On this episode of The Uprising Show, host Vivek sits down with Jessica Baladad, founder of the Feel for Your Life app, to share her powerful journey from breast cancer patient to health-tech innovator. Diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer at the age of 33, Jessica describes how discovering a lump during a self-exam and navigating misdiagnosis led her to become a fierce advocate for women's health and self-advocacy. Through her story, she reveals the gaps she experienced in early detection and patient communication, and how these challenges inspired her to develop a free app that empowers women with the tools, education, and reminders they need to take charge of their breast health.
Jessica dives into the realities of building a startup from scratch, while recovering from major surgery and navigating the pandemic and discusses the barriers younger women still face in accessing breast screenings. Listeners will learn how the Feel for Your Life app leverages technology and AI to translate pathology reports and support women at every stage of their breast health journey. With candor, insight, and actionable advice on advocacy and resilience, Jessica's story is a testament to turning adversity into positive change for tens of thousands of women. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about breaking barriers, building communities, and what’s next in women's health innovation.
00:00 Breast Cancer App: "Feel For Your Life"
06:15 Overlooked Warning Signs
09:34 Advocate for Your Health
10:28 Advocate for Health and Trust
15:34 App Innovation Goes Viral
19:58 "Adapting to Unexpected Challenges"
23:06 "Improving Healthcare Through Positive Trauma"
26:37 AI Translates Medical Jargon
28:52 Self-Advocacy in Healthcare
31:00 "Finding Support When Lost"
36:17 "Healthcare Complexity and Strategic Partnerships"
41:02 Women's Healthcare Gap in 30s
42:44 Jessica's Story and Mission
Empowering Change in Women’s Health: Insights from Jessica Baladad’s Journey on The Uprising Show
In a world where breast cancer awareness is all too often reduced to pink ribbons and brief soundbites, Jessica Baladad is the voice cutting through the noise. On a recent episode of The Uprising Show, hosted by Vivek, Jessica shared her remarkable story: from discovering a lump at 33, navigating the pitfalls of a sometimes-unresponsive healthcare system, to harnessing her own experience as fuel to launch one of the most impactful breast health apps for women worldwide. Here are the key takeaways from this inspiring conversation.
The Power of Self-Exams – and Taking Action
Jessica’s story began with a pivotal moment finding a lump during a self-breast examination. While her first encounter with a benign tumor at 18 set the tone for regular check-ups, it was her experience at 33 that turned routine into a literal lifesaver. Despite practicing healthy habits and recently seeing her doctor, Jessica’s concerns were initially dismissed, highlighting a critical gap in how healthcare systems view and address young women’s symptoms (“She did discover a lump in my breast. But she thought I was too young for cancer and that’s why she didn’t refer me for additional imaging or testing.”).
Her message is clear: trust your intuition and advocate for yourself, especially when you feel unheard. “If you feel like you’re being ignored or gaslit, get a second opinion. It’s so important because you are your best advocate and no one’s going to fight harder for your care than you are.”
Transforming Pain into Purpose: Feel For Your Life App
The pandemic might have put most projects on hold, but for Jessica, it sparked the creation of the Feel For Your Life app. When she discovered that COVID-19 was prompting women to delay screenings, she recognized a dire need for accessible, reliable tools to manage breast health from home. Drawing on her background in journalism, marketing, and technology, she developed an app that not only teaches self-examination but also tracks changes, sets reminders, and features an AI tool for decoding pathology reports, breaking technical jargon into actionable information and essential questions for providers.
Her marketing experience showed through in more than just app downloads; it was her willingness to tell her story openly and honestly that made the difference. “People relate to people. I just wanted to tell my story and relate it to the cause so that people would be compelled to want to download the app, use it and possibly save lives.”
The Ongoing Battle: Early Detection and Healthcare Blindspots
Jessica’s advocacy has revealed larger issues facing women under 40 a group that is often overlooked for early breast cancer screening. “For women under 40, you have to put up a fight to get a mammogram. Younger women often have to plead their case, and even then, they’re told they’re too young.” The app serves as a bridge, providing education and tools for self-advocacy, especially in a healthcare environment where the default answer can be “wait until you’re older.”
Redefining Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy isn’t just about raising awareness, it’s taking concrete actions to secure the best outcomes. As Jessica describes, “Advocacy is using your voice to get the desired result that you want…You have to realize where you are now and where you want to be, and who are the people…the character traits and the competencies you need around you to get to the other side of it.”
Looking Forward: Building a Movement
Today, Jessica’s focus is squarely on growing the Feel For Your Life community, aiming to surpass 100,000 downloads and driving policy change through legislative advocacy. Her work extends into consulting, workshops, and bipartisan projects dedicated to putting patients first.
Jessica’s journey is proof that innovative solutions often come from those with a personal stake and firsthand experience. Her advice? “Act like an ant: take small steps, gather the right people, and never stop moving towards your goal.”
If you’re inspired by stories that drive real-world impact, this episode of The Uprising Show is a must-listen and a reminder that sometimes, a single voice can spark a much-needed revolution in healthcare. Download the Feel For Your Life app, share it with the women in your life, and join the movement for patient-driven advocacy and early detection.
Want to learn more?
Visit feelforyourlife.com or download the app on the App Store and Google Play. For more inspiration, check out Jessica’s “Actually, I Can” mantra on a hoodie—proving that perseverance and self-belief truly can disrupt complacency.
The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/
Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/
Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks
TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/