Cups & Courage The Podcast

In this episode of Cups & Courage , Samantha is joined by Thalie, CEO of Breast Cancer UK, for a thoughtful and honest conversation about breast cancer prevention, personal loss, and the courage it takes to step towards someone who is struggling rather than retreating. Thalie shares the story of losing her mum to breast cancer, how grief changed the way she sees friendship, support and communi...

In this episode of Cups & Courage, Sam talks to Tamsin about being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 after previously being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her twenties. Tamsin shares her experience of being told she would need a double mastectomy, the pressure and assumptions around reconstruction, and how she came to the decision to remain flat. This is an honest, thoughtful conversatio...

Toni was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2020, on her 60th birthday. In this gentle and honest conversation, Toni shares her experience of having a lumpectomy, radiotherapy during Covid, and the emotional impact that came afterwards. She speaks with real bravery about body confidence, feeling different in her own skin, the anxiety of follow-up mammograms, faith, family, friendship, and le...

Lisa is the face — and unmistakable pink hair — behind the Pink Ribbon Foundation, a small but mighty grant-making charity supporting breast cancer charities across the UK. In this episode, Lisa talks about what courage means to her, why the charity has stayed intentionally small, and how keeping overheads low allows more money to reach people who need support during diagnosis, treatment and beyon...

In this episode of Cups & Courage, Sam sits down with Emma — physiotherapist, speaker, host of When Life Gives You Lemons, and breast cancer survivor. Emma shares how a tiny symptom after a run led to her diagnosis during lockdown, why exercise became a lifeline through treatment, and how movement helped her feel connected to herself during an incredibly uncertain time. She also talks openly a...

In this episode of Cups & Courage , Sam speaks with Viktoria, an award-winning breast cancer nurse specialist and global leader in breast cancer care. With over two decades working alongside people affected by breast cancer, Viktoria shares what it means to offer care that is not only clinically expert, but deeply human. From the vital role of breast care nurses, to the emotional weight of dia...

Helena is a three-time breast cancer survivor whose story opens up a powerful conversation about treatment, trauma, identity and self-advocacy. In this episode, she shares what it was like navigating three diagnoses, the mental toll that followed, and the reality of facing a system that did not always see or support her properly. It is honest, sharp, funny in places, and a vital reminder that canc...

In this episode of Cups & Courage , Sam speaks with acupuncturist, researcher and author Beverley de Valois about the role acupuncture can play in cancer care and survivorship. They explore how it can support people through treatment and beyond, from managing hot flushes, fatigue, anxiety and nausea to improving quality of life after a diagnosis. It’s a thoughtful, practical conversation about...

Shirley was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, before facing a recurrence five years later in 2020. In this honest conversation, she reflects on reconstruction, body image, family support, living with uncertainty, and what courage really looks like when cancer becomes part of your story. It’s a warm, open episode about resilience, vulnerability and learning to live fully in the in-between...

Juliet was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago — a routine mammogram that changed everything. After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she made a decision that surprised her medical team: she chose not to reconstruct. Instead, she fought for symmetry, autonomy, and the right to live in a body that felt honest to her. In this powerful episode, Juliet shares the emotional and physical reality of...

In this episode of Cups & Courage , we sit down with Charlayne — clinical nurse specialist, breast care nurse, and co-founder of a charity supporting young women with breast cancer. With over 40 years in nursing, Charlayne shares what it truly means to walk alongside people at the most frightening moments of their lives. We talk about vulnerability as courage, the shock of diagnosis, informati...

When Carly was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 37, it wasn’t her first encounter with cancer. With a family history of breast cancer and an unexpected discovery of the BRCA1 gene mutation, her diagnosis unfolded fast — from swollen lymph nodes to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. In this deeply honest conversation, Carly shares the...

In this episode of Cups & Courage , we sit down with Emma, who was diagnosed with de novo stage four metastatic breast cancer after what she thought would be a routine mammogram. Emma shares what it’s really like to live scan to scan — carrying a life-limiting diagnosis while feeling physically well, navigating constant uncertainty, and learning how to live alongside fear without letting it ta...

In this deeply honest conversation, Sam sits down with Sophie — diagnosed in 2020 with stage 3 breast cancer. Sophie shares her story with raw clarity: from a mammogram that missed her cancer, to the shock of finding it in 13 lymph nodes, the fear of a liver lesion, and the strange reality of chemo, menopause, and body changes no one prepares you for. We talk about courage not as fighting, but as...

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Jacqui  — a Black Women Rising ambassador whose breast cancer diagnosis arrived just six weeks into a brand-new chapter of her life. Jacqui shares how shock, dismissal, and relentless side effects shaped her experience, and how she had to fight to be heard in a healthcare system that repeatedly minimised her pain. She speaks openly about the pressure...

When lifelong friends Anna and Katie were both diagnosed with the same rare type of breast cancer within two years, their worlds turned upside down. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, they talk about friendship, loss, and the courage it takes to keep pushing when the system doesn’t listen. From the uncanny parallels between their diagnoses to the differences in their treatment, the...

In this deeply honest episode of Cups & Courage , Saskia shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2025, navigating surgery, radiation, and the often-conflicting world of medical advice. A professional working in oncology herself, Saskia offers a rare dual perspective — as both patient and insider — on how information, bias, and communication shape our choices. She o...

When Alice Nicholson discovered she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, she made the life-changing decision to undergo preventative double mastectomies — not because she had cancer, but because she didn’t want to wait for it. In this open and emotional conversation, Alice shares how she navigated the medical system, grief after losing both parents and her sister, and the reality of reconstructive sur...

When Tashmia first raised her symptoms, she was told she was too young and that “women like you don’t get cancer.” For three years, her concerns were dismissed — until her cancer was finally found. In this raw and vital conversation, Tashmia shares the reality of being a British South Asian woman navigating breast cancer: the racial bias and cultural blind spots in healthcare, the taboos that keep...

In this inspiring episode of Cups & Courage , we sit down with Nevo — a breast cancer survivor, image consultant, and stylist — who empowers women to reconnect with their bodies and confidence after treatment. Diagnosed in 2012, Nevo shares her journey from diagnosis to recovery, and how fashion and styling became powerful tools for healing, self-expression, and resilience. We explore courage,...

Charlotte was just 32 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. What followed was a whirlwind of treatment, failed reconstructions, cancelled surgeries, and years of fighting to be heard. In this powerful conversation, Charlotte shares what it really means to advocate for your body in the face of a system that doesn’t always listen. From gruelling chemo to choosing to live...

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Georgette Oni , one of only a handful of surgeons in the UK dual-qualified in both plastic surgery and surgical oncology. Georgette shares her unique perspective on breast reconstruction — from the surgical options available, to the psychological impact, to the challenges of ensuring women across the UK receive consistent, compassionate care. Togethe...

In this moving episode, we speak with Rosie , a clinical psychologist whose world changed when she was diagnosed with stage four incurable bowel cancer in 2021. Against all odds, Rosie went into remission in 2022, and later faced further life-altering decisions after testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation and undergoing a double mastectomy. Rosie shares with honesty and warmth what courage me...

In this inspiring conversation, we meet Priyanka , a teacher, children’s author, and mother of two, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36. Her journey has included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a mastectomy with reconstruction, and multiple revision surgeries — but also powerful moments of advocacy, family resilience, and finding her voice. Priyanka shares: What it wa...

Welcome to Cups & Courage — the podcast that’s breaking the silence around breast cancer. Hosted by Samantha Vale, breast cancer survivor and advocate, Cups & Courage shares raw, unfiltered conversations with people who’ve faced breast cancer head-on — patients, survivors, clinicians, and loved ones. These are honest stories about body image, treatment choices, survival, grief, humour, bis...