Gabby's Blog

Podcast Episode 124 – Confidence After Cancer with Gabby Mottershead

Everyone expects you to feel nothing but relief when cancer treatment ends.
But if you’ve ever sat on your sofa after that final hospital visit, wondering why you don’t feel joyful… you’re definitely not alone.

So many women tell me that after their last treatment, they expected fireworks — instead, they felt flat, scared, or strangely lost.
Sound familiar?

In this week’s episode of the Confidence After Cancer Podcast, I’m sharing m…

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wardrobe, cupboard, or even that dreaded “junk drawer” and thought, where do I even start? — you’re not alone.

Decluttering can feel overwhelming. The guilt about wasted money, the memories attached to objects, or just the sheer volume of stuff can stop us in our tracks. But I want to share with you a method that has made decluttering so much easier for me and my clients: The Moving Out Method.

Why September is the Perfect Time to Declutter

Nature gives us clues. …

Finishing cancer treatment is often described as the “happy ending.” Family and friends celebrate. Doctors shake your hand and congratulate you. People around you expect you to pick up life where you left off — back to normal.

But if you’ve been through cancer, you know the truth: treatment ending is not the end of the journey. In fact, for many women, it’s the start of a brand-new, often overwhelming chapter.

I know how confusing, exhausting, and lonely this stage can feel. That’s why I created m…

When treatment ends, the world expects you to get back to normal. But no one warns you about the identity crisis that can follow.

You’ve survived cancer. You’ve done the appointments, the treatments, the hard parts. So why do you feel... lost?

I know that feeling all too well. When the hospital visits stopped, I didn’t feel relief—I felt confusion. Who even was I now?

In this post, I want to share three powerful identity shifts that helped me go from feeling stuck in “survivor mode” to living as a …

You know me—I’m not here to scare anyone or shout about the latest health headlines. But when something catches my eye, especially around cancer, I sit up and take notice. And this week, a new study about aspartame—a common artificial sweetener—really made me stop and think.

Researchers have found that aspartame might trigger changes in the body that could make aggressive brain cancer (glioblastoma) worse. Now, before we panic, let’s be clear—this was a preclinical study in mice, not people. But …

For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with a nagging shoulder pain that just wouldn’t shift.

At first, I did what I always do — physio exercises, stretches, heat, rest, anti-inflammatory foods. I thought it was just one of those things. But the pain kept getting worse.

And quietly, in the background… so did the fear.

The Fear That Lingers After Cancer

When you’ve had cancer — in my case, 17 years ago — your mind can jump to worst-case scenarios quicker than you’d like. You try to stay rational,…

You may have seen Princess Kate's recent video, where she speaks of nature as her sanctuary and a source of healing, which deeply resonates with me. As someone who has journeyed through cancer recovery, I understand the profound peace that the natural world can offer. During my own healing process, connecting with nature provided a sense of peace and renewal that was instrumental in my recovery. 

In her video, Kate emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature, especially in our increasin…

You survived cancer — but now you're asking, “How do I start living again?”

The end of treatment is often portrayed as a finish line. But for many women, it feels more like being dropped at the start of a completely unfamiliar journey — with no map, no energy, and no clear sense of who you are now.

That’s why I created the Confidence Kickstart: Your 5-Day Reset for Life After Cancer — a powerful but gentle mini-course designed to help you rebuild your self-belief, energy, and direction, starting t…

Returning to work after cancer isn’t just about showing up—it’s about showing up on your terms, with confidence, support, and a plan that puts your wellbeing first.

You’ve already overcome so much.
Now you’re stepping into a new chapter—stronger, wiser, but possibly feeling a bit unsure about what comes next.

If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or wondering how to even begin preparing for your return to work, you are not alone. This transition is a big one—and it deserves thoughtful support.

Tha…

What happens when a palliative care nurse becomes the parent of a child with cancer?

In one of the most heartfelt episodes of theConfidence After Cancerpodcast, I talked to the lovely Rosy Brookes, a Nurse Specialist who shares her emotional journey of becoming a caregiver in the most personal way — when her young son was diagnosed with cancer.

This blog post explores Rosy's story: from the shock of diagnosis, through treatment and emotional burnout, to how she reclaimed her strength and now h…