For Now is as Good as Forever: Dating with Advanced Breast Cancer with Deltra James (Explicit)
Deltra James was diagnosed at 33 with de novo Stage IV, Triple Negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). She is a New England based mama, poet, patient advocate, and co-host of the Empowered Intimacy podcast. In this episode Deltra reads her piece “For Now is as Good as Forever: Dating with Advanced Breast Cancer” from the 2024 “MBC: Advocacy” issue of Wildfire Journal.
Her essay is about one woman’s experience of dating alongside her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, and podcasting about it. April and Deltra will discuss being open to sharing cancer stories, cancer’s impact on established relationship vows, dating new people after cancer, and empowered intimacy challenges after cancer. This episode contains sexual content.
Shayna Welsh represents the very young age group of breast cancer patients—those diagnosed in their early 20s. Shayna was first diagnosed at 23 with Stage II Triple-Positive breast cancer, and then again at 25 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Shayna is a member of several breast cancer organizations, including the Young Breast Cancer Project, Living Beauty, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Under the Pencil. In this episode, Shayna reads her essay, “Reclaiming Myself the Second Time,” from the 2025 The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores the liminal space where identity is rebuilt—scar by scar, photo by photo, and moment by moment.
April and Shayna discuss the impact of Shayna’s cover photo on The Second Time Around issue, feeling things on your own timeline, whole-brain activities, and the complexities of living in the world with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
Lilly Ribner was diagnosed at 37 with Stage I, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a stay-at-home mother of two young children. In this episode, Lilly reads her essay “Through Her Eyes” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about a moment where three generations exist at once: a mother losing her memories, a daughter facing breast cancer, and a little girl sweeping up the curls her mother just shaved from her head.
April and Lilly talk about a moment of control found in cancer, radical presence, befriending anxiety, finding community, and survivorship. They also explore the liminal space where roles reverse, caring for a parent while navigating motherhood through cancer.
Erin Perkins was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a volunteer, writer, Young Breast Cancer Project board member, and stay-at-home parent. Erin is a self-published author of Young Breast Cancer Your Story and Mine: A Compact Guide. In this episode, Erin reads her essay “The Way It Felt” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about motherhood and memory and what happens when the fear of leaving your children collides with your own childhood wound of being left.
April and Erin talk about embodied writing, cancer activating old wounds, parenting before and after cancer, and Erin’s self-published book. They will also discuss the words that changed Erin at her friend’s deathbed.
