In this powerful episode, Larry and I go back to the week in December 1998 that changed our lives forever. What started as a routine appointment just before the holidays quickly became a devastating spiral of tests, unanswered questions, and the phone call that revealed I had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at only 26 years old.

We share:

• The moment my doctor noticed something was wrong

• The shock of hearing “It’s cancer” days before Christmas

• The traumatic appointment where I was told to get my affairs in order

• How a second oncologist offered hope and completely changed my prognosis

• What those early days of fear, uncertainty, and survival really felt like

• How this diagnosis became the foundation for the life and mission I have today

If you’re navigating a new cancer diagnosis, living with metastatic breast cancer, or supporting someone who is, this honest conversation is for you. This is the story I wish I could have heard back then — a story about fear, resilience, terrible doctors, life-saving doctors, and the spark of hope that carried me forward.

27 years later, I’m still here. And I want you to know that hope is real.

The holidays hit different when you’re living with cancer. In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Heather and Larry talk about the emotional weight of the season — the pressure to make everything perfect “just in case,” the anxiety that comes with big family gatherings, and the guilt of not being able to keep up with old traditions.

They dive into boundaries, expectations, caregiver dynamics, and the internal struggle of wanting to savor the moments while also feeling overwhelmed by them. From navigating relatives’ questions to simplifying holiday plans to protecting your energy, this episode is full of validation, humor, and practical ways to make this season more manageable.

If you’re dealing with metastatic breast cancer — or supporting someone who is — this one will help you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

Available Now!

👉 Break the Cancer Spiral – Heather’s 15-minute guide to reset your mindset anytime life feels overwhelming

You can grab Heather’s new 15-Minute Reset guide and her 5 to Thrive series at ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.heatherjose.com/stop-the-cancer-spiral⁠⁠⁠

🎧 About the Podcast:I’m Still Here: Lessons from Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer is hosted by Heather and Larry Jose. Each week, they share honest, hopeful conversations about living fully with cancer — the messy, meaningful, real-life parts of survivorship that don’t always make it into the brochure.

🌐 Connect with Heather:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠HeatherJose.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@heatherbjose⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Heather Jose⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@ImStillHereCancer⁠⁠⁠

Podcast available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music

To Life! 💚Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who could use a little calm and encouragement this holiday season.

In this episode, Heather opens the door to a conversation many people living with metastatic cancer think about privately — but rarely speak aloud:

You are allowed to live.
You are allowed to plan ahead.
You are allowed to imagine a future that is yours.

Heather shares how, at 26, she was told her life would narrow — that cancer meant shrinking dreams, shorter plans, smaller horizons. Twenty-seven years later, she is proof that life doesn’t end where statistics suggest it should. It unfolds. It evolves. It can even expand.

Inside this episode, we explore:

🌿 Rejecting statistics + choosing your own story
🌿 The clarity cancer brings: what matters vs. what doesn’t
🌿 Why planning isn’t denial — it’s hope in motion
🌿 Living your life instead of the one others expect
🌿 Releasing guilt, comparison, and shrinking to fit
🌿 Mary Oliver’s question that changes everything:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

This is your invitation to dream again — to think about 2026, the future you desire, and the everyday steps that move you toward it. Cancer may have changed your path, but it does not get to own your future.

Available Now!

👉 Break the Cancer Spiral – Heather’s 15-minute guide to reset your mindset anytime life feels overwhelming

You can grab Heather’s new 15-Minute Reset guide and her 5 to Thrive series at ⁠⁠https://shop.heatherjose.com/stop-the-cancer-spiral⁠⁠

🎧 About the Podcast:I’m Still Here: Lessons from Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer is hosted by Heather and Larry Jose. Each week, they share honest, hopeful conversations about living fully with cancer — the messy, meaningful, real-life parts of survivorship that don’t always make it into the brochure.

🌐 Connect with Heather:

Website: ⁠⁠HeatherJose.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@heatherbjose⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠Heather Jose⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@ImStillHereCancer⁠⁠

Podcast available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music

To Life! 💚Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who could use a little calm and encouragement this holiday season.