Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer?

Searching for nutrition, fitness and lifestyle guidance?

Confused by conflicting research studies?

Frustrated with inconsistent information?

Struggling to identify trustyworthy sources?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above,
you’re in the right place.

Gear Up for Breast Cancer Treatment

A Nutrition and Fitness Jumpstart WORKSHEET.

Food, Fitness and Lifestyle Tips You need to know NOW!
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What is the DAM. MAD. Initiative?

Dam. Mad. is a nutrition, fitness and lifestyle resource for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who want to build physical resilience to better tolerate treatment.

DAM. MAD. About Breast Cancer™ is a global initiative using evidence-based nutrition, fitness and health-supportive lifestyle choices to aid healing and build physical resilience in the breast cancer community, especially at the critical time of diagnosis.
DAM. MAD. is leading a different conversation about and an alternative approach to the tsunami of breast cancer, one that moves beyond passive awareness to actionable behavior change. While breast cancer awareness certainly isn’t futile, taking action is critical in driving down the number of diagnoses, and empowering those who are newly diagnosed.

  • Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
  • 675 women per day
  • 246,660 women per year

How DAM. MAD. educates:

With an annual live event, programs, products and services that teach women how to BITE BACK at breast cancer with nutrition and food, MOVE BACK from breast cancer with fitness and exercise, and STRIKE BACK at breast cancer with health-supportive lifestyle choices.

How “DAM. MAD.” informs:

With trustworthy, realistic guidance to help women make the best food, nutrition, diet and exercise decisions to fit their unique preferences and lifestyle.

How “DAM. MAD.” inspires:

With unwavering support and a fierce commitment to helping women newly diagnosed move toward treatment feeling confident in their choices to nourish and move their body.

“Even before treatment starts, you can help the healing process begin.” – Cathy Leman, MA, RD, LD

The Dam Mad Mission

Serve as a reliable and inspiring nutrition, fitness and lifestyle resource to the breast cancer community. Reach every woman touched by breast cancer, especially at the time of diagnosis. Provide trustworthy, realistic guidance for building physical resilience in anticipation of treatment.

The Vision

An end to diet, exercise and wellness confusion for women being treated for, healing from, or living with breast cancer.

Meet Cathy

The Breast Cancer Diagnosis That Never Should Have Happened…

If ever there was a person who anticipated a breast cancer diagnosis less than me, I’d love to meet her/him. Even after my first mammogram at age 40 resulted in a biopsy – followed by several more in the ensuing years – breast cancer wasn’t on my radar. Call me naive, in denial, or stubborn, I was convinced my doctors were simply being cautious and thorough. As one after the other of those biopsies read negative for cancer, I went on with life, building my nutrition and fitness business and putting each experience behind me and out of my mind until the next scheduled mammogram demanded I pay attention. By November 2013 they’d read negative for so long, I graduated back to “screening” vs “diagnostic” mammograms.

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The Collective Wisdom of 141 Women

How do you create valuable programs, services and information that the breast cancer community needs and wants? You ASK.
In response to a 10-question nutrition and lifestyle survey developed and disseminated by Cathy Leman, 141 women generously shared feedback that helps inform the content of “DAM. MAD.”, but it doesn’t stop there. “DAM. MAD.” is committed to engaging in a forever-dialogue with the breast cancer community about nutrition, fitness and self-care, working tirelessly to eliminate confusion, bust myths, and reduce anxiety and frustration during a time women are most vulnerable to sketchy nutrition and lifestyle information. Having breast cancer produces anxiety of the highest order; dining at a restaurant or selecting a breakfast cereal shouldn’t.

Read the latest insights on breast cancer nutrition, fitness and lifestyle.

Hear What Cathy’s Clients Say

John’s last A1C was good and the Doc is pleased. I’m finding it easier to get variety in our meals. Your guidance was excellent, and you took the stress out of the diagnosis for both of us.
Cathy is not only a nutritionist, but a life changer. She inspired me to talk about my emotions about food and much more. She helped me realize why I was eating the way I was. Because of her, my life changed for the better!”
“Thank you for our session yesterday. I really got a lot out of it. You’re pushing me to answer tough questions and talk about my feelings; you’re pushing through all of that to get to the underlying problem and help me solve it. I really appreciate you.”
For the past 10 years, I have been on an up and down journey with my weight.   I’ve tried every diet, and my last ditch effort was seeing a dietitian.  Through Cathy’s guidance, she has helped me make peace with food, understand the underlying reasons why I haven’t been successful through dieting, and even how dieting has contributed to my inability to win the weight loss battle.
“There is a difference between telling someone what they need from a place of expertise versus guiding people because you’ve walked the same path.”
Just have to tell you how impressed I am by your mission, your project, and you. In three months I lost ~ 15 pounds, my blood sugar went from 140 to 115, and my A1C went from 6.4 to 5.9. You inspired me and walked me through it.”