Laura was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, aged 28. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Laura shares how she felt when she first received that diagnosis 9 years ago, and how it impacted her life. She goes on to talk about living her life to the full, and adjusting to an uncertain future.

 

Later in the conversation, Laura talks about founding Secondary Sisters, an online community supporting people with secondary cancer. She also shares how it feels, after almost a decade of living with secondary breast cancer, when people look to her as an example for living well with an incurable disease.

 

You can find Laura on Instagram @baldbooblessandbeautiful

You can find Secondary Sisters on Instagram @secondary.sisters

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

1:34 What is secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer?

2:20 Laura's life before cancer

3:24 Laura finds a lump and is diagnosed with primary breast cancer

8:11 Treatment and surgery for breast cancer

11:14 Ways of coping with hair loss and other visible effects of cancer treatment

13:39 Laura is diagnosed with secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer

20:29 Laura writes a living list

24:35 How Laura is doing now

26:25 Laura sets up Secondary Sisters

37:37 How it feels losing friends to the same disease you have

39:07 Having time and people away from cancer

41:24 Laura's thoughts on how her story has given people hope and inspiration

42:28 Not being able to have children after breast cancer

48:10 Coping with a new diagnosis of secondary breast cancer

49:46 Laura shares her vulnerability as well as her story

56:23 What it means to Laura to "live well"