Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

"The Mind Is Willing, but the Flesh Is Weak": The Effects of Mind-Body Dualism on Health Behavior

#103 How to Learn to Love Your Body Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

💔 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: • The moment I realized I was abusing my body with my own thoughts • Why "taking care" of your body isn't always the same as loving it • How to shift your perspective from judgment to appreciation • A couple of simple, supportive practices to begin healing that relationship today

💗 Your body has carried you through so much. This episode is your invitation to stop punishing it—and start building a relationship based on trust, respect, and care.

Resources:

Breathwork with Tanya Saunders

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Social friction tied to inflammation

#102 What Breast Cancer Did to My Life Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

💔 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 your responses—shape your day-to-day reality • Tough but loving truths about choice, boundaries, and emotional responsibility • Questions to help you stop waiting and start creating the life you truly want

💗 It's not always easy to hear, but it's empowering to know: you have options. You have the right to choose happiness, set boundaries, and live intentionally—even after breast cancer.

Resources:

How to Reinforce Positive Support & Mitigate Toxic Relationships During and After Treatment

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Journaling for Mental Health

#101 A Free and Powerful Practice That Will Change Your Recovery Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

🌀 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 in survival mode • A science-backed practice that supports emotional healing • How this tool can improve your quality of life and help you reconnect with you

💗 Healing is a whole-person experience. And it begins with allowing yourself to feel.

Resources:

Mayo Mindfulness: Overcoming negative self-talk

Expressive writing in early breast cancer survivors

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10. #64 How to Manage the Fear of a Cancer Recurrence

#100 Insights From The Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

🎉 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 of so many amazing women in our community.

This show has grown because you show up. You do the hard work. You challenge old beliefs. You make space for healing.

💗 Thank you for listening, for sharing, and for believing in what's possible after breast cancer.

Resources:

9. #18 Gratitude and Your Health

8. #68 Dr. Robert Nagourney on Outliving Cancer

7. #34 Two Fungi You Want to Know Better

6. #6 Take What You Need

5. #25 Young Breast Cancer Survivors

4. #37 Body Fat and Cancer Treatment

3. #2 Train Your Brain to Think Healthier Thoughts

2. #1 Let Your Lifestyle be Your Medicine

1. #8 Five Facts You Need to Know About the Ketogenic Diet and Breast Cancer

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#74 The Healing Power of Sleep and What Happens when Sleep Goes Wrong-Part 1

#99 Three Powerful Tools You Need to Support Your Recovery Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

🌀 "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 so common (and so misunderstood) • 3 powerful tools you can use right now to start moving forward • How to shift your mindset from stuck to strong—and make space for healing

💗 You don't need to go back to your old "normal." You get to create something even better.

Resources:

#75 The Healing Power of Sleep and What Happens when Sleep Goes Wrong-Part 2

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Living With Mortality: Life Goes On

#98 How to be Brave Enough to be Vulnerable Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

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 surprising strength that comes from allowing yourself to feel, share, and release

💗 When you stop avoiding the hard stuff, you start discovering your truest self—and deepen your bonds with the people who matter most.

Resources:

Why Vulnerability is Your Superpower

The Power to Be Vulnerable (Part 1 of 3)

The Power to Be Vulnerable (Part 2 of 3)

The Power to Be Vulnerable (Part 3 of 3)

How To Be More Vulnerable In Your Relationship

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7 Things You Need to Know About Fear

#97 How to Have Peace While You Live With Fear Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

😟 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 or panic • How to gently work with fear instead of fighting it • The real path to peace of mind—even when fear doesn't disappear entirely

💗 You don't have to wait for fear to vanish before you feel good again. You just need tools to live with it—and live well.

Resources:

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Survivor loneliness of women following breast cancer

#96 How Getting Connected is the Remedy for Loneliness Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

💬 "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 can make vulnerability feel unsafe • Why true strength comes from connection, not pretending you're fine • How creating safe, authentic spaces with others helps us move forward—emotionally, mentally, and physically

💗 Healing isn't a solo act. And you don't have to do it on your own.

Resources:

UCLA Loneliness scale

Books:

The Lonely Screams

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The psychology of stuff and things

#95 What is the Clutter in Your Life Actually Costing You Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

⏸️ 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 Better Than Before Breast Cancer, I'll help you: • Understand why we delay stepping back into life after treatment • Identify the mental and emotional blocks that keep us stuck • Take 5 realistic, compassionate steps to reclaim joy, purpose, and momentum

Websites:

Minimalism Helped Me Find My Purpose, Passion and Self.

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