RETHINKING BREAST CANCER WITH DR. JENNIFER SIMMONS

A Safer and Smarter Approach to Women's Health

COURTNEY MCGEE

2025

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Dr. Jennifer Simmons, Philadelphia’s first fellowship-trained breast surgeon turned functional medicine physician and integrative oncologist, is sounding the alarm on conventional breast cancer screening practices—while offering safer, smarter alternatives for prevention, diagnosis, and healing. As the founder of Real Health MD and a fierce advocate for changing the narrative around breast cancer, Dr. Simmons is leading a growing movement to empower women with knowledge, autonomy, and actionable tools to take control of their breast health.

“Breast cancer is a normal response to an abnormal environment,” says Dr. Simmons In an interview with TereZa Hakobyan-Lolli and Anthony Lolli, Editors-in-Chief of longevity and wellness platform Biohack Yourself, for the influential upcoming women’s health documentary, “sHEALed.” “We’re living in the most toxic era in history—and we have to start treating the cause, not just the condition.”

The sHEALed Documentary is the sister documentary to Biohack Yourself, which became a massive success after exploding on the scene in December 2024 and ignited a firestorm of interest in information focused on health and longevity. Biohack Yourself features 114 prominent and respected high-profile politicians, doctors, bestselling authors, Ph.D.s, M.D.s, scientists, chemists, inventors, biotech investors, and world-renowned academics. Stemming from the success of Biohack Yourself, TereZa Hakobyan-Lolli and Anthony Lolli have grown Biohack Yourself Media to become the number one resource for health news, publishing over 500 articles ranging from breaking news to peer reviewed content.

A Shift in Perspective: From Surgery to Systemic Healing

Dr. Simmons spent decades in traditional medicine, writing thousands of mammogram prescriptions and performing countless surgeries. But after a pivotal encounter with Megan Smith’s eye-opening documentary Boobs, which explores the hidden risks of mammography, she began questioning the very foundation of her training.

“For 20 years, I followed the standard: mammogram, diagnosis, surgery. But the more I looked into the data, the more I realized that the system was doing harm in the name of help.”

Her biggest revelation? Mammograms may not be as life-saving—or as harmless—as once believed.

The Mammogram Controversy: Hidden Harms

Dr. Simmons makes a strong case against routine mammography, citing multiple studies showing no survival benefit compared to women who don’t screen.

“Mammograms expose women to radiation—and the more mammograms you get, the higher your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer,” she explains. “What’s worse is that up to 30% of those diagnoses are overdiagnoses—meaning women are treated for cancers that would have never become life-threatening.”

She estimates that 60,000 to 90,000 women in the U.S. each year undergo unnecessary treatment due to mammogram-driven overdiagnosis.

Root Causes of Breast Cancer: The Environmental Epidemic

Breast cancer, Simmons argues, is less about genetics and more about lifestyle and environment. “It’s the marriage of a toxic environment with a weakened immune system,” she explains. “We’re exposed to thousands of chemicals daily—in our water, food, air, and personal products. Add chronic stress, poor sleep, and poor nutrition, and it becomes a perfect storm.”

She highlights that the breast, with its dense mix of glandular and fat tissue, acts as a “toxic storage site” where environmental pollutants accumulate, bathing cells in what she calls a “toxic soup.”

The Future of Screening: Safer, Smarter Solutions

If mammograms are problematic, what’s the alternative?

Dr. Simmons advocates for two cutting-edge, non-invasive screening methods:

ARIA Test: A simple tear test that detects early inflammatory proteins associated with breast cancer with 93% accuracy. “No radiation. No pain. Done at home.”
QT Imaging: A revolutionary technology using circumferential sound waves in a warm water bath to create a 3D image of the breast without radiation or compression. “It’s like a spa experience—and far more accurate than mammography or MRI, without the false positives.”

She believes these technologies, already available at her Perfection Imaging centers, represent the future of breast cancer prevention.

Beyond Diagnosis: Creating a Health Plan

For women who already have a diagnosis, Dr. Simmons’s Real Health MD clinic provides deeply personalized care aimed at uncovering and addressing root causes. “Every woman gets a treatment plan, but what she really needs is a health plan.”

Her method involves assessing everything from vitamin deficiencies and gut health to toxic exposures, hormonal imbalances, and chronic infections. “It might be mold exposure, celiac disease, dental amalgams, or trauma—often, it’s a combination of factors that have gone undetected.”

Hormones, Healing, and Hope

One of Dr. Simmons’s most controversial—but passionately defended—positions is her advocacy for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Far from increasing cancer risk, she cites research showing that HRT improves outcomes in women with and without a breast cancer history.

“Estrogen isn’t the enemy—it’s the hormone of life,” she says. “We have estrogen receptors from head to toe for a reason. When women lose estrogen, every system deteriorates—brain, heart, bones, skin, libido, sleep. HRT restores harmony.”

She also critiques the infamous WHI study that sparked widespread fear about HRT, noting it has since been debunked but remains misunderstood.

The Forgotten Woman

In her upcoming book, The Forgotten Woman, Dr. Simmons shines a light on the post-treatment struggles of breast cancer survivors—many of whom suffer from brain fog, depression, joint pain, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction.

“We tell women to be grateful they’re alive. But what kind of life are we giving them?”

She argues that most of these side effects are treatable with better nutrition, detox support, movement, stress management, and HRT—if only the system were designed to support healing.

Expand Your Toolkit

Dr. Simmons offers practical advice for every woman, regardless of age or health status:

Self-Exam: “Know your breasts. Own your lumps. That familiarity can save your life.”
Test Don’t Guess: “Start annual ARIA tear testing at age 30. It’s painless, private, and powerful.”
Upgrade Your Screening: “Ask for QT Imaging instead of mammograms. It’s safer and far more accurate.”
Filter Your Water: “Fluoride displaces iodine in the thyroid, disrupting hormones. Get a good water filter.”
Clean Your Environment: “Remove plastics, toxic skincare, processed foods. Detox your home and body.”
Consider HRT: “If you’re perimenopausal or postmenopausal, talk to a functional medicine provider about bioidentical hormones.”

A Mission for Change

Dr. Simmons is currently working with leaders in the new U.S. administration to reimagine national breast cancer screening policy—eliminating routine mammograms in favor of safe, evidence-based alternatives. “We don’t have a healthcare system—we have a sick-care system. I want to change that.”

She calls for a system that rewards prevention and empowers practitioners to create health—not just manage disease.

“You Have More Power Than You Think”

Despite the grim statistics and systemic failures, Dr. Simmons remains optimistic.

“Breast cancer is never a blessing—but it can be a blessed opportunity. Most women come out stronger, healthier, and more whole.”

Her final word?

“Breast health is health. What you do for your breasts benefits your whole body—mind, heart, gut, skin, bones, and soul. You have more power than you think. You just need to claim it.”

Check here for information about the upcoming spring 2025 edition Biohack Yourself Magazine, where the team at Biohack Yourself Media dives deeper into their insights on biohacking, longevity and cutting-edge wellness strategies. Biohack Yourself Magazine is the first peer-reviewed longevity publication with international distribution across the U.S. and Canada, bringing science-backed health optimization, functional medicine and performance-driven breakthroughs to a broader audience. Pick up a copy at major retailers, including Barber & Noble, Books-A-Million, Publix, Kroger, Indigo/Chapters, and select fitness gyms and pharmacies.