My Journey With Breast Health and Early Screening

Welcome to The Cheer Athlete Podcast! I’m Laura Turner, The Cheer PT — Doctor of Physical Therapy and strength coach, helping cheerleaders, coaches, and parents keep athletes healthy, safe, and strong for life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and today I’m sharing why it’s so important to start open conversations about breast health early — especially with our kids.

This is a personal topic for me. I found my first lump as a teenager while I was cheering. Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer — but I went on to find several more lumps in my 20s and 40s. Those experiences, along with seeing friends, teammates, and parents affected by breast cancer, have shaped how I view prevention, screening, and awareness.

In this episode, I cover:
*Why teens should start hearing about breast health at puberty (without fear).
*How self-awareness and knowing your body can make all the difference.
*The role of family history (and why you should look at BOTH your mother’s and father’s side).
*How genetic testing can empower informed decisions.
*The progress we’ve made in treatment and survivorship — and why hope matters.
*How cheerleading teams and communities can play a role in raising awareness.

My message: Talking about breast cancer shouldn’t be taboo. Open conversations help our athletes grow up informed, empowered, and proactive about their health.
✨ Resources:
⁠American Cancer Society⁠ https://www.cancer.org/
⁠Breast Cancer Research Foundation⁠ https://www.bcrf.org/

💌 Questions or stories to share? Reach out at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or connect on Instagram ⁠@thecheerpt⁠.

Learn more ways to connect with Laura at ⁠LTTheCheerPT.com⁠

Remember: Take life one step at a time. Don’t forget to breathe out. And always take care of the body that takes care of you.