What To Actually Do 'When Women Get Sick' with Author & Advocate Rebecca Bloom

An eye-opening and practical conversation about what happens when women get sick with author and advocate Rebecca Bloom.

Substack Episode Blog: What To Actually Do 'When Women Get Sick' with Author & Advocate Rebecca Bloom (links included)

Substack Blog: How I Make an MRI a Little Less Awful

Former benefits attorney and women's health advocate Rebecca Bloom joins Spencer to talk about her book "When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need" and what it actually takes to get through a diagnosis without going it alone.

For over 27 years, Rebecca has advised women with breast and ovarian cancer on health insurance, benefits, and work through Bay Area Cancer Connections. Her book pairs the practical pieces most patients never learn, like how to read your health insurance summary plan, with the real stories of the women she's worked with.

Spencer and Rebecca talk about what patient advocacy looks like on the ground, why the patient voice is still missing from so many rooms where healthcare decisions get made, and why the skills of self-advocacy apply whether you're navigating the US system or healthcare abroad.

[15:29] Why Storytelling Matters in Health Advocacy

[17:00] Don't Go It Alone: The Lasagna Problem and Your Health Chief of Staff

[23:02] The Lasagna Problem

[27:34] Talking about MRIs

[36:06] Body Shame as a Barrier to Women's Healthcare

[43:21] Creativity, Stress, and Healing

[43:24] What Kind of Relationship Do You Want With Your Doctor?

[44:46] AI in Healthcare and the Doctor-Patient Relationship

[50:00] Every Health Journey Has Potholes

Disclaimer: The Hairy Chin does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes only. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical concerns.