After Cancer: Grief, Fear, and Learning to Live Again w/ Lauren Najar

In this solo episode, Lauren shares the part of her cancer story that doesn’t get talked about enough: what happens after remission. Thirteen years cancer-free after surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma twice, she opens up about the mental weight of survivorship—scanxiety, follow-up tests, and living with a body that no longer feels fully predictable.Lauren reflects on the long-term effects of chemo and radiation, the constant cadence of appointments, and the emotional whiplash of “you’re fine now” when fear and grief still show up. She also speaks candidly about fertility, pregnancy loss, postpartum recovery, and how becoming a mother has intensified both her gratitude and her fear—because now there’s even more at stake.This is an honest, tender conversation about resilience, control, and learning to live in the in-between—when the battle isn’t cancer itself, but everything that lingers after.Episode Highlights:Thirteen years cancer-free after surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma twiceWhy survivorship can feel harder than treatmentThe ongoing reality of lifelong screenings and follow-up careFertility, pregnancy loss, and the emotional toll of “my body failing me” againMotherhood after cancer and the fear of missing out on your child’s lifeChapters:00:01 — Why I’m sharing this solo update on survivorship04:42 — The support fades after remission (and what that feels like)09:24 — The lifelong test list: heart, thyroid, breast, skin, colon14:06 — Fertility preservation + the fear of trying to start a family18:42 — Chemical pregnancy + feeling like my body failed me again26:06 — Mammogram follow-ups, colon polyp, mole removal: the wake-up call35:34 — Motherhood, the “another baby” question, and honoring my bodyUpcoming Events:Chicago Retreat - July 14-16, 2026 - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/iid9wbr2ycNapa Retreat - October 5-8, 2026 - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/cetj223rsrGrowth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqwLet’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.