# Episode 271: Your Nervous System Isn't Overreacting

An episode of [I'm Still Here: Real Conversations About Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1629136639), 22 Apr 2026, 24 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/950d6ad4/podcast/play/118828645/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-21%2F422568370-44100-2-7f71eefdd59cd.mp3

If you've ever felt like your body is always bracing for the next thing — you're not imagining it. In this solo episode, Heather explores what happens to your nervous system when you've been living with metastatic breast cancer for years. Drawing on her background as an occupational therapist and her own 27 years with MBC, she talks about what dysregulation actually looks like — not just emotionally, but physically. The fatigue. The weight that won't budge. The exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. The snap. The scan cycle that your body remembers even when the results are good. This isn't an episode about fixing it. It's about naming it — because your nervous system isn't failing you. It's just been on duty for a really long time. Heather was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at 26 and has now been living with the disease for more than 25 years. Through this podcast she shares perspective, lived experience, and conversations that help people navigate life with metastatic cancer. Sensational Survivor SeriesIf you have been living with metastatic breast cancer for 10 years or more and would like to share your story on the podcast, you can apply here:https://forms.gle/6H9K7NXMAeN1QEv87 Listener QuestionsHave a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Submit it through the contact form:https://heatherjose.com Connect with HeatherInstagram: https://instagram.com/heatherbjoseWebsite: https://heatherjose.com MusicIntro and outro music for the podcast was created by Heather's son, Ty. You can find his music here:Instagram: https://instagram.com/tyjosee

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