GPs Talk Cancer

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Professor Matt Evison, Consultant Chest Physician at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for the CURE programme and Tobacco Addiction to explore the changing profile of lung cancer risk—including never smokers and the impact of ethnicity, family history, environmental factors, and occupational exposures like asbestos. T...

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Professor Mark Saunders, Consultant Oncologist at The Christie, to explore the evolving landscape of colorectal cancer treatment. They discuss how advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved survival rates, the critical role of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and the importance of patient choice and support. The episode also addresses newer...

Rebecca and Sarah are joined by Dr. Caroline Wilson, Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie, to discuss acute oncology emergencies in primary care. They break down the three types of acute oncology patients, offer practical strategies for managing treatment toxicities and share guidance on recording cancer treatments in patient records. They also tackle the importance of empowering patient...

How should GPs approach potential cancer symptoms during pregnancy? In this episode, Dr Rebecca Leon explores the rare but challenging intersection of cancer and pregnancy. Speaking with leading oncologist Dr Richard Simcock, GP and patient Dr Jenny Rattray, and Pete Wallroth, founder of the charity Mummy’s Star, the episode examines the clinical complexities, emotional impact, and how primary car...

How can primary care professionals provide better cancer care for the trans community? In this special bonus episode, Dr Rebecca Leon explores the unique considerations and barriers that trans patients face when accessing healthcare for potential cancer diagnoses. GPs Talk Cancer is the podcast from GatewayC , the free early diagnosis resource funded by the NHS&n...

Proton beam therapy is transforming cancer treatment – but what do GPs and primary care professionals need to know? In this special bonus episode, we explore the key insights as part of our Cancer Conversations YouTube series.  GPs Talk Cancer is the podcast from GatewayC , the free early diagnosis resource funded by the NHS and part of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.  This episode is...

How have GPs Rebecca and Sarah changed their practice as a result of their discussions in season 2 of GPs Talk Cancer? We look back over some of the amazing guests and content that features in the series, and discuss specific things we learned from our inspiring guests. With thanks to: honorary consultant paediatric oncologist Dr Guy Makin; Professor Matthew Makin, a consultant in palliative care...

Rebecca and Sarah discuss the importance, impact and limitations of the breast, bowel and cancer screening programmes in England, Scotland and Wales. Our GP hosts talk through how the three different screening programmes are operated, the benefits of increased patient uptake, plus some of the barriers to attendance and how primary care health professionals can help.  You can access the guidel...

Professor Catherine McBain joins our GP hosts Rebecca and Sarah to discuss how to spot brain tumours earlier in primary care. Professor McBain is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and the Greater Manchester Cancer Lead for Brain and CNS. Our experts mention the importance of headaches plus an increase in the severity and frequency of other symptoms such as cogni...

Dr Wan-Ley Yeung, clinical lead of the GP Inclusion Health Service at Salford Primary Care Together, joins Rebecca and Sarah to discuss how to improve cancer diagnosis in patients with no fixed abode. They discuss the challenges of collecting data and following up with patients with no registered address, examples of how Dr Yeung works with patients in his clinic, the importance of building trust,...

This shorter, bite-size episode sees GPs Rebecca and Sarah discuss the challenges of interpreting blood test results in primary care. Topics covered include the PSA and CA-125 tests and the incidence of false positives and false negatives; red flag symptoms such as new onset raised hba1c, iron deficiency anaemia and raised platelets on a full blood count; plus the role inflammatory markers and liv...

GPs Rebecca and Sarah discuss the risk factors for post-menopausal uterine cancer, symptoms like new onset discharge and visible haematuria, and why you should examine patients before referring them on the cancer pathway. Our GP hosts also cover taking a full patient history, hormone drug compliance and why safety netting is so important for patients who are bleeding on HRT. Plus, being aware of t...

**Please be aware this episode contains some mild swearing** In this bitesize episode, Dr Liz O‘Riordan joins our GP hosts Rebecca and Sarah again to talk about managing the menopausal symptoms of breast cancer treatment. Dr Liz O’Riordan - a best-selling author, speaker, podcast host and former breast cancer surgeon - talks about how patients can manage the side effects of drugs like Tamoxifen, w...

Listen in as our GP hosts, Rebecca and Sarah, are joined in this episode by Dr Liz O’Riordan - a best-selling author, speaker, podcast host and former breast cancer surgeon. Dr O’Riordan shares her tips that enable GPs to be swiftly alert to the signs and symptoms of recurrence and to support patients to remain aware of their risk. They also cover features that affect the likelihood of recurrence,...

GP hosts, Rebecca and Sarah are joined by honorary consultant paediatric oncologist Dr Guy Makin. Listen in as they discuss the incidence of childhood cancers, epithelial versus embryonal tumours, and the significance of unexplained symptomology. They talk through how GPs can support earlier and faster cancer diagnosis – including tips to establish the context behind the child’s symptoms, the impo...

In episode 12, we’re joined by haematology consultant Dr Suzanne Roberts to discuss myeloma. Dr Roberts explains what kind of pain to look out for – like back pain – in this type of blood cancer and how to tell the difference between a musculoskeletal pain versus a pain without a mechanism of injury, or a new-onset pain. She talks through other symptoms like fatigue and anaemia, the C.R....

In this special longer episode, we cover palliative cancer care with Professor Matthew Makin, a consultant in palliative care medicine. Dr Sarah Taylor and Professor Makin discuss assessing terminally ill/end of life cancer patients, how to manage grades of pain, how to discuss the patient’s needs with family members, and what the natural course of dying can look like. Common myths are also debunk...

In episode 10 we cover gastro and oesophageal cancers. Our GPs question how we can best ‘think cancer’ when patients present with vague symptomology. Weight loss, difficulty swallowing, and abdominal pain are some of the key areas covered – with useful safety netting questions shared to provide our listeners with increased confidence when considering cancer as a differential. This episode also cov...

In episode 9 we ask: What is the head and neck cancer risk in people who have a higher intake of caffeinated coffee? (Hint: The answer may surprise you). We delve into research, statistics, and real case studies to identify common and vague red flag symptomology clinicians should be aware of to support the earlier diagnosis of head and neck cancer – and how using the right safety netting language...

We’re back! Join Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor for Series 2 of GPs Talk Cancer. Our GP duo will be discussing different cancer sites, symptoms, and their tips to support earlier cancer detection in primary care – while welcoming leading specialist guests to share their expertise.   New episodes released fortnightly during summer 2024 – Subscribe now.   For more information about Ga...

In this episode, our GP hosts cover pancreatic cancer and share their clinical experiences to support better, faster, and more confident cancer diagnosis in primary care.  Hosts Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are both practicing GPs and GP Leads for GatewayC. Dr Ellen Macpherson, a junior doctor, also joins our hosts. This episode covers:  Statistics Patient cases  Symptoms&nbs...

In this episode, our GP hosts cover cervical cancer and share their clinical experiences to support better, faster, and more confident cancer diagnosis in primary care.  Hosts Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are both practicing GPs and GP Leads for GatewayC. Dr Ellen Macpherson, a junior doctor, also joins our hosts. This episode covers:  Statistics  Patient cases  Symptoms...

In this episode, our GP hosts cover prostate cancer and share their clinical experiences to support better, faster, and more confident cancer diagnosis in primary care.  Hosts Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are both practicing GPs and GP Leads for GatewayC. Dr Ellen Macpherson, a junior doctor, also joins our hosts. This episode covers: Statistics Patient cases  Symptoms  Pitfa...

In this episode, our GP hosts cover breast cancer and share their clinical experiences to support better, faster, and more confident cancer diagnosis in primary care.  Hosts Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are both practicing GPs and GP Leads for GatewayC. Dr Ellen Macpherson, a junior doctor, also joins our hosts.  This week, we welcome our first guest to the podcast - Pete Wallroth...

In this episode, our GP hosts cover non-specific symptoms (NSS) and share their clinical experiences to support better, faster, and more confident cancer diagnosis in primary care.  Hosts Dr Rebecca Leon and Dr Sarah Taylor are both practicing GPs and GP Leads for GatewayC. Dr Ellen Macpherson, a junior doctor, also joins our hosts.  This episode covers:    Patient cases ...