Know Your Normal: Breast Health, Body Trust + Self-Advocacy with Gina Lamanna
In this episode, I sit down with Gina Lamanna — breast cancer thriver, longtime fashion stylist, mother of two, and founder of The Fondle Project — for a powerful, practical, and deeply human conversation about breast health, self-advocacy, and what it means to truly know your body.
In 2016, at 41 years old, Gina's mammogram and ultrasound came back normal. But something still felt off to her. She trusted that instinct, paid out of pocket for an MRI when her insurance wouldn't cover it, and pursued second and third opinions. That persistence revealed invasive ductal carcinoma — and it's the reason Gina is here today, sharing her story with us.
Since then, she's built The Fondle Project from the ground up — a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to helping women learn their normal, build confidence in their bodies, and advocate fiercely for themselves in medical settings that don't always listen.
We talk about what a real self-exam looks like, the myths around mammograms and family history that need to be busted, why 40% of breast cancers are found by women themselves, and how Gina rebuilt her confidence and identity through style after seven surgeries in thirteen months.
Tune in!
Key insights:
Gina's story: clear scans, a gut feeling, and the second opinion that saved her life
90% of breast cancer diagnoses have no family history — why that matters for every woman
What "knowing your normal" means and why breast tissue changes constantly
How to perform a proper self-exam — including the areas most women skip
Mammogram myths busted: they do not cause cancer, but they're not always accurate
Why 40% of breast cancers are found by women themselves, not through screening alone
What to do when a doctor dismisses your concerns — and why second opinions matter
Rebuilding confidence and identity after diagnosis, surgery, and major body changes
How personal style became a genuine healing tool for reclaiming sensuality and self
Teaching daughters body awareness without creating fear
Dive deeper with us!
The conversations don’t end here, they ripple into real life.
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