Let's Talk About Your Breasts

Forty years at The Rose taught our co-founder and CEO Dorothy Gibbons this: you don’t walk away from women, even when the system does.

In this farewell episode, Dorothy share the stories that shaped her, why she's stepping back, and why your support and your stories still matter. 

Support The Rose HERE.

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How does a simple flyer lead a high school student to a life-saving discovery?

Monserrat Duron’s decision to perform a self-exam after attending a college fair changed the trajectory of her life. Upon finding a lump, she faced unimaginable challenges due to a lack of insurance. Yet, with the support of The Rose and the steadfast care of Dr. Bonefas, she navigated a grueling journey towards recovery and advocacy. 

More th...

Baseball built Julia’s career, but it’s the people behind the game who keep her in Houston. She traces her path from small‑town athlete to Astros broadcaster, then opens up about 2020, when pregnancy, COVID, and her mother’s breast cancer collided, pushing her to start mammograms early and speak candidly about family history and early detection.

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Samina Farid built her career in oil and gas, founded her own company, and forged ahead in spaces where women are rarely seen. Through it all, she faced cancer twice and found strength that reshaped both her health and her work.

- Breaking barriers as the only woman in the room

- Building success in a male-dominated industry

- Facing cancer two times and turning challenges into purpose

Support The Rose HERE.

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Dr. Melillo and Dorothy Gibbons started The Rose because they were tired of telling women, “You have cancer, and there’s nowhere for you to go.” 

Forty years later, they're still in that same fight. In this conversation, Dr. Melillo walks us from those early days of oil‑bust Houston and charity‑hospital waiting lists to today’s harsh reality: we can diagnose, but for too many uninsured and underinsured ...

Support comes to life at the "Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon," where advocates, survivors, board members, and friends stand shoulder to shoulder for women’s health in the community.

In this episode:

- Hear from an emcee who connects with women over shared experiences

- Meet board members who bring The Rose’s mission to new supporters

- Listen to how others are making community care a priority

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Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced Stage 0 DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “Stage 2 HER2‑Positive.”

In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to m...

Being a doctor has its challenges, but imagine starting out when women weren't always accepted in medicine. Dr. Elizabeth Bonefas built a practice, stood up for her patients, and guided many through tough breast cancer battles. Dr. Bonefas is the Speaker at this year's Everything's Coming Up Roses Luncheon; you don't want to miss this episode!

- She helped care for our youngest ever diagnosed breast cancer patient at The Rose (list...

Shelley didn’t see herself as “an honoree.” She saw herself as a working mom in a male‑dominated industry who just wanted to stay ahead of breast cancer. In this conversation, she walks us through the mammogram she almost didn’t get, receiving the news of a Stage 0 DCIS diagnosis, and the 10 years of follow‑up, skin checks, and colonoscopies that followed. Her story reminds us that early detection, asking qu...

Road grit meets breast cancer courage in this wild ride from Daytona to Homer that turns one biker into a full‑on breast health champion for his fiance Kathy and uninsured women at The Rose.

- Why one long‑distance biker took on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to honor his fiancée Kathy and support uninsured women with breast cancer at The Rose.

- The brutal, beautiful 11,000‑mile route from Florida through Hurricane Debby...

Personal connections the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon.

Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigation as the most critical lifelines The...

Why is community support crucial during health crises?

In this episode, Dorothy and Nancy Strohmer delve into the significance of showing support and care for others during tough times. Nancy shares her journey through a health crisis, highlighting the importance of receiving support from friends, family, and the community. This experience inspired her mission to help others through awareness and resources. 

The conversation u...

Barriers shape the path to care.

Emily Reis describes her role as a community engagement navigator for the Rose, connecting rural and urban communities to breast cancer screening resources. She covers Brazos Valley’s counties, teaches early detection, and works with clinics and facilitators to organize mobile mammogram days. Service relies on partnerships and word of mouth.

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How do you respond when a friend faces a diagnosis that changes everything? What does real support look like during breast cancer treatment?

In this episode, you’ll hear how friendship, early detection, and self-advocacy made a difference. You’ll also learn about the challenges of treatment, the role of caregivers, and ways communities rally when it’s needed most.

- Discover what it takes to face fear and make cri...

En este episodio, el Dr. Fernando Angarita conversa con las mujeres de la comunidad hispanohablante sobre el cáncer de mama, desmitificando creencias comunes y resaltando la importancia de la detección temprana. Con un mensaje claro y esperanzador, explica cómo los avances médicos y el tamizaje adecuado pueden marcar la diferencia y salvar vidas. Un episodio informativo y motivador que invita a cuid...

Trusting your instincts can change everything.

Dorothy Gibbons and Jenny Fitzpatrick talk about early breast cancer diagnosis, persistent self-advocacy, and navigating treatment as a young mother. Jenny Fitzpatrick describes celebrating survivorship, building community, and creating new traditions. Stories connect lives. Experiences shape what comes next.

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Dorothy is joined by Ronnie Haggerty, a board member of The Rose, who recounts her personal story of rallying together with friends years ago when a close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She describes the important role friends can play during this time; a role no other person can fill. This was also the first time she encountered seeing the different ways The Rose helps women.

Known for her deep understanding of phil...

Asking for help is never easy.

Dorothy Gibbons introduces Kathia, manager at The Rose’s southeast location. Three departments fall under Kathia’s leadership: medical records, registration, and sponsorship programs. The Rose offers care and access, removing barriers like language, cost, and transportation. Even after diagnosis, bilingual patient navigators remain with patients, helping them through paperwork and treatmen...