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

I'm Still Here with Heather Jose
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Heather was diagnosed with Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer at age 26, in 1998. Join Heather and her husband Larry as they discuss life with metastatic disease as it impacts every area from health, finances, family planning, and so much more. The podcast provides inspiration and hope, but also practical tips that empower cancer survivors to create a life with cancer.

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 264: From Feeling Different to Finding His Voice — My Son Ty’s Story

    In this special episode of I’m Still Here, Heather sits down with her son Ty to talk openly about his adoption journey, growing up as a brown child in a rural community, and what it’s been like navigating identity, belonging, and difference. Ty shares his story of being adopted from India, what family means when you don’t share DNA, and the moments that shaped how he sees himself and the world. Together, they talk about racism, being pulled over, finding confidence, developing empathy, and how music became Ty’s way of expressing his life experiences. This is an honest, real conversation about growing up different, learning to be comfortable in your own skin, and finding your people — even when it isn’t easy. Available Now!👉 Break the Cancer Spiral – Heather’s 15-minute guide to reset your mindset anytime life feels overwhelmingYou 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.comInstagram: @heatherbjoseFacebook: Heather JoseYouTube: @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.

    33 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Episode 263: Eat This, Not That — 2026 Edition (Revised)

    Eat This, Not That — 2026 Edition What do I actually eat — and how do I think about food now? In this episode, Heather shares her Eat This, Not That — 2026 Edition, responding to one of the most common questions she gets. This is not about food rules, trends, or government guidelines — it’s about real food, real life, and what helps her feel steady and energized while living with metastatic breast cancer. In this conversation, Heather talks about: Why she doesn’t follow nutrition rules (even when new guidelines come out) The simple framework she uses instead: protein, fiber, and variety Eating real food, mostly plants — without rigidity Consistency over optimization Using ideas like “30 plants a week” as a gentle nudge, not a mandate Letting food support your life — not become another thing to manage This episode is honest, practical, and grounded in lived experience — not extremes. Need a quick reset when life feels overwhelming? Heather’s 15-minute guide, Break the Cancer Spiral, helps you steady your mindset anytime things start to spin. 👉 Get Break the Cancer Spiral and explore all of Heather’s guides here: 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 Jose. Each week, Heather shares honest, grounded conversations about living fully with cancer — beyond survival. 🌿 Connect with Heather Website: HeatherJose.com Instagram: @heatherbjose YouTube: @ImStillHereCancer To Life! 💚 Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who could use a little steadiness today.

    26 min

  3. JAN 14

    Episode 262: What I Reached for in the Early Days—and How to Build a Library That Holds You

    While cleaning and decluttering, Heather came across a stack of books that carried her through the early years of living with cancer. Some were informational. Some were inspirational. And some simply helped her feel seen. In this episode, Heather and Larry talk through those books—not as prescriptions or promises, but as companions during a time when reaching for anything steady mattered. They reflect on why certain voices, stories, and practices were helpful, how repetition and slowing down supported Heather’s mindset, and how mental and emotional care became just as important as physical treatment. The conversation then expands into what building a “library” looks like today. Not just books—but audio, YouTube, meditation, journaling, saved resources, and non-cancer content that helps regulate fear, doubt, and overwhelm. Heather shares how she now thinks about choosing resources that feel safe, grounding, and accessible—and why what helps can (and should) change over time. This episode is an honest look at what it means to feed your mind with care, build a personal support library, and give yourself permission to reach for whatever helps you feel a little more steady. If you have books, videos, or resources that have helped you through a hard season, Heather invites you to share them—so we can help each other build libraries that hold us. Available Now!👉 Break the Cancer Spiral – Heather’s 15-minute guide to reset your mindset anytime life feels overwhelmingYou 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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@heatherbjose⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heather Jose⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ImStillHereCancer⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon MusicTo Life! 💚Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who could use a little calm and encouragement this holiday season.

    29 min

  4. JAN 7

    Episode 261: What Do I Need This Year? Rethinking the New Year With Metastatic Breast Cancer

    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 explore: Why living with metastatic breast cancer is already enough Letting go of “shoulds” and redefining progress Shifting from performance to presence Creating anchors instead of rigid routines Trusting what your body and life are asking for right now Why rest matters — and why engagement still does too This is an honest, grounded conversation about living well with metastatic disease — without pretending it’s easy, and without waiting for life to begin “after.” You’re not behind.You’re not broken.And you don’t need to fix yourself to deserve a meaningful life. Living is the goal. 🎧 New episodes every Wednesday📩 Follow along on Instagram & YouTube: @imstillherepodcast💛 Mindset resources and guides available at heatherjose.com

    31 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    Episode 260: These Are My People: Finding Belonging in the Metastatic Breast Cancer Community

    After 27 years of living with metastatic breast cancer, I attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium for the first time — not knowing what to expect, or even if I would feel like I belonged. 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 SABCS as a patient advocate Why quality of life matters just as much as treatment advances How patient advocacy is evolving — and where I see myself in it What it means to finally feel like these are my people This conversation is about belonging, purpose, and using our voices — especially for those living with metastatic breast cancer who are navigating life beyond the early days of diagnosis. If you’re living with cancer, supporting someone who is, or wondering how to keep moving forward when the path feels uncertain, this episode is for you. If you’re looking for practical, compassionate support for living well with cancer, you can find my guides here:👉 Guides & Resources: https://shop.heatherjose.com/all-guides Each guide can stand alone, and many people choose more than one to support different phases of their journey. 📸 Instagram: @heatherjose🌐 Website: https://heatherjose.com🎙 Podcast: I’m Still Here: Lessons from Life with Metastatic Breast Cancer If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need it. Episode DescriptionResources & SupportConnect With Me

    35 min

  6. 12/10/2025

    Episode 259: Cancer at Christmas: The Week I Learned I had Stage IV Breast Cancer

    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.

    31 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Episode 258: The Holidays Hit Different With Cancer: Stress, Memories, and Making It Manageable

    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.

    26 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    Episode 257: What Will You Do With Your One Wild + Precious Life?

    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.

    26 min
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5
out of 5
56 Ratings

About

Heather was diagnosed with Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer at age 26, in 1998. Join Heather and her husband Larry as they discuss life with metastatic disease as it impacts every area from health, finances, family planning, and so much more. The podcast provides inspiration and hope, but also practical tips that empower cancer survivors to create a life with cancer.

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