23: Her Mother Found a Lump in Her 20s- It Took a Year for Someone to Listen | Dr. Contessa Metcalfe

You may know Dr. Contessa Metcalfe from Married to Medicine, but behind the camera is a deeply personal story of breast cancer risk, family loss, and self-advocacy. In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, host Caleen Allen sits down with Dr. Contessa to discuss losing her mother to breast cancer, navigating years of mammograms and uncertain genetic testing, and ultimately choosing a preventive double mastectomy. She shares why family history matters, how medical decisions aren't always black and white, and why young Black women must keep pushing for answers when something doesn't feel right. This conversation is a powerful reminder that early detection, informed choices, and speaking up for your health can make all the difference ✨ Learn more: sistersnetworkinc.org 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship! KEY POINTS 00:00 – Dr. Contessa’s mother was diagnosed in her 20s and had to fight to be heard 01:51 – Family history, BRCA testing, and why genetic results are not always straightforward 04:11 – Years of mammograms, MRIs, and rising risk led to a preventive mastectomy decision 07:49 – The difficult choice between risk reduction, nipple-sparing surgery, and body image 10:00 – How insurance coverage, genetic testing, and modern science shaped her decision 15:00 – Talking to her daughters about inherited risk, screening, and what science can offer them 17:19 – Why she shared her preventive mastectomy journey on Married to Medicine 20:00 – Why a prophylactic mastectomy is not the right decision for everyone 23:17 – Young women, delayed diagnosis, and why Dr. Contessa says, “Don’t shut up” QUOTES "No news is not always good news. Just because you didn't hear back doesn't always mean that the test was normal." – Dr. Contessa Metcalfe "The reason I tell the story is not about me. It's really about my mom. She was in her 20s, so listen to your body." – Dr. Contessa Metcalfe “We are blessed to have science and modern technology, and to have this information is power." – Dr. Contessa Metcalfe GUEST RESOURCES: Contessa Metcalfe MD, MSPH IG |   / drcontessa   Website - https://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/ IG -   / sistersnetwork