Send us a text

Laura Middleton-Lewis's remarkable journey from a shocking breast cancer diagnosis at age 25 to becoming a beacon of hope for the secondary breast cancer community reminds us of the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

Diagnosed with aggressive stage III breast cancer in 2014 after discovering a small lump by chance in the shower, Laura's world transformed overnight. From running her own business and planning a future with her partner Brad to navigating a maze of hospital appointments, treatments, and uncertainty, the transition was jarring. Two years later, when the cancer metastasized to her bones, Laura faced the devastating reality of stage IV cancer.

Rather than succumbing to despair, Laura chose a path of purpose and connection. She launched her Instagram account "Bald Boobless and Beautiful" to document her journey authentically – sharing both the struggles and the joys of living with metastatic cancer. This evolved into co-founding Secondary Sisters with Nikki Newman in 2019, creating a vital community for those navigating secondary breast cancer.

Laura's powerful "roller coaster" analogy perfectly captures the metastatic cancer experience – a continuous ride with dark tunnels, unexpected highs, sudden drops, and uncertain track endings. Yet even within this uncertainty, she focuses on finding joy each day through her "living list" (her alternative to a bucket list) and believes that while there may be bad moments or hours, entire days can always be turned around with the right mindset.

Now approaching her 37th birthday and remarkably stable on the same targeted therapy for nearly nine years, Laura emphasizes the importance of "finding your tribe" – people who truly understand your experience when friends and family, however well-meaning, cannot fully comprehend the journey. Her advice to those newly diagnosed resonates with hard-earned wisdom: allow yourself time to process, don't rush healing, and eventually, you'll find joy again.

Join us for this profound conversation about living fully in the face of uncertainty and how community connection can transform even our darkest challenges into sources of meaning, purpose, and unexpected beauty.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Laura on Instagram
• Join Secondary Sisters
• Breast Cancer Now
• Follow Dr. Liz O'Riordan on Instagram or visit her website

________

• Follow TSP on Instagram
• Follow Carsten on Instagram

If you want to be a guest on the show, email Carsten directly at [email protected]

Please remember to leave a review for the show and hit the Follow button to stay updated about new episodes.