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In this episode, Teyonna Bowman, a breast cancer survivor and founder of Pausitive Outlook, shares her journey of being diagnosed with hormone-sensitive invasive breast cancer at 35 and experiencing a recurrence before 40.
Her treatments led to medically induced menopause, prompting her to advocate for early detection and open conversations about menopause.
We discuss the challenges of menopause, the need for comprehensive care, and the significance of self-advocacy and empowerment for breast cancer survivors.
Pull up with your fave cup, on your fave chair, or tune in on your drive.
A Bit About Teyonna
Teyonna is a breast cancer survivor, advocate, and founder of Pausitive Outlook—a platform dedicated to early detection and empowering women to navigate the complexities of menopause.
Being diagnosed with hormone-sensitive breast cancer at 35, despite her healthy, active lifestyle, turned her world upside down. It was an unexpected blow, but shetriumphed by successfully completing surgery and treatment, only to face a localrecurrence less than five years later.
Her second bout with cancer was even more challenging, requiring her to enter medically induced menopause.Feeling isolated by severe menopausal symptoms that went far beyond hot flashes, Teyonna recognized a critical gap in the conversation—especially for breast cancer survivors.
Determined to fill that void, she founded Pausitive Outlook to educate,connect, and support women facing similar battles.In 2024, Teyonna launched The Second Bloom event series, an intimate communityspace celebrating social connection and self-advocacy while linking women withmenopause professionals and mindful products.
Her latest social media project,Menopause Unwrapped, shines a light on the unique challenges young survivorsface after treatment.As a dedicated volunteer with the Know Your Lemons Foundation and an advocatewith the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, Teyonna is committedto redefining life after cancer and ensuring no woman faces these challenges alone.
Outside of breast cancer and menopause advocacy, Teyonna lives in the SanFrancisco Bay Area with her husband, two kids and an energetic Vizsla. She cherishes walks and sharing tearful laughs with her friends and family.
In this episode:
00:00:00: Episode Trailer
00:01:05 Podcast Intro
00:03:11 Intro To Keyonna
00:03:35: Keyonna’s Personal Journey & Advocacy
00:06:59: The Importance of Conversations
00:08:05: Creating a Supportive Community
00:09:30: Hormone-Sensitive Breast Cancer
00:12:11: Early Detection of Breast Cancer
00:17:25: Self-Breast Exams & Awareness
00:20:25: Proactive Health Measures
00:22:59: Pausitive Outlook’s Community Initiatives
00:28:04: Initial Experience With Menopause
00:29:59: Bone Health Awareness
00:35:00: Navigating Mental Health Changes
00:35:09: Top Challenges in Menopause
00:44:49: Self-care Rituals and or Practices
00:47:17: Advice for Younger Women
00:50:11: Future Goals for Pausitive Outlook
00:51:38: Palliative Care in Breast Cancer
00:53:10: Survivorship Navigators
00:55:06: Advocacy & Empowerment
00:56:11: Closing
Connect With Keyonna
Connect With Me/Dixie:
Instagram – The Pause Pod
Instagram – Personal
Additional Resources For Support:
Join The Menopause Lab: A six-week course for people experiencing menopause
Take the Menopause Quiz: Find out if you might be experiencing (peri)menopause
Menopause blog posts: Various posts about the menopausal phase
The symptoms checklist: A checklist with over forty symptoms you can check off
The menopause question list: A list of questions to ask your healthcare partner
The Pause Pod Community: Private Facebook Community. Click the link to Join.
I am by no means a medical professional. I am a Licensed and certified Biology/Health teacher/educator and award-winning beauty/wellness founder. Any information shared on this and future podcasts is my point of view or that of the guests. Please consult with your primary care partner for advice and treatments for your health and well-being. Please read the entire disclaimer Here.
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