International Women’s Day: Sharing Knowledge and Community With Jasmin Hundal and Megan-Claire Chase

International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect not only on progress for women in medicine and research, but also on the lived experiences of women navigating cancer. In this conversation, Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board members Dr. Jasmin Hundal, Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic, and Megan-Claire Chase, breast cancer survivor and advocate, explore themes of community, vulnerability, mentorship, and representation for women on both sides of cancer care. 

Community and Companionship 

Dr. Hundal opened the discussion with a patient story familiar to many clinicians. A woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer described how her world just fell through, to the point where she was planning end of life. What shifted her outlook and trajectory was not only treatment—it was connection. A close friend, also diagnosed with breast cancer, became a companion through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. 

For Ms. Chase, this resonates deeply. “Community and connection are essential once you have a cancer diagnosis, as well as in survivorship,” she shared. She described her own trusted circle as her “chosen cancer fam”—people with whom she does not have to pretend to be strong.  “I can be vulnerable and say that I’ll really scared. When you have community who can be there and walk with you, I feel like that’s what gives you the motivation to keep moving forward.”

The Mental Burden We Don’t Always See

Dr. Hundal reflected on how the emotional weight of cancer is often less visible than physical toxicity. “The mental burden is usually the one that we don’t see or speak much about,” she noted, acknowledging how easy it is to “put up a stronger front” rather than acknowledge vulnerability. Ms. Chase emphasized that women often carry additional expectations that compound this burden. “We have to remind ourselves that we are a priority as well,” she said. “Saying ‘no’ is a complete sentence.”

For many women—patients and clinicians alike—caregiving roles, professional demands, and cultural expectations often make rest and self-prioritization difficult. Ms. Chase shared practical advice she once received: schedule rest intentionally. “Why don’t you schedule a meeting with yourself?” she recalled. “Even if it’s for only five or ten minute, it’s so important to show up for yourself.” 

Mentorship and Representation Matter

As the discussion expanded to mentorship, Dr. Hundal highlighted the importance of women mentoring women in medicine, noting that “women experience unique challenges and barriers” that others may not fully understand.

Ms. Chase added an important dimension: representation. “For those who can’t see me, I am a Black woman in the South, and a 10-year breast cancer survivor.” She explained that while diverse networks are valuable, there are times when she needs “a mentor who looks like me,” because certain lived experiences—bias, stereotypes, and cultural nuance—require no translation. “When we’re questioned, it’s so important to not lose your voice,” she said. Too often, women hear, “You’re being too sensitive,” or “They didn’t mean it that way.” 

In oncology, representation affects trust, communication, clinical trial participation, and leadership culture. “You belong at this table,” Ms. Chase stated firmly. “In fact, I’m going to flip over that table and start a new one.” Her message underscores the responsibility to create environments where diverse voices are not merely present, but influential. 

Speaking Up in the Exam Room

Ms. Chase also addressed the vulnerability that patients, especially women, can feel in clinical spaces. “I feel really small sitting in the ugly gown on the exam table,” she admitted. Even as an experienced advocate, she sometimes feels intimidated. Her advice to patients is direct: “Know what your rights are. It’s your patient right to ask questions, to speak up or say, ‘Can you explain that again?’”

Progress, Balance, and Sharing Knowledge 

Both speakers acknowledged progress in research and leadership among women in medicine. Dr. Hundal noted increased recognition of gender differences in cancer biology and outcomes, including evolving data in lung cancer among younger non-smokers. Advances in gender-informed research reflect broader cultural shifts toward inclusion. 

Yet balance remains an ongoing challenge. As Ms. Chase observed, life stages, illness, and evolving priorities continually reshape what balance looks like. “Believe in yourself and don’t forget to make yourself a priority, because you are worth it, you are needed, your expertise is needed, and you are valued.” She closed with a lesson from her mother: “Share the knowledge, because the arena is big enough for us all.”

Key Takeaways

• Foster community: Recognize that peer support is a clinical intervention. Actively facilitate connections that allow patients to be vulnerable.

• Validate the female voice: Combat the systemic dismissal of women’s symptoms; commit to believing women when they say something is wrong.

• Champion intersectionality in mentorship: Move beyond general mentorship to support culturally specific representation; ensure that South Asian, Black, and other women of color have mentors who understand their unique cultural experiences.

• Empower patient agency: In the exam room, invite women to use their voices, ask for second explanations, and participate as equal partners in shared decision making.

• Promote self-care: Encourage women to view self-care and boundaries—specifically the power to say "no"—as essential components of their health and survivorship.

• ·      Invest in gender-specific research: Support and stay informed on research that explores how cancer biology differs by gender, ensuring that "standard of care" is not based solely on male-centric data.

About the Speakers

Jasmin Hundal, MD, MS, MPH, is a third-year Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Previously, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Hundal’s main area of interest is the overlap between cardiometabolic health and cancer, particularly for breast cancer patients and survivors. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking.

Megan-Claire Chase is a patient advocate and the Breast Cancer Program Director for SHARE Cancer Support. As a survivor of stage IIA invasive lobular breast cancer, Ms. Chase became involved in patient advocacy work after completing her treatment. She is a prolific writer, blogger, and public speaker, having been featured in the New York Times, in People Magazine, and on PBS’s “Beyond Cancer” episode of “Stories from the Stage.” Her story and work are documented in her blog “Life on the Cancer Train.”