Not Your Grandma‘s Cancer Show

Shine Cancer Support

At Shine we get cancer as a young adult. We understand what you’re going through and offer support and tools which can help you through your diagnosis. Our podcast lets you hear from real people with real experiences as well as from experts in fertility, health, mindfulness and many more. We cover relatable topics for those in their 20s to 40s including the mindfield of sex and dating after and with cancer! Take a scroll through our podcasts, grab yourself a tea (or margherita) and have a listen. We will be bringing you a new podcast on the 1st Monday of every month! For more information on Shine and how you can be part of our community please head to our website: www.shinecancersupport.org read less

Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

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Reconnecting with your body

Reconnecting with your body

Many people find that they feel different in their bodies after cancer - you might have lost trust in your body, or feel like your body has turned against you. In this podcast, Tatum talks to Claudia Knowles, a Research Assistant in the Heathcote Lab / working with Dr Lauren Heathcote looking at the mind-body connection in people who have had cancer. They talk about interoception - they way that we understand our internal bodily signals - and how bodily signals can affect emotions. Claudia talks about how to foster a more helpful mindset after a cancer diagnosis. The podcast ends with a short relaxation and breathwork session. Claudia is currently carrying out some research on 'interoception'. If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can participate here:bit.ly/MyBodySurvey X: @ClaudRKnowles Instagram: @claudiaroseknowles Lauren's X: @LCHeathcote

Episodes

Reconnecting with your body

Reconnecting with your body

Many people find that they feel different in their bodies after cancer - you might have lost trust in your body, or feel like your body has turned against you. In this podcast, Tatum talks to Claudia Knowles, a Research Assistant in the Heathcote Lab / working with Dr Lauren Heathcote looking at the mind-body connection in people who have had cancer. They talk about interoception - they way that we understand our internal bodily signals - and how bodily signals can affect emotions. Claudia talks about how to foster a more helpful mindset after a cancer diagnosis. The podcast ends with a short relaxation and breathwork session. Claudia is currently carrying out some research on 'interoception'. If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can participate here:bit.ly/MyBodySurvey X: @ClaudRKnowles Instagram: @claudiaroseknowles Lauren's X: @LCHeathcote

Doctors get cancer too: hearing from healthcare professionals

Doctors get cancer too: hearing from healthcare professionals

Most of us are used to talking to healthcare professionals about our cancer but we don't usually talk to them about *their* cancer. In this podcast, we hear about what it's like to go from being the person giving a diagnosis to being the one who receives it. Hannah, a GP, shares how she received the news of her brain tumour while at work with a waiting room full of people. Simon, a pediatrician, explains how he navigates how much of his own experience to share while at work. Mari, gynaecologist, was shocked at how other doctors often failed to acknowledge the impact of their words. And Mari's husband, Babur, a surgeon, talks about how he goes to work to fix others but the person he really wants to be able to fix is his wife.

Living with the lasting effects of cancer

Living with the lasting effects of cancer

When your initial cancer treatment is over, your friends and family might think you're fine - but we know you can be left with many lasting effects and emotions. In this episode, Tatum talks to Matt who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 17, and Roisin who was treated for osteosarcoma of the jaw after a diagnosis at 28. They talk how they managed treatment and the aftermath over the long term. Roisin has also shared more details of her treatment and recovery on our website here.

Newly Diagnosed? This episode is for you!

Newly Diagnosed? This episode is for you!

If you're newly diagnosed with cancer, welcome, you're in the right place. In this episode, members of the Shine community share their top tips and what they wish they knew when they were in your position. We have two great guests, Matt, diagnosed just last year with bowel cancer, shares his whirlwind entry into the world of cancer and how important humour is, and Ceinwen, co-founder of Shine Cancer Support, shares the breadth of her knowledge. Having met hundreds of newly diagnosed younger adults she reminds us that however we are feeling we aren't alone and we're not doing it wrong.

Living with genetic cancers

Living with genetic cancers

Tatum explores what it's like to carry a 'cancer gene' and speaks to Helen, who carries the BRCA gene, and Cara who has Lynch syndrome. Cara developed bowel cancer at 32 for which she was successfully treated. She later developed early stage womb cancer and had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy during the pandemic. Her father had also had bowel cancer. Three generations of Helen's family have been affected by cancer, including her mother who died of breast cancer in the 1990s. Helen tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation as a child and later developed ovarian cancer. Both Cara and Helen discuss what it's like to live with the constant awareness of cancer and how they continue to process their experiences.

Neurodiversity and cancer - how neurodivergence affects how we experience cancer

Neurodiversity and cancer - how neurodivergence affects how we experience cancer

Tatum speaks to Dr. Char Goodwin and Neil MacVicar, both of whom are neurodivergent and have been diagnosed with cancer. The quote Char references is from Dr Jac den Houting @JacdenHouting TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jac_den_houting_why_everything_you_know_about_autism_is_wrong?language=en

Stories of breast cancer

Stories of breast cancer

October is breast cancer awareness month and in our latest podcast Tatum speaks to three members of Shine's community about their experiences of the UK's most common cancer. She speaks to Kate, who was diagnosed in lockdown and Hannah who was diagnosed with breast cancer after an earlier cancer diagnosis. Tatum also speaks to Dror about what it's like to be a man living with advanced breast cancer.

And now for the science bit: frontiers of cancer research with Prof Gerard Evan

And now for the science bit: frontiers of cancer research with Prof Gerard Evan

This month, we're delighted to speak to Prof Gerard Evan who is based at the UK's Francis Crick Institute and is one of the world's leading cancer researchers. Prof Evan talks to Tatum about why cancers occur, how we can treat them, and why there are many reasons to be hopeful for the future of cancer treatment. Fun fact: you have more cells in your body than there are stars in a thousand Milky Way galaxies. Like what you hear? Join us *in person* on 14 October at Shine Connect, the UK's only conference for younger adults with cancer. Find out all the details and register here.

Talking about cancer, sex and intimacy

Talking about cancer, sex and intimacy

In this episode, Tatum chats to Sarah and Cheryl of the Cancer, Sex and Intimacy Project which is now a partner of Shine Cancer Support. Sarah and Cheryl talk about what inspired them to work on the topics of sex and intimacy after cancer and also unpick whether advice not to sleep in the same bed as your partner means you can have sex on the couch.... Cheryl and Sarah will be joining us at Shine Connect (Shine's annual conference) in October 2023. You can check out Cancer, Sex and Intimacy on Instagram @sex_cancer_intimacy and read their booklet here. Cheryl's story: 00:01:20 Sarah's story: 00:02:20 Differences between men and women in approaching sex after cancer: 00:17:29 Reigniting pleasure: 00:23:17

Going Out Out! The Pride and Cancer episode

Going Out Out! The Pride and Cancer episode

To celebrate London Pride, our podcast this month is looking at how we can navigate the desire to go OUT OUT for Pride while also managing cancer and all the things that brings with it. Tatum is joined on the podcast by Scott, who lives with multiple myeloma, and Indigo who is living with the effects of kidney cancer treatment. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:54 - Scott's story 00:11:56 - Indigo's story Topics: - LGBTQI+ - Pride - Multiple myeloma - Kidney cancer - Coping with long-term conditions

Talking about infertility: Part 2, Stories of Infertility after Cancer

Talking about infertility: Part 2, Stories of Infertility after Cancer

In this podcast, we explore what it's like to be left infertile after cancer. Tatum talks to Amanda, Katy and Gemma about their experiences of cancer diagnoses, treatment, fertility preservation and adjusting to the thought of a life without children. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:17 - Amanda's story 00:15:04 - Katy's story 00:31:42 - Gemma's story Topics: - Breast, ovarian and womb cancer - Cancer diagnosis - Treatment - Fertility preservation - Life without children - Living with infertility - Coping strategies

Talking about infertility: Part 1

Talking about infertility: Part 1

Tatum speaks to Dr. Cheryl Fitzgerald, a consultant gynaecologist in reproductive medicine in Manchester, and Shine volunteer Hannah, about the ways in which cancer and cancer treatment can affect fertility. They discuss the emotional impact of post-cancer (in)fertility and also provide some really useful tips for shaping discussions with healthcare practitioners.

Exercise after cancer

Exercise after cancer

May is Shine's Exercise after Cancer Month and on the podcast we've got two great guests: exercise specialist and breast cancer survivor Carolyn Garritt, author of Get Your Oomph Back, and size-inclusive personal trainer Gemma Saeger, who also lives with multiple myeloma. They discuss the ins and outs of exercise after cancer, including why it's important and where to get started if you're not feeling motivated.

Chronic cancer: when your cancer doesn’t fit inside the cancer box

Chronic cancer: when your cancer doesn’t fit inside the cancer box

This month we're talking about chronic cancer. Chronic cancer often can't be cured but it also may not need treatment immediately. Sometimes, they can be treated long-term, or they might require treatment every so often. Myeloma, some lymphomas and leukaemias and even some ovarian cancers can fall into this category, but they're often not well understood by friends and family (or people in general!). Tatum talks to David, Lucy and Kerrie about their experiences.

And now for our highlights....the Not Your Grandma’s Cancer Show compilation

And now for our highlights....the Not Your Grandma’s Cancer Show compilation

Just listening in for the first time? Need a reminder of everything we've covered in the podcast? Look no further! In this special episode, we've got a run down of some of topics we've covered previously and a few highlights of our favourite bits. Living with cancer as a young adult isn't easy, but we've got you covered.

Cancer’s mental health impact: experiences of young adults

Cancer’s mental health impact: experiences of young adults

In this episode, Tatum welcomes Clare from Shine to review some of the experiences that were shared at Shine's annual conference. They hear from Rime, who lives with bipolar disorder and experienced a severe mental health emergency after her diagnosis; Ben who has experienced anxiety and used alcohol to cope; and from Ciaran who was diagnosed with testicular cancer and then experienced suicidal thoughts. Warning: Please be aware that this episode contains descriptions of mental illness, suicide and alcohol abuse.

Shine Connect catch up: Dating and Sex after Cancer

Shine Connect catch up: Dating and Sex after Cancer

If you missed our amazing Shine Connect 2022 young adult cancer conference fear not! In a special podcast episode, we bring you some highlights from our Dating after Cancer and Sex and Intimacy sessions. You'll hear some of the best bits but if you're hankering for more, check out our YouTube playlist for the full sessions.

Shine Connect conference & Breast Cancer Awareness month

Shine Connect conference & Breast Cancer Awareness month

In this mini-sode, Shine Cancer Support co-founder Emma Willis discusses her breast cancer diagnosis, aged 29 and how her experiences of isolation led to the creation of Shine. Tatum also chats about the upcoming Shine Connect 2022 conference for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s with cancer. You can view the agenda and speakers (as well as register free) for the conference HERE.

Losing Friends with Cancer

Losing Friends with Cancer

Having a friend die is tough under any circumstance but when you're part of the cancer community it can hit you in a different way. Anxiety (could this happen to me?) and survivor's guilt can all be part of the complex web of feelings that we experience. In this podcast, Tatum, Hannah and Mari talk about how they've managed and why friendships with others who have cancer are so important.

Managing menopause after cancer - without HRT

Managing menopause after cancer - without HRT

In the third of our series about menopause after cancer, Tatum talks to Dr. Jane Davis, a GP and women's health specialist, about managing menopause when you can't take HRT.