316. Inflammatory Breast Cancer and The Story Behind Becalming

Love the podcast? Send us a text! What if one of the most important breast cancer warning signs isn't a lump at all? When filmmakers Shelby and Nathan Slager discovered how few people knew about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), they decided to do something unexpected: make a movie. In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations , host Laura Carfang sits down with Shelby, Nathan, and Shelby's mother, Mary, to explore the intersection of breast cancer, hereditary cancer risk, family relationships, and the power of storytelling to create change. Mary was diagnosed with HER2-positive, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in January 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. Her treatment experience gave Shelby and Nathan an intimate understanding of the realities of cancer care—many of which are rarely portrayed authentically on screen. Shelby later learned that she carries a BRCA2 genetic mutation , introducing another dimension to her family's experience with cancer: navigating increased hereditary risk, surveillance, and difficult decisions about the future. Together, Shelby and Nathan created Becalming , a nine-minute short film designed to raise awareness about inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that often does not present as a distinct breast lump. Through an inventive storytelling approach using voicemails, intimate moments between a couple, and realistic depictions of medical care, the film explores what a cancer diagnosis can look and feel like beyond the familiar Hollywood portrayal. Meet the Guests Shelby Slager is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and actor, and co-founder of Interlunar Pictures. She is also a BRCA2 mutation carrier and brings her personal experience with hereditary cancer risk to her creative work. Nathan Slager is a writer, producer, and co-founder of Interlunar Pictures. His filmmaking explores grief, relationships, and the emotional complexities of the human experience. Mary is Shelby's mother and a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with HER2-positive, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in 2020. Her lived experience helped shape the authenticity of Becalming . Becalming took home the award for Best Narrative Short at CineHealth International Health & Wellness Film and Video Festival in Philadelphia Follow the Film and Filmmakers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.calm.ing/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interlunarpictures/ Website: https://www.interlunarpictures.com/ Support the show Listener Feedback Please share a review with us! If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share some stars! You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback. Messages are completely anonymous. If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond. Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work .