GPs Talk Cancer

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by patient Sharon Withington to discuss her personal experience of ovarian cancer, from missed early symptoms to the realities of diagnosis and treatment. The episode explores the importance of early detection, managing patient anxieties, the significance of family history, and the role of empathetic care and active follow-up. The hosts highlight the lessons learne...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Dr. Clare van Halsema, Lead for HIV Services at North Manchester General Hospital and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Manchester University Foundation Trust, to explore the intersection of HIV and cancer in primary care, highlighting key symptoms that overlap, such as weight loss, diarrhoea, and recurrent infections. The episode tackles the ongoing stigma s...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah chat with Dana Braithwaite, sexual and relationship psychotherapist at the Cheshire Wellness Centre and Cheshire and Wirral NHS Foundation Trust, to break down the psychosexual impact of cancer, including how treatment can affect intimacy, desire, and relationships. They discuss practical approaches for normalising these conversations in primary care, key barriers to addressi...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Professor Emma Davidson to discuss the latest on endometrial cancer in primary care. The conversation covers non-invasive diagnostic innovations, the realities of hysteroscopy, and when to refer for unscheduled bleeding on HRT. They delve into key risk and protective factors, including obesity, family history, and the impact of hormone therapy and GLP-1 medicati...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah sit down with Julian Hallett, Services Development Manager at the Down Syndrome Association to discuss cancer diagnosis and screening for people with learning disabilities. The team covers challenges like diagnostic overshadowing, barriers to screening uptake, the importance of reasonable adjustments, and personalised approaches to care. Practical tips include engaging with f...

Cancer and gut specialist dietitian Jo Cunningham from Green Light Nutrition joins GP hosts Rebecca Leon and Dr. Sarah Taylor to myth-bust common dietary beliefs in cancer care, unravel nutritional advice for patients, and break down the evidence behind supplements, meal plans, and eating well on a budget. They explore the Mediterranean diet's role in cancer prevention, managing malabsorption afte...

In this episode of GPs Talk Cancer, GPs Rebecca Leon and Sarah Taylor are joined by Professor Matt Makin, Consultant in Palliative Medicine in North Manchester and acting Chief Medical Officer of Manchester Foundation Trust. Building on a previous episode with Matt, they explore palliative care in the context of modern cancer treatment, discussing how to recognise decline in people living with adv...

In this episode, GPs Rebecca Leon and Sarah Taylor sit down with Dr Sylvia Kama Kieghe — GP in Sheffield, women’s health specialist and creator of Ask Away Health — to explore how misinformation, social media and contraceptive concerns shape young women’s fears around cancer. Covering practical insights for managing irregular bleeding on hormonal contraception, addressing patient anxiety, communic...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah explore evolving trends in lung cancer, focusing on the increasing incidence in women who have never smoked. They highlight the importance of recognising symptoms like reduced exercise tolerance and persistent cough, regardless of smoking history, and discuss why primary care clinicians should have a low threshold for requesting chest X-rays. The episode also covers differenc...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah talk through the practical assessment and investigation of patients presenting with rectal bleeding in primary care. The discussion covers thorough history taking, examination tips, and the importance of asking about family history. They explore when to use the FIT (faecal immunochemical test), clarify how and when it should be used for patients with rectal bleeding, and expl...

Sarah and Rebecca are joined by Dr Sal Peterson, Co-Clinical Lead for Scottish Primary Care Group, to explore the challenges of cancer diagnosis across Scotland, focusing on updated Scottish referral guidelines. The episode dives deep into cancer presentation in deprived Deep End practices and remote rural settings, discussing health inequalities, continuity of care, and practical safety-netting s...

GPs Rebecca Leon and Sarah Taylor are joined by Andrea Brady, Jess's mum, to discuss the origins and impact of Jess Rule "three strikes and we rethink" which urges GPs to fully reassess cases when a patient presents three times with persistent or worsening symptoms. This episode explores Jess's journey, the importance of continuity in care, and practical steps for primary care teams to improve ear...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Dr. Elaine Hampton, practicing GP and GP facilitator in cancer survival services in North Wales to explore the unique challenges of diagnosing cancer in Wales, with a focus on rural healthcare, deprivation, and the impact of travel on access to diagnostics and treatment. The discussion includes practical case studies, variations in diagnostic pathways, and the i...

What is finger clubbing and why is it a red flag symptom for cancer? In this special bonus episode, Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor discuss this specific symptom and what to do if a patient presents with it. Read the cancer key in full here . GPs Talk Cancer is the podcast from GatewayC , the free early diagnosis resource funded by the NHS and part of The Chr...

In this episode, consultant orthopaedic oncological surgeon at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Miss Gill Cribb joins GPs Rebecca Leon and Dr. Sarah Taylor to discuss the challenges of diagnosing sarcoma in primary care. Expect practical insights around clinical features, referral pathways, and safety netting for soft tissue and bone tumours, plus key history and examination t...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Dr. Jonathan Hoare, gastroenterologist at St Mary’s Hospital in London, to unpack the risk factors for upper GI cancers, including lifestyle, diet, and Helicobacter infection. Together, they share clinical stories highlighting alarm symptoms such as dysphagia, approaches to history taking, and discuss best practice for investigating new indigestion. The episode...

Dr Jude Hayward, GP in Bradford and GPwSI in Genetics with the Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, joins GPs Rebecca and Sarah to break down the essentials of genomics and genetic testing in primary care. This episode covers key terminology, like germline and somatic variants, the practical role of family history in identifying inherited cancer risk, when to refer to genetics services and the imp...

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Dr. Emily Leeming, gut health researcher at Kings College London, dietician and author of Genius Gut: The Life Changing Science of Eating for Your Second Brain, to discuss the role of the gut microbiome in cancer risk and patient wellbeing. The episode covers practical, affordable dietary tips to support gut health during and after cancer treatment, common misconcep...

GatewayC and FourteenFish present a webinar series covering six cancer topics and featuring experts you've heard before on the podcast! Running from October 2025 - March 2026 and all hosted by Dr Rebecca Leon, Connect with FourteenFish - GatewayC to learn more and register your place! Breast cancer with Miss Clare Garnsey, 07/10/25 // Register here Lung cancer with Professor Matt Evison, 02/12/25...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Mr Sotonye Tolofari, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Salford Royal NHS Trust and Director of Urological Cancers at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, to discuss the primary care approach to bladder, testicular and renal cancers. They delve into recognising key symptoms like haematuria, managing recurrent UTIs, interpreting incidental renal findings, and when t...

Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are joined by Dr Suzanne Roberts, Consultant Haematologist at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Haemato-oncology at GM Cancer Alliance, to discuss the diagnosis of leukaemia and lymphoma in primary care. They cover common presentations, such as persistent lumps, overwhelming tiredness, and unexplained itching, as well as rare symptoms like facial...

What is the impact of long-term endocrine treatment for patients? In this special bonus episode, Dr Rebecca Leon explores the menopause-like side effects of endocrine treatment, what GPs can offer to ease these symptoms and how patients can be supported to continue in treatment. GPs Talk Cancer is the podcast from GatewayC , the free early diagnosis resource funded by the...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Mr Jean-Pierre Jeannon, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Hospital, to discuss head and neck cancer in primary care. This episode covers the evolving risk factors, including HPV, and highlights key symptoms such as persistent neck lumps, progressive dysphagia, unilateral ear pain, and non-healing mouth ulcers. The te...

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Laura Urhobo, CEO of Cancer Care Diaspora, to discuss early diagnosis of breast cancer in Black and Asian women. This episode explores cultural, social, and language barriers impacting healthcare access, the importance of awareness and representation and why empowering patients to seek help early is vital. Laura shares real-life stories and practical strategies for...

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Anne Crook, oncology counsellor at The Christie, to explore the emotional impact of cancer on patients and their families. This episode looks at recognising and managing anxiety and depression in primary care, supporting carers, handling family dynamics, and practical strategies such as normalising feelings, signposting support and offering coping mechanisms for unc...