An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer Catalina Lopez Correa MD PhD

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] Brad Power August 6, 2025 “There are lots of things that could be improved. Every step of the way I'm thinking, this is me that knows about genomics, and I was trained as a medical doctor. I cannot imagine a person that doesn't have this information, that is not trained as a genomicist.

How will they navigate this journey without that knowledge? How would they read and digest all the informed consents? Even me, and I have been working for years with informed consents, when I had to sign my own informed consent, it was a whole different perspective. I was scared. I didn't feel equipped. I didn't feel I had all the information.

I also thought I needed more time to discuss my results, and the 15 minutes I have with my oncologist is never enough. We need other spaces, other forums, other specialists in the healthcare system that could cover that: nurses, genetic counselors, other specialists, that could help the patient navigate that to have detailed discussions about the results of the genomic testing.

” – Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD Meeting Summary Cancer care is often hard for patients and caregivers to navigate. Breast cancer care presents its own unique challenges, especially understanding new technologies and approaches that guide and inform diagnosis and treatment. It can be hard even for those with knowledge, strong support systems, and good access to healthcare.

Here are some key challenges: ●Complexity of the disease: Breast cancer isn’t one disease — it includes various subtypes (like HER2-positive, triple-negative, hormone receptor-positive) with different prognoses and treatment options. Each subtype may require different tests, treatments, and specialists.

●Overwhelming information: You are often given a flood of medical and scientific information, test results, and treatment choices in a short time. Medical jargon can be difficult to understand without guidance, making informed decision-making challenging.

●Multiple treatment modalities: Treatment plans can involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy — sometimes in combinations or sequences. Deciding between options (like lumpectomy vs mastectomy, or clinical trials vs standard care) adds pressure.

●Coordination among providers: Care often involves a multidisciplinary team: oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, genetic counselors, and more. Communication between providers isn’t always seamless, leaving patients to bridge gaps in their own care. ●Emotional and psychological stress: The emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis can cloud judgment, memory, and decision-making.

Patients and care givers may not retain or fully process information given during appointments.

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] ●Insurance and financial barriers: Coverage for tests, treatments, or second opinions

judgment, memory, and decision-making. Patients and care givers may not retain or fully process information given during appointments.

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] ●Insurance and financial barriers: Coverage for tests, treatments, or second opinions can vary. Out-of-pocket costs, even with insurance, are often high and unpredictable. Navigating approvals, referrals, and claims can be time-consuming and stressful.

●Access to personalized options: Access to second opinions, genetic testing, tumor sequencing, hereditary cancer testing or clinical trials can be limited by geography, cost, or lack of awareness. Not all providers present or explain emerging options beyond the standard of care.

●Cultural, language, and socioeconomic factors: Language barriers, cultural beliefs and differences, or lack of advocacy can impede understanding or trust in care recommendations. Patients with lower health literacy are particularly vulnerable to misinformation or under-informed decisions.

●Lack of navigation support: Many patients don’t have access to dedicated nurse navigators or patient advocates. Without someone to coordinate care, explain steps, and offer emotional support, patients are left to piece together the puzzle themselves. Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD, Chief Global Strategy Officer at Genome Canada, is uniquely qualified to discuss a breast cancer journey.

She is in charge of advancing the use and applications of genomics in different sectors that are key for the economy of Canada, setting up strategic collaborations with the private sector and government as well as academics leaders at a national and international level. Dr.

Lopez-Correa holds a Medical degree from the UPB in Colombia, a Master’s degree in Human Genetics from Paris V University in France, a PhD in Medical Biosciences from the KULeuven in Belgium, a mini MBA from McGill University in Canada, and has trained in innovation leadership at Singularity University. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. How does cancer change your identity? For Dr.

Lopez-Correa, her cancer journey changed her professional perspective and personal mission. She became more vocal about patient advocacy, started documenting her experience publicly, and shifted her scientific leadership to focus more on patient-centered genomic research.

Her cancer experience made her more empathetic, strategic about healthcare access, and committed to helping other patients navigate complex medical systems. She's even writing a book about her journey to share insights about how genomics can inform cancer care.

The experience moved her from being a scientific leader to also becoming a patient advocate, fundamentally expanding her identity beyond her professional role. What should you know early in your cancer journey, especially about advocating for yourself?

r from being a scientific leader to also becoming a patient advocate, fundamentally expanding her identity beyond her professional role. What should you know early in your cancer journey, especially about advocating for yourself?

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] ●Seek genetic counseling to help interpret test results and understand their implications ●Recognize that early detection and prevention are crucial, so be proactive about screenings and testing ●Understand that your cancer journey is unique, and personalized genomic information can help tailor your treatment ●Stay informed about the latest research and treatment technologies; be aware of potential clinical trials or emerging treatments that might be suitable for your specific cancer profile ●Connect with patient advocacy groups for support, information, and resources ●Learn about genomics and available tests specific to your cancer type ●Request comprehensive genomic analysis and detailed reports ●Don't be afraid to pay out-of-pocket for critical tests if necessary ●Understand your specific cancer's molecular profile ●Request time to discuss test results thoroughly with healthcare providers What diagnostic tests should you get for breast cancer?

The specific tests recommended depend on your individual factors like age, cancer stage, family history, and molecular characteristics of the tumor. Consulting with an oncologist to determine the most appropriate testing strategy is crucial.

Here are tests to consider: ●Oncotype DX test - analyzes tumor tissue to help determine your need for chemotherapy ●Germline genetic testing (BRCA1/BRCA2) - Identifies potential genetic mutations that may impact cancer risk and treatment - especially recommended for: - Patients diagnosed before age 50 - Triple negative patients under 60 - Those with family history of breast/ovarian/pancreatic/prostate cancer - Ashkenazi Jewish patients - Male breast cancer patients - Metastatic breast cancer patients ●Whole genome sequencing of tumor tissue - provides comprehensive analysis of tumor and constitutional genome ●Ki-67 test to assess tumor proliferation rate ●Hormone receptor status (ER/PR) and HER2 testing ●Circulating tumor DNA (liquid biopsy) tests like Signatera for monitoring minimal residual disease How can you access testing to help refine your diagnosis and guide your treatment?

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] ●Limited insurance coverage ●Lack of awareness among healthcare providers ●Unequal access across different regions and populations

lp refine your diagnosis and guide your treatment? Key challenges include: ●Cost of testing

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] ●Limited insurance coverage ●Lack of awareness among healthcare providers ●Unequal access across different regions and populations You should: ●Be an active advocate for yourself ●Ask questions about available tests ●Seek genetic counseling ●Push for comprehensive genomic analysis How can you monitor your disease progression?

Liquid biopsy tests have advantages in monitoring your disease: ●Semi-quantitative measure of tumor burden ●Increased vigilance for potential cancer recurrence ●Ability to monitor tumor progression through doubling time ●Potential to inform imaging frequency and follow-up care However, there are also limitations: ●Tests may not always lead to immediate treatment changes ●Not all oncologists see actionable value in the results ●Potential for patient anxiety from test results ●Limited evidence of overall survival advantage How can you learn more about navigating your cancer journey, especially for breast cancer?

●Join the breast cancer community (and other communities) on the Cancer Patient Lab discussion hub.

●See other stories of engaged patients and how they advocated for themselves: ○“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” (Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] ○“Navigating Cancer Survivorship" (Caroline Knudsen and Chasse Bailey-Dorton, MD) [#140] ○“What I Learned from Navigating Three Cancers” (Ert Dredge) [#139] ○“A Rogue Cancer Patient Gets Better Outcomes” (Ari Akerstein) [#109] ○“A Guy with Two Cancers Explores Treatments and Life” (Burt Rosen) [#112] The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action.

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health.

"An MD PhD Navigates Breast Cancer" (Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD) [#155] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS breast cancer, genomic testing, precision oncology, genomics integration, patient advocacy, liquid biopsy, circulating tumor DNA, AI in cancer detection, healthcare equity, genetic counseling, oncotype DX, CDK4/6 inhibitors, patient journey, cancer patient lab, Marathon of Hope.