Breaking Bariers: When Your Breast Health Care Providers Aren't Providing Care

Breaking Barriers: When Breast Health Care Providers Aren't Providing Care. Real Stories, Hard Truths, and Practical Advice from Clear Voices Of Hope

Amplifying Women’s Voices on Breast Health

On the latest episode of *Clear Voices Of Hope*, host Lisa Malia welcomes guest Kristin Derus Dore for an honest, in-depth discussion about the realities of dense breast tissue, the complexities of cancer screening, and the power of self-advocacy. Their conversation shines a light on the lived experiences of women navigating the maze of breast health and the urgent need for better communication, education, and support within the healthcare system.

The Quiet Challenge of Dense Breast Tissue

Dense breast tissue is common among women, yet, as both Lisa and Kristin share, it remains a little-understood risk. Kristin recounts learning about her own dense tissue only after a series of missed opportunities: “I knew dense breast tissue ran in the family. My mom and her sisters always talked about it. I never really understood what that meant...once I did, it was a little bit too late.”

The importance of understanding what dense tissue means is underscored by Kristin’s experience—she pursued ultrasounds after a friend, a breast cancer survivor, recommended it when mammograms missed her own diagnosis. This kind of insider information—shared from one woman to another—proves critical, and highlights the gaps left by a healthcare system that still often waits until dense tissue poses a problem, rather than proactively educating patients.

The Power (and Frustration) of Self-Advocacy

Kristin’s journey is a study in the complicated dance of seeking the right care. After rescheduling a screening ultrasound, a subtle warning sign was noticed—a spot, just 4 millimeters large, only detectable via ultrasound. Despite this early intervention, Kristin describes being met with resistance, dismissal, and judgment from medical professionals for choosing ultrasounds over mammograms. “They all asked...why was I getting these ultrasounds? I shared my concerns about radiation and about the effectiveness of mammography...Did that show up on the mammogram? And [the doctor] said, no.”

That moment of validation for Kristin—learning that her chosen path of screening caught something that mammograms did not—was both empowering and infuriating. Yet, even with this finding, she describes a continued lack of support, unclear follow-up timelines, and high costs that left her feeling “really judged” and alone in decision-making.

Systemic Barriers: More Than Just a Personal Hurdle

Both Lisa and Kristin highlight the larger, systemic issues at play—cost, access, and the emotional labor of advocacy. Kristin took matters into her own hands, covering out-of-pocket costs for ultrasounds because the system either wouldn’t bill insurance or would charge exorbitant rates—sometimes even after delivering inadequate support. “I got a bill for $3,000...for all the stuff I had to fight to get.”

They raise vital questions: What happens to women without resources, flexibility, or support networks? The conversation acknowledges women working multiple jobs, lacking transportation, or facing financial barriers—reminding us that for every story shared, countless more go unheard.

Emotional Aftershocks and the Double-Edged Sword of Lifestyle Advice

Kristin candidly discusses the lingering specter of cancer and the complicated emotions that follow a health scare—even when cancer isn’t found. She notes the pressure to pursue every possible lifestyle tweak, sometimes teetering on the edge between empowerment and self-blame: “When I thought I might have cancer, I was kind of blaming myself too. Did I do something to cause this?”

Lisa offers validation, emphasizing the importance of joy and balance in life, and warning against letting a quest for ‘perfect’ health rob women of pleasure and connection. The message: do what you can to support your health, but reject the narrative that you are solely responsible for what happens.

Building New Teams and Stronger Communities

A key takeaway from this episode is the power of building a care team and community who sees and supports you. Kristin is currently “building a new team for herself, people that can see her as a whole, being as a wise, informed woman.” Lisa echoes that sometimes, firing an unresponsive medical team is not just okay, but essential.

Community—found in honest conversation and the sharing of personal stories—remains the most reliable defense against the many blind spots of current healthcare. “What we have is each other,” Lisa concludes, “and this is really an important step forward.”

Final Thoughts: Advocacy as a Lifeline

Kristin leaves listeners with this wisdom: “You’re the only one to so many people and you have to take care of you first...If you know something’s wrong, just keep looking for it.” Advocacy, she argues, is not just about challenging the system, but about ensuring you can live in peace with your choices.

As *Clear Voices Of Hope* makes clear, every woman’s voice matters—not just as a patient, but as a source of knowledge, support, and real change for everyone still navigating their own journey to breast health.

Learn more about The Clear Pathways Program, Walk, Summit, App and Initiative powered by For The Love Of Cups and join our task force or advisory board: https://www.breastdensitysummit.org/

Kristin Derus Dore is a dedicated entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Newly married, she cherishes her blended family, which includes three beloved dogs and two fantastic grown children, ages 28 and 26. About four years ago, Kristin launched her own biofeedback wellness business and has found great fulfillment and success in her work and women's health. Family health has always been on her mind, especially concerns about dense breast tissue, a topic often discussed by her mother and aunts.

Kristin values connection and is grateful to be part of work that makes an impact.

Learn more about Kristin: www.edenbiofeedback.com

*Not medical advice. These episodes are intended to spark conversations between you and your care provider, family and friends to advocate for more informed decisions.