About this episode
In this special live episode of the SHE MD Podcast, Olivia Munn joins Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, Mary Alice Haney, Dr. Shari Goldfarb, and Kristen Dahlgren, for a powerful Breast Cancer Awareness Month panel in New York City. The event coincided with NBC’s Today Show coverage and the lighting of the Empire State Building in pink — marking the launch of a national conversation around early detection, AI, and prevention. Together, they explore how lifetime risk assessments, dense breast screening, and AI mammogram prediction tools like Clarity Breast are transforming breast health. The panel also discusses cancer vaccine research, genetic testing, and the importance of women knowing their individual risk scores. Listeners will hear Olivia’s personal story of early detection after a high-risk score prompted further imaging, leading to her diagnosis and recovery. This episode offers clarity, action, and hope — empowering every listener to become their own health advocate and partner with their medical team. Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PCOS, Endometriosis, fertility, and hormonal balance. Share with friends and visit the SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being. What You’ll Learn How lifetime risk assessment tools can identify breast cancer risk before symptoms appear Why dense breast tissue requires supplemental screening beyond mammograms How AI predictive tools like Clarity Breast are revolutionizing early detection The promise of vaccine research and genetic testing in future breast cancer prevention Key Timestamps (00:00) Live event intro and Breast Cancer Awareness Month context (03:30) Olivia’s story: risk score, MRI findings, and early diagnosis (13:00) Dr. Aliabadi and Dr. Goldfarb on dense breast screening and AI tools (16:00) Cancer vaccine and immunotherapy discussion with Kristen Dahlgren (27:00) Genetic testing and family history: understanding your risk (34:00) Audience Q&A: emotional recovery and advocacy (42:00) Is there support for young women being diagnosed with breast cancer? (51:30) Clarifying the term Risk Assessment Key Takeaways Every woman should know her lifetime breast cancer risk score Dense breasts may obscure cancers — MRI and ultrasound can save lives AI mammogram tools are changing detection from reactive to predictive Research into cancer vaccines offers hope for prevention and recurrence reduction Advocacy and awareness remain key — early action leads to better outcomes Guest Bios Olivia Munn Olivia Munn is an actress, health advocate, and breast cancer survivor. After receiving a high lifetime risk assessment score, she underwent further imaging that revealed cancer across multiple quadrants, leading to a bilateral mastectomy. Since publicly sharing her diagnosis in 2024, she has dedicated her platform toward raising awareness about early detection, risk assessment, and empowering women with knowledge about their breast health. Dr. Shari Goldfarb, MD Dr. Shari Goldfarb is a breast medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, with a clinical focus on early and advanced breast cancer. Her research centers on survivorship, symptom management, fertility, sexual health, and quality of life for breast cancer patients. She participates in clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for women during and after treatment. Kristen Dahlgren Kristen Dahlgren is a former NBC correspondent who, after her own stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis, left journalism to found the Cancer Vaccine Coalition. She collaborates with top cancer centers to accelerate immunotherapy and vaccine development in breast cancer and advocates for preventive strategies beyond current standards. Links Olivia Munn – https://www.instagram.com/oliviamunn Dr. Shari Goldfarb – https://www.mskcc.org/profile/shari-goldfarb Kristen Dahlgren – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-dahlgren-886519292/ Donna McKay – https://www.bcrf.org/team Resources Mentioned Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) – Funding for innovative breast cancer research and prevention programs🔗 https://www.bcrf.org Clarity Breast AI Tool – FDA-approved AI tool for predicting breast cancer risk up to 5 years in advance https://clairity.com/ Genetic Testing & Lifetime Risk Assessment Tools – For evaluating hereditary breast cancer risk https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Breast cancer diagnostics, treatment, and survivorship resources https://www.mskcc.org Cancer Vaccine Coalition – Accelerating immunotherapy and vaccine development for breast cancer https://www.cancervaccinecoalition.org Preventive Screening Guidelines – Information on mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds for early detection https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html BRCA and Genetic Mutation Information – Guidance for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .