 🦋

Learn more and connect with our community, through our online support groups and in-person meetups ⬇️

https://facebook.com/groups/breastcancersurvivorsofsarasota

www.breastcancersurvivorsofsarasota.com

09/23/2026

🧬 Spotlight: what is Guardant360 CDx?

Guardant360 CDx is a next generation sequencing-based blood test (liquid biopsy) for the detection of genetic alterations in 55 genes frequently mutated in cancer, made by Guardant Health. 🩸

Guardant360 CDx captures tumor DNA that’s shed into the bloodstream (called cell-free DNA). One blood draw gives doctors a genomic snapshot of the cancer — no invasive tissue sample required.
🔬 Using next-generation sequencing, the test screens dozens of genes known to drive cancer growth, looking for specific mutations tied to FDA-approved treatments.
✅ It’s the only approved test of its kind for this
Guardant360 CDx is currently the only FDA-approved companion diagnostic for targeted therapy in ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer. It’s also approved as a companion diagnostic in non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
📊 The numbers
ESR1 mutations show up in about 40% of ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers — often developing after hormone therapy. Finding that mutation early can open the door to more targeted treatment options.
💳 It’s widely covered
The test is broadly covered by Medicare and commercial insurers, representing over 300 million lives.
This is general health information, not medical advice. Talk to your oncologist about whether genomic testing is right for your care plan. 💗

🔗https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf25/P250027B.pdf

09/23/2026

🔬 IN THE NEWS: New FDA-Approved Treatment for ESR1-Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer

On September 18, 2026, the FDA approved a new combination treatment — imlunestrant (Inluriyo) + abemaciclib (Verzenio) — for adults with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It's all-oral and chemotherapy-free. 💊

Here's why it matters 👇

📊 THE RESULTS
In the Phase 3 EMBER-3 trial, adding abemaciclib nearly doubled progression-free survival for patients with ESR1 mutations — from 5.5 months with imlunestrant alone to 11.1 months with the combination.

🩸 HOW IT'S DETECTED
The FDA also approved Guardant360 CDx, a blood-based test (no tissue biopsy needed!) that identifies the ESR1 mutation. This mutation shows up in about 40% of ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers, often developing during or after hormone-blocking therapy.

✅ WHO QUALIFIES
This combination is for patients whose:
* Tumor is ER-positive and HER2-negative
* Cancer has an ESR1 mutation, confirmed by an FDA-authorized blood test
* Disease has progressed after at least one line of endocrine therapy

💚 WHY IT MATTERS
This approval gives patients and doctors another targeted option — and it's a reminder of why research funding matters. Every new approval like this one builds on years of clinical trials and the patients who participated in them.

This is general health information, not medical advice. If you or someone you love has ESR1-mutated breast cancer, talk to your oncologist about whether this option is right for you. 💗

Swipe through our carousel for the full breakdown ➡️

09/22/2026

🧬 ESR1 Mutations & Metastatic Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
If you or someone you love has HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, you may hear your oncologist mention “ESR1 mutation testing.” Here’s why it matters 👇

What is it?
ESR1 is the gene that makes the estrogen receptor (ER) — the target of hormone therapy. Mutations in this gene are rare in newly diagnosed tumors but arise under the selective pressure of anti-estrogen therapy, and nearly a third of patients with metastatic ER-positive breast cancer develop them over the course of treatment.

Why does it happen?
The mutation lets cancer cells keep growing even in low-estrogen environments, driving resistance to standard hormone therapies like aromatase inhibitors.

Most common types
The Y537S and D538G mutations are the most frequently seen, together accounting for over 70% of all ESR1 mutations found in breast cancer. Y537S is linked to the strongest resistance to most hormone therapies.

How it’s detected 🩸
Often through a simple blood test (liquid biopsy / ctDNA) rather than a repeat tumor biopsy — a less invasive way to track emerging resistance in real time.

Why it matters for treatment
This isn’t just a lab curiosity — it changes management:
* Elacestrant, an oral drug that degrades the estrogen receptor, has been shown to improve progression-free survival over standard hormone therapy specifically in ESR1-mutant disease.
* Emerging trial data (e.g., SERENA-6) support switching therapy based on ctDNA-detected ESR1 mutations even before scans show progression, potentially changing the disease’s course earlier.
Bottom line: ESR1 mutation testing is becoming a key part of personalized care in metastatic HR+ breast cancer — ask your oncologist whether liquid biopsy testing is right for your treatment plan. 💙

This is general education, not medical advice — always talk to your oncology team about your specific case.

09/22/2026

The treatment-ends-recovery-begins myth 🎗️
Here’s the truth that catches a lot of people off guard: the ring of the bell, the last infusion, the final radiation session — none of that is the finish line — it’s often where a quieter, harder phase begins.

Everyone around a patient — friends, family, even the medical system itself — tends to treat the end of active treatment as “done.” Appointment reminders stop coming. Check-ins taper off. Your care team sees you every 6 months or annually instead of every week. But your body and mind don’t work on that clock.
What recovery actually looks like — over years, not months:

PHYSICAL
🎗️ Fatigue can linger 6 months to 2+ years
🎗️ Surgical changes keep evolving for a year or more — complications can make it last even longer
🎗️ Lymphedema risk is lifelong, not temporary
🎗️ “Chemo brain” can persist for years
🎗️ Hormone therapy often runs 5–10 years — so “active treatment” isn’t even fully over

EMOTIONAL
🎗️ “Scanxiety” before every follow-up, for years
🎗️ Treatment felt protective — the fear often shows up after, once that safety net is gone
🎗️ Body image, mortality, identity all need re-negotiating
🎗️ Some survivors carry real PTSD symptoms

RELATIONAL + PRACTICAL
🎗️ Loved ones expect you “back” — you’re not there yet, and that’s okay
🎗️ Work can feel harder, not easier, post-treatment
🎗️ Financial strain often outlasts treatment itself
Why it matters: oncology now treats this as its own phase — survivorship care. A survivorship care plan maps ongoing monitoring, late effects, and referrals (PT, mental health, lymphedema care). Not everyone gets handed one. It’s okay to ask for yours.
What actually helps:
✨ Name this as its own real phase, out loud
✨ Find survivorship-specific support, not just acute care
✨ Oncology rehab or PT for lasting physical effects
✨ Trauma-aware mental health care
✨ Give the people around you language for “not done yet”
You’re allowed to still be healing. 💗
Tag someone who needs to hear this, or save it for yourself, today.

09/20/2026

Movement is medicine. 🌿
For decades, the instinct after breast cancer surgery was to rest the surgical side completely and protect it from any effort. We now know that's backwards.
Gentle, guided movement isn't something you do once you've "recovered" — it's part of how you recover.

Here's why it matters so much:
💚 It clears fluid — moving your arms helps lymph fluid drain and lowers lymphedema risk
💚 It prevents stiffness from becoming permanent — scar tissue forms fastest early on, and movement keeps it pliable
💚 It speeds healing — people who ease back into everyday activity tend to heal better, with fewer complications
💚 It protects your mental health — regaining a sense of control over your body is its own kind of medicine

Recovery starts small: deep breathing, using your surgical-side arm for everyday tasks, gentle range-of-motion. As your body heals, stretching and light walking follow — always paced by how you feel, never by pushing through.

If you had reconstruction, your rehab is more individualized. A flap procedure means a donor site needs its own careful healing too, alongside your chest and shoulder. Let your care team set your specific pace.

This isn't about rushing back to a gym routine. It's the opposite: small, consistent, well-timed movement, one day at a time — guided by your own body and your care team, not a calendar.
You're in charge of your own recovery. 💗

09/19/2026

Cancer fatigue isn’t “being tired.” 🌅
It’s a whole‑body exhaustion that doesn’t disappear with sleep, doesn’t reset overnight, and doesn’t end when treatment does. It changes how you plan your day, how you move through the world, and how you protect the energy you have.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for canceling plans, leaving early, or choosing rest over productivity — I hope this reminds you that nothing about your fatigue is ordinary. You’re adapting to a body that has carried you through something extraordinary. That kind of strength is quiet, invisible, and real.
Healing isn’t loud.
Sometimes it looks like listening to your limits, honoring your energy, and letting rest be an act of survival.
If you’re living with cancer fatigue, chemo brain, or the long aftershocks of treatment — you’re not alone. You’re not weak. You’re not lazy. You’re rebuilding. 🦋

I wish people understood that after cancer… fatigue isn’t just tiredness. It’s a new language your body speaks. 💖

09/18/2026

World Patient Safety Day 2026 💖
Every woman who has faced breast cancer deserves care that protects her body, her peace, and her future — not just during treatment, but for the rest of her life.
Breast cancer survivors move through years of imaging, medications, surgeries, and emotional healing. Safety isn't a luxury. It's survival.
🌸 What Safe Care Means for Survivors
* Clear communication you can actually understand
* Accurate imaging and timely follow-up
* Medication safety
* Safe surgery & reconstruction, with less complications
* Lymphedema prevention
* Coordinated survivorship care
* Trauma-aware support that honors scars, fear, and healing

📅 About This Day
September 17, 2026 is World Patient Safety Day, established by the WHO. This year's theme is "Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)" — conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease, which together account for 74% of deaths worldwide.
WHO notes that people living with NCDs face heightened risk of harm because of the long-term, complex nature of their care — frequent appointments, multiple medications, and transitions between providers all create more opportunities for something to go wrong. For conditions like cancer specifically, WHO estimates up to 1 in 3 patients experience an adverse event during care.
This year's slogan says it clearly: Safe care for life.

For survivors, that means safety doesn't end when active treatment does. It continues through every scan, every prescription, every follow-up appointment, and every year that follows.

You deserve care that protects you at every stage — not just while you're fighting, but for the rest of your life. 🦋