I'm Still Here: Lessons from Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer with Heather Jose

A new year often comes with pressure to set goals, do more, and fix ourselves. But when you’re living with metastatic breast cancer, that framework can feel exhausting — and disconnected from reality.

In this New Year episode, we talk about a different way forward. One that starts by asking a more honest question:

What do I need this year?

Because when cancer doesn’t reset on January 1st, the goal isn’t reinvention — it’s living.

We ex...

What I found was something I didn’t realize I’d been missing: connection, affirmation, and a growing movement focused not just on survival, but on living well with metastatic disease.

In this episode, I share:

• What it was like attending ...

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 bef...

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...

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...

Episode Description:
The holidays are a mix of joy, chaos, and endless temptation — which makes it easy to say, “I’ll just start over in January.” But what if you didn’t have to throw in the towel?

In this episode, Heather and Larry talk about how to stay intentional, flexible, and grounded through the holiday season — without giving up all the things you love. From choosing simple non-negotiables to moving your body (even a little),...

When your mind starts spinning with fear, what-ifs, and worst-case scenarios, how do you stop it? In this episode of I’m Still Here, Heather and Larry talk about the “cancer spiral” — that flood of anxious thoughts that shows up at diagnosis and sometimes never fully leaves.

Heather shares how her new guide, Stop the Cancer Spiral: The 15-Minute Reset, was born out of her own experience of living with metastatic breast cancer for mo...

Finding balance isn’t about perfection — it’s about learning what works for you. In this episode, Heather and Larry dig into the daily juggling act of work, health, and real life while managing metastatic breast cancer. They talk about scheduling versus spontaneity, energy management, and how both structure and grace play a role in living well long-term.

Heather Jose was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at age 26 and has been t...

What you say about yourself matters. In this solo episode, Heather shares 10 powerful “I Am” statements to help you shift from fear and frustration toward strength, peace, and purpose — even while living with cancer.

These statements aren’t about denial; they’re about defining yourself on your own terms. From choosing peace over panic to nourishing your body with care, this conversation will help you remember who you are beyond your...

Let’s Talk About Sex – After Cancer

After cancer, everyone tells you “you look great”—but looking fine isn’t the same as feeling whole. In this candid, funny, and deeply honest conversation, Heather and Larry talk about what intimacy really looks like after diagnosis and treatment: grief over a changing body (and lost fertility), reconstruction that “looks” like breasts but doesn’t feel like them, early menopause, fear, shame, and ...

Never Stop Starting Over
After a great appointment and scan results, Heather and Larry sit down to talk about what it really means to “start over”—again and again. From rebuilding strength after treatment to figuring out how to fit workouts into real life, this conversation is about giving yourself grace, finding motivation, and remembering that progress doesn’t have to be perfect.

Heather shares insights from her oncologist abou...

This week, I’m catching you up on a whirlwind of scans, cancer center conversations, and the realities of living with metastatic breast cancer. From the relief of a smoother PET scan experience to the anxiety of reading results in my chart, I’m sharing how I navigated the ups and downs—and what it taught me about listening to my body, setting boundaries, and choosing strength over stress.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of scanxiety,...

After more than 25 years of treatment at the same small-town hospital, Heather shares how changes in systems and processes have stripped away what once made her infusion experience bearable—the human connection. In this candid conversation, Heather and Larry unpack how rigid procedures, check-ins, and hoops designed to satisfy administrators can leave patients feeling like numbers instead of people.

They talk about:

• The differenc...

Living with metastatic breast cancer is exhausting—physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. It never takes a day off, and sometimes you just wish you could too. In this episode of I’m Still Here: Lessons from Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer, Heather explores the very real longing to take a “vacation” from MBC.

You’ll hear why the constant weight of appointments, scanxiety, side effects, and even other people’s expectation...

After a summer break, Larry is back on the mic! In this week’s episode, we reflect on the journey of I’m Still Here so far, share our hopes and dreams for what’s ahead, and invite you—our listeners—to help shape the future of the podcast. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’re just tuning in, we’d love your feedback and ideas for the conversations and tools you want to hear next.

👇 New to the podcast? Here’s what ...

🌟 Sensational Survivor Series Meet incredible women who have been living with metastatic cancer for 10 years or more. These candid conversations reveal what long-term survivorship really looks like—filled with wisdom, grit, and hope. Their stories challenge assumptions and inspire us all to believe in what's possible. This week we are featuring Terlisa Sheppard. Terlisa has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 23 year...

🌟 Sensational Survivor Series Meet incredible women who have been living with metastatic cancer for 10 years or more. These candid conversations reveal what long-term survivorship really looks like—filled with wisdom, grit, and hope. Their stories challenge assumptions and inspire us all to believe in what's possible. This week we are featuring Kelly Shanahan. Kelly has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 12 years. S...

🌟 Sensational Survivor Series Meet incredible women who have been living with metastatic cancer for 10 years or more. These candid conversations reveal what long-term survivorship really looks like—filled with wisdom, grit, and hope. Their stories challenge assumptions and inspire us all to believe in what's possible. This week we are featuring Melissa Haberl, she has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 20 years.

👇 ...

🌟 Sensational Survivor Series Meet incredible women who have been living with metastatic cancer for 10 years or more. These candid conversations reveal what long-term survivorship really looks like—filled with wisdom, grit, and hope. Their stories challenge assumptions and inspire us all to believe in what's possible. This week we are featuring Kim Builta, she has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 15 years. Kim has...