Episode 153

Published May 12, 2026

Join us for this episode with Dr. Jenn Simmons, an integrative breast surgeon and oncologist, alongside host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton and DUTCH founder Mark Newman. This conversation deepens the discussion from a previous episode on hormones and breast cancer risk, challenging widely held clinical assumptions rooted in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. 

This episode also explores: 

• The critical distinction between progestins and progesterone 
• The role of metabolic dysfunction in cancer development 
• Breast cancer as a disease of hormone deficiency, particularly progesterone deficiency, rather than hormone excess 
• The impact of estrogen metabolism, especially the 4-hydroxy pathway, and how the DUTCH Test can provide insight into these pathways 
• Individualized hormone therapy for breast cancer survivors 

Key Moments

0:49 Episode Introduction

2:14 Estrogen, Progestins and Breast Cancer Risk

7:18 Understanding Progestins vs. Progesterone

14:01 The Impact of Hormonal Changes on Breast Cancer

20:18 The Role of Hormones in Breast Cancer Development

24:29 Estrogen Metabolism and Breast Cancer Risk

32:42 Foundational Health Before Hormone Replacement

40:15 Become A DUTCH Provider

41:02 The Role of Sleep and Melatonin in Cancer Prevention

47:15 Understanding Hormonal Markers in Breast Cancer

55:09 The Evolving Perspective on Hormone Therapy

1:01:54 Testosterone Therapy in Women with Breast Cancer

About our speaker

Dr. Jenn Simmons is a former breast cancer surgeon turned disruptor and the founder of PerfeQTion™ Imaging, where she's transforming women's breast health screening with technology that's safer, smarter, and radiation-free. She's also the author of The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer and host of the Keeping Abreast podcast, on a mission to give women the tools to prevent a diagnosis and reclaim control of their health. Through her work, she's challenging the fear and medical dogma that have long defined women's experience with breast cancer screening and replacing it with clarity, compassion, and real solutions.

Show Notes

Listen to our previous episode with Dr. Jenn Simmons! 

Check out the aging human breast study, the study on menopausal hormone therapy after breast cancer, and the transdermal testosterone study mentioned in this episode. 

Learn more about Dr. Jenn Simmons and follow her on Instagram @drjennsimmons! 

Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support. 

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