Breast Cancer Survivorship Program Empowers Patients After Treatment

As a breast cancer oncology nurse practitioner for more than two decades, Kimberly Podsada, MSN, knows that anxiety that can creep up for patients long after their cancer treatments have ended.

"For a year or more after breast cancer diagnosis, patients are immersed in a very long to-do list of appointments, procedures and treatments," said Podsada, who specializes in breast cancer care and survivorship at UC San Diego Health. "And then, suddenly, all the emotions that were put on the back burner start to bubble to the surface and they begin to reflect on all the trauma they've just been through and think, 'now what?'"

While the journey through breast cancer treatment is often grueling, Podsada knows the path to recovery, both physical and emotional, can be equally daunting. That has fueled her passion to grow the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program at UC San Diego Health, which offers long-term physical and holistic support to survivors of breast cancer. The goal is reshaping how cancer care continues beyond treatment, offering patients a crucial bridge to a healthier, more empowered future.

"Oncology has always been my calling," she said. "It is a true privilege to create a safe and trusting space for our breast cancer patients and to be able to offer them resources that will help them become aware of the many ways they can control aspects of their care."

One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to showcase how survivorship resources can empower patients when they often need it the most — after treatment.

"There are so many resources available that can help patients with breast cancer lead a full, enriched and satisfied life — different than the life they had before cancer, but not less of a life," she said.

Anne Wallace, MD, breast surgical oncologist, plastic surgeon, and director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at UC San Diego Health, said Podsada's commitment to creating a formalized survivorship program earlier this year provides key resources for breast cancer survivors to tap into for as many years as they need.

"The good news is, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before, but they still need extended care for at least 10 years or so," said Wallace, who is also a member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. "Kim has been dedicated to providing survivorship resources for many years, and now having a formal structured program allows breast cancer survivors to have access to extended resources at their fingertips."

In this Q&A, Podsada shares insights about how the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program at UC San Diego Health helps patients reshape their lives beyond breast cancer.

Why was it important to formalize the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program at UC San Diego Health?

I had been seeing survivorship patients informally for years, but it wasn't until early 2025 that I approached Dr. Wallace about formalizing the program. We had all the pieces — nutrition, lifestyle changes, emotional support — but they weren't yet unified. I wanted to create something that truly represented what we were doing and could be promoted to patients as a comprehensive resource.

Survivorship encompasses long-term follow-up from the time patients are diagnosed all the way through to when they can regain their lives again, where cancer is no longer the focus, overall well-being is. We have all these resources that are available to patients at different points during their recovery or survivorship period.

How do patients benefit from a wide variety of survivorship services?

Survivorship includes managing long-term side effects, emotional healing, lifestyle changes, and regaining a sense of self. It's a transformative process. Patients often go through phases — grief, fear, acceptance, priority evaluation — and our program supports them through each stage.

The goal of our survivorship program is to help patients move forward with confidence through personalized monitoring and proactive follow-up care. During survivorship clinic visits, the focus of care shifts from cancer treatment to overall health. We work with survivors to help them manage long-term side effects of breast cancer and to support their quality of life. We offer support groups, nutrition counseling, weight management, physical and occupational therapy, psychological and counseling support, women's health services, exercise guidance, spiritual resources and educational classes to provide a long-term bridge to survivorship. 

What makes the Breast Cancer Survivorship program at UC San Diego unique?

We're a Comprehensive Cancer Center, and that means offering everything under one roof. From genetic counseling to survivorship retreats, patients don't have to search for resources on their own. 

It's important for us to have everything available at one site for patients so that they can have access to a variety of services without having to go and do all that research on their own or feel uncertain about what the next step is. Our program helps survivors transition back to daily life by offering support and personalized care plans, coordinating with our multidisciplinary physician teams, and providing resources for emotional wellbeing.

Is exercise a major focus of survivorship care?

Absolutely. Exercise stimulates energy and stamina and really is the top recommendation. Exercise reduces fatigue, improves sleep, lifts one's mood, and can lower recurrence risk if weight loss is recommended. We don't push intense routines — just realistic goals like walking or taking the stairs. Success builds confidence.

What drives your passion for this work?

When a patient shares that they've started therapy, stuck with an exercise routine, or had a breakthrough in understanding their health — that's when I know we're making a difference. It's about helping people feel informed and supported.

Why is early detection of breast cancer so important and how is UC San Diego Health providing unique resources?

Discovering breast cancer early may reduce the extent of aggressive cancer treatments recommended. Women may also have different surgical options if a breast tumor is caught early and small. The majority of breast cancer cases are caught by mammogram, not by feeling a lump. If a breast lump is discovered, it should be reported as soon as possible to your health provider. UC San Diego Health strongly recommends annual mammograms to catch breast cancer early. An example of how we're providing unique resources is our new Mobile Mammography Program which will travel to different locations throughout our community.

Mammography on the Move

Take a sneak peek at the new Mobile Mammography Program in action in the video below. The mobile program recently made a special appearance at an event held at the Owen Clinic. The mobile program kicked off in September and will officially launch after the new year.

Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, chief administrative officer and associate chief medical officer for health equity at UC San Diego Health, said the driving force behind launching the Mobile Mammography Program has been to increase access to mammography screenings for the community. Just last year, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force dropped their breast cancer screening age recommendation from age 50 to 40, based on evidence that younger patients are being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Mobile health clinics are a strategy to help us meet people where they are and deliver care and services to them in their communities, while simultaneously helping to address other social needs that often pose barriers to health, such as transportation," Cené said. "We know there are gaps, based on social factors, in breast cancer screenings and outcomes, so we wanted to address this by launching a mobile mammography clinic to address an unmet need in our community."