Tanya Lumpkins, MD, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and before that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Navigating the healthcare system was nothing new; Dr. Lumpkins was used to being a patient that had to see multiple specialists. However, having the label as "cancer patient" took a whole new role, especially in how it offered perspective on racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, understanding genetic risk, seeing shortcomings of the health care organization, and even how it inspired travel and joy in her retirement. Life is short and so it should be enjoyed. More than 1 year after her breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Lumpkins shares her story with her very own daughter, Sarah Marion, MD, podcast host of "When We Had Cancer" and physician, herself.
Tanya Lumpkins, MD, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and before that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Navigating the healthcare system was nothing new; Dr. Lumpkins was used to being a patient that had to see multiple specialists. However, having the label as "cancer patient" took a whole new role, especially in how it offered perspective on racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, understanding genetic risk, seeing shortcomings of the health care organization, and even how it inspired travel and joy in her retirement. Life is short and so it should be enjoyed. More than 1 year after her breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Lumpkins shares her story with her very own daughter, Sarah Marion, MD, podcast host of "When We Had Cancer" and physician, herself.