Living with hope and metastatic breast cancer

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, returning guest Laura Ashurst shares her experience of living nearly 20 years with metastatic breast cancer.

Laura speaks about why she thinks she has survived so long with a metastatic diagnosis, about the importance of holistic care and the importance of mental wellbeing. Laura talks about her advocacy for improved treatment access, the need for more consistent support, and improved data collection for those with metastatic breast cancer. 

Find out more about metupUK
Laura Ashurst's website
 
Key Topics
02:35 Laura's diagnoses
13:40 What happened next?
14:40 How it felt to be told you had 3-6 months to live
18:55 Reflections on treatment and knowledge
20:18 Letrozole
24:27 What needs to be done for in terms of treatment for breast cancer?
26:00 What Laura thinks has contributed to her survival, mental wellbeing
35:35 Survivors guilt
38:37 The metup UK charity
40:20 The importance of improving data collection for metastatic breast cancer diagnoses 
41:40 Working with Rishi Sunak
44:40 What Laura is working on with metup UK
46:35 The importance of signs and symptoms of metastatic breast cancer 
48:45 Where do you find hope? 
50:18 "I will never say I am grateful that cancer entered my life." 
50:43 How Laura's metastatic breast cancer diagnosis has affected her children
56:00 Advice for those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
56:46 What should people take away from this episode? 
58:20 Information on metup UK