S6 Ep10: Donna Fraser on mental attitude towards breast cancer
Donna Fraser OBE, Team GB athlete, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36, with no family history. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Donna talks to Laura about how this shock diagnosis affected her and the tough decisions she had to make about her world-class athletics career.
Donna also speaks about being an Ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, and her work to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment more accessible for people in ethnically diverse communities.
You can follow Donna on Instagram: @donnalegz and @donnafraserobe
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 Donna is diagnosed with breast cancer
6:05 Introducing "Diane", Donna's voice of determination
7:37 Making the decision to have a mastectomy
9:20 Recovering from a mastectomy
11:21 The effects of breast cancer surgery on body image
15:18 Donna's new relationship with her body after breast cancer
18:23 Donna makes the decision to go public about her breast cancer
20:21 Black women and breast screening attendance
23:48 Donna's work raising breast awareness among younger women
24:37 The barriers to accessing breast cancer diagnosis and care
27:58 Donna becomes an Ambassador for Breast Cancer Now
31:05 Pink Ribbonwalks – a charity fundraiser
34:39 Sport and exercise after breast cancer
36:12 Tips for getting back into exercising after surgery
39:23 Staying breast aware after active treatment for breast cancer
40:07 Donna makes the decision to retire
45:05 The highlights of Donna's athletics career
46:18 What it means to Donna to "live well"
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S6 Ep9: Paula on living well with secondary breast cancer
Paula was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, and found out just 2 months later that it had spread to her lungs. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Paula chats with Laura about how she dealt with the shock of a secondary breast cancer diagnosis, and how she copes with the continued impact on her and her family.
She’s joined by one of our nurses, Catherine, who talks with Paula about Breast Cancer Now’s face-to-face support services. They discuss how these and other services helped Paula come to terms with her diagnosis, and the many ways to live well with secondary breast cancer.
You can find Paula on instagram @yourflowers1
Check out our episode with Claire from Make 2nds Count talking about clinical trials.
Check out our episode with Caroline Leek from Fruitfly Collective on talking with children about breast cancer.
Watch Paula talk with Catherine about more topics, such as palliative care, on Breast Cancer Now chats.
Find out more about Breast Cancer Now's Living with Secondary Breast Cancer service.
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:
1:56 Paula is diagnosed with breast cancer
4:36 Paula's cancer spreads to her lungs
5:36 The emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis
7:27 What is secondary breast cancer?
8:14 "Treatable but not curable"
9:58 What it means for cancer to be "stable"
10:50 Paula has treatment for secondary breast cancer
12:28 The role of a clinical nurse specialist
20:39 Face-to-face support while living with secondary breast cancer
26:50 The need for support beyond family
28:34 Talking to children about secondary breast cancer
34:27 When a partner is in denial about your secondary breast cancer
36:49 Waiting for scans: scanxiety
40:20 Paula learns to deal with anxiety
40:59 Looking after your mental health
45:28 Considering clinical trials
50:28 Travel insurance with secondary breast cancer
53:09 What it means to Paula to live well
54:16 What it means to Catherine to live well
55:11 Finding support with Breast Cancer Now
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S6 Ep8: Alice on breast cancer language and wellness
Alice-May Purkiss is a wellbeing creativity coach and author who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 26. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, she chats with Laura about the language we use to talk about cancer, and if there is better language we can use.
Alice also talks about the impact her breast cancer diagnosis had on her mental health, and shares tips and tricks she has learnt to help her live well with depression.
You can find Alice on instagram @alicemaypurkiss
You can also find Alice at her website, www.alicemaypurkiss.co.uk
The Media Guidelines.
Key Topics:
02:12 Alice talks about her diagnosis
08:05 How does it feel approaching your 10 year anniversary (since diagnosis)?
09:40 Importance of raising awareness of breast cancer in younger women
11:00 The effect of a breast cancer diagnosis on mental health
13:00 Alice on writing her book, 'Life Lemons and Melons'
18:10 Alice talks about her experience of depression
22:50 The difference in having mental health illness vs a physical illness like cancer
24:40- 26:17 TW: Suicidal thoughts alongside going through cancer treatment
27:22 Any tools you can share with people to cope with depression, specifically after a breast cancer diagnosis?
35:40 The importance of community
37:08 What tools can you suggest for someone to help get on with life post-diagnosis?
39:28 The difference between coaching and therapy
41:50 Working with Coppafeel to create the Media Guidelines regarding cancer language
44:30 Using military language to talk about cancer and the potential harm that causes,
54:00 How better to talk to or about someone who has breast cancer
59:35 Making the language around breast cancer more inclusive
01:00:25 The difference between looking for signs and symptoms and being aware of change
01:03:04 What living well means to Alice
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.
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S6 Ep7: Richard and Stuart on breast cancer in men
Richard was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and Stuart was diagnosed in 2005 and now lives with secondary breast cancer.
They are both involved with the Men’s VMU, an online group aimed at supporting men with a breast cancer diagnosis, promoting research into breast cancer in men, and raising awareness of the signs and symptoms.
Only around 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.
Richard and Stuart talk about how their diagnoses took them by surprise, and share their work in the Men’s VMU trying to get the message to as many people as possible.
Find out more about the Men's VMU.
Find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support service Someone Like Me.
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.
Key Topics:
2:15 Richard's breast cancer diagnosis
5:38 Stuart's breast cancer diagnosis
7:56 Campaigning to receive Herceptin as a man
13:13 Stuart's secondary breast cancer diagnosis
15:51 Looking out for the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer
16:32 Living with secondary breast cancer
20:32 The Men's VMU – support for men with breast cancer
24:22 The use of tamoxifen in men
27:58 The "pinkness" and femininity of breast cancer
31:44 The erosion of male identity after a breast cancer diagnosis
36:10 How the Men's VMU encourages talking about difficult topics
37:11 Find out more about the Men's VMU
37:49 Someone Like Me service from Breast Cancer Now
39:01 The accessibility of resources and support to men with breast cancer
43:51 The importance of family support
45:39 Richard and Stuart's tips for a man just diagnosed
46:39 Getting involved with fundraising and awareness events
47:57 What it means to Richard and Stuart to live well
51:01 How to get in touch with the Men's VMU
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S6 Ep6: Anna on coping with PTSD
Anna was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when she was 34. After having an adverse reaction to her treatment she was hospitalised, and that trauma continued to affect her long afterwards. Anna talks about the effects of her diagnosis and PTSD on her family and the ways she’s discovering to cope with them.
We’re also joined by Vic, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now, who provides expert support to people with a breast cancer diagnosis through our many support services. She talks with Anna about the difficulties that can arise with a breast cancer diagnosis and PTSD, and signposts to the support that’s available.
You can follow Anna on instagram @abholistichealing.yorkshire
You can also read Anna's blog.
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:
1:28 Laura introduces Anna and Vic
2:01 Anna's breast cancer diagnosis
8:02 Having a negative reaction to chemotherapy
9:48 Fears around recurrence, and the trouble with googling
13:06 Reducing the risk of recurrence, and finding support after treatment
18:36 Anna's children react to her diagnosis
23:28 Dealing with breast cancer as a younger woman
29:32 How the body's memory of trauma can linger
32:27 Anna's experience of PTSD
40:57 How treatment can differ person to person
46:53 The tools Anna has used to cope with her PTSD
49:22 Anna's tips for anyone going through a breast cancer diagnosis
52:39 Where to find out more about breast cancer
53:23 How to find out more from Anna
54:04 What it means to Anna to "live well"
55:24 What it means to Vic 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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