Breast Cancer Now

Breast Cancer Now's mission is that by 2050, everyone with breast cancer will live, and be supported to live well. What does it mean to you to live well?

That's the question Laura asked each of our guests this season, and the answers were diverse, enlightening, and hinted at hope for the future.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you for listening to this season of the Breast Cancer Now podcast! We'll be back with more episodes soon.

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here. For information and support, visit our website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

Planning a holiday when you’re living with or beyond breast cancer can feel daunting, especially when it comes to getting travel insurance. In this episode, Laura speaks with Fiona Macrae, founder of the travel insurance brand Insurancewith. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and living with metastatic (secondary) breast cancer since 2020, Fiona shares her personal journey and why freedom to travel is so important to her.

In a conversation full of hope and practical tips from their own experiences, Fiona and Laura get stuck into:

why travel insurance matters, especially when you have a cancer diagnosis,

how medical screening works and what insurers are really looking for,

common myths about being “uninsurable” after your treatment changes or a progression,

confusing terminology when applying for travel insurance and how to make sense of it,

practical tips for planning trips, timing holidays around treatment, and talking to your medical team,

Fiona’s own story, taking her frustration with the system and creating a travel insurance brand with people with cancer at its heart.

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.

The discount code IWCommunity gives 20%* off an Insurancewith premium. 

* The discount code ‘IWCommunity’ offers you a 20% discount made up of our automatic 15% online discount price and an additional 5% discount against our Customer Service Centre prices. This is discounted from our core policy price before you add any additional cost of optional extensions or additional medical premium. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Insurancewith is a travel insurance brand. They are not an insurer or underwriter. Policies are underwritten by regulated insurers, and terms and conditions apply. Insurancewith is a trading name of Travel Insurance Facilities Plc, a travel insurance distributor. Policies are underwritten by FCA-authorised insurers. They do not offer personal advice. Always read your policy documents and ensure the cover meets your needs. Breast Cancer Now does not endorse, or recommend Insurancewith.

If you're struggling to get travel insurance, you can also try the MoneyHelper directory, which lists specialist providers who may be able to help – including Insurancewith.

Key Topics:

2:24 Why is it important that we travel?

3:33 Fiona's breast cancer diagnosis

6:50 Dealing with a cancer diagnosis as a new mother

7:44 Fiona's diagnosis of metastatic (secondary) breast cancer

12:21 Fiona sets up travel insurance brand Insurancewith

14:38 Do you need travel insurance?

18:25 Declaring breast cancer on your travel insurance

20:40 Getting cover with a new diagnosis or drug

24:33 The importance of the health questionnaire when buying travel insurance

31:45 More claims can be related back to cancer than you might think

33:28 The cost of repatriation

34:57 How does neutropenia affect travel insurance?

39:29 Is flying detrimental to our health?

42:07 Do you need travel insurance if you're staying within the UK?

43:33 When should you book your travel insurance?

44:55 Should you put friends and family on the same insurance policy as you?

46:29 Does the destination country change how expensive insurance is?

47:34 How does mental health work with travel insurance?

50:38 Unhelpful terminology in travel insurance policies

55:53 What about metastatic (secondary) breast cancer in the brain?

1:00:49 High risk activities and insurance with breast cancer

1:02:00 Going on holiday while on a clinical trial

1:02:48 Business insurance and cancer

1:04:57 Practical tips for travelling

1:10:05 What it means to Fiona to "live well"

Lucy Dawson was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 25. 

In this episode she talks to Laura about her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer as a younger woman, and having fertility preservation treatment as a result of her breast cancer diagnosis. They talk about the importance of sharing positive stories, pregnancy, and starting a family after breast cancer.

They also talk about the importance of spreading awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and having the confidence to advocate for yourself in a medical setting.

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:

02:00 Lucy's diagnosis

08:40 How are you now?

09:05 Family history of breast cancer

10:55 Support services for younger women

12:42 Fertility preservation treatment

16:00 Starting a family

19:15 Pregnancy after breast cancer

21:20 Breastfeeding

22:40 How did pregnancy feel for you?

24:15 How are you finding motherhood

25:00 How did your partner cope throughout your cancer and pregnancy

25:49 What would you say to other younger women facing fertility challenges as a result of breast cancer treatment?

26:45 Advocating for herself as a younger woman to be diagnosed and being confident in a medical setting.

33:56 How do you look after your mental health 

38:57 Posters of the signs & symptoms of breast cancer in M&S changing rooms.

42:15 Taking part in BCN's Pink Ribbon Walk

43:25 What does it mean to Lucy to 'live well'.

Caroline Leek is the founder of Fruitfly Collective, which empowers people with a cancer diagnosis to navigate family life and to support their children. Caroline set up Fruitfly Collective to give the kind of support she wished she’d had when her own father died when she was 12 years old.

In this episode, Caroline focuses on talking to children and teenagers about death and grief, and how to communicate with children about being diagnosed with incurable cancer. She talks about strategies for communicating with teenagers, discusses whether it's OK to tell a white lie, and shares helpful tips and prompts to help children with death and grief.

Find out more about Fruitfly Collective.

Listen to Caroline's previous episode about parenting with cancer, or watch on YouTube.

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:

0:16 Laura outlines the episode and shares her thoughts

2:40 When a child visits a parent who is dying

7:06 How to have a conversation with a child about an upcoming death

9:42 How honest should you be when a child asks if you're going to die?

14:10 Ways of starting a conversation with a child about the death of their parent

25:54 Caroline reveals how her unprocessed grief came to light

27:55 The tools Caroline used to process her grief and support her mental health

31:15 "Pip" kits from Fruitfly Collective

39:39 How to access Fruitfly Collective's excellent resources and support

Links:

Griefcast

Kids' Guide to Cancer app

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Laura speaks to fellow authors and previous podcast guests, Rosamund Dean and Alice May Purkiss. 

They talk about writing, specifically how to put your own breast cancer experience into words. Laura talks to Rosamund and Alice about how they started writing and why they wanted to share their experience with others. They each discuss topics such as how writing affects their mental health, imposter syndrome and how anyone can be a writer. Both Rosamund and Alice also share their book and newsletter recommendations for people experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis.  

Key Topics:

02:06 What made you decide to write about your cancer?

06:40 What affect does writing have on your mental health?

09:53 What do you find the most difficult part of writing?

10:51 Getting started

12:24 Rosamund talks about the process of writing her book, 'Reconstruction'

14:40 Advice for someone interested in writing

16:35 Book recommendations

18:30 Which authors inspire Rosamund the most

19:50 Rosamund's best tips for writing

23:06 Where to find Rosamund's work

23:35 Laura's thoughts

24:40 How writing affects Alice's mental health

26:48 Where should people start if they are interested in writing?

30:15 Advice for someone looking to get published

31:20 Long form writing, e.g. blogs

33:31 Alice's self-publishing process and advice

36:55 Tips for writing or creativity

41:27 Book recommendations

49:05 Inspiring authors books/blogs

54:10 Where to find Alice's work

Rosamund

Well well well newsletter- rosamunddean.substack.com

Rosamund’s books- Reconstruction + Mindful Drinking

@rosamunddean

Alice 

Alice's book- Life Lemons and Melons

alicemaypurkiss.co.uk 

@alicemaypurkiss 

Laura

Laura's book- Single Bald Female

@laurapricewrites

Book recommendations:

Hattie Crissel - In Writing

Oliver Burkeman - Four Thousand Weeks

Miranda July - All Fours

Fran Littlewood - Amazing Grace Adams

Kris Hallenga - Glittering a Turd

Bessel Van Der Kolk - The Body Keeps The Score

Sophie Savage - Lifeshocks

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross -Your Brain on Art

Rick Rubin - The Creative Act

Will Storr - The Science of Storytelling

Newletters (substack) :

Alice Vincent - Savour

Daisy Buchannan - Creative Confidence Clinic

Porna Bell - As I Was Saying

Hayley Nahman - Maybe Baby