# Diagnosed at 36: A Breast Cancer Survivor's Story of Self-Advocacy, Dance & Joy | Shantel Behroozan

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/not-today-cancer-587068/diagnosed-at-36-a-breast-cancer-survivor-s-story-of-self-advocacy-dance-joy-shantel-behroozan
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/not-today-cancer-587068/diagnosed-at-36-a-breast-cancer-survivor-s-story-of-self-advocacy-dance-joy-shantel-behroozan.md
Podcast: [Not Today Cancer](https://stenobird.com/podcast/not-today-cancer-587068)
Published: 2026-05-19T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https:www.jendelvaux.com
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/mrworldwideandhisbride/ShantelPodcast.mp3?dest-id=796536
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/not-today-cancer-587068/episodes/diagnosed-at-36-a-breast-cancer-survivor-s-story-of-self-advocacy-dance-joy-shantel-behroozan
Duration seconds: 2220

## Resource

What if joy was part of your healing plan? Today's guest, Shantel Behroozan, has 243,000 followers on Instagram — and the moment you hear her story, you'll understand why. Beverly Hills-based and seven years cancer-free, Shantel was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 after being told three separate times that she was "fine." She kept advocating for herself, and that decision likely saved her life. But what she did next is what stopped Jen in her tracks: Shantel went to dance class every single day before her radiation treatments — walking in sweaty, red-faced, and happy while others sat exhausted in the waiting room. That refusal to let cancer steal her joy became the seed for Exit 33, her 4,000-square-foot dance studio in Beverly Hills, where she's now danced with thousands of women over the past seven years. In this episode, Shantel and Jen talk about: The "small pebble" she felt under her shirt at dinner — and why she refused to wait for the test results The lymph node sign her doctors missed (twice) and what every woman should know Why she chose a lumpectomy at 36 — and what she'd reconsider today How she danced through chemical menopause, Lupron injections, and aromatase inhibitors Turning her backyard into a 75-woman dance party during COVID The grief of losing the choice to have a fourth child Breaking Persian cultural norms by dancing publicly and speaking openly about cancer Why she now says " now I know why me " Practical advice for women newly diagnosed (spoiler: it starts with movement) Whether you're navigating a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or just need a reminder that joy is still available to you — this conversation will leave you wanting to turn the music up and dance in your kitchen. Connect with Shantel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/…

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## Transcript

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