Life After Cancer: Fear, Scans, Weddings & What Thriving Actually Looks Like (With Darren)

Jen sits down with her husband Darren for a real, unscripted life update..no highlight reel, no polished answers. Between Darren's grade 2 astrocytoma in 2009, his recurrence as grade 4 in 2019, and Jen's own breast cancer diagnosis in between, this couple has lived through more than most. And yet...here they are. Talking about upcoming scans, their daughter's wedding, what fear actually feels like years in, and what "thriving" means when you've stared down the worst. This is the conversation that happens after the treatment ends. The one nobody makes a podcast episode about. Until now. In this episode: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> Darren opens up about how his relationship with scans and scanxiety has changed over the years...and what it feels like going into an MRI now vs. in the beginning p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> What it means to hit a milestone like your daughter's wedding when your first goal was just to see the kids graduate p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> Whether the fear ever actually goes away — and what they both do when those thoughts creep back in p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> Darren's honest take on all the lifestyle changes Jen has made since her diagnosis — did he ever think she was going too far? p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> The 3 biggest changes Jen made that she believes had the most impact on their family's health and quality of life p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> What to do when you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start....a simple, grounded answer for anyone in the thick of it p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> The exhaustion of "doing all the things"...and how to stay motivated when you're running on empty p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> What thriving looks like now vs. before — answered together, and it's powerful p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> What they're each most grateful for today This episode is for you if: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> You're walking through a diagnosis right now and wondering if life ever feels normal again p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> You're the partner or caregiver who is holding it all together and feeling invisible p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> You're on the other side of treatment and trying to figure out who you are now p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> You just need proof that hope is real and people do get to the other side Links & Resources: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> Not Today Cancer Inner Circle (Thursday calls) — JOIN HERE p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0" style= "box-sizing: border-box; scrollbar-width: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0.375em; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: var(--pplx-serif), ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, var(--pplx-cjk-serif), serif; border: 0px solid var(--border-medium);"> Non-Toxic Guide — Download Here There was a time when the goal was just to get through the day. Just to get to the next appointment. Just to hear good news. And now they're talking about weddings and what it means to actually live again. Not perfectly. Not without fear. But with a completely different perspective. Not today, cancer. Medical Disclaimer: Nothing shared in this episode constitutes medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding your personal treatment plan.