Thrive with Fran

Rest isn’t just about sleep or collapsing on the sofa. After cancer — and in everyday life — tiredness can be physical, mental, emotional, or even sensory. In this episode of  Thrive with Fran , I explore the different types of rest we all need, why it matters for recovery and resilience, and how to choose the right kind of rest for the kind of tired you’re feeling. At the end, I’ll guide you thro...

Depression after cancer is something many survivors face, yet it’s rarely spoken about. In this deeply personal episode, I share my own experience with depression, why it’s so common, the guilt that often comes with it, and gentle ways to navigate the heaviness when it shows up. This isn’t about seeking sympathy—it’s about breaking the silence around a topic that takes real bravery to talk about....

Why did I get cancer? t’s a question many if not all of us ask ourselves, and as we know Western medicine often only focuses on treating the symptoms — the tumour, the surgery, the chemo. In this episode, I explore what’s going on behind the scenes — the “soil” our health grows in. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to look deeper, but by approaching it with curiosity and compassion, we can uncover insi...

Why do some people overhaul their whole lives after cancer… while others stay exactly the same? In this episode, I explore the many different responses to life after a cancer diagnosis — from radical lifestyle shifts to quiet inner changes. Whether you’ve changed everything or barely anything, this episode is about making peace with your path and honouring your unique healing journey.

In this episode of  Thrive with Fran , we dive into one of the most powerful — and often overlooked keys to healing after cancer: your nervous system. I share why I'm becoming a trauma-informed somatic coach, and how understanding your body’s internal safety system can help you move from fear, fatigue, and freeze into calm, confidence, and clarity. We explore: What the nervous system actually ...

Hot flushes — sudden waves of heat, sweating, and discomfort — can feel overwhelming & exhausting - even more so in the summer heat. In this episode, I break down why they happen, shares practical tools to cool your body and calm your nervous system, plus a lovely simple cooling breathing practice to help you manage hot flushes with confidence. You’re not broken — your body’s adapting, and you...

Feeling like an outsider during and after cancer is more common than we admit. In this raw, honest episode, I share my own struggles with isolation — that sense of being watched but not truly seen — and explore how we can slowly rebuild connection, belonging, and self-acceptance after illness.

Exercise isn’t just a “nice to have” after cancer — it’s a powerful tool for healing, resilience, and long-term health. In this episode, I unpack new research, explore why so few survivors are meeting movement guidelines, and share how to make exercise feel doable, personal, and even joyful. Science, stories, and soul — all in one place. With love, Fran Here are my sources & some further readi...

Welcome to the first ever episode of Thrive with Fran - I'm so happy you are here. So...what happens when your world narrows in a heart beat —you hear the words "You have Cancer". Everything stops. In this first episode we explore the emotional contraction that comes with crisis, the unexpected beauty of receiving help, and how to begin expanding again, gently and intentionally. Real...