The personal experience of breast cancer is a powerful thing.  

It changes minds, lives and relationships. 

Fortunately, it also motivates many women to reach out and support others who lives are impacted by this disease.  

In this episode you’ll hear the story of a group of women who did exactly that. 

I’ll talk with Ashley Melton-Roth, Founder and CEO of the non-profit, Rebuild a Bitch. 

Ashley and her team of survivors know the power of coaching and the need for emotional support after a breast cancer diagnosis, so they created an organization to help offer that support to more women. 

Listen now to hear Ashley’s powerful story and her dream has become an incredible resource for women like you to be able to work with her team of coaches (including yours truly). 

Referred to in this episode: 

Rebuild a Bitch 

Follow Rebuild a B on: 
Facebook 

Instagram 

Donate to Rebuildab.org 

Apply to Rebuildab.org 

Get the book: 
Next Level 

Read the full transcript below:

Laura Lummer 0:00
You're listening to the breast cancer recovery coach podcast. I'm your host, Laura Lummer. I'm a Certified Life health and nutrition coach, and I'm also a breast cancer thriver. If you're trying to figure out how to move past the trauma and the emotional toll of breast cancer, you've come to the right place. In this podcast, I will give you the tools and the insights to create a life that's even better than before breast cancer. Well, let's get started. Welcome to another episode of Better than before breast cancer with the breast cancer recovery coach. I'm your host, Laura Lummer. And I love the show that I have here for you today. Because let me give you a little bit of background, when I first decided to be a coach for breast cancer survivors in the after treatment space, which is really where I started out, focusing on supporting women who had finished breast cancer treatment. And now I started doing that in 2017. So all these years later, I have a full spectrum of clients, from people who are in treatment, those who just finished the those who've been out of treatment for several years. So those who are living with metastatic disease. I welcome everybody. But back at that time, in 2017, the catalyst for me starting this business was that there was just such a tremendous lack of support. When I would Google and look for breast cancer recovery or something like that virtually nothing came up here and there, I would find an organization that they they put on a live event that people could go to, or they did certain workshops and things like that throughout the year. But there were the only podcasts that I found were really medical, you know, universities and medical podcasts are talking about the medicinal side, the treatment side of breast cancer. And that's just not what I wanted. I wanted something personal, I wanted something that really spoke to what I went through and said, I get it, I know what you're going through, I can help. Right. That was what was really important to me. I didn't want to reach people in a general sense. I wanted to connect with other women who had been through this experience, and just lift them up, just let them know that we're not alone. They were not crazy. They were not the only ones. I just remember feeling so much frustration when I would go to my doctors and my oncologist. And I would say I'm going through this and this is happening. And this isn't happening. And I'm having all these hot flashes, and I can't lose this weight. And I would hear Yeah, I don't ever hear that. That's probably not related to chemotherapy. And I thought what is wrong with me? Why am I so broken? Apparently no one else goes through this stuff. Well, that was very wrong. And if you listen, this podcast, I'm sure you know that and you're out there looking for something because you know that that's wrong as well. So since 2017, over these last few years, so what is that 2017, six years now, coming up really quickly on seven years. So six and a half years, I have seen just an explosion of people populating the space of serving people who finished breast cancer treatment of recognizing the struggle, that that space is, especially that year to three years right after treatment. There's a long time and a lot of adjustments to make. But I see people coaching in this area and so many more coaches now, which is wonderful, because everybody's got a different message and a different approach. So I think it's all great because my voice may not resonate with everyone. So I want someone to be able to, I want everyone to be able to find someone who they resonate with who they can get support with. There's just so much value in connecting with someone else who gets what you're going through and being a part of a community who gets what you're going through. So important. And this podcast episode is no different. So one of the other things that I've seen happen that is beautiful, are organizations and smaller nonprofits that have popped up that really address the person, right breast cancer angels, the pink fund, and rebuild to be which you're going to hear about today is another one of those organizations and these people give directly to the woman who is struggling. That is something I think the general public just does not realize those of us who've been through this experience, we get it. We know the financial demands, we know the energy demands, we know the psychological, emotional and physical impact of cancer and cancer treatment on us and on our loved ones and on our employment on everything that happens on our lives. So I love seeing organizations that are made up of women who understand this experience and there's just something in their heart that says I want to help other people in this space. And today you are going to hear are from Ashley Melton Roth, and she is the CEO of rebuild b. Let me tell you a little bit about Ashley and a little bit about this organization. So first of all, Ashley was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in April of 2021. And after a lengthy treatment plan that included surgery, chemotherapy radiation, she finally entered into post treatment phase where the focus shifted from survival to how she could help other women from her own experience. Ashley knows the value because of that experience of both the physical fitness before during and after treatment as well as the benefit of working on your mental well being during this difficult time. You're going to hear a lot of how she got that mental and emotional support. So Ashley lives in Lake St. Louis, Missouri with her husband Ben, her two daughters Katie and Claire, her two bonus kids, Alex and Cece and her pit terrier mix Melba, as in Melba Toast, She is the CEO of rebuild to me, this is a nonprofit organization. And in the interview, you're going to hear with Ashley where she tells you about what services rebuild to be give to women who have had a diagnosis of any kind of cancer, not just breast cancer, but any kind of cancer and the team. Her whole C suite team for rebuilt a B is comprised of women who are cancer survivors of all different types of cancer, which I think is amazing. So this organization is put together by a group of women who are impacted by cancer, who want to help other women who are impacted by cancer to live more complete, confident and joyful lives after a cancer diagnosis. As cancer survivors, they know the toll that surgery, treatment appointments and scans can take on women. But they also know that when you finish active treatment, there's an immense feeling of accomplishment. Rebuilt to be provides funding for cancer survivors and thrivers to receive mental and physical health resources to improve their well being after a diagnosis. So I don't want to put you off any longer from hearing this amazing woman talk about her own experience and this wonderful organization. But I do want to give you an update before we jump into the interview. You'll hear Ashley talk about getting the official nonprofit designation in this interview. And since we recorded it I'm happy to say that they have received the official nonprofit status so rebuild to be is an official is an official nonprofit organization by the time you hear this show, so without any further delay, welcome Ashley Melton Roth. Hey, Ashley, welcome to better than before breast cancer Podcast. I'm so excited to have you here today.

Unknown Speaker 7:48
Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.

Laura Lummer 7:50
I'm really excited. So I talked in the intro about you and your organization. But I just want everybody to get to meet you and hear your story. So I'm going to give you the reins and I would just love to hear like what is your story? How did you What brought you into the cancer world and what brought you to starting this amazing organization? Okay,

Speaker 2 8:09
yeah, so I'm actually wrapped Melton, I'm the founder of rebuild of itch. I was actually diagnosed with Stage Two invasive ductal carcinoma on April 1 of 2021. And I got you know, put through the wringer. Right, the three surgeries, 16 rounds of chemo 20 rounds radiation. I'm on XMS date as my estrogen suppressant so, you know, full blown menopause, I got everything. So

Laura Lummer 8:40
going into menopause in one day. Isn't that the greatest?

Speaker 2 8:44
It's, like 10 years too early. Sofa,

Laura Lummer 8:48
perimenopause. We'll just do it all at once.

Speaker 2 8:51
Skirt work. Go big or go home. Right. So yeah. So yeah, so I, early in my chemo, journey, right? I felt it definitely felt very, like isolated. Right. And so I started to do a little bit of research on nonprofits. And at the time, I was really big into CrossFit. And so my CrossFit community. You know, CrossFit gyms are all kind of interconnected and learn a little bit, but I learned about an organization that I joined. I won't say the name, but it was a it was a great fitness oriented, nonprofit. And through that, I kind of found like my community, right. And that organization, offered kind of like daily workouts, they offered a mental health coach as part of our services there and so that's kind of where I learned that you know, not only was like fitness a really big part of my journey, but dealing with like the mental aspect of a cancer diagnosis was really It became more apparent that Like treatment was treatment. And at some point treatment is over and you do all of the countdowns, and you ring the bell, and everybody's cheering you on. And then when you're done with active treatment, you're just kind of like, What now, right? And I just, they, they talk to you, they don't talk to you out, right? Like, you go in, and they're like, Okay, we'll see you every three months, four months, whatever that looks like. But I think that was, the time that I finished the act of treatment was the time I felt really lost, if you will, right. And so thankfully, I had this community that I had already been, you know, working with, and access to this mental performance coach. And so we did a lot of sessions where like, every other Sunday, we would get together and just kind of talk and process our feelings together and heal together. And so it just, it really helped. Right? So that organization, there were women who had been through it, you know, a couple years prior to me, so they were kind of like mentors, you know, to the women who were in the thick of it. And then I got to help the women that came after me. And so it was a very, it was very healing in that, like, they helped me heal, and then I helped others heal. And then we all just, I don't know, it just it felt like really positive to help other people as part of my journey. So,

Laura Lummer 11:29
yeah, I It's so amazing, right? It's the community. And I think that's such an important point to make. Because too many women think they have to go it alone. And it's freaking hard. Right? Yeah. In that place where you get the release. And after you ring the bell, I always liken that to when you have a baby, right? Yeah, buddy, taking care of you and showing up and you're pregnant and getting you all the things and then you're left with a screaming baby that won't sleep and you have no idea what the hell to do. And I was like, okay.

Unknown Speaker 12:05
You walk out of the hospital, like, here's your baby.

Laura Lummer 12:09
Yes, exactly. And that's what happens, right? We come out of breast cancer cream like, Well, no, we get a step out of survival, right? What the hell just happened here? i What am I supposed to do? And what's my life supposed to look like? And it's, it's a very different experience. Right? And no one can imagine. And listening. Yeah. And connecting. It's almost like an instant connection. Right? When you meet someone else who's been through that experience, you're like, I see you again.

Speaker 2 12:35
And they get it and no matter what they get it. And it's just I don't think that I realized right at the time. What how much trauma and that, like, it is so much trauma, and it's so much to process. And, you know, again, thankfully, I had access to this mental performance coach, she you know, she's not a therapist, right? I sought out a therapist, because I knew that that's what I needed. But just getting that that process going with her was it just really helped. And so that's kind of what brought us to rebuild a bit. Because, you know, unfortunately, that organization dissolved earlier this year. But I just knew, and the other women who are part of the organization, we knew how much how much benefit and how much feeling we got from that process. So we really just wanted to try and find a way to help other women have that experience. Yeah, so you had

Laura Lummer 13:33
the team, tell me a little bit about your team. And what you guys decided to do? Yeah, so,

Speaker 2 13:38
um, so I guess I mentioned, we had a community as part of this other nonprofit and, you know, we call each other our boob sisters. Right. So I think that's a fairly common term. You know, women who have had breast cancer, but, um, so it's myself, and there are three women from that organization. There's Aaron Carey, and Latoya. And then I had a woman who I worked with. In a past life, I was a wedding planner. So I had always that I was friends with back in the day, I was actually on another nonprofit board with her and she does events and she actually had ovarian cancer. So it was kind of important to us. Because we know that nonprofits may not always be out, you know, for the best interest of everybody involved. It was important to us to have women who had had cancer as part of our board, in just our kind of tagline is women impacted by cancer helping women impacted by cancer. And so if there's something like we know that we have, we've been through it, we know what it's like we we don't want to take advantage of anybody I guess in the long run like you want to do what's best. We've been there. We've We just want to support women as best as we can. So, yeah, that's,

Laura Lummer 15:05
I think that's such an important thing. Because I mean, I think breast cancer gets more money than probably any other cancer as far as public support and donations, and a tremendous amount of that goes to research, which is wonderful. But for those of us who are in it, unless you're in it or gone through something like that, people don't really realize the incredible impact it has on your life. Right?

Unknown Speaker 15:30
Yeah. Do you love the ability to work? How

Laura Lummer 15:32
do you feel? Can you work? Can you take care of your family? And people also think, well, you know, you have insurance. So good thing, and I have no idea how much insurance doesn't cover how much you have to fight with insurance. So what I love about organizations like yours is that it really gets to the heart, I was saying, I know what you're going through. And we could put money into research and research is wonderful that you do something that directly has an event that, you know, like this woman is getting this and she gets this support. And you know that it's targeting that individual and supporting her, which I love. I think that's just, it's wonderful.

Speaker 2 16:12
Yeah. And so, you know, the, the primary mission of our nonprofit rebuild of it is to, you know, provide scholarship and funding for women to really to receive mental and physical health resources. You know, right now, we are just focused on the mental health side of things, because that is definitely, in our mind. And based on what we went through First and foremost, that was like the hardest part. And so that's what we wanted to focus on. First, we kind of told ourselves, like, let's pick one thing and get good at that, right, like just one thing. And if we can help just one woman, then we succeeded. So that's, we just, we started in April, and it's so very new, and we don't know what we're doing. Love it. Go. And it was also really important to us. Because Anne Marie, who's on our board, she's the one that has had ovarian cancer. Um, she, you know, we went out for coffee a few weeks ago, and she was telling me that there's just not really much for ovarian cancer survivors, because the survival rates aren't great. The community's not very big. It's less common than breast cancer, right. So she didn't have any support groups, and she didn't have anything like this that she could go to. And so we just really wanted to create something that could serve all women with any types of cancer, not just breast cancer. And so, because again, breast cancer still calm, and like you said, it gets the most money, it gets the most attention. It's it overshadows some of the others, but all of those women battling colon cancer, and just everything else, like they deserve the same support, right? The same, they're going through chemo, and they're losing their hair, and you know, and radiation, and just all the things that same things that we went through. And so it's just important that we we really want to serve all women impacted by cancer.

Laura Lummer 18:12
That's awesome. Yeah. And it has a huge impact. So one of the organizations which is actually the first one that I found when I was originally diagnosed in 2011 is at the hospital local hospital here on Cancer Center. And it's it's a support group and mentor group for breast and gynecological cancer. And it's such a it's such an interesting combination, because with ovarian cancer, there's a huge impact still on the whole mindset around femininity, right? Like we go through with our breasts, all that you can't see there's right. And it is different. And I think that it's really important to acknowledge that and it isn't like, one cancer was better or less gold than some other kind of cancer, right? Yeah. And also love you point out, it's like, here you are. crossfitter right. And people always think that it's diet and nutrition is the hard part is not the hard part.

Speaker 2 19:09
No, I I worked out all through chemo like I had no, at one point I got a blood clot, you know, and that was hard. But, but but outside of like the deconditioning of the heart that kind of happens as you get really into the chemo. You know, it became your heart rate was really elevated, but I moved almost every day. It just made me feel better. So I knew from my, from my end, like I had the fitness part covered, right, like I knew that I was going to move and I was going to be active. And I was able thankfully but it's just when it was done. I just I just feel like I stunk like I just my heart like my my mind kind of sunk a little bit and ironically enough as part of this A group that we used to be involved with, there was a girl who was maybe about a year ahead of me. And we were friends. And she, I remember her telling me, I finished active treatment at the end of 2021. And I remember her telling me 2022 is gonna suck. And she was like, she was like, she told me that she spent the first year right after active treatment, you know, trying to be as normal as possible. She was going out, she was probably drinking too much. She was just like, go, go, go, go. She was like, I'm living. I'm living. I'm living. But inside. She was really struggling. And I went through last year, and I felt that so hard. Like, it was not a great year. You. You're trying to get back to some normalcy, but there's just not a normal anymore. It's yeah, you can't

Laura Lummer 20:57
undo that traumatic experience. There's no, it is like a before and after, like no, everybody refers to before COVID. And after COVID, right, with a lock down to the epilogue. It's like, things are different. And before breast cancer, and after breast cancer, it's not like, Oh, I got the flu. And let's just go back to normal, like, things change. Yeah, that mentor program that I've always been a part of, you can't go through the training until you've been at least one year out of treatment, because they now call like the colorful, emotional impact. And so many women sink into depression. Right after that, when they get out of treatment and just really feel abandoned. They're very afraid. Like as if they lost that lifeline. I think we don't realize how safe we feel we were getting constant bloodwork and seeing the doctor regularly and even though the treatments may stuff that we're going through somebody who knows what they're doing is watching us, right. Yeah. Yeah. And let it go. And all the thoughts start to come in. And yeah, and it's your big dark rabbit hole.

Speaker 2 22:03
Yeah, I know. It's, it's I in the people talk about all the time, right? Like people show up when you're going through chemo, and they show up and they, they cheer you on. And then and then the support, you know, it's probably still in the background, and I'm sure if I were to reach out, people would still jump in and do whatever I needed. But that support kind of subsides, and then you're kind of left, you know, you're left to get back to your life and get back to what looks normal. And but I don't think people understand like, the the fear, right, the fear that that we live with on a daily basis, and any ache and pain and headaches. And it's unfortunate, because a lot of the medicine that we have to take causes all of the symptoms that we should be on the lookout for. It's salutely, like, battle in your brain of like, Is this is this something bad? Or is it just a headache, you know, and it's hard because it's IT people just don't get that part. And it's, you know, it's, it is trauma, it's PTSD, and it's 100%? You know, and we know that like, you know, like a mental health coach or in like a mental support resource like yourself, like it's not it's not an end all be all right? It's not, it's not therapy, it's, I found a lot of it. For me, what really helped was just trying to focus on something positive that day, right? What are three small wins in the day? And that could be like, I did the laundry, or like, you know, just like what is a small win. And as you start to like, reframe your experience and read and like shift your mindset a little bit, it just it gradually gets to become more positive. Right. So yeah, yeah.

Laura Lummer 23:53
And that's such an important point. It's like, take one day at a time, right? Because the mind gets so crazy with just going so far forward in life and imagining horrible scenarios around cancer or thinking about all the things you won't be able to do can't do. It's never going to change and we just need to do just do today. Right? How to manage your mind and bring it back to just to today. Like how do you want to feel today? How do you want to live today? What do you want to enjoy today? Absolutely. And take it in these small steps that it is incredibly important. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. So tell tell me how to how your organization works. Let's tell everybody like what do you do? give people access you and and and tell me also about your coaches like you decided on this team?

Speaker 2 24:45
Yeah, you're one of them. So how it works is and again, we're still new. Like I said, we started in April, our 501 C threes with the IRS, right? We're waiting to get their feedback and hear how All that goes. But our website is rebuild a b.org We found out that rebuild a bitch is just not very social media friendly. But we're, we still stand by get shut down, change the domain to rebuild a v.org. Anyone, anyone at all right anybody at any stage any, any woman, right in any stage of a cancer journey, whether they're in the middle of it outside of it a year out, you know, metastatic whatever it is, anybody can apply. Anybody is welcome. There's an application process on our website, we just asked a few questions about, you know, when they were diagnosed? How far out? Are they from active treatment, and we kind of do like a scoring system, right? We want to prioritize the people who are in that zone, where you're like, just, uh, you know, you've just finished active treatment, right? And we also are kind of, we want to support the women who financially might need it more to write. So we asked a few questions, you know, we try to get as much information as we can on our application, in order for us to kind of like, you know, decide who we need to serve first. And so, as a board, we look at all of our applicants, we decide what we can fund, our funding right now is just up to $500, toward a mental health provider of some sort. Right? And it's, it's actually, we say that we we've toyed with the idea of like, you know, should we help support, like therapy visits, right, because even those aren't really covered under insurance, either a lot of the time, so. But what we wanted to do was, you know, kind of stay outside of that. And lean towards, like, kind of cancer life coaches, right, like, focus on how can we focus on the present, and, you know, learn to live a little bit more joyful and positively and a fulfilled life, if you will, I guess. And so we provide up to $500, we provide that money directly to the to the people who are providing the service versus to the woman herself, right. And, yeah, right now, our goal is to work, the application process is open year round, we are looking to just kind of find some standardization, if you will, as far as like when we select people for scholarships, and so we're going to do that on a quarterly basis. Okay, is what we decided so open to anyone in every quarter, we'll just be how much funding we've, you know, brought in and see how many women we can support up to that $500 limit and take it from there. And you know, right now, it's very small, right? We, it's, it's still just getting started infancy stages, and you know, it minimum, we'll be able to help a few women this year, so that that'll feel good. So

Laura Lummer 27:56
let's talk about that a little, because anytime we hear about a nonprofit, we've got two sides of that the one side is for people who need the financial support. And we're others who want to contribute the financial support to something that's near and dear to their heart. So for anybody who hears this, can they make donations? Can they put money out there to support a scholarship? What can they do to help support such a noble? Cause?

Speaker 2 28:22
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, again, I would direct everybody to the website, right, we've got a donate button right there on the homepage on every page. You know, right now, actually, you can find us it's just rebuild to be on Instagram and Facebook. Just for like, the next day, there's a little Touchstone crystal fundraiser that we're doing. And so what's that about? It's just, it's a friend of a friend, another boob Sister, if you will, her friend does touch down jewelry. And if somebody buys a piece of jewelry, I actually bought my little ribbon necklace from there and 40% of those profits will go towards rebuild of it. So kind of a one off one fundraiser for this month. But yeah, otherwise everything is on online, rebuild a b.org/donate gets you right there. And we'll happily take any you know, however, with the caveat, right, that right now, our 501 C three status is is pending. So we those, those donations right now are not tax exempt, but you know, upon that 501 C three status that would be retroactive. So

Laura Lummer 29:37
it'd be retroactive, okay. So eventually it will be government red tape, so they can donate and still be able to use it. So tell us about your coaches. So you got a team of coaches. How did you decide and what do they offer to people?

Speaker 2 29:53
Yeah, so I mean, we, as you know, right. We talked to several weeks ago, but we had One initial coach that we were going to work with, she decided to take some time to take care of herself and her son. So that kind of set us out on a journey right to find some additional coaches. You realize that having one or the son right here,

Laura Lummer 30:14
I know your lighting is just like you got all kinds of looks going on here.

Speaker 2 30:19
We realized that having multiple coaches would actually be a better idea right to and also to give people options, right. Some of we've got four coaches, yourself. I don't know if I can, can I say the names of everyone? Yeah, yeah, there's, there's yourself. There's Kathy Washburn, there is an Ramsdale. And there is Melissa effort, coaching. And so there are variations of costs and offerings. And so before we were working with someone who was only going to have group programs, and that's great, but maybe group programs, not for everybody, right? So right, so now we have a mix of coaches who offer both group programs, and one on one sessions. And so that way, again, some people thrive in groups, I thrive in the group setting, right, but some people just want to talk one on one to somebody. So now we have options.

Laura Lummer 31:17
Yeah. Which is awesome. And, you know, it's an important point, because I offer both I have group and private coaching. And then I also have like, do it yourself. And then while you're doing the do it yourself, you can come into the group coaching. And I find a lot of times the group coaching is nice, because sometimes people don't realize what it is that they're trying to overcome until they hear someone else say, Yeah, that's a good point. Here's someone else get coached on like, Oh, my God, that happens to me too. Way too often, we judge ourselves and think we're crazy, or what we're thinking is silly or stupid or something. And then we hear oh, my gosh, like everybody goes through this what? So group can be really helpful. And then also Group can help you notice when there's something deeper, and then a lot of times so many of my group members also do private coaching sessions with me because something will come up and they're like, Okay, you know, I want to talk in more detail about something that may be intimate. And then also, I think it's important to point out with coaching, it's not always that something has to be wrong. It's just that maybe you want to create something in your life, right? Maybe you're thinking like, you know what, I just got through this and like you and your team, you're like, do something. And when we want to do something, imposter syndrome kicks in self doubt kicks in, am I crazy to mix in? And so a lot of times reaching out to a coach just because you want to create a different life. It doesn't have to be something's wrong, something's broken. You know, it's just that, hey, everybody needs support. Right? Yeah. And just like everybody should be exercising on a regular basis. I believe everyone should be getting mental and emotional support in whatever you need.

Speaker 2 33:02
Three more. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's kind of like an invisible thing that not everybody gets to see. And I think even just like, I love that you offer both right. And because there is such a sense of like, belonging, and like, finding your people and just feeling like you're just with people who get it that you just, sometimes it's just, it's just nice to be in the presence. Even if you're there in a group setting. And you don't even say anything, you're just listening, I think you still get a lot out of it. You know, I just remember when I was when we were doing kind of every other week session, sometimes we'd have, you know, upwards of 15 women get on a zoom call. And, you know, I was like bald and I was like, I'm fine with this. Like it was hot in the summer here in St. Louis. And it's so humid. And I didn't I didn't do anything. I just wore my bald head everywhere. I remember being on a call with a group of women and one one of them was newly bald. Right. And, and I think she felt comfortable to take your hat off. Like with the ball together? Yeah.

Laura Lummer 34:07
Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. And it also led to people come well, they're intrigued in or they're newly out of treatment. And then we see them show up for every call. And every call is like, Oh, God, whatever you have, once you're gonna see them evolve in the healing process. Yeah,

Speaker 2 34:24
I know many women that that experience that like we're all in like similar hair growth phase, and some people got haircuts, and some people power through it. And it's always just fun to like, it's it's a really, it's, it's just a really good bonding experience. But then we also respect the women that might want to have those individual conversations too, because I think those are equally as important. So

Laura Lummer 34:50
yeah, and some people have things that are really tailored to their life, like they want to speak about something very specific to their life, and so they want to have just that one on one attention with is really lovely. Yeah, I think it's important to point out too, that there's, there's a lot of times this misunderstanding about group coaching, but it's like, Oh, I'm just gonna go there and people are gonna complain about cancer. Yeah, this is not a complaint about cancer. This is, let's talk about the thoughts that are stopping you from living the life you want to live. And let's figure out how to get there. Right? How do we bring in more joy? How do you love yourself more? Then it isn't the fixation on what went wrong as much as it is, let's create something that feels good and right for you. Right? So it's a really positive environment. And are all of the coaches on your team? Are they all cancer survivors of some kind?

Speaker 2 35:37
They are, which I also really love. And I just, I don't know, there's something just really fulfilling and like, it fills my heart even just knowing that, like, there are so many people that are taking a cancer diagnosis and making something positive out of it. And I love what you said about helping people find like, you know, what they want to do next in their life after this. And like, I feel very strongly that, you know, I, I was healthy I was I'd been doing CrossFit for so long, and it was eating well. And life was good, right? And but following that diagnosis, I just couldn't make any sense of it. Right? For a long time. And now I'm just like, there is I'm here to help people, right. Like, that's what I that's why this happened. That is the only like reflexes that is the only thing I can find out of it that makes sense is that this happens so that you can help other people. So I love that, like, that's part of like what you offer, right is encouraging people to like, seek out what what find your joy, find your passion, right? Like, I think that's so important. Especially I think I and I love my like full time job, right, but but it doesn't fill my soul like helping people that you know, so

Laura Lummer 36:56
I know 100% What you're talking about? Yeah. And obviously, like what I do is a part of my healing. When we support each other, it's truly a gift. It's an honor to be able to work with people and see them, break through the limiting things that are freeing human brains do to us, and start to take control of that and figure out it's five important, I'm worthy, I deserve it. I get to be happy. I deserve to be happy. And to watch people step into that and step out of this conditioning. Why? Why do we condition our women in this society to be so hard on themselves? Yeah. Yeah. I think to just be in communities of people who really want you to be happy and want you to succeed. And just you have everything you know, and it's Yeah.

Speaker 2 37:46
And I think that what stands out to me is, I think one of the biggest things I got out of coaching is like we as women, right? We're all aware, a lot of times the caretakers we we just do and we pile on our plate and we pile on our plate and it can be overwhelming and stressful. And I think one of the biggest takeaways I got when I was going through coaching is just taking the time for yourself. Right? Not everybody does that. And especially as women, we're really bad at that sometimes really bad. And I do that so much now, right? And I got that out of coaching where you're just like, you have to make time for yourself. And you have to make for the things that make you happy.

Laura Lummer 38:31
So 2% Yeah. And it's funny, I had a group call this morning. And this was one of the things we talked about is we're How do you make time to support yourself in whatever it is that you're going through? And it's interesting, because it's a learning experience, even when you feel resistance come up at the idea of creating time for you. Yeah, right. You think like, I'll tell my friends, like, if you open my weekly calendar, you see my yoga classes, my spin classes, my beach walks, all that gets written in first, because my health is the priority, my peace of mind and living the way I want to live in between my ears. This is the priority. And what's a commitment to me? Then I can remember a time in my life when I was like, Oh, I'll put my workouts on the calendar. But then someone else needed something or wanted something in the workout was the first thing to go no more. Right? It's like, oh, sorry, I'm walking on the beach during that time. Right? Yeah, that's just how it is. No, but I mean, I don't even need to explain she's like nope, sorry, the that hours booked What else can we do? Right? And that in itself can take months if not longer for someone to embrace. Yeah, to realize, oh, wow, I can just have that time for myself because they go into isn't that lazy? Isn't that selfish? How can I do nothing? Right where it's like, this is like serving your soul and supporting your health is never doing nothing.

Speaker 2 39:59
Yeah. Oh, One other thing I think of is like when I, when I think about part of the reason we started rebuilding, which is, you know, how cool would it be if we can get more women to just do that right to just focus on taking care of themselves and focus on living just like more joyful lives. I think it even says on our website, like, you know, we want to help women unleash their inner bad bitch, right. And so I think there's like a really big sense of accomplishment, right? When you finished chemo, and when you finish these treatments, and you're just like, Wow, I did that. But like, what else can you do with your life? Right? Like, you can do so much more and just empowering women to get the mental support that they need. Just unleashes that in them and just, you know, go live your life. Right? And go, go be happy you go do big things, though. That's the whole

Laura Lummer 40:54
Absolutely, yeah. 100% with you. So I will put the links to everything, the website, the fundraiser, the Instagram, the Facebook, everything's going to be in there. So people can find you. So they know if they know, they could use some financial support getting the emotional mental health, that they seek you out, they can come to you, if you are in the position where you can support that so that other women can get the support and help they need they can come and find you. And just follow you guys because it's inspiring to see all of you on your social media and see your workouts and damn You're strong. You know,

Speaker 2 41:29
I like to live well, it's funny because I heavyweights Yeah, I well. You don't mean in menopause. I just picked up a book about you know how to combat some of those side effects and lifting heavy weights is very important. Part of

Laura Lummer 41:42
absolutely is and you know, strength training, strength and conditioning was always like my, my most favorite, right? And sadly, like I belong to a strength and conditioning gym. And during the lockdowns, they moved to Fort Lauderdale. And I was like, oh, because there are a lot. And there's CrossFit is different than this was just like really just heavy lifting, right. And it there's something about making your body strong. And when you do something and your body starts feeling stronger, you're mentally stronger, it changes, it shifts. And then I want to use examples. My youngest sister, who she's nine years younger than me. And our dad was very sick. He had a lot of metabolic conditions and type two diabetes and all kinds of stuff. And she was inspired to start jujitsu. And she was like, I don't want to end up like Dad, I want to take care of myself on exercise. And she just used to be this person was like, okay, it's fine. It's fine. Everything's fine. Even though it's not fine. It's fine. And she started doing jujitsu. And she was like, No, that shit is not fine anymore, right? And it's just like a chain, we can go both ways we can build emotional strength that makes us want to have a stronger body, we can start in making our body strong. And then that makes us just go hey, you know, I'm feeling stronger. And it hasn't mentioned emotional effect as well. It's awesome.

Speaker 2 43:07
I love it. Yeah, that's kind of I mean, I when I started CrossFit, and, you know, unfortunately, cross, it's just not what feels good for my body these days. I know, it's,

Laura Lummer 43:17
yeah, there's a lot of impact,

Speaker 2 43:19
but the strength training, you just feel really empowered and accomplished. And you can do something like that. So yeah, all about it. I think that's when you can pair like, any sort of fitness and activity in movement with, you know, as long as you're supporting your mental health as well. Like, sky's the limit. I feel like it's just so great.

Laura Lummer 43:42
Yeah, and it's so good for our bones, you know, and osteopenia. And osteoporosis is such a big concern with cancer treatments. And, you know, strength training, resistance training. That's the key. You want to build strong bones lift heavy weights.

Speaker 2 43:55
Hmm, yeah, there's a chapter in the menopause book, it just called lift heavy shit. So

Laura Lummer 44:02
what menopause book is that

Speaker 2 44:04
it's called next level by Stacey Sims. And so it's just you know, obviously it's not it's not focused toward, you know, women who have it's geared towards women who have gone into menopause naturally, right? Not necessarily women who have been medically induced Yeah. It's just I thought it was really interesting to read about all of the impacts that lower you know, your decreased estrogen and progesterone and all of that, like everything like it lowers your serotonin and your melatonin and I was just like, my mind has just been blown reading it. And actually, I was in our community, even though the nonprofit is gone, the community of the 120 plus women we stayed together, right? We're still together on a Facebook group and we add new women from time to time so we still get to support women who are, you know, in treatment or just out of treatment and I had a girl have a good friend and she's, you know really worried right? She's worried right now because she does start to maximun and she's got really bad headaches and weird sensations and but she's been in chemically induced menopause for almost a year now. And so I just was like, here's some stuff that I'm reading, like, absolutely get checked out, I, you know, we all want to be better safe than sorry. But you just you just don't know, you don't really know what you're in for sometimes. And so you start reading up on it. Great. Yeah, crazy. And

Laura Lummer 45:31
I think this is something important. And I'll put a link to that book in the show notes. So I think any information you can get on supporting because menopause can be so uncomfortable. And when it is chemically induced like that, it tends to be more severe and lasts longer than when we go into it naturally. So I think the more information, the better we can get when it comes to supporting how we feel. So yeah, important, I think, especially when it comes to cancer and cancer treatment and recurrence is that intense hot flashes disrupt your sleep in sleep is so important for a healthy metabolism. And when we don't save just one night of poor sleep can throw off our glucose levels for days, it is crazy, the impact that not honoring your circadian rhythm has. And so it's really important to dig into this and understand nighttime routines and things that you can do to kind of counteract those intense, you know, sweats and night sweats and hot flashes and things so that you can get some quality sleep, which helps your body heal.

Speaker 2 46:33
Yeah. And so that's kind of what I love about the concept of having all of our coaches be cancer survivors and thrivers, right, because, you know, you get it. And so there's just something so wonderful about being able to guide women through that, you know, post treatment in treatment. Like, it's just, it's so great. So I love that you're Yeah, I love that you're all here. And I love that everybody was so eager to jump in and help and willing to just work with us. It's awesome.

Laura Lummer 47:03
Yeah, yeah. Well, very, very excited. And I'm excited for everybody to learn more about your organization and support you and support your growth in it. Because it's amazing cause and I love it. Yeah, thank you so much for I know, you're busy lady. So thanks for being on here and sharing this information with everybody. And I know you're gonna be tremendously successful. Thanks, Ashley,

Unknown Speaker 47:24
we appreciate your support. Thank you so much.

Laura Lummer 47:27
All right, I hope that you got some great information out of that show. And if you are either someone who knows you could use coaching, support, mental, emotional, just encouragement and inspiration, please go to the show notes that you'll find at the breast cancer recovery coach.com forward slash 292. And apply for funding from rebuild to me, if you are someone who's in the position to give to this amazing organization so that they can give to more women who need this kind of support. Please go to the links and offer that support. I know it's such a gift to be able to be in that position to give to others and be able to support those who really are in need and really want to do something for themselves. So either way, whatever side of the spectrum you fall on or somewhere in between. Everything is appreciated and I'm so happy that this group of amazing women is out there providing support and that all of you are a community who can find support and offer support to each other is a beautiful thing. All right, my friends, I will talk to you again soon. Until then, be good to yourself. Take care.