'The People Who Stayed, The Hair That Didn't'

In the final episode of our Two Heartbeats, One Diagnosis, Zero Surrender series, we're talking about the stuff that doesn't always make it into the brochures.

The friends who showed up. The people who disappeared. The completely unhinged things people say to cancer patients. The products that got us through treatment. And yes, the miraculous tale of Eloise somehow keeping her hair through chemotherapy despite being told it probably wouldn't happen.

Jess and Eloise share the moments of kindness they'll never forget, the awkward comments they'd happily forget, and why sometimes the best support isn't having the perfect thing to say—it's simply showing up.

We also dive into cold capping, cancer beauty hacks, Aussie brands we love, and the reality of navigating breast cancer while pregnant, raising babies, and trying to hold onto a sense of normality when life feels anything but normal.

Most importantly, this episode is packed with advice for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or simply trying to understand their body better. If something feels off, trust yourself. Ask questions. Push for answers. Advocate for yourself.

Because early detection saves lives.

This conversation is funny, raw, emotional and full of the kind of honesty that only fellow cancer baddies can bring.

In this episode:

The friends who became unexpected heroes

Why some people disappear after a cancer diagnosis

The most awkward things people say to cancer patients

Cold capping and keeping your hair through chemo

Favourite cancer-friendly products and skincare

Pregnancy and breast cancer

Self-advocacy and trusting your instincts

Why getting checked could change everything

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In this episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie, we get brutally honest about what happens after the big moments — after chemo, after surgery, after radiation… when the adrenaline wears off and reality hits.

Because no one really talks about this part.

We dive into the physical and emotional aftermath of breast cancer treatment — from mastectomies and reconstruction choices, to living flat, navigating recovery with young kids, and the mental load that comes with it all.

We talk about:

The difference between lumpectomy, mastectomy, and reconstruction decisions

The reality of recovery (and why it can be harder than treatment itself)

Lymphoedema, long-term side effects, and “when does this actually end?”

The identity shift — body image, femininity, and finding your confidence again

Mum guilt, relationships, and needing a village just to survive it all

And woven through all of it is something we don’t say enough:

 You can feel grateful to be alive… and still grieve everything you’ve lost. 

This is the messy middle of survivorship — where strength isn’t pretty, healing isn’t linear, and there’s no neat finish line.

If you’re in it, coming out of it, or supporting someone through it — this episode will make you feel seen.

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In part 2 of this powerful pregnancy and breast cancer series, we hear the raw, chaotic and deeply moving reality of what happens when motherhood, cancer treatment and survival all collide at once.

Jess and Eloise share what it was like to navigate rare and aggressive breast cancer diagnoses while pregnant, including inflammatory breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer, hormone positive disease, chemo during pregnancy, terrifying scans, NICU stays, premature birth and the impossible decisions no woman ever expects to face.

From being told not to Google your pathology, to starting treatment while caring for a newborn, to giving birth at 26 weeks and watching a tiny baby be airlifted to NICU, this episode is a brutally honest look at fear, resilience, dark humour and the wild survival mode that kicks in when there is simply no other option.

This conversation covers:
-Breast cancer during pregnancy
-Inflammatory breast cancer
-Triple negative breast cancer
-Chemo while pregnant
-Premature birth and NICU
-Postpartum cancer treatment
-Pathology anxiety and doctor Google
-Fertility, feeding grief and motherhood after diagnosis.

It’s heartbreaking, funny, confronting and full of the kind of honesty only women who’ve lived it can bring.

If you’ve ever felt terrified, overwhelmed, guilty, angry or completely out of your depth after a diagnosis, this episode will make you feel a little less alone.

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Two Heartbeats. One Diagnosis. Zero Surrender.

What happens when the moment that’s meant to be one of the happiest of your life suddenly collides with one of the most terrifying sentences you can hear: “You have breast cancer.”

In this powerful episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie, we sit down with two extraordinary women whose pregnancies took an unexpected and life-altering turn.

Eloise was 13 weeks pregnant when she discovered a lump she initially believed was harmless — something she had been told years earlier was just a fibroadenoma. But further scans and biopsies revealed the unimaginable: stage 3 breast cancer while pregnant.

Jess received her diagnosis at the other end of the pregnancy journey — 37 weeks pregnant and preparing to meet her baby.

Two women. Two very different stages of pregnancy. The same terrifying diagnosis.

In this raw and honest conversation, we talk about:

• Finding a lump during pregnancy

• The fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant

• Navigating scans, biopsies and treatment decisions while carrying a baby

• The emotional toll of waiting for PET scan results

• Balancing cancer treatment with motherhood

• Why pregnancy and breast cancer is more common than many people realise

Eloise shares the unforgettable moment her oncologist reassured her that the cancer had not spread, a moment that changed everything and gave her the strength to face the year ahead — chemotherapy, treatment and all.

Both women speak openly about the mental battle that follows a diagnosis like this and the fierce determination that comes with being a mother.

Because when you’re fighting cancer while pregnant, you’re not just fighting for yourself.

You’re fighting for two heartbeats.

This episode is emotional, empowering and deeply real — a reminder that cancer doesn’t always look the way people expect, and that strength can show up in the most extraordinary ways.

 Listen if you want to hear:

• Real stories of breast cancer during pregnancy

• What happens when you’re diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant

• The realities of cancer treatment during pregnancy

• Honest conversations about motherhood, fear and resilience

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In this episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie — a breast cancer podcast sharing real, unfiltered breast cancer stories — we’re diving into the parts of the chemo journey and life after diagnosis that no one really prepares you for.

From pre-surgery “champagne” (aka that blissful liquid Valium before you go under) to the emotional shift from “my body has betrayed me” to “my body is unbelievably resilient,” this episode captures the full arc of what it feels like to move through breast cancer treatment as a young woman.

We talk about:

• Medically induced menopause and what it actually means long-term

• The unexpected realities of hormonal treatment after breast cancer

• The financial side of cancer — health insurance, trauma insurance, out-of-pocket expenses

• Managing the flood of messages and support after a cancer diagnosis

• How to support someone with breast cancer (don’t ask — just do)

• Why you absolutely shouldn’t Google your diagnosis

• Accepting your body, scars, numbness and strength after treatment

This episode is part cancer survivor interview, part friendship therapy session, part practical guide for anyone navigating a breast cancer diagnosis in Australia.

If you’re a young woman with breast cancer, supporting a loved one through cancer treatment, or adjusting to life after cancer — this one will make you feel seen.

We also share honest conversations around medically induced menopause, fertility concerns, body image, finances and community support — because surviving cancer isn’t just about treatment. It’s about everything that comes after.

As always, this podcast shares personal experiences only and is not medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team for guidance specific to you.

Take the juju. Don’t spiral. One step at a time.

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This episode goes where the thoughts get loud — the middle of the night, when no one’s around and your brain refuses to switch off.

We talk about the things that made us angry (misinformation, mixed messages, and being told what we can’t do), the frustration of navigating cancer in a world drowning in advice, and the quiet grief of wondering “what if?” — especially around missed diagnoses and being told you’re “too young.”

We unpack the things people say with the best intentions… and why some of them still sting. From “you look great” to “you’re all good now,” we explore how comments land differently depending on the day — and why there’s no perfect thing to say to someone going through treatment.

We also talk about identity: not recognising yourself in the mirror, scars, hair loss, returning to work too fast, and the pressure to be “back to normal” when you’ve just lived through trauma. There’s honesty, dark humour, swearing, tears, and plenty of laughs — because that’s how we survived it.

Most of all, this episode is about womanhood and community. About being held by people who get it. About late-night fears of legacy, kids, caregiving, and mortality — and how, once the diagnosis comes, you realise you’ve got a job to do… and you just do it.

Raw. Funny. Heavy. Relieving. If you’ve ever lain awake at night with loud thoughts — this one’s for you.

DISCLAIMER: 

The views shared in this podcast are based on personal experiences only. We are not medical professionals, and nothing discussed should be taken as medical advice. Always consult your doctor, specialist, or healthcare team for any medical questions, decisions, or concerns.

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In Part 2 of 'A Series with My Baddies', we hand the mic to Anne and dive into what her treatment plan was supposed to look like… and what it actually became.

Anne talks us through her lumpectomy and lymph node surgery, the curveball of not having a complete pathological response, and how that changed her treatment timeline — extending things further than expected (because cancer loves a plot twist).

We also get into cold capping: what it is, what it’s like, and whether we’d do it again — plus the very real reality of hair loss, hats, patchy spots, and that banging haircut you get when your hair starts to normalise, and you feel like a rockstar!

From there, we go deeper into the big decisions women face: lumpectomy vs mastectomy, the emotional and psychological weight behind those choices, and how genetics and family history can influence decision-making.

We also chat about genetic testing — why some of us did it, what it clarified (or didn’t), and how complex it can feel when you’re already drowning in information.

And because this is us… we also talk about what pissed us off during treatment — the little things, the big things, and the stuff people say that should honestly come with a fine.

Raw, honest, funny in the way you have to be to survive it — and proof that sometimes the only way through is together.

DISCLAIMER: We do not give medical advice, as we are not qualified medical pracitioners. Please refer to your Oncology specialists.

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In this episode, part 1 of our next series 'The OG Baddies: Zero F*&K's, Full Strength', I sit down with my three baddie besties — Anne, Emilie, and Irene — the women who walked this breast cancer road right alongside me. We met during treatment, bonded through chaos, dark humour, port scars, and a whole lot of “WTF is happening right now?”.

We introduce each woman properly —
 💖 their breast cancer diagnosis
 💖 the treatment plans they were handed
 💖 surgeries, chemo, radiation: the full menu no one asks for

Then we get real about what actually went down.

What worked.
What didn’t.
What went wrong.

There’s laughter. There’s honesty. There’s zero sugar-coating and zero toxic positivity. Just four women telling the truth about breast cancer — the messy bits, the hard lessons, and the strength that comes from not doing it alone.

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What’s it really like when your mum gets breast cancer… from a 6-year-old’s point of view?

In this very special mini episode, I sit down with my daughter for a raw, funny, unexpectedly hopeful chat about what it was like for her when I was diagnosed and going through treatment.

We talk about:

• What she thought cancer meant 
• Seeing mum sick, bald, tired — and still being mum
• The scary bits… and the strangely normal ones
• How kids cope in their own quiet, beautiful ways
• And what helped her feel safe when everything felt different

This episode is for:
 🩷 Parents navigating cancer with young kids
 🩷 Anyone wondering how children really experience illness
 🩷 And anyone who needs a reminder that kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for

It’s honest. It’s tender. It’s a little bit funny.

 And it’s told through the eyes of a brave little girl who didn’t ask for any of this — but handled it like an absolute baddie.

🎧 Listener note: This episode includes child perspectives on illness and cancer.

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Episode 4: Chemo, Confidence & Finding Your Irene

In this episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie, Louisa sits down with one of her closest chemo cottage besties, Irene — a fellow breast cancer warrior who went through treatment alongside her.

From the moment they met at a Look Good Feel Better workshop (bonding over Chanel makeup), this episode dives deep into the realities of breast cancer that don’t get talked about enough — with honesty, humour and zero sugar-coating.

Together, Louisa and Irene unpack:

• Hair loss, scarves, identity and reclaiming confidence
• Mastectomies, reconstruction and DIEP flap surgery
• Chemo brain, menopause and long-term side effects
• Sex, intimacy, vaginal health, libido loss — and why lube matters
• The power of community, friendship and finding “your Irene”

They also share some truly unforgettable moments — including  organising a group excursion to a sex shop as part of reclaiming their bodies and joy.

This episode is raw, funny, deeply human and incredibly empowering for anyone navigating cancer — or supporting someone who is.

If you’ve ever wondered how to survive breast cancer without losing yourself, this episode is for you.

🎧 New episodes weekly
 💖 You’re not alone
 ✨ Welcome to the baddie club

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In this episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie, Lu sits down with Irene to talk about the one thing everyone dreads but no one really explains properly: chemo.

They take you inside the Patricia Ritchie Centre – lovingly renamed the Chemo Cottage – where treatment looked less like a cold hospital ward and more like an old heritage home full of nurses, support people and patients talking absolute nonsense for hours in recliner chairs. Lu shares how she counted her life in rounds (16 over 20 weeks), how weirdly not awful the actual drip time could be, and why she now regrets not scheduling her chemo dates to line up with her baddie besties.

The girls dive into the real side effects: the three-week chemo cycle of feeling fine, then feeling like complete dog shit, then slowly resurfacing; diarrhoea and constipation at the same time (fun!), ulcers on eyelids, chemo rash, neuropathy, chemo brain that feels like baby brain on steroids, red pee from the Red Devil, taste buds going AWOL, and gaining weight even when you’re barely eating. Plus the joy of “dex” steroids, sharing pills like tic tacs, and the chaos of trying to pee while dragging the IV pole and ten bags of fluids into a tiny bathroom.

They also unpack radiation – why the fatigue hit differently, how advanced the tech is at the Mater (curving lasers that avoid the heart and lungs), and what it’s like to lie under a giant machine called Apollo while your boob slowly turns into a rock-hard, permanently perky science project over 12 months.

It’s honest, a bit feral, unexpectedly funny, and full of gratitude for the treatment and care available in Australia – with zero sugar-coating about the toll it takes.

This episode isn’t medical advice – just two baddies sharing what chemo and radiation actually felt like for them.

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In episode 2, the first in 'A Series with Irene', I sit down with one of my closest breast cancer baddies — the glamorous, hilarious, unfiltered queen herself: Irene.

We met in the most iconic way possible… fighting over Chanel at a Look Good, Feel Better workshop. One shared glance, two matching foundation shades, and boom — a friendship forged in chemo, chaos, and questionable eyebrows.

Irene opens up about her shock diagnosis, discovering not one but two breast lumps, and the whirlwind that followed: gruelling tests, 6 rounds of chemo, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and her 10-hour DIEP reconstruction that she somehow tackled like a boss.

We dive into:
-How Irene found her cancer and how quickly her world changed
-The grief of losing your hair when it feels like your identity
-Some chaos, comedy, and unhinged moments that kept us going
-Why a good button-up shirt and a Hermes scarf can cure (almost) anything

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In the very first episode of Diaries of a Breast Cancer Baddie, Louisa (AKA Lu) takes you right back to the moment that changed everything: the phone call no one is ever ready for.

At 34, with two young kids, a busy career and a full life, Lu thought she was doing all the “right” things. Then, out of nowhere, came those three words: You have breast cancer. This episode is her unfiltered, unglossed, no-pink-sparkle retelling of what happened next — from the shock, the disbelief, and the wild medical guessing games, to the dark humour and chaos that somehow kept her afloat.

Lu shares:
 ✨ The misdiagnosed lump that “wasn’t anything” — until it absolutely was
 ✨ The surreal weeks of tests, biopsies, and life-or-death decisions
 ✨ The emotional whiplash of planning chemo one minute and a tropical family holiday the next
 ✨ The story of “chemo bird,” unsolicited advice from strangers, and why gallows humour saved her sanity
 ✨ How a young mum, mid-career woman, and self-proclaimed sarcastic queen learned to navigate the fear, fight and absurdity of early breast cancer

This isn’t an inspirational highlight reel — it’s real, raw and ridiculously human. If you’ve ever googled symptoms while holding it together for your kids, if you’ve ever been hit sideways by life, or if you’re craving honesty without the doom and gloom… this episode is for you.

Welcome to the diaries.
Welcome to the chaos.
Welcome to the baddie side of breast cancer 💗🔥

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