💪 The Hairy Chin: The Breast Cancer Issue

Hello again!

As many of you know, two years ago I went in for the results of my very first screening mammogram, expecting to check a box and grab a coffee after. Instead, I walked out with an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

No one hands you a manual for moments like that, but what I did find was the power of knowledge. Learning how to understand my body gave me a way to push back against the fear. Because here’s the truth: so many of us carry more fear about the idea of breast cancer than actual knowledge about how to detect it or even talk about it. 

October might be Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but our breasts really don’t care about calendars. This is a year-round conversation that starts with knowing your body, understanding your risks, and embracing your power - or as we here like to call it around here - honing your skills of self-advocacy!

A big squeeze,

Spencer Moore
Founder, The Hairy Chin
(Listen to The Hairy Chin Podcast)
(Visit www.thehairychin.com)
(Follow us on IG and TikTok)

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When I gave my first Breast Health Session (as a proud “Lemonista”) in 2024, one of my closest friends walked in and said, “I’m really not here to learn about breast cancer symptoms. I’m here to support you, because honestly, I’m terrified to talk about it.”

It was such an eye-opening moment. I hadn’t fully considered just how scary this topic is for so many women.

But what stayed with me most wasn’t her statement. It was watching her shift over the course of that one-hour workshop. By the end, the same woman who arrived hesitant to even talk about breast cancer, left feeling excited to practice her self-breast exams and share what she’d learned. What changed wasn’t the reality of breast cancer for her. It was her relationship to it.

In my podcast interview with Dr. Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, founder of the Know Your Lemons Foundation, she said something I’ll never forget:

“When there’s a gap in knowledge, fear fills that gap.”

And she’s so right! The less we know, the louder fear becomes. But when we learn, ask questions, and get curious, we take that power back.

Click the image below to listen to my really enlightening and empowering interview with Corrine on The Hairy Chin Podcast, where we talk about breast cancer prevention, education and so much more. 🍋 💛

Dear Hairy Chin,

I finished radiation about six weeks ago, and I’m still dealing with some uncomfortable side effects - really sharp pains on the treated side and a tight pulling sensation under my arm that makes everyday movement difficult.

At my last appointment, I tried to talk to my doctor about these symptoms. His response was, ‘It’s normal, give it time,’ and then abruptly moved on. I had so many follow-up questions in my head, but the second he brushed it off, I shrunk and the words just disappeared. I left the appointment feeling small, defeated, and frustrated because I’d failed to speak up and get the answers I went looking for.

What can I say in those moments when I’m feeling unvalidated and unheard? How can I speak up and ask for the clarity I need when my doctor seems to be rushing me out the door?

— Shrunken Violet, New York City, NY

Dear Shrunken Violet,

We know that feeling so well. You walk into a doctor’s office rehearsed and ready, only to walk out feeling defeated and frustrated. That shrinking moment you describe is something so many of us experience, especially when we aren’t given the chance to feel heard or validated. And it’s not weakness. It’s a very human response to being in an environment where someone else sets the pace and tone.

But there is good news! You can find your footing in those moments by leaning on clarity, preparation, and trusting your right to take up space in the room. Here are a few practical ways to help you advocate clearly and confidently:

• Lead with your priority in detail.
  Medical appointments can be rushed, so start with your principle concern in detail.
  “I need to talk about the pain and pulling I’ve been feeling since radiation. It’s impacting my sleep and my daily activities. It is not improving and causing me concern.”
  

• Ask outcome-focused questions.
  Help guide the conversation towards a solution:
  • “If this is normal, what’s the timeline for improvement?”
  • “If it doesn’t improve, what are our next steps?”
  

• Bring support.
  Having another person in the room often changes how concerns are taken. It also helps you feel more grounded and ensures the important details don’t get lost.

Self-advocacy in a doctor’s office isn’t about perfect communication, it’s about standing firm in what you know to be true: your symptoms are real and your voice matters. Doctors may move quickly, but that doesn’t make your concerns less valid. You have every right to slow the conversation down, ask for clarity, and expect to be heard.

With you,
The Hairy Chin

What questions do you have about honing the skill of self-advocacy, health & wellness or the expansive female experience? We’d love to hear from you!
Please share them with us at [email protected].

Self-advocacy isn’t built with just one tool, it’s the practices, perspectives, and resources that help you move closer to the life you want. To aid you in trading fear for facts, this week’s section is packed with resources that inform and empower you along your journey.

🎙️ Great Podcast Listen: The Boobiedocs
A fantastic listen by two board-certified breast imaging doctors who make all things breast health approachable, informative, and even funny.

📘 Useful Book Rec: The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control
Written by the amazing Dr. Liz O’Riordan, a breast surgeon who also became a breast cancer patient herself. It’s practical, deeply human, and exactly the kind of book that takes the fear out of learning. (Keep scrolling, she’ll make a second appearance on our list today!)

📱 Your Next Fave Mobile App: Know Your Lemons
Created by the Know Your Lemons Foundation, this FREE app is the gold standard for breast health education. (Even beating out Apple Health as the #1 mobile health app.) It teaches you what to look for, when to get checked, how to understand your risk and how to navigate diagnoses - all in a way that’s visual, friendly, and not terrifying!

📺 Bingeable TV Show: Elsbeth 
A little levity for your week. Because sometimes advocacy includes downtime on the sofa and a great quirky detective show.

Actress Carrie Preston did something extra special last week on Elsbeth when she highlighted the Know Your Lemons Foundation’s 12 signs of breast cancer right on screen! It was such a powerful and unexpected moment of advocacy during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a reminder that breast health education can show up in all kinds of places! 🩷

👀 A Quick Watch: How to Talk to a Friend with Breast Cancer 
A short but powerful Instagram reel featuring the wonderful Dr. Liz O’Riordan’s advice on supporting someone newly diagnosed.

💪 Our YouTube Pick: What I’d Do Differently: Chest Radiation
In my Chin Chats episode I share my real and honest reflections from my experience with 15 sessions of chest radiation, with three things I would have done differently.

“I choose knowledge over fear.”

October may shine the spotlight on breast cancer, but the conversation, and caring for ourselves, doesn’t stop there. We deserve to feel informed, supported, and empowered all year long.

That’s it for today, thank you for being here! We’ll see you in two weeks with more tools, stories, and support to guide you on your self-advocacy journey.