It's been a long week, and we know you're all excited to hear more from Claire! Before we get back to part 2 with Claire, Kaela and Mike provide some updates on recent (less than favorable) bloodwork results and a discussion with our oldest son about Kaela's breast cancer.

In part two of our conversation with Claire, we move beyond introductions and into the deeper realities of living with metastatic breast cancer while raising young children and building a life in the middle of uncertainty. We talk about navigating a new marriage after diagnosis, parenting through fear and hard conversations, and the complicated balance of trying to live fully while also thinking about the future.

We also reflect on what it means to leave a legacy through advocacy. From podcast episodes to blog posts, we discuss how sharing our stories has become more than awareness work - it’s also a way for our children to someday hear our voices, understand our strength, and know just how deeply they were loved through all of this.

This episode is honest, emotional, and full of the kind of conversations that remind us why telling these stories matters.

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Episodes are now available in video format on YouTube: Nothing Scares Me Anymore: Claire's MBC Story - Part 2

In this episode, we welcome our first MBC guest (and new friend) to the podcast - the incredible Claire. Claire is a fellow stage 4 metastatic breast cancer survivor, podcaster, and an awesome advocate with several projects in the works, and someone who brings a refreshing “take it or leave it” authenticity to every conversation.

Over the first half of this 90-minute conversation, Claire shares her story from her initial early-stage breast cancer diagnosis through her metastatic recurrence years after finishing treatment. Along the way, we talk about the complicated emotions that come with survivorship, marriage and cancer, and the language we use around cancer (including our ongoing struggle to find a better word than “journey”), and what it means to live openly and honestly with MBC. As Clarie says "Everything Happens for a Reason", you'll get to hear how an unfair situation is being turned into an opportunity to help so many others.

This conversation is raw, funny, emotional, and deeply real, and we’re so grateful Claire was willing to share her experience with us. This is just part 1 of an amazing discussion. Part 2 will be out next week!

This episode is also available in a fun video format on YouTube. Now you can see the faces behind the podcast! Take It or Leave It: Claire's MBC Story - Part 1 - YouTube

After listening to this episode, don't wait to learn more about Claire through her blog and podcast:

perkybits | Claire's Boobie Journey

Perkybits: Riding the Waves of Life | Podcast on RSS.com

This week, we share some exciting news as Kaela received the results of her brain scan confirming there is no metastasis in the brain. We talk about the relief that comes with hearing those words, while also reflecting on the emotional weight that scans and appointments continue to carry and how “scanxiety” becomes an ongoing part of life after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.

Then, in a fitting Mother’s Day episode, we welcome our very first guest to the podcast: Kaela’s mom, Judy. As a breast cancer survivor herself, Judy joins us to share her perspective on watching her daughter navigate cancer while carrying her own experiences with the disease. Together, we have an honest conversation about motherhood, survivorship, fear, resilience, and the unique bond that forms when cancer impacts multiple generations of a family.

The conversation was so good and there was so much to cover, you can expect Judy to make another appearance in a future episode.

This episode is filled with relief, vulnerability, gratitude, and a lot of love.

In this episode, we take on a question that feels a little like defining a relationship: what do we actually call metastatic breast cancer? Is it a chronic illness? A terminal disease? Both?

We unpack the pros and cons of each label, how those words shape understanding for ourselves and for others, and why neither one fully captures the reality of living with MBC. From the way these terms impact hope and identity to how they influence conversations with family, friends, and the medical community, we explore what’s at stake in the language we use.

Because sometimes, like any complicated relationship… it’s not so easy to define.

We wrap up with an exciting announcement about our friend, Becky, who is gearing up to run the Missoula Marathon at the end of June. Becky is fundraising for MBCure, and as we all know by now, metastatic breast cancer research is grossly underfunded. So, let's help Becky crush her fundraising goal!

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In this episode, we reflect on our final takeaways from the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference: sharing what stayed with us, what challenged us, and what it meant to be surrounded by others navigating similar paths.

We also talk about a recent interview we participated in for an academic research study focused on the experience of younger, married individuals facing a cancer diagnosis. It gave us a chance to reflect on our own journey in a different way, and we share some of those thoughts here.

On the medical front, we celebrate some encouraging news: Kaela’s latest blood work and oncology appointment brought positive updates, and we talk about what that means for where things stand right now. We close the episode with something a little more personal and even a bit exciting - Kaela’s decision to get her first tattoo, pending her doctor’s approval, and what that choice represents in this chapter.

This episode is a mix of reflection, gratitude, and looking ahead, grounded in the reality of this journey, but holding onto the moments of light along the way.

In this episode, we record straight from our hotel room to share our initial, in-the-moment reactions after the first two days at the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference. From navigating traffic and barely making it to the opening session, to stepping into a space filled with others who truly understand this journey, it’s been an emotional and powerful experience.

We talk about the sessions we’ve attended so far, what’s stood out, and what it feels like to be surrounded by a community walking a similar path. There’s a mix of heaviness and comfort: processing the reality of it all while also feeling deeply connected and less alone. (But also feeling like the new kid in school)

We originally planned to record a full recap after the conference wrapped, but between getting home late Sunday and jumping right back into the chaos of work and bedtime routines, we decided to share this initial reflection now to stay on schedule. Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where we’ll dive into our full experience and everything we’re still processing.

In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on a quiet, but busy week. We don't much of an update in kind of a no news is good news fashion, as everything appears to be going well. We share highlights from our Easter weekend, including a meaningful trip back to Slippery Rock, where we had the chance to revisit our alma mater and spend some intentional time together.

From there, the conversation turns more vulnerable. We open up about how a simple, well-meaning phrase: “it’ll get easier” can carry unexpected weight. What starts as a common reassurance about parenting young kids leads us into a deeper, more emotional discussion about fear, uncertainty, and how hard it can be not to project into the future. We talk honestly about what it means to stay present while navigating the unknown, and how easy it is to realize the things we once took for granted.

We close the episode by looking ahead to the upcoming Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference. We share what drew us to attend, highlight a few sessions we’re especially interested in, and talk about what we hope to gain from being in a space with others who truly understand life with metastatic breast cancer.

This episode is a mix of reflection, vulnerability, and cautious hope — and a reminder of just how much can exist in the in-between moments.

This week’s episode comes with a bit of a “podcaster initiation” story — after losing last week’s recording to some truly questionable audio, we’re back for round two and hoping this one sticks.

We kick things off with a much more encouraging update from Kaela. Her latest test results are showing real progress, and she’s not experiencing any side effects that would interfere with staying on her current treatment — something we’re incredibly grateful for.

From there, we get into the emotional side of the in-between moments. Even the “routine” or “minor” tests can carry a lot of weight, and we talk honestly about the stress of waiting for results and what it takes to keep moving forward through that uncertainty.

We also open up about something more personal — learning to trust a body that has given you reasons not to, and how complicated that relationship can become throughout this journey.

Another important conversation we dive into is how to talk about stage IV breast cancer with others—especially when so many people’s understanding is shaped by earlier stages. Navigating those conversations isn’t always easy, and we share what that’s been like for us.

And to close things out on a high note, we’re celebrating a milestone: Episode 10. Double digits feels like a big deal, and we’re so grateful you’re here with us.

This week, we’re talking about something that’s been growing in Kaela’s heart—advocacy. As she navigates life with stage IV breast cancer, she shares why using her voice has become so important, what being an advocate truly means to her, and how she hopes to make a difference for others walking a similar path. We don’t have it all figured out, but this episode is an honest look at the beginning of that journey.

If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to share it. Advocacy starts with awareness, and every share helps bring more attention to the realities of stage IV breast cancer. But beyond that, this space is for anyone navigating breast cancer, other cancers, or any life-changing health diagnosis - you’re not alone in this, and your story matters. And if this is a journey you’re on too, your voice matters.

In this segment, Mike sits down with Kaela's longest known friend from her childhood - Lisa.

Take a few minutes to get to know one of Our Story's fiercest supporters and learn how a cancer diagnosis may impact those beyond our immediate support rings.

Support Kaela and her family: https://justshowup.itemorder.com/shop/home/