Pausing Life-Saving Treatment to Regain Femininity—How Do You Decide?

Self-advocacy isn’t necessarily about standing up to your medical team—it’s about speaking up so they understand what matters to you and working with them to make informed, shared decisions about your treatment and care.That’s exactly what Kate Hardman did.Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer while pregnant, Kate faced unimaginable challenges, complex decisions, and a treatment path filled with uncertainty.Now, she’s facing another major decision: Should she have DIEP flap breast reconstruction, even though it means pausing life-saving medication?In this episode, Kate shares:How she worked with her team to explore her options, not against themWhy self-advocacy isn’t about fighting—it’s about finding the right people who listenThe emotional and physical factors she considered when choosing reconstructionThe role of trust, communication, and collaboration in making complex health decisionsSelf-advocacy isn’t about going it alone—it’s about having the right support behind you. Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of a metastatic diagnosis, your choices still matter.Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoodsFor the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page. Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocatePost-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.