After enduring multiple surgeries, rib resections, and stage 4 breast cancer treatment, Cheri Henderson was told her pain was just her “new normal.”

But then she met Monica Kasari-Desulme—a physical therapist specializing in cancer rehabilitation and lymphatic support—and everything changed.

In this powerful and emotional episode, Cheri shares how physical therapy helped her breathe, move, and live again. From not being able to sit in a car without pain to hiking the Grand Canyon, her transformation is nothing short of miraculous.

You’ll also hear from Monica, who breaks down the science behind scar tissue, adhesions, lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, and chemo brain. Together, they help us understand why physical therapy isn’t just about range of motion—it’s about reclaiming your life after breast cancer.

about your heart, your spirit, and your future.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why “this is your new normal” is not the truth
• How adhesions from surgery can affect digestion, mobility, and pain
• What the lymphatic and glymphatic systems are—and why they matter in cancer recovery
• The emotional and physical transformation that’s possible with the right support
• How to advocate for cancer rehab and get it covered by insurance
• When to use compression garments, and what role breathing plays in healing

🕒 Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Meet Cheri Henderson and Monica Kasari-Desulme
06:30 – Cheri’s post-surgical pain and the moment she found physical therapy
10:00 – Lymphedema, swelling, and the “clogged drain” problem
14:40 – Scar tissue, adhesions, and why digestion gets disrupted
18:00 – Understanding the glymphatic system and chemo brain
25:00 – The role of sleep, breathing, and calming the nervous system
36:00 – Rebuilding pathways for lymph drainage
46:00 – From barely walking to hiking the Rockies
52:30 – Is it safe to exercise after lymph node removal?
58:00 – A sample weekly chemo/PT support protocol
1:04:00 – Can you still be helped years after treatment?
1:10:00 – What every survivor should know about cancer rehabilitation

🌱 Ready to support your healing at every level?

The Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership is here for you. Whether you're healing your mindset, your metabolism, or both—you're not alone.

Join the Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership:
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Fourteen years ago, I received a diagnosis that changed my life: breast cancer.

It wasn’t just a medical moment—it was a wake-up call. And today, I don’t celebrate a “cancerversary.”

I honor my Awakening Day—the day my life began shifting toward deeper healing, stronger purpose, and more intentional living.

In this episode, I share what post-traumatic growth has looked like for me, how I’ve evolved over the last 14 years, and 14 life-changing lessons that have helped me build a life that’s better than before breast cancer™.

If you’ve ever felt like cancer took something from you that you can’t get back… this episode is for you. Because healing is not just about your body—it’s about your heart, your spirit, and your future.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What “Awakening Day” means and why I stopped calling it a cancerversary
• The real definition of post-traumatic growth (and how it shows up after cancer)
• 14 lessons I’ve learned in the 14 years since my diagnosis
• How to reframe a diagnosis as an invitation to wake up—not give up
• A message for anyone in the middle of the pain, fear, or confusion right now

🕒 Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 – My story: from diagnosis to awakening
• 04:35 – What post-traumatic growth really means
• 08:15 – 14 lessons that changed my healing journey
• 17:40 – How cancer helped me rebuild my life with intention
• 22:00 – Words for anyone still in the middle of their healing
• 25:45 – Final thoughts on honoring your own awakening

  💖 Pay What You Want: now through July 31
  Choose your price for any of these self-guided programs:

  • Becoming You 2.0

  • 90 Days of Wellness

  • Create a Life You Love in 168 Hours

  • The Five-Day Sugar Challenge

🌱 Ready to build a life that feels better than before cancer?

Inside the Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Life Coaching Membership, I support women just like you in creating healing routines, self-compassionate mindsets, and a lifestyle that supports your body and soul—without overwhelm.

✨ Join the membership here

💌 Want weekly support, new episodes, and wellness tips in your inbox?

Join my email list and get resources for healing, hope, and living with intention after breast cancer.

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🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women healing from breast cancer are told, “Just cut out sugar,” as if that one step could control everything. But is that really the whole story?

In this episode, we take a deep breath and go beyond the fear-based headlines to explore what’s really happening inside your cells.

From the basics of cellular fermentation to the Warburg effect, you’ll learn how both glucose and oxygen play critical roles in energy production—and why a multifaceted approach to healing is so important.

We’ll talk about:

• What fermentation means and why your body uses it
• The real meaning behind the Warburg theory
• How oxygen, breath, movement, and mindset influence your terrain
• Why you don’t need to live in fear of food
• The role of mitochondria and metabolic health in breast cancer recovery

You’ll leave this episode with more clarity, less fear, and a deeper appreciation for how your body adapts and communicates. Because healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating an environment where your cells can thrive.

Key Topics Covered:

• Cellular fermentation explained in simple terms
• How oxygen supports healthy metabolism
• Sugar and cancer: understanding the nuance
• The Warburg effect, debunked and demystified
• The power of movement, breath, and whole-body wellness
• Practical steps to support your healing terrain

This episode is perfect for you if:

• You’ve been confused or anxious about carbs and cancer
• You’re tired of oversimplified advice like “sugar feeds cancer”
• You want a grounded, science-backed approach to metabolic health
• You’re ready to support your healing without fear or restriction

Resources & Support:
Join the Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Metabolic Health and Mindset Membership to get weekly guidance, monthly group calls, and a compassionate community that understands your journey.

Let’s Connect!
If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Every share helps spread this message of hope, healing, and whole-person wellness.

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#BreastCancerRecovery #HealingAfterCancer #GlucoseAndCancer #WarburgEffect #MetabolicHealth #Mitochondria #WholeBodyHealing #CancerAndSugar #FunctionalHealth #OxygenAndHealing