Laugh before death

It's been two years since we came up with the idea of talking (publicly) about living and dying with cancer. The podcast is still going, we are still going (!), and in this episode we're taking things a bit further by having photos taken professionally, while reflecting on the past two years of recording 'Laugh Before Death'. Hey look at us, multi-tasking! Ruth from Ruth Morelly Ph...

Death is part of life, yet the process of dying is not easily talked about. How many of us would talk about our own demise as a hypothetical 'event' rather than feeling and knowing it will happen? It is a tough ask to be in touch with the finality of oneself. There there are arguments that once we accept our life will come to an end it makes the lifelong process of dying a little easier to bear. S...

There's never a bad time to improve on your (healthy) habits but once you're given a terminal diagnosis it can be tempting just enjoy yourself. Life's too short for exercise, right?! In this episode, Mand and Heidi speak with Mel Brown (Level 4 'cancer & exercise' personal trainer) about the challenges, avoidance tactics, and benefits of functional exercise while being in active cancer treatme...

This episode is about the role of storytelling as a way of making sense of illness, and generating hope for ourselves and others. Hope does not cure cancer but it makes cancer life more manageable. Heidi and Mand are in conversation with Kevin Donaghy (driving force behind  Stories Of Cancer And Hope ). We talk about hope and hopelessness, community spirit, and living a good life alongside termina...

Once upon a time we were professionals and really good at our jobs... then we had to retire because of cancer. This episode focuses on early retirement due to ill health, the financial implications of metastatic cancer, and reflections on leaving the workforce before the typical retirement age. Link to the Marie Curie petition mentioned in the podcast: Marie Curie Campaigns Disclaimer: This podcas...

In this episode we are on a road trip. In the spirit of 'death talk', we're visiting a local forest burial site to set the scene for our conversation about what we want to do with our remains when we die. Tune in to listen to our thoughts on burials, cremations, and the importance of normalising death (... you'll also catch bird song, wind rustling in treetops, and tea-slurping).  Disclaimer: This...

Surviving metastatic cancer for 10 years is an amazing feat but why does it feel wrong to celebrate it?  Mand was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April 2015. This episode is about her thoughts on living with a terminal illness, how (and if!) to acknowledge her #Cancerversary, and reflections on lives cut short by cancer.  Mand is our very own #CancerDinosaur and although she enjoys life, this mi...

Enough about us and our cancer! Let's hear how OUR illness affect others. Joking (and references to 'main character energy') aside, terminal illness has a way of making its mark on everybody. This is the first of a two part episode about the impact of cancer on families. In this episode, we introduce Helen (Mand's mum) and Marianne (Heidi's mum). Marianne and Helen share their...

When there's cancer in the family, you need all the love and support you can get. Those of us who have sisters (and good sisters they are!) will appreciate that very special relationships. This is the second of a two part episode about the impact of cancer on families. In this episode, we hear from Bryony (Mand's sister) and Rikke (Heidi's twin sister). They might sound like us but the...

"We are all going to die one day", yet it can feel awkward to speak about this truth. It can be even harder when you or the person you speak to have a life limiting illness such as cancer. In this episode we talk about the language used to speak about terminal illness and death. We talk about our language likes and dislikes and the worst and kindest things people have said to us. We don't tell you...

In recognition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness day (13th October 2024), we're sharing voice notes sent between us following a frustrating and distressing phone call trying to organise insurance. Our podcasts always focus on how we try to remain realistically optimistic in living a cancer life. This 'pod call' was recorded immediately after Heidi's experience of dealing with a sales represent...

When you are told you have cancer, dealing with it can't happen soon enough, right?  Being a cancer patient requires patience... oodles of patience, which takes as much mental energy as the actual treatment itself. This episode focuses on the processes involved in cancer care from screening, to diagnosis, and treatment. We talk about how we manage the practical and emotional aspects of being a pat...

Being generally optimistic, and some might say a bit daft, has stood us in good stead for living with metastatic breast cancer. In this episode we talk about how humour and laughing helps us manage the difficulties of living with a terminal illness. And in answer to the title... Yes, of course it is! 
 Topics: What 'lines of treatment' means in the metastatic cancer world. ​How humour help...

Speaking about death and dying is something most people avoid or delay as long as possible. We can't avoid because living with metastatic cancer means we regularly face up to the thought of dying. That said, it does not have to be a sad or boring conversation. Instead it can be a way to prepare and tolerate the process of dying before our time.  This episode will focus on:  We are checking our...

This is the pilot episode: an exploration of the themes in our podcast. You will hear about: Metastatic cancer (AKA incurable or terminal cancer), the impact of illness on relationships, cancer's status in society, how life as we knew it changed, and it gives you a chance to think about how to be an ally to people with the disease. Presenters: Heidi Keeling & Mand Black Editing: Mark Keeli...