Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

This week on Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'm honored to welcome Cyndi Cook for a powerful conversation about something rarely talked about openly: life after breast cancer without reconstruction . Did you know nearly half of women who undergo breast cancer treatment do not have reconstruction? For some, it's a deeply personal choice. For others, it's not a choice at all. Either way, this co...

She was just 30 when cancer turned her world upside down… In this inspiring Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I sit down with author and survivor  Karen Iverson —a woman who took a devastating diagnosis and rebuilt her life into something even more meaningful. Karen shares: • Her powerful story of being diagnosed at a young age • How she found strength, j...

I promised you a month of inspiration for breast cancer awareness month so here's a special bonus! My October series of webinars, How to Revive Your Life After Breast Cancer, are super popular but…even in a pandemic people have busy schedules. I've had several messages asking for different times, so I decided to give you the entire webinar in the form of a bonus podcast. In this bonus episode, you...

🎗️ Breast Cancer Awareness Month means something different to everyone. For survivors, this month can stir up a mix of emotions—hope, strength, gratitude… but also anxiety, grief, and overwhelm. With inspiring stories often shared alongside frightening statistics, it can be hard to stay grounded in your own healing. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'll walk with you through:...

🧠 We talk about food. We talk about fitness. But mental health? That still feels off-limits for so many. In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, I'm breaking down the taboos around mental wellness and inviting you to see it for what it truly is: a vital part of healing and living well—just like diet, movement, and sleep. You'll learn: • Why your mental health matters as much as your...

Ever felt completely  alone —even in a room full of people? That deep sense of disconnection often has less to do with the people around us… and more to do with the  stories we tell ourselves . In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're talking about: • How your thoughts can create emotional isolation (without you even realizing it) • Why your brain defaults to negative narrative...

Cholesterol isn't just about what you eat—and after cancer treatment or with aging, your body's needs can shift in surprising ways. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're digging into the  truth about cholesterol  and what really drives your numbers up (or brings them down). Spoiler: it's not always the eggs! You'll learn: • Why limiting dietary cholesterol may not be the ful...

💔 Do you have a toxic relationship… with your own  body ? After breast cancer—or any illness—it's easy to feel betrayed by your body. Maybe it doesn't look or feel the way you want it to. Maybe you've judged it, ignored it, or pushed it too hard trying to "fix" it. But what if the path to healing starts with compassion, not control? In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I share:...

💔 Breast cancer changes your life—but not always in the ways you think. In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're having an honest conversation about what cancer has actually done to your life… and what you might be allowing to happen in the aftermath. You'll hear: • Why the hardest part of life after breast cancer may not be the cancer itself • How other people's actions—and yo...

🌀 Processing emotions isn't easy—especially after trauma. But it  is  essential to healing. In this week's episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'm sharing one of my favorite tools for emotional recovery. It's  simple, free, and powerful —and it can make a real difference in how you feel, think, and move forward after breast cancer. You'll hear: • Why unprocessed emotions keep us stuck...

🎉  100 episodes!  This one's a celebration—of growth, transformation, and every survivor who's been part of this journey. In this very special episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'm looking back at the  10 most popular episodes  from the first 100 recordings. I'll share behind-the-scenes stories, meaningful moments, and the lessons that have shaped not just this podcast, but the lives...

🌀 "Why don't I feel like myself anymore?" If you've asked this after breast cancer, you're not alone—and you're not broken. The truth is, no one hands us a guidebook for life  after  cancer. We're left to navigate the emotional and physical shifts on our own… and that can feel overwhelming. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'll share: • Why feeling "lost" after treatment is...

But sometimes, what feels "safe" is actually keeping you stuck. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're talking about one of the most misunderstood emotions in breast cancer recovery:  vulnerability . You'll discover: • Why your brain resists emotional discomfort—and how that holds back healing • How embracing vulnerability becomes a powerful gateway to connection • The surpri...

😟 If there's one emotion that shows up most often after breast cancer, it's  fear . Fear of recurrence. Fear of your body. Fear of not knowing what's next. And most days, it's not something people around you fully understand. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I'm talking about: • The invisible ways fear creeps into life after cancer • Why it's  normal  to feel stuck in worry...

💬 "No one goes through breast cancer alone." We say it often—but the truth? Many survivors do feel alone. If you've ever felt misunderstood, isolated, or like no one truly "gets it," you're not broken. You're human. And you're not alone. In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we talk about: • The hidden loneliness so many women face after breast cancer • How the "be strong" mindset...

⏸️ Are you stuck in the "I'll start when…" mindset? "If I just wait until this changes... then I'll get back to living." Sound familiar? So many breast cancer survivors find themselves putting life on hold—waiting for the  perfect  moment to start feeling like themselves again. But here's the truth: life doesn't pause, and healing isn't about waiting—it's about re-engaging. In this episode of  Bet...

⏳ "I'll start once things calm down…" "I'll get back to living when treatment is over…" "I'll wait until I feel like myself again…" Sound familiar? If you've ever felt like your life has been on  pause —especially after breast cancer—this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer  is for you. 🎧 In this heartfelt conversation, I talk about: • Why we put our lives on hold (even when we don't me...

🍟 Ever felt like you  just can't stop eating  certain foods—even when you're full or trying to eat healthy? It might not be your willpower. It might be the  food itself . In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're digging into  hyper-palatable foods —those ultra-tasty combos of fat, sugar, salt, and carbs that keep you reaching for more. You'll learn: • What hyper-palatable food...

💭 Ever feel like you want to change, but just can't get yourself to follow through? Or maybe life forced a change you didn't ask for—and your brain is putting up a fight? You're not broken. You're human. And your brain? It just really loves what's familiar. In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer , I talk about: Why change feels so hard—even when you want it How your brain resists dis...

Feeling stuck in "analysis paralysis"? 🤔 You're not alone—decisions can feel scary when you don't know where they'll lead. But what if you could turn that fear into empowerment and steer your life with confidence? In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we dive into: Why tough choices unlock your power, not hold you back The hidden blocks that keep decisions hanging over your head A...

We live in a world flooded with sexual imagery—and alongside that, a constant stream of unspoken rules about what sex  should  look like, feel like, and mean. But after something as life-changing as breast cancer, those expectations can feel completely out of reach—and incredibly painful. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're having an honest conversation about low or nonexi...

Isn't it amazing how much your perspective shifts as life unfolds? Looking back, you can see just how far you've come—and how much your beliefs have changed along the way. But with every new stage of life, we face different challenges… and sometimes, we get stuck. In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're exploring the hidden thoughts that hold us back: limiting beliefs. These s...

When I was fresh out of breast cancer treatment, I didn't know what I was feeling—I just knew I was angry. And anger? It felt safe. Justifiable. Even powerful. But here's the truth: anger often masks deeper, more painful emotions—like grief, fear, and loss—that we don't know how to face. It becomes armor that protects us from vulnerability, but it also keeps us from healing. In this episode of  Be...

Did you know that 63% of people in the U.S. drink alcohol regularly—and that even small amounts have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer? At the same time, major organizations like the American Heart Association and the Arthritis Foundation say one drink a day might offer heart and anti-inflammatory benefits. So… who's right? In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we...

Have you ever had someone say something hurtful or belittling that stayed with you? Of course you have—most of us have. But here's the real question: how often do you say those things  to yourself ? In this episode of  Better Than Before Breast Cancer , we're turning the spotlight inward and talking about something so many women struggle with—negative self-talk. From offhand comments like "I'm my...