Have you ever felt almost afraid to set a boundary—especially with someone you love? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share the story of a client who jokingly called it “boundary phobia” and how that phrase perfectly captures the fear and discomfort so many of us feel when we try to protect our time, energy, or emotional well-being.

We’ll talk about:

• The fears that keep us saying “yes” when we want to say “no”

• The myths we’ve been taught about boundaries and relationships

• Why boundaries are about action as much as they are about words

• How to set healthy boundaries with yourself first—and why that’s the key to holding them with others

• A short guided reflection to help you identify one internal boundary you can start practicing today

If you’ve been feeling drained, resentful, or guilty about saying no, this episode will help you shift the way you think about boundaries so they feel less like walls and more like doors you control.

References from this episode:

• Parents Magazine study on accepting unwanted invitations: https://www.parents.com/why-saying-no-is-good-for-your-mental-health-8415963

• Stanford Student Affairs research on boundaries strengthening relationships: https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/how-life-treeting-you-importance-of-boundaries

• 2020 study on relational boundaries and enforcement: https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Luchner-and-Snyder-2020-The-Importance-of-Flexible-Relational-Boundaries-.pdf

• Mental Health Center on boundaries and burnout: https://www.mentalhealthctr.com/boundaries-and-mental-health

• Dr. Kristin Neff’s self-compassion research: https://self-compassion.org/the-three-elements-of-self-compassion-2

Resources Mentioned:

• Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: https://www.thebreastcancerrecoverycoach.com/lifecoaching

• Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: https://www.thebreastcancerrecoverycoach.com/168-hours-sp

Let’s Connect!
If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Every share helps spread this message of hope, healing, and whole-person wellness.

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer

In this heartfelt episode, I share a story of one of my clients who chose to live as if she was cured—even while waiting for a PET scan. Her courage and clarity inspired this conversation about mindset, belief, and the science behind choosing peace in uncertain moments.

We’ll explore:

• The difference between what’s true and what fear tells us

• The emotional and biological cost of staying in survival mode

• Studies that show how belief and agency improve healing outcomes

• How to anchor into peace with simple daily practices

• Why the story you tell yourself is powerful medicine

Plus, I’ll leave you with a reflective journal prompt to help you shift your mindset the next time fear creeps in.

This is a must-listen for breast cancer survivors and anyone learning to live in the space between healing and uncertainty.

Mentioned Studies:

• Leedham et al., 1995 – Health Psychology

• Taylor & Armor, 1996 – Journal of Personality

• Hack et al., 2005 – Patient Education and Counseling

Let’s Connect!
If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Every share helps spread this message of hope, healing, and whole-person wellness.

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer

Can you keep eating dairy or sourdough bread during breast cancer recovery—or do they need to go?

In this episode, I walk you through the confusing world of food myths and metabolic health, exploring:

• The difference between A1 and A2 dairy

• What the research says about dairy and cancer risk

• Whether sourdough bread is truly blood sugar–friendly

• How gluten impacts gut health (and what zonulin has to do with it)

• And the truth behind the “toast your bread to reduce carbs” trend

Whether you love yogurt or can’t part with crusty sourdough, you’ll leave this episode with clarity—not guilt.

🧪 Featured Studies:

• Loma Linda Dairy & Breast Cancer Study (2020):
  https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa007

• Meta-analysis on Dairy and Cancer Risk (2021):
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8520314/

• WCRF Cancer Prevention and Dairy Review (Non-Industry Funded):
  https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meat-fish-and-dairy-products.pdf

• Toasting & Glycemic Response Study (Oxford Brookes, 2008):
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17426743/

🎧 Listen now and learn how to make nourishing food choices based on your body, not food labels or fear.

Let’s Connect!
If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Every share helps spread this message of hope, healing, and whole-person wellness.

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer

In this episode, I’m joined by two extraordinary women: Cheri Henderson, a two-time breast cancer thriver, and Monica Kasari-Desulme, a physical therapist who specializes in cancer rehabilitation and lymphatic drainage.

You’ll hear how physical therapy helped Cheri recover from life-limiting pain, chemo brain, lymphedema, and post-surgical complications—and how it gave her the strength to return to the outdoors and active life she loves.

🎧 We dive into:

• Why physical therapy should be part of your care plan
• The role of adhesions and scar tissue in post-treatment symptoms
• What the glymphatic system has to do with chemo brain
• Compression tips for exercise, flying, and hot weather
• How to advocate for physical therapy referrals during treatment

🔗 Want more support?
Join the Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership or my email list at TheBreastCancerRecoveryCoach.com

Follow Cheri on Instagram

Follow Monica on Instagram

💌 Want weekly support, new episodes, and wellness tips in your inbox?

Join my email list and get resources for healing, hope, and living with intention after breast cancer.

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🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

What if the worst day of your life became the one that opened your eyes the most?

In this deeply personal episode, I share why I no longer call July 11th my “cancerversary” and instead honor it as my Awakening Day. Fourteen years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I reflect on how that moment became the catalyst for a life of greater presence, purpose, and peace.

We’ll talk about what post-traumatic growth really means, how to reframe a cancer diagnosis as an opportunity for awakening, and 14 powerful lessons that have shaped my life since that day.

Whether you’re in the thick of treatment, newly diagnosed, or years out from your own diagnosis, this episode offers hope, healing, and a reminder that your story is still unfolding—and it can be more beautiful than you ever imagined.

Keywords: breast cancer recovery, post-traumatic growth, cancerversary, healing journey, mindset after cancer, life after diagnosis, cancer survivor mindset, breast cancer podcast, trauma healing, awakening after illness, cancer support coaching

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

00:00 – Why I call July 11th my Awakening Day
04:35 – What is post-traumatic growth and how it differs from PTSD
08:15 – 14 lessons I’ve learned since my breast cancer diagnosis
17:40 – How to reframe your diagnosis as a spiritual and emotional awakening
22:00 – A message for anyone currently in the middle of their healing journey
25:45 – Closing thoughts on honoring your path and living with intention

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership
https://www.thebreastcancerrecoverycoach.com/lifecoaching

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS
If this episode inspired you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! Your feedback helps more women find this support and step into healing after breast cancer.

CONNECT WITH ME:

• Website: https://www.thebreastcancerrecoverycoach.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreastcancerrecoverycoach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraLummerTheBreastCancerRecoveryCoach/

So many women healing from breast cancer are told, “Just cut out sugar,” as if that one step could control everything. But is that really the whole story?

In this episode, we take a deep breath and go beyond the fear-based headlines to explore what’s really happening inside your cells.

From the basics of cellular fermentation to the Warburg effect, you’ll learn how both glucose and oxygen play critical roles in energy production—and why a multifaceted approach to healing is so important.

We’ll talk about:

• What fermentation means and why your body uses it
• The real meaning behind the Warburg theory
• How oxygen, breath, movement, and mindset influence your terrain
• Why you don’t need to live in fear of food
• The role of mitochondria and metabolic health in breast cancer recovery

You’ll leave this episode with more clarity, less fear, and a deeper appreciation for how your body adapts and communicates. Because healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating an environment where your cells can thrive.

Key Topics Covered:

• Cellular fermentation explained in simple terms
• How oxygen supports healthy metabolism
• Sugar and cancer: understanding the nuance
• The Warburg effect, debunked and demystified
• The power of movement, breath, and whole-body wellness
• Practical steps to support your healing terrain

This episode is perfect for you if:

• You’ve been confused or anxious about carbs and cancer
• You’re tired of oversimplified advice like “sugar feeds cancer”
• You want a grounded, science-backed approach to metabolic health
• You’re ready to support your healing without fear or restriction

Resources & Support:
Join the Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership to get weekly guidance, monthly group calls, and a compassionate community that understands your journey.

Let’s Connect!
If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Every share helps spread this message of hope, healing, and whole-person wellness.

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer

Searchable Tags:
#BreastCancerRecovery #HealingAfterCancer #GlucoseAndCancer #WarburgEffect #MetabolicHealth #Mitochondria #WholeBodyHealing #CancerAndSugar #FunctionalHealth #OxygenAndHealing