The St. Jude of Breast Cancer: Dr. Dixie’s Dream for Women with Nowhere to Go

Dixie Melillo 1

Dixie and I started The Rose because we were tired of telling women, “You have cancer, and there’s nowhere for you to go.” Forty years later, we’re back in that same fight. In this conversation, Dr. Dixie Melillo walks us from those early days of oil‑bust Houston and charity‑hospital waiting lists to today’s harsh reality: we can diagnose, but for too many uninsured and underinsured women, we can’t get them into treatment.

God Winks, Ringing Bells, and The Rose: Nancy and Shelley’s Shared Journey as Honorees at the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon

Nancy and Shelley

Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced stage zero DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “stage two HER2‑positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to move fast on treatment—then turn around and use their experience to champion The Rose and the women who rely on us for access to mammograms, diagnostics, and compassionate care.

Luncheons, Legislation & Lifelines: Behind the Scenes with Mitra Woody

Mitra

Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigation as the most critical lifelines The Rose offers in vulnerable communities. During this episode, she lays out clear goals for the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon: raise serious funds, recognize longtime volunteers and spread the word about the work happening every day at The Rose.

Mobile Mammograms: Making Breast Health Accessible in Brazos Valley

Emily

Barriers shape the path to care. Emily Reis describes her role as a community engagement navigator for the Rose, connecting rural and urban communities to breast cancer screening resources. She covers Brazos Valley’s counties, teaches early detection, and works with clinics and facilitators to organize mobile mammogram days. Service relies on partnerships and word of mouth.

The Adventurer’s Guide to Surviving Breast Cancer

Jenny

Trusting your instincts can change everything. Dorothy Gibbons and Jenny Fitzpatrick talk about early breast cancer diagnosis, persistent self-advocacy, and navigating treatment as a young mother. Jenny Fitzpatrick describes celebrating survivorship, building community, and creating new traditions. Stories connect lives. Experiences shape what comes next.

Friendship in the Face of Breast Cancer

Ronnie Haggerty

Today, Dorothy is joined by Ronnie Hagerty, a board member who shares her experience in the nonprofit sector. Ronnie emphasizes the need for nonprofits to operate using best business practices and highlights the misconception that nonprofits don’t need money.

Start the New Year With Facts, Not Fiction

18 Dr. Raz 1

We’re debunking some of the most popular myths about breast cancer with fan favorite, Dr. Raz, Lead Radiologist at The Rose. He sits down with host, Dorothy Gibbons, to discuss deodorant, underwire bras, and…bee venom?

Tune in to hear why consulting with Dr. Google or Nurse TikTok isn’t recommended and speaking with your physician is your best bet for reliable, factual medical information.

The Studio That Heals: Ballet, Children, and the Heart of Survival

Cookie Joe

Cookie Joe has spent her life teaching dance, shaping not just technique but character, faith, and compassion in her students. When cancer struck, she embraced it as a purposeful challenge, inspiring her community through fundraisers, open conversations, and shared strength. Her story is a celebration of resilience, community, and faith over fear.