S6 Ep15: Sam on sex and intimacy after breast cancer
Sam Evans is an intimate health and pleasure expert who shares tips on intimacy during menopause and coping with the side effects of cancer treatment. This week on the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Sam talks candidly about the effects of breast cancer on our sex lives, and how these may be relieved to allow more enjoyment of sex and intimacy again. She also speaks about why she set up the online company Jo Divine, which sells sex products with a particular focus on safety and sexual health.
Sam is joined by Jane, one of Breast Cancer Now’s nurses, who gives insight into the sex and intimacy concerns we hear about from people with breast cancer on our helpline and ask our nurses service.
Jo Divine has kindly provided a discount to listeners: BCN10 (£5 minimum spend on full-priced products excluding P&P). This promo code expires on 30/11/25.
You can visit the Jo Divine website
You can find Sam on Instagram @samtalkssex
Listen to Liz O'Riordan's episode here
Listen to Dani Binnington's episode here
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
2:01 Sam talks about her work in sex and intimacy
2:55 Jane talks about her work as one of Breast Cancer Now's nurses
3:45 The effects of breast cancer treatment on sex life
5:51 Discussing the menopause and the perimenopause
9:36 What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
13:16 Discussing low libido after breast cancer treatment
15:17 Dealing with vaginal dryness during sex
16:59 The importance of checking ingredients of lubricants
23:54 The effects on the vagina of lowered oestrogen levels
25:39 The benefits of vaginal oestrogen for sex life
28:06 The psychological effects of breast cancer treatment on sex and intimacy
30:13 The importance of communication
33:45 Approaching sex after breast cancer as a single person
38:51 The benefits of sex toys
48:02 Where to turn if you don't feel you can talk to your treatment team about sex and intimacy
55:32 Useful resources
1:03:09 What it means to Sam to "live well"
1:03:24 What is means to Jane to "live well"
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S6 Ep14: Helen on dealing with grief
Helen Skelton is a psychotherapist and campaigner who lives with secondary breast cancer. In this episode, Helen talks in depth with Laura about grief. How grief isn’t just about losing someone, but about the loss of anything; your hair, your body image, your friendships, the life you hoped you’d have.
Drawing on her own experience, Helen shares the grief she’s experienced as part of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how that grief extends to losing friends in the breast cancer community she’s a part of. She also promotes acceptance of grief and anger as emotions that should be recognised and lived with, and shares some outlooks that may help others see their grief in a new light.
You can find Helen on Instagram @secondary.psych
You can read Helen's writing on Substack
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
2:08 Helen is diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020
5:51 Dealing with a cancer diagnosis during COVID
8:22 Living with secondary breast cancer
10:39 Getting a primary and secondary breast cancer diagnosis at the same time
16:35 There's more to grief than just the dictionary definition
23:19 Grief as a result of a cancer diagnosis
25:49 Processing the grief from losing someone to the same disease you have
29:17 Helen attends a grief retreat
33:09 What is grief tending?
34:05 Discussing rage and anger, and how to come to terms with them
37:29 Why it's important to talk about emotions and feelings
41:27 Helen shares tips and techniques for coping with grief
46:14 Emotional triggers can cause you to reevaluate and make different decisions
53:38 What it means to Helen to "live well"
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S6 Ep13: Kelly on acceptance and taking on challenges
Kelly Crump is a model and influencer who lives with secondary breast cancer. On the Breast Cancer Now podcast she talks to Laura about finding out at the age of 40 that her cancer had spread, and how she feared she wouldn’t be able to continue doing the things she loves, like hiking and running.
But Kelly also shares how exercise, positivity and talking openly and honestly all helped her to live life on her own terms, even while living with breast cancer. She speaks about her experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and how she was the first person to post with a mastectomy scar in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine.
You can follow Kelly on Instagram @itskellycrump
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
1:45 Kelly is first diagnosed with breast cancer
3:44 Kelly is diagnosed with secondary breast cancer
5:28 The impact of breast cancer treatment on fertility
9:02 Kelly's lines of treatment for secondary breast cancer
14:10 The experience of when a drug stops working
15:45 Sharing a breast cancer story on social media
17:17 Challenging the perceptions of what a person with cancer looks like
19:10 Breast cancer and body image
21:37 Kelly climbs Kilimanjaro, and other challenges
26:36 Kelly's tips for taking on physical challenges
34:09 Dealing with the physical challenges of a cancer diagnosis
38:08 Dealing with death in the secondary breast cancer community
40:42 Important to talk about experience, challenge media perceptions
40:59 Kelly has to give up her career in fashion after her diagnosis
43:47 Making plans living with secondary breast cancer
48:51 Kelly models her mastectomy scars in Sports Illustrated
52:48 Positive attitude to body image after breast cancer treatment
54:40 What it means to Kelly to "live well"
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S6 Ep12: Giving breast cancer patients #MoreTimeToLive
Sophie Blake, who lives with secondary breast cancer, talks to Laura about Breast Cancer Now's campaign to make sure everyone with breast cancer across the UK can get access to the drugs they need to survive.
Eleanor from Breast Cancer Now also joins the conversation to explain the issues with the drug approval system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and what work Breast Cancer Now is doing to help change things.
Help us take action now with our automatic form that contacts your MP asking them to help fix the system.
Find out more about Breast Cancer Now's campaign, #MoreTimeToLive
You can follow Sophie Blake on X @sophieRblake and Instagram @sophieblake72.
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
2:01 Sophie explains what secondary breast cancer means to her
3:23 The importance of access to breast cancer drugs
4:54 The meaning of "More Time To Live"
6:44 Enhertu: a drug that was rejected for use on the NHS in England
10:10 Eleanor outlines the problem with drugs not being approved
13:07 The Severity Modifier, explained
18:38 The reality that people are dying of breast cancer every day
22:23 Breast Cancer Now's recommendations to MPs to help change the system
25:49 The response to the campaign so far from Wes Streeting and NICE
28:21 The timescales required for change
34:33 How listeners can get involved in the More Time To Live campaign
37:31 Sophie talks about the impact of her campaigning on her family
42:39 What it means to Eleanor to live well
44:30 What it means to Sophie to live well
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S6 Ep11: Faye and Rebecca on The Show by Breast Cancer Now
Faye and Rebecca join Laura in the podcast studio to talk about The Show by Breast Cancer Now. At The Show, they joined 21 other people who live with or beyond breast cancer, as models for the day.
They speak about the nerves and excitement of taking to the catwalk in stylish outfits, the importance of support and friendship between all their fellow models, and how they feel several weeks after the big night!
Faye also talks about how her diagnosis of breast cancer affected her body image, and how it gave her a new perspective on her career. Rebecca talks about the difficulties of going through cancer treatment when her body reacted badly to the drugs, and the importance of sharing her story to help others.
You can watch The Show 2025.
Apply to be a model in The Show 2026.
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
2:18 Rebecca's diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer
5:03 Faye's diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer
9:49 Looking back at The Show by Breast Cancer Now
19:26 Overcoming a breast cancer diagnosis
21:48 Taking part in The Show while going through active treatment for breast cancer
24:29 Experience of breast cancer in a West African community
27:13 Cultural taboos around breast cancer
28:04 Taking to the catwalk in The Show!
30:58 Working with a fashion stylist
33:05 The experience of having hair and make up done for The Show
35:50 Losing body confidence after breast cancer
36:40 Rebecca's bodybuilding career
39:51 Making your own choice regarding cancer drugs
42:40 Faye's body image after breast cancer
44:35 Faye changes career after her cancer diagnosis
46:45 The feeling of community as a model in The Show
51:41 What it means to Rebecca to "live well"
52:55 What it means to Faye to "live well"
If you’re looking for authentic stories about life with and beyond breast cancer, we’re here. Welcome to the Breast Cancer Now podcast.
Join host Laura for open, supportive and honest conversations with guests who have personal or professional experience of breast cancer.
Laura Price is a writer, podcaster and author of the novel Single Bald Female. She’s living with secondary, incurable breast cancer.
We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. If you’ve got questions about breast cancer, go to our website breastcancernow.org.
New episodes every other Friday.
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