Still Here with Brad Lindsay

For the Season 1 finale, Nikki joins me to share our cancer journey through her eyes. She wasn’t keen to come onto the podcast, knowing how difficult it would be to revisit everything—but she found the courage to sit beside me and tell her side of our story.What followed was an emotional rollercoaster. There were tears, laughter, painful memories and moments of complete honesty as we revisited the diagnosis, treatment, remission and the pressure it placed on our entire family.Nikki remembered things differently from me, including moments I had misunderstood or simply couldn’t remember through the fog. Hearing what was really happening around me opened my eyes to everything she carried quietly while I was focused on surviving.The emotions became overwhelming at times, but nothing was rehearsed and nothing was held back. This is a very raw conversation between a husband and wife who lived through the same experience—but saw it from two completely different sides.This is not only my story. It is ours.

For the Season 1 finale, Nikki joins me to share our cancer journey through her eyes. She wasn’t keen to come onto the podcast, knowing how difficult it would be to revisit everything—but she found the courage to sit beside me and tell her side of our story.What followed was an emotional rollercoaster. There were tears, laughter, painful memories and moments of complete honesty as we revisited the diagnosis, treatment, remission and the pressure it placed on our entire family.Nikki remembered things differently from me, including moments I had misunderstood or simply couldn’t remember through the fog. Hearing what was really happening around me opened my eyes to everything she carried quietly while I was focused on surviving.The emotions became overwhelming at times, but nothing was rehearsed and nothing was held back. This is a very raw conversation between a husband and wife who lived through the same experience—but saw it from two completely different sides.This is not only my story. It is ours.

Something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t really explain it — I just needed to get away and switch off.We were supposed to be camping with friends, but instead I hooked up the van and headed off alone. One night at Rollingstone, then two nights at Mission Beach — walking the beach, clearing my head and trying to reset.Nikki, the kids and my mates were worried. Nathan even rang to check on me, but I kept telling everyone the same thing: I’m fine. Don’t stress.Looking back now, that weekend feels different.Was I simply exhausted after everything we’d been through? Was my mind playing tricks on me? Or was there something else going on that none of us understood?At the time, I had no idea what was coming.If in doubt, get checked out.

This is the message at the heart of Still Here.If something doesn’t feel right, don’t put it off. Don’t be embarrassed and don’t assume it’ll sort itself out.I trusted my gut and got checked earlier than planned. That decision changed everything.If in doubt, get checked out.

Treatment was over. Now came something I hadn’t really prepared for — getting my life back.In this episode, I talk about returning to work, trying to find some sort of normal again and learning to trust my mind and body after everything they’d been through.I also reflect on Nikki, the kids, family and mates — the people who were there when I needed them most — and how differently I started looking at life.Some days were easy. Some definitely weren’t. And, as usual, I may digress a little along the way.Just when I thought life was finally moving forward, though… something happened that I never saw coming.If in doubt, get checked out.

After months of surgery, chemo, high-dose methotrexate and radiation, treatment was finally behind me. Now came the waiting.Waiting for the scans. Waiting for the results. Waiting to find out whether everything we’d been through had actually worked.In this episode, I talk about that strange period between finishing treatment and getting the answer Nikki, the kids and I desperately wanted to hear.When those words finally came, you’d think I’d simply be jumping for joy. But my reaction wasn’t quite what I expected.Relief, uncertainty, gratitude and the thought that maybe — just maybe — we could finally start living normally again.If in doubt, get checked out.

After surgery, chemo and high-dose methotrexate, there was one final hurdle — three weeks of radiation.In this episode, I talk about what radiation was actually like, the daily routine, the incredible people looking after me and what was going through my head as I finally approached the end of treatment.There’s also a bit of golf thrown into the mix — although that didn’t quite go physically or mentally the way I expected.After months of hospitals and treatment, I could finally see the finish line.Was normal life waiting for me on the other side?If in doubt, get checked out.

Eight rounds of chemo were behind me, but treatment wasn’t finished yet.Next came Townsville and two rounds of high-dose methotrexate — something I’d never heard of and, if I’m being fair, didn’t completely understand.In this episode, I talk about the long days in hospital, the constant IV fluids, dragging the bloody trolley everywhere I went, the endless toilet trips and waiting for my levels to finally come down so I could go home.The second round was different, though. I was discharged earlier than I’d expected, and it’s something I’ve questioned since.At the time, I didn’t know what the future held. Looking back now, it’s a part of my story that leaves me with questions.If in doubt, get checked out.

Surgery was behind me. Now it was time for chemo.In this episode, I talk about recovering from the operation, meeting my oncology team and finding out what the next stage of this journey was going to look like.Then came the first chemo day — walking into the ward, sitting in that chair with Nikki beside me and watching the drugs start flowing.You’re basically putting poison into your body and hoping like hell it’s doing exactly what it’s there to do. Poison and hope.I didn’t really know how my body was going to react or what the weeks ahead would bring. I just knew we had to get on with it.If in doubt, get checked out.

After getting the diagnosis, it was time to tell the kids exactly what we were dealing with and head to Mackay for surgery.In this episode, I talk about Nikki being beside me, having our good friend Sharon there at the hospital, the laughs and nerves before surgery, and the strange reality of waking up one testicle lighter.There’s fear, emotion and even a bit of humour in a situation I never imagined I’d find myself in.Surgery was done. Next up — chemotherapy.If in doubt, get checked out.

It started with a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right.I had an appointment on the 2nd February booked for the 28th of February, but Nikki and I decided we weren’t going to sit around and wait. We took matters into our own hands and got it checked earlier.What followed over the next 26 days changed my life completely.In this episode, I talk about trusting your instincts, the tests and scans that followed, and how quickly life can change when you least expect it.26 . Remember that number.IF IN DOUBT GET CHECKED OUT

Before I tell you what happened, you probably need to know who the hell I am.In this first episode of Still Here, I introduce myself, where I’ve come from, what life looked like before everything changed, and why I’ve decided to sit down, hit record and tell this story.No scripts, no polished production and no pretending I’ve got all the answers. Just me telling it as I remember it — the good, the bad and probably a bit of bullshit along the way.This is where Still Here begins.I’m Brad Lindsay — and I’m Still Here.