14 - Breasts, bodies, and belonging: a conversation with Jean Hannah Edelstein
The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
Dr Louise Newson
4.8 • 798 Ratings
🗓️ 1 July 2025
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with author Jean Hannah Edelstein about her deeply personal new book, Breasts: A Relatively Short Relationship, and the complex journey she’s had with her own body. Jean shares the experience of choosing to undergo a double mastectomy at 41, after being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and highlights the emotional and practical importance of finding the right doctors and surgeons during such a life-altering process.
Jean reflects on growing up in the hyper-sexualised 1990s, a world where pop stars like Britney Spears were both idolised and seen as cautionary tales, and Victoria’s Secret sold not just lingerie, but a narrow vision of womanhood, aimed at teenage girls. By her early twenties, Jean had size 30G/F breasts, which brought unwanted attention, but also moments of connection, especially with other women.
Jean also talks candidly about choosing to have a mastectomy, then later, a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. She opens up about her diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, and about the frustrations of navigating a medical system that often withholds information, especially when it comes to HRT and cancer risk, leaving too many patients to advocate for themselves in the dark.
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Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.
LET'S CONNECT
Website: Dr Louise Newson
Instagram: The Dr LouiseNewson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn
YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube
CONNECT WITH Jean Hannah Edelstein
Website: Jean Hannah Edelstein
Instagram: Jean Hannah Edelstein (jhedelstein) • Instagram photos and videos
Book: Breasts: A Relatively Brief Relationship – the funny, moving and universally relatable new memoir
LinkedIn: Jean Hannah Edelstein | LinkedIn
Related resources:
Breast cancer treatment and HRT
Dr Corinne Menn: I’m a doctor who’s had breast cancer: here’s what I want you to know
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On the podcast today, I've got Jean Hannah Edelstein, who's written this book called |
| 0:07.6 | Breasts. We do talk quite a lot about breasts in the podcast. We also talk about her having a |
| 0:13.5 | bilateral mastectomy and also a hysterectomy and oophrectomy. The most important thing I think |
| 0:19.7 | from the podcast is our conversation |
| 0:21.8 | talking about how to be an advocate for yourself. Choose the right doctor and choose the right |
| 0:26.5 | treatment for you too. Super excited to have you on the podcast today, Gene. I've got lots |
| 0:32.5 | I want to talk about, but the first thing is about your book actually actually, and it's called breasts. Like, I have |
| 0:39.4 | never had a book called breasts before in my hands, and a relatively brief relationship. So, |
| 0:46.7 | I just thought we talked a bit about breasts initially, because I'm relatively flat-chested, |
| 0:52.4 | and I've spent my whole life wishing that I had bigger breasts, |
| 0:56.0 | but I've had lots of patients who are really jealous of me being very flat-chested. |
| 1:00.0 | And we're all different. We're different shapes, we're different sizes. |
| 1:03.0 | And certainly as a teenager often, we go through lots of body dysmorphia where we're really wanting to be something different. |
| 1:11.1 | And it's taken me decades to realize this is me, this is my shape. |
| 1:15.5 | Like, I'm never going to change the size of my breasts, really. |
| 1:20.6 | But breasts mean different things to different people, don't they? |
| 1:23.0 | And different cultures as well, actually. |
| 1:24.9 | So when we're talking, this is very general. |
| 1:28.2 | This is just like our opinion. But could you just talk me through? Like, we'll come on to your personal story, |
| 1:33.5 | but like what have your breasts meant to you from when you were a young age? |
| 1:37.3 | Yeah, I mean, I think that's a really good question. I grew up in the US, as you can tell |
| 1:42.5 | from my accent, but my mom is from Scotland, so I'm a |
... |
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