Breast Cancer Awareness | Feat. Travis Christopher and Sidney Rustvang
The BIO Girls Podcast
Empowering Women with Knowledge about Breast Cancer
Featuring: Travis Christopher and Sidney Rustvang
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As an organization that empowers thousands of women each year, this episode topic is near and dear to our hearts at BIO Girls. Join us as we dive into a hopeful discussion on breast cancer with Sydney Rustvang and Travis Christopher of Gateway Automotive. BIO Girls is proud to support “Empowering Women with Knowledge about Breast Cancer,” alongside Gateway Automotive and Edith Sanford Breast Center. This podcast highlights the inspiring stories of survivors, emphasizing the importance of early detection, honesty, support, and personal strength throughout their breast cancer journeys.
Thank you to our friends at Gateway Automotive for making our Gala possible!
Season 4, Ep. 1
Breast Cancer Awareness
Meet Our Episode Guests:
Travis Christopher is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 25 years of experience in fundraising and community service. Also, he is an in-demand speaker on donor stewardship and retention. He has raised over 40 million dollars in his career. Currently he raises funds for Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Center and Roger Maris Cancer Center!
Sidney Rustvang is married to her husband Jeff, and they have three wonderful daughters, and a Frenchie named Charles. When she’s not working, you can usually find Sidney running around with her girls, coloring or reading books together. She’s been with Gateway for over 10 years in various roles.
About The Episode:
BIO Girls is proud to support “Empowering Women with Knowledge about Breast Cancer,” alongside Gateway Automotive and Edith Sanford Breast Center. This podcast highlights the inspiring stories of survivors, emphasizing the importance of early detection, honesty, support, and personal strength throughout their breast cancer journeys.
Listen to the full episode, on Spotify:
Show Notes:
Dr. Beth Salafia
00:07
Hi everyone. Thanks for joining us today for our Bio Girls podcast. We at Bio Girls are so happy to have Gateway Automotive as one of our sponsors for the sixth Annual Bio Girls Gala. And as our co-host for the Bio Girls podcast. Here with us today we have Sydney Rustvang, and Travis Christopher. Let me introduce both of them before we dive into our topic. My co-host for this podcast from Gateway is Sidney Rustvang. Sydney is married to her husband Jeff, and they have three wonderful daughters and a Frenchy named Charles. When she's not working, you can usually find Sidney running around with her girls coloring or reading books together. She's been with Gateway for over 10 years in various roles. Welcome Sidney.
Sidney Rustvang
00:47
Thank you, Beth. On behalf of Gateway Automotive, I am thrilled to be a part of empowering women with knowledge about breast cancer. Alongside Bio Girls and Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Center at Gateway, we are dedicated to empowering every girl and woman to take the driver's seat of her life. And through initiatives and centers like Bio Girls and Edith Stanford Breast Cancer Center, we can support this mission.
Dr. Beth Salafia
01:11
Awesome, thank you. We also have Travis Christopher here today, and Travis is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 25 years of experience in fundraising and community service. Also, he is an in demand speaker on donor stewardship and retention. He has raised over $40 million in his career. Currently, he raises funds for Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Center and Roger Marris Cancer Center. Welcome, Travis.
Travis Christopher
01:35
Great to be here. This this will be fun.
Dr. Beth Salafia
01:38
Yeah. Great. Thank you both so much for being here with us today. Let's get started. So we all know women. You may be a woman, your partner is a woman, your sister, your daughter, your mother, your grandmother, your friend, your teacher. We are here today to talk about a topic that affects all the women we know breast cancer. We are hoping to empower women with knowledge about breast cancer and to be the best advocate for themselves and for others. And if you don't already know, October is breast cancer awareness month. So my first question to you, Travis, is when we think about breast cancer, who is it that should get tested when and how often?
Travis Christopher
02:19
You know, that's a great question and, and I really enjoy how you, how you introed us with everybody knows somebody affected by breast cancer. Could be a partner, could be a, a spouse, a a child, a relative. And one of the things we do at Edith San Sanford Breast Cancer Center is with testing. We know that one in eight women, one in eight, will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. And actually breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among US women. And actually 30% of all cancers that are found in women are breast cancer. So how do we be preventative and empower ourselves to get tested ahead of time? Well, one of the items that we say is that mammogram is so important and we ask that patients 40 years of age and older women get a mammogram every year. And it helps in preventative health. It helps in detecting cancer early. But also we can't forget that sometimes family history makes you a higher risk for breast cancer, especially if it's been in the family. And so they, they may even recommend a physician may say, come in early than 40 to start that preventative process.
Dr. Beth Salafia
03:38
Great. That actually leads me to my next question. You've answered part of it, which is whether breast cancer runs in the family, and you've already said that it does. So I'm gonna probe a little bit farther with that. And, and does it run in, can it run in both sides of the family? So male and female, or what can you tell me about that?
Travis Christopher
03:58
It can, and actually we call it a first degree relative. So that would be if you have a mother, a sister, or a daughter that has had breast cancer or has been treated for other cancers, that does increase the risk. And even if you have multiple family members who have, say, had breast or ovarian cancer, that would put you at a higher risk. And at the importance of that annual testing, annual checkup is so important. So the answer is yes, but the best part, I guess, I guess the good news is, is when it is caught at its earliest stage through these, through this annual testing, the five year survival rate is 98%. So if you do have that family history, and this is why whenever you go into your primary care physician or you go in for an appointment, they ask you your family history, it does play a big role. And breast cancer's a a big player in that.
Dr. Beth Salafia
04:53
Okay. That's really good to know. 'cause I, I know that they, that the question always comes up. And just for the record, I get my annual mammogram, so I'm a very strong proponent of this. So following up a little bit, can you tell us about some other risk factors, environmental, genetic, maybe talk a little bit about the role of stress.
Travis Christopher
05:15
Absolutely. And we can even talk total health in this one. Okay. Actually, breast cancer with risk factors, something as simple as, like we talked about that first degree relative or you could have dense breast tissue or you're overweight, excessive use of alcohol actually has, has proven to be a risk factor. Never having given birth or given birth at an older age is one of the risk factors there as well. So there are some risk factors like most health issues, but how do we prevent that? It's very similar. It's good exercise, good diet, managing stress. And I think that's one thing I think your, your group and your organization has always said is self-empowerment. How do we control that stress? How do we control that diet? So the prevention for breast cancer is very similar to other health health issues.
Dr. Beth Salafia
06:06
I'm gonna ask you a quick question here. Is it ever too late to start? So let's say, you know, you're in your forties and you've just neglected yourself for a long time. Like, is it too late to get started with a, you know, a better diet and exercise and lowering your stress?
Travis Christopher
06:22
Oh, as soon as you asked this question, I thought of a position here at Sanford and if he were on this podcast right now, he would say, no, it's never too late. Okay. To do things. Well, and that's so true. And we have stories. I just had a story here at Eva Sanford where somebody came in and had no idea, because breast cancer can be very asymptomatic, meaning you don't have any overt showing symptoms. And they were older and they went in for a mammogram finally and they detected something and that, and the story actually ended up to be a great story because they're a survivor. Mm. So yes, you can, to answer your question, Beth. Yes you can. It's never too late.
Dr. Beth Salafia
07:05
Good, good. I, I wanna reiterate that point for our listeners here who may be grappling with what to do now, you know, I'm 45, 50 years old, I haven't had a mammogram or I haven't done this or that. So I appreciate that. It's never too late.
Travis Christopher
07:21
You know, Beth, I have to say you, your question is a great one because we have so many patients that are afraid to make the call, that are afraid to go online to make the appointment because they don't know. My advice is no, go in, protect yourself through this routine screening. You know, just this week we have a mobile mammography unit. It's actually a big truck and we travel around the region to provide mammograms out in the rural communities. Might even be as Morehead, but we do 1100 of those a year just in our local region through this mobile mammogram project. So there are people out there, Beth, that's why your question is so awesome, because there are people out there that say, I don't want to drive into Fargo. I don't want to drive to our nearest town. I'm afraid what the results will be. Yeah, no, it's okay because there are many, many people like you who have made the step who have empowered themselves to do this. Yeah. So your question is great, Beth.
Dr. Beth Salafia
08:22
Good. Well thank you for providing that, that feedback too, for everyone that's listening and just reassuring them that it, it is okay. And there are options out there. So I appreciate that. And you've talked a little bit about why early detection is so important, but also, I mean, any detection really at any point. But can you give us a little bit of insight into what an early detection plan looks like?
Travis Christopher
08:49
Step is to really be open to things that are different as we age. Doesn't have to be a long, long age gap, but you, you might notice a few things, especially with breast cancer. You know, we've talked so much over the years about if you see a lump on or around the breast or even the underarm, a change in color, swelling in breast size, even skin changes, for example, if you see fluid buildup or thickness in skin that wasn't, that really wasn't there before, sores that don't heal, be observant of what you're seeing and it's okay to go in. And this relates to your last question, it's okay to go in and get quote checked out because if it turns out to be nothing, that's fine. But let's catch this early. So self-awareness, and I believe here at Sanford we have a term called practicing breast self-awareness to know what's normal for you. And if it's different then, you know, to start the process.
Dr. Beth Salafia
09:46
Yeah, absolutely. I think that's great. And I think that just in general for overall wellbeing, mental and physical, just being aware of your body and your routines is tip. Just good advice. Plain and simple, you know, like, and,
Travis Christopher
10:00
And sometimes we like, and I'm guilty of this, I will just say it honestly on the podcast, I'm guilty of this, that sometimes you try to make rationalizations. Well, I was working in the yard. Yep. Well, I was watching the kids, well, I had to drive to soccer practice three times and I'm just tired. That might be the case. Absolutely. But at the same time, if it's lasting a long time, if it's been a couple of weeks, know yourself.
Dr. Beth Salafia
10:28
Yeah, I, I absolutely agree. And I also wanna just say something real quick for our listeners too. It's very easy to schedule an appointment to do this. It's harder to follow up on it. I know the first time I scheduled a mammogram, I rescheduled it like three or four times because of what you said before. I was scared, I was nervous, I was, I didn't know what to expect. But the follow through I think is very important. And eventually I got to the point and now I'm going every year. So it it, you're not alone in your, your fear, but the, the message here is to just go through with it and make sure that you're aware of what your body is. Sydnee, I think you had a question for Travis here.
Sidney Rustvang
11:13
I did, yes. So in regards to like early detection and knowing your body and everything, you had mentioned dense breasts. So is, did you say, is that something that is genetic typically or how does one find that out? And the reason I ask that is because I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of breast cancer survivors and one of them had mentioned that she has dense breasts and because of that, she had to go in, she started her mammograms at the age of 30 and then had to go in every year because of that, because of the dense breasts. So I kind of wanted to see if you could elaborate on that a little bit more.
Travis Christopher
11:58
Sure. I think that is it. It could be, but from what I know and what I'm aware of that is just a sign not related to family history. That's just something between a, a self-awareness check. Okay. To address that could be one of the factors to address.
Sidney Rustvang
12:14
Okay.
Dr. Beth Salafia
12:15
Sydnee, I love that you asked that because I know people too who have gotten that and it's scary. It's scary to have that report come back and to say like, you have dense breasts and then that's it. That's all you get. And you're like, wait a minute, what does that mean? So I appreciate that you're talking about it, Travis, and I appreciate that you're asking about it Sydnee. So, you know, it's it from my understanding and Travis maybe, maybe you could elaborate a little bit, but it's a risk factor, but it doesn't mean, yeah, you're nay like, it doesn't mean that you're going to develop breast cancer. You just have to be more aware of your body and you have to have that regular testing.
Travis Christopher
12:56
That's what both of you are saying is, is so correct. You know, being in the fundraising world like I am in healthcare, you start to learn all of these risk factors for all of these diseases and you start feeling like, oh no, I've had that yesterday. I had that the day before, I had that last week. And it is just one step, it's one point in the system just to be aware of it's okay to be aware of it. It's just taking that next step.
Dr. Beth Salafia
13:22
Yeah. Great. Thank you. So I know currently there's a lot of, we'll say conversation, maybe a little hype around genetic testing in in general. So I'm wondering if you could tell us whether genetic testing is a possibility in this case?
Travis Christopher
13:43
You know, it's a perfect year to talk about this topic because 2024 will be remembered as the entry age of genetic testing. We have something at Sanford, it's called Imagine Genetics. And it's groundbreaking genetic testing, not just for breast cancer, but for other things. And I know we're doing it very, very much in regards to medication interaction. So the short answer to your question is yes, it is possible. The long answer is we're still in the infancy, we're still starting with genetic testing. So it can be reliable, it can see if there's any interactions, see if there is some disease in the future. So we're just starting out, Beth, we're just getting there, but the answer is yes.
Dr. Beth Salafia
14:31
Okay. Can you tell us a little bit about, so I guess I asked the question without explaining genetic testing at all. So for everyone out there, can you tell us a little bit about what that would, what genetic testing is, what it looks like, what, how you would go about doing it? And like you said, it's in its infancy stages or maybe maybe teenage stages, whatever, but how you would go about seeking it out. So just a little bit, whatever information you can give us would be Sure.
Travis Christopher
15:02
What the program does is it helps you understand really how your DNA impacts your health. And what it does is tries to improve access to a more personalized healthcare system. So it's not just Travis and Beth and Sydney going to their primary care provider, but what it does is it's, it's in, its, it's in its study phase right now, but it's a way that you would go in and take a look at trying to get a better understanding of your genetic health risks for things like common cancers, even heart disease. So what we're doing now at Sanford is we're, we're in the enrollment phase, and you can talk about this with your primary care provider. We're trying to enroll upwards of about a hundred thousand participants over the age of 18 to start the research as we go forward. So hopefully in a couple of years, not decades, but in a few years, we're gonna be able to say, Hey, this is a more feasible option for you to start looking at what are your risk factors, what are your health risks going forward?
Dr. Beth Salafia
16:01
And if someone were interested in being involved in the research process, would they just talk to their primary care physician?
Travis Christopher
16:07
That's where I would start, because we started this year with something about medication interaction. So they would look at your medications and they're actually able to take a sample from you to determine what's the best choice of, of medication and therapy for you. And so we're starting very, very small on that. But yes, the conversation is with your primary care provider.
Dr. Beth Salafia
16:28
Okay. Great advice. Thank you. So moving, moving forward a little bit. So what are, are there any, I guess, signs or symptoms that a woman should be aware of when thinking about breast cancer?
Travis Christopher
16:47
Absolutely. And we talked about a few of them earlier. We talked about the lump in the breast area, the swelling, perhaps a change in color. We talked about skin changes. We've also talked a little bit about sores that may not heal. You may talk about fluid other than breast milk that happened to be leaking from the nipple area other than breast milk fluid. And then if you have a vein on the breast that has increased in size or become much more noticeable, those are some of the views from the outside that you can do on your self-awareness. Signs and symptoms, not just for breast cancer, but for other things. And always be aware of what, what you have, you know, we talked about it earlier, but I have to reiterate this, is that sometimes we try to rationalize this, this is just something temporary. It's okay to go in and get checked out. It's okay to go in and have somebody say, it might not be this, it's something else, or it's nothing. Knowledge is power and it empowers people. I, and I'm sure, and I've never done a study on this, but perhaps I should do this next year, is when people walk out of one of our clinics after they've had a a check like this and it turns out to be nothing. Or even if it turns out to be something they're more empowered walking out than they will walking.
Dr. Beth Salafia
17:58
Absolutely. I would, I would 100% agree with it, with that statement. So I know that taking your annual mammogram is important and thinking about what you mentioned earlier about potentially being asymptomatic. So it's, if you don't have those lumps, those things that don't heal, et cetera, you could still have it, but the, that your annual mammogram would detect it. Right. So like it's important to have both of those pieces there, that self-check, that self-awareness and the annual mammogram because every, it's gonna look different for everyone, right?
Travis Christopher
18:44
Oh, sure it is. And you know, one of the things I will tell you is we're talking about bringing people into the process. A primary care doctor yourself, you're going into to look at these symptoms and maybe if you, if you have a concern, one of the things that Sanford Health that we do, here's the importance of getting other people involved. If the day comes, and unfortunately you do get diagnosed with a form of breast cancer, you do get diagnosed with a form of any cancer. We always believe in second opinions here. We don't want you to be on a single path. We have something at Sanford Health, it's called the tumor board. Each breast cancer case we have at Sanford is brought in front of a weekly breast tumor board. And what that is, is medical radiation. Oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, and researchers cover every single case. So you have multiple, multiple second opinions looking at your treatment option. So I, I say that because I really wanna share that it's okay to bring others in, like your primary care doctor among others to have a discussion about your health because you're responsible for that. But we wanna support you. So yes, it may be asymptomatic. Yes, you may see one or two signs, it's okay to go in and get checked out. It's okay to have that power to do that. Yeah.
Sidney Rustvang
20:04
So Travis, I'm so glad that you mentioned the second opinions because when I was speaking to one of the cancer survivors, she had informed me that her initial recommendation was to have a lumpectomy and undergo radiation. However, she decided to seek a second opinion, which was crucial because it revealed that she had two different types of breast cancer. And that second opinion ultimately led to an MRI, which found the second breast cancer in a completely different part of the breast from where the first cancer had been found.
Travis Christopher
20:36
You know what I would say to that is that's a wonderful team that was working with her, that was a wonderful counselor and a guide working with her on that one because it's not just a transaction. This is one of those where you need to take a look at all the health factors and really start taking a look at what else could this be. So I'm very happy to hear a story like that.
Dr. Beth Salafia
20:58
Me too. Thank you for sharing Sidney. Yes.
Travis Christopher
21:02
And it's something, because it all comes back to what we're doing even just today. Yeah. You know, got a second opinion, found some other issues because she took that first step. And that's why I love podcasts like this. And I love going out and sharing the message because that's a great case.
Dr. Beth Salafia
21:21
Yeah, absolutely. I think it, it also shows us that like we're not alone in this at all. So like, like Sydney's sharing these examples of women who have experienced it, and Travis, you're saying, you know, like the second opinion and involving your primary care doctor and everything, like, you don't have ever have to go through that alone. And I think that that's something that I address in almost every podcast that I do, is that you're, you're not alone. You know, and you don't have to go through it alone and you don't have to question things. Like in Sydney's case, with the, the woman who had multiple types of, of breast cancer in different places on her breast, she got a second opinion. So if you, if you feel uncomfortable, like you go somewhere else and get that second opinion, and you don't have to just take whatever is given you empower yourself to go out there. And just knowing that you're not alone and having the opportunity to seek that extra help, I think is just, it's just worth mentioning, I think in, in every conversation that we ever have.
Travis Christopher
22:25
You know, Beth, I want to take what you just said and I wanna frame it and put it up on my wall. The reason is one of the best programs we have here at Sanford Health, and frankly thanks to Gateway and any funding, we get to the Edith Cancer Breast Cancer Center fund. We have a program here, it's called Nurse Navigators. It's all funded through philanthropy, it's funded through donations. So it's not on the bill, it's not, doesn't cost a patient, but you're not alone. What a nurse navigator does is if you get diagnosed with cancer and you begin your treatment, this is a person that greets you at the door on day one. And it's the same person that takes you through your treatment as a friend and as a guide. So we've taken your advice, Beth, it's you're not alone and it's the same person.
Travis Christopher
23:18
We get more comments from cancer patients survivors that said, it was so nice to have someone to guide me from day one because you have wonderful oncologists, wonderful doctors. But it's so nice to have somebody meet me at the door and say, yes, you're, you're worried, you're nervous, you're scared even, but I'm gonna be here with you the whole time. And we have a doctor here at Sanford even that says, from the minute you get diagnosed as, as, as a, as a cancer patient, your name changes the next minute to survivor the very next minute. So Beth, what you have just said is so true
Dr. Beth Salafia
23:56
That that's, that's great. And I, you know, I think just in the, the brief conversation that we've had so far, I've learned so much. And I think it's just, it's encouraging to know all of these things. So if you're thinking about, oh my gosh, like first I have to get a mammogram and then what if they say I have it? But just knowing these things, even simple things like having that person be there for you from day one and that, that constant, I didn't know that. And so it just, it makes things a little bit more manageable. Just knowledge. Knowledge is power,
Travis Christopher
24:31
Which sure is Beth. And not only that, but we also offer direct patient assistance. So things like transportation need even wigs for somebody going through chemo head coverings. We even offer some lodging assistance because see if you live say 50 miles outside of Fargo, but you can't go home during your extended treatment, we can find ways to assist a family. So again, I'm using your words, Beth, you're not alone. You can even have your family near along with a nurse navigator. So, perfect. Beth.
Dr. Beth Salafia
25:02
Yeah, great, great information. Thank you. Okay, so my next question has to do with prevention. And I think we've talked a little bit about this, but I think it's, you know, knowing that it's never too late to develop healthy habits and things like that. But I think one thing that always comes to people's mind is, is there anything I could have done differently? So if we think about that, is there any way to prevent the onset of breast cancer? So I know some things that are out there like exercise, diet, breastfeeding, these things are all, maybe offer a little bit of protection or protective factor. Not necessarily like the end all cure all, but what can you tell me about whether there is in fact things that people can do to differently or, you know, if we think about it, I don't want, I don't want people to think, oh man, if only I had lived my entire life differently, I could have prevented that. So what can you tell me about that?
Travis Christopher
26:06
Oh, I wish hindsight was always 2020 and I can see, I really wish that were the case, but I think you mentioned the top three. I think that's so important. I think it's important not just for breast cancer, but for all women's health and men's health for that matter. But I think those are so important. And being the healthcare person that I am, I do believe not just the mammogram annually, but go in for a wellness check to go in and do those things because you've heard the stats, you've heard the stories that, well, are we getting healthier or unhealthier? Are we managing stress? Are we not managing stress when it comes to cancer? Tho that's the best advice I can give. I could spend the rest of the podcast telling you about some of the great research that's happening here at Sanford in regards to how do we prevent, but a lot of things come right back, right back to lifestyle, come back to diet, come back to exercise, and also it would help increase your chance of remission, having a healthier lifestyle as well. So you hit on the top three. I wish I, I wish I had that future, that future research and we're getting closer every day.
Sidney Rustvang
27:18
One of the gals I talked to, she had said, you know, we can't control everything, but we can control our decisions when it comes to healthy choices and we own our bodies and we need to do what we can to keep it strong and healthy.
Travis Christopher
27:32
Yeah, well that's so true that that's
Sidney Rustvang
27:34
So, and it's, it's so true. And whether that be our diet, our exercise, or just like you said, going in for your regular checkups, we have to make sure that we maintain our health so we can catch those issues before they do escalate.
Travis Christopher
27:49
And, and, and, and Beth, as you said earlier, and Sydnee you said it too, it's never too late. Yeah. It's you listening to this podcast right now in their car driving to work or at home and it happens to be a Monday and we're starting another week. It's okay, it's, you could start today and it's totally fine. And it's totally fine. And I enjoy when I hear even from the teens that say, here's what I'm doing now, that's a success. I mean, that's a bio girl success, that's a parenting success When we start getting them younger and younger saying, I know I need to do this. We at Sanford view that as a success. So well done.
Dr. Beth Salafia
28:31
Okay, my last question here, and maybe Sydney, you'll have some follow up questions, but this is it. So how can we empower women to take that next step, whether it's to get the mammogram, to develop an early detection plan, to seek treatment options if they're diagnosed or simply to help other people become more aware or knowledgeable about breast cancer. So how can we do that? How can we help empower all women everywhere to take the next step, whatever it looks like for them?
Travis Christopher
29:03
Here's the message. Now follow me on this one because I, I know bio girls believes in this too, and, and we do it Sanford Health as well, but follow me on this, you're worth it. No one's gonna judge you for walking into a clinic. Maybe it's a mobile mammography unit, maybe it's urgent care. We have urgent cares here in town and it's okay to say, I have a concern, I'm worried about this. It's okay to do that. Sometimes I'm guilty sometimes when we're sitting at the urgent care with our child or we're going into a clinic and we don't know how to articulate how we're feeling. My message to the community and to patients, it's okay. It's okay to question. It's no one's gonna judge you. No one's gonna look at you if it turns out to be something or nothing. You know, bio girls always talks about empowering women and you even have the bioTE program where we talk about self-image and we talk about confidence. This is a place, it's an easy place to go. Go ahead and do it. It's okay to do that. And if it turns out to be something, we're gonna get you on a treatment plan that's gonna lead to hopefully remission and survival. And if it turns out to be nothing, well you walk out of that clinic more empowered than ever. It's okay.
Dr. Beth Salafia
30:28
Travis, can you gimme that statistic again about if it's detected early, how, what's your chance of surviving?
Travis Christopher
30:37
Well, when it's caught at its earliest stage, the five year now this is over five years, the survival rate for breast cancer is 98%. There
Dr. Beth Salafia
30:46
You go.
Travis Christopher
30:47
That's the latest stat. And wow, I don't know about you, but there's a lot of things in my life playing sports or doing other things. If I had a 98% chance, I would take it.
Dr. Beth Salafia
30:57
Yeah, for sure. I I thank you for repeating that. I, I like it registered in my mind, but I wanted to hear it again because I think that it just really hammers home the idea that early detection and early screening is just, I mean, it's just essential.
Travis Christopher
31:14
It, it sure is. And I told you earlier about that mobile ma mammography unit, we had serve 1100 women every year. People go, wow, that's a lot. And we're like, that's great because it's telling us that our, our our, our own neighbors, our own people are doing this thing. They're now finding it to be important. So it heartens us be,
Dr. Beth Salafia
31:33
Yeah. Let's see that number go up though. Let's see, like next year. Let's, let's go for more.
Travis Christopher
31:39
Hey, I'm, I'm with that. I'm with it.
Sidney Rustvang
31:43
Travis, you said, I think, like you said, that at age 40 is when it's recommended for mammograms. If you were to go in any younger, do you know anything like insurance coverage? Would you have issues with insurance covering it if you were any younger than that, or what
Travis Christopher
31:59
Else? It depends on the insurance plan. I, and I can't cite that. Okay. I don't have that in front of me, but it's certainly at least a conversation. If you have a concern before the age of 40, it's at least a concern.
Sidney Rustvang
32:12
But if you were just gonna go in, just, just to be on the safe side, just to, I'm just gonna go in to be proactive just to get this done. Do you recommend that or just kind of personal preference?
Travis Christopher
32:24
It? It's personal preference, but I would start with your primary care contact. Okay. Just because they have your history, they have your health history, and that could be a better discussion.
Sidney Rustvang
32:33
Sure.
Travis Christopher
32:35
Great question though. Yeah.
Dr. Beth Salafia
32:37
Sidney, did you have any other questions for Travis?
Sidney Rustvang
32:40
Not at this time. I don't.
Dr. Beth Salafia
32:42
Okay, great. Well, thank you both so much for being here with us today. I learned a ton and I appreciate all of the stories and all of the information that you've shared. Travis, do you have any final pieces of advice or words of wisdom for our listeners?
Travis Christopher
32:59
I think in this world of negativity, bad news, things that bring us down, discussions like this and podcasts such as yours, let us know what's really going on. There's a lot of good news out there. And there's a doctor here at Sanford that talks about Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Center. This is the season of hope. That's what October is. It's a season of hope and it's a season of positivity that we're empowering ourselves to take control of our health. And that's what this podcast is doing today. So this is great.
Dr. Beth Salafia
33:34
Thank you so much, Sydney. Is there anything you'd like to leave our listeners with?
Sidney Rustvang
33:39
Thank you Beth and Travis for educating us today on breast cancer. And thank you all for joining us in this crucial conversation. In addition to the information that we discuss today, there will be a blog post on the Bio Girls website that will talk about the experiences of two amazing women. I believe their experiences and advice will help raise awareness and get us closer to a more informed community. Please check the Bio Girls website for this upcoming blog post. Thank you again.
Dr. Beth Salafia
34:09
Great. Thank you again. Thank you Travis, and thank you Sydney. Thank you. Edith Stanford Breast Cancer Center, and thank you Gateway Automotive. I appreciate all of what you all are doing and the message that we're sending. And remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. So thank you all of our listeners, and I hope you learned as much as I did.