The Menopause and Cancer Podcast

The Menopause and Cancer Podcast

Episode 217 - Support, Strength & Saying It As It Is - Living with Secondary Cancer

May 13, 2026 · 45 min · 16 segments

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Lisa, founder of Make 2nds Count and The House of Hope charity in Edinburgh, who is living with secondary breast cancer while continuing to support so…

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Lisa, founder of Make 2nds Count and The House of Hope charity in Edinburgh, who is living with secondary breast cancer while continuing to support so many others. This is an honest, heartfelt conversation about what it really means to live with ongoing cancer treatment. I ask Lisa if she feels excluded from other menopause conversations and even from the many cancer chats out there. We talk about saying it as it is, the emotional reality of menopause and secondary cancer, and the strategies that help day-to-day, alongside the strength, purpose and perspective that can still exist within it all. Lisa’s work has been a shining light for me personally, especially when I was building Menopause and Cancer and recording this episode while one of our community support sessions was taking place at The House of Hope felt like a real full-circle moment. We also share more about our upcoming Menopause Awareness Day event on the 18th June, which we’ll be marking at The House of Hope. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter here https://menopauseandcancer.org/, and we will let you know of all of our upcoming events! Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 03:55 Founding Scotland's first support center 09:31 Menopause and cancer diagnosis discussions 12:52 Discussing treatment decisions and surgery 18:27 Discussing menopause treatment options 20:36 Navigating menopause and chemo challenges 26:06 Founding a *Make 2nds Count* and *The* *House of Hope* 27:50 Starting a charity from my hospital bed 33:34 Charitable collaborations and community building 37:59 Balancing work and mindfulness 40:25 Menopause workshop Links: House of Hope: https://houseofhope.org.uk/ Make 2nds count: https://make2ndscount.co.uk/ **Connect with us:** **For more information and resources visit our website:** www.menopauseandcancer.org **Or follow us on Instagram** @menopause\_and\_cancer **Join our Facebook group:** www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Lisa, founder of Make 2nds Count and The House of Hope charity in Edinburgh, who is living with secondary breast cancer while continuing to support so…

Welcome and episode setup0:00 – 2:19

Dani BinningtonHost

0:00

[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to the Menopause and Cancer Podcast, where we speak with cancer patients, survivors, and incredible experts in their fields to help us find solutions to our symptoms and ideas to improve our health.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:15

Today's episode is such a special one, such an uplifting one.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:19

I really think you will all walk away feeling, wow, you've got a spring in your step.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:25

I'm joined by the incredible Lisa.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:27

She's someone who's not only living with secondary breast cancer, but who alongside her ongoing treatment has founded two charities, Make Seconds Count and the House of Hope.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:37

And do you know what? I have looked up to Lisa and her work for so long, especially in the days when I tried to figure out how to set up a not-for-profit organization myself.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:47

And I can honestly say what Lisa has pulled off is incredible, and she's one of those people who quietly changes lives.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:56

This conversation, but also about, it's, yes, it is about recognizing the amazing things Lisa has done, but it's also about saying it as it is.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:04

What does it mean to live with ongoing cancer treatment? What's the emotional reality of that, and also what's the uncertainty? And I want to understand from Lisa about the strength, the perspective, and the strategies that she brings to her everyday life to keep going, and you'll love her answers.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:22

There is also something very, very special happening when we have recorded this episode.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:27

Lisa was sitting at the House of Hope in Edinburgh.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:30

And at exactly the same time, our Menopause and Cancer community support session was taking place downstairs.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:37

Like, it was such a full circle moment.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:40

It's incredible.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:41

You know, years ago when it was just me and this podcast and these conversations, and now with all of those community support sessions across the country, and also all of the support for our global community, it was like a really full circle moment to record this podcast episode.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:59

We are also going to talk about our upcoming Menopause and Cancer Awareness Day at the House of Hope on the 18th of June.

Dani BinningtonHost

2:07

So, make sure you stay to the end of the episode, and you check out the show notes for any more information on that.

Dani BinningtonHost

2:13

And with that, I'll love you and leave you because I wanna bring Lisa into this conversation right now.

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Welcome and episode setup0:00 – 2:19

Dani BinningtonHost

0:00

[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to the Menopause and Cancer Podcast, where we speak with cancer patients, survivors, and incredible experts in their fields to help us find solutions to our symptoms and ideas to improve our health.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:15

Today's episode is such a special one, such an uplifting one.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:19

I really think you will all walk away feeling, wow, you've got a spring in your step.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:25

I'm joined by the incredible Lisa.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:27

She's someone who's not only living with secondary breast cancer, but who alongside her ongoing treatment has founded two charities, Make Seconds Count and the House of Hope.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:37

And do you know what? I have looked up to Lisa and her work for so long, especially in the days when I tried to figure out how to set up a not-for-profit organization myself.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:47

And I can honestly say what Lisa has pulled off is incredible, and she's one of those people who quietly changes lives.

Dani BinningtonHost

0:56

This conversation, but also about, it's, yes, it is about recognizing the amazing things Lisa has done, but it's also about saying it as it is.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:04

What does it mean to live with ongoing cancer treatment? What's the emotional reality of that, and also what's the uncertainty? And I want to understand from Lisa about the strength, the perspective, and the strategies that she brings to her everyday life to keep going, and you'll love her answers.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:22

There is also something very, very special happening when we have recorded this episode.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:27

Lisa was sitting at the House of Hope in Edinburgh.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:30

And at exactly the same time, our Menopause and Cancer community support session was taking place downstairs.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:37

Like, it was such a full circle moment.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:40

It's incredible.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:41

You know, years ago when it was just me and this podcast and these conversations, and now with all of those community support sessions across the country, and also all of the support for our global community, it was like a really full circle moment to record this podcast episode.

Dani BinningtonHost

1:59

We are also going to talk about our upcoming Menopause and Cancer Awareness Day at the House of Hope on the 18th of June.

Dani BinningtonHost

2:07

So, make sure you stay to the end of the episode, and you check out the show notes for any more information on that.

Dani BinningtonHost

2:13

And with that, I'll love you and leave you because I wanna bring Lisa into this conversation right now.