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

03/17/25 • 44 min

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 them
Why self-advocacy isn’t about fighting—it’s about finding the right people who listen
The emotional and physical factors she considered when choosing reconstruction
The role of trust, communication, and collaboration in making complex health decisions

Self-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: @luanlawriewoods

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 them
Why self-advocacy isn’t about fighting—it’s about finding the right people who listen
The emotional and physical factors she considered when choosing reconstruction
The role of trust, communication, and collaboration in making complex health decisions

Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!

Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Saying No in Social Situations—Without Guilt or Pressure

Advocating for yourself can feel uncomfortable—especially when your choices go against social norms. If you’ve ever felt pressured to justify a lifestyle change or struggled to hold your boundaries with family, friends, or colleagues, this episode is for you.

Today, I chat with Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach who reassessed her relationship with alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis. Kath shares simple, practical strategies to help you confidently communicate your choices, set boundaries without guilt, and handle social pressure with ease.

This conversation goes beyond alcohol—these self-advocacy skills apply to any situation where you need to stand firm in your choices. Whether you’re setting new boundaries or facing difficult conversations, Kath’s insights will help you advocate for yourself with confidence, certainty, and self-belief.

Because self-advocacy isn’t just about healthcare decisions—it’s about standing up for what’s right for you in every part of life.

In this episode:

How to confidently communicate your choices—without over-explaining
The power of owning your decision to shut down pushback
Simple phrases for responding to social pressure with ease
How to hold boundaries with kindness—even when others push back
Why self-advocacy in everyday life builds confidence for bigger health decisions

Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!

Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Dr Liz O’Riordan on Self-Advocacy and Spotting BS Cancer Info Online

What does it really mean to advocate for your healthcare—especially when you’re the expert?

In this powerful episode, Luan speaks with Dr. Liz O’Riordan—former breast cancer surgeon, patient, author, and award-winning advocate. Diagnosed with the very disease she once treated, Liz quickly realised that clinical knowledge doesn’t prepare you for the lived experience of being a cancer patient—or how hard it can be to find the right information and support.

When she turned to the internet for answers, she was shocked by the sheer volume of misinformation—that don’t just fuel confusion and anxiety, but can have devastating consequences when patients are swayed to abandon evidence-based treatments in favour of unproven alternatives.

Since retiring as a surgeon, Liz has made it her mission to counter online BS with research-based, accessible education—so patients can make informed, confident decisions as part of their self-health advocacy. In this episode, she shares her tips so that you can make decisions that are right for you!

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and honest reflections that every woman facing a cancer diagnosis—or any health challenge—deserves to hear.

For all the resources in this show - including where to find Liz's books - visit the episode blog page.

Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!

Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.