My Health Focus

Show Notes Dr Adam Barsouk, oncology fellow at Johns Hopkins University and author of Outsmarting Cancer: Risk Reduction and the Power of Prevention, joins Catriona Williams to discuss why half of all cancer diagnoses could be prevented and why modern medicine has focused on treatment rather than prevention. Key takeaways: 1. Obesity is the second leading cause of cancer globally after smoking, co...

Most people assume clinical trials are purely about testing new medicines. But what if the process of being screened to join a trial could uncover a health condition you didn't know you had? In this episode, Catriona is joined by Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager at Liverpool's Clinical Research Facility, and Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director of the NIHR-funded CRF at the Royal Liverpo...

When Bridget McNulty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 years ago, she felt like the only person in the world it had ever happened to. She later discovered that almost everyone she spoke to had felt exactly the same way. Bridget is the founder of Sweet Life, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and a published author. In this episode, Catriona talks to her about why that sense of i...

Dr Max Draper, author of Testosterone Decoded, joins Catriona Williams to discuss the dramatic decline in testosterone levels since the 1980s and its implications for men's health. After experiencing low testosterone following testicular cancer, Dr Draper changed his career focus to specialise in this overlooked area of men's health. In this episode, he explains how testosterone affects far more t...

Living with Gallstones When Juliet Sullivan collapsed in agony on a pavement in England, she had no idea what was happening to her. The diagnosis was gallstones, and along with it came instructions to follow a low-fat diet for several months until her gallbladder could be removed. What she could not find anywhere was a practical, accessible book to help her through it. So she wrote one. In this ep...

In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Rolfe, author of The Addiction Blueprint , to explore a form of addiction that often goes unnoticed — high-functioning addiction. From the outside, it can look like success: long hours, professional drive, financial achievement, responsibility. But beneath the surface can sit exhaustion, trauma, stress and emotional disconnection. Oliver shares his own expe...

In this Medmin episode, Catriona Williams is joined by Javeria Iqbal, Consultant Breast Surgeon, to discuss common breast symptoms and what to expect when attending a breast clinic. The conversation focuses on reassurance, early assessment and helping people understand which changes should be checked and how clinics work. Discussion includes: •Common breast symptoms and changes •What is considered...

In this episode, Catriona Williams speaks with personal trainer Becky Lever about protecting mental and physical health when using GLP-1 medications. They explore the importance of support, self-awareness and monitoring both emotional and physical changes throughout the process. Discussion includes: •Mental wellbeing during weight loss •Physical health and muscle maintenance •Side effects and seek...

In this episode, Catriona Williams is joined by Karen Lee, nutritionist and former intensive care nurse, to discuss autoimmune conditions and the role of whole food plant-based nutrition. Karen shares both professional insight and lived experience following her MS diagnosis. Discussion includes: •Understanding autoimmune conditions •Gut health and inflammation •Fibre, microbiome and immune balance...

In this episode, Catriona Williams continues the GLP-1 series with personal trainer Becky Lever, focusing on how the body may respond during the early stages of taking GLP-1 medications. Together, they discuss commonly reported reactions such as nausea, reduced appetite, digestive changes, fatigue, and brain fog, while emphasising that experiences can vary widely between individuals. Becky explain...

In this episode, Catriona Williams is joined by GP and menopause specialist Dr Jackie Radley to discuss menopause management both with and without HRT. They explore why many women seek HRT, why some cannot take it for medical reasons, and why others prefer not to use hormones. The conversation looks at how menopause symptoms can overlap with long-term and chronic health conditions, sometimes makin...

In this episode of My Health Focus , host Catriona Williams continues the GLP-1 series with personal trainer Becky Lever, focusing on the topic of food noise. Building on the previous conversation with Sally, this episode explores what food noise means, how people experience it, and why it is such a significant part of the GLP-1 journey. Becky shares insights from working with clients who are usin...

In this episode, Catriona Williams speaks with consultant oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgeon Mr Jamie Vatish about how women can meaningfully reduce their risk of breast cancer. They discuss how lifestyle factors such as weight, alcohol and smoking influence breast cancer risk, and why prevention plays a larger role than many people realise. Mr Vatish explains how risk changes with age,...

Gallstones affect a large proportion of adults, yet many people are unclear about what the gallbladder does, why stones form, and when they need treatment. In this episode, Catriona Williams speaks with Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgeon Mr Nikolaos Chatzizacharias about gallbladder health. He explains the role of the gallbladder in digestion, how gallstones develop, an...

In this episode, Catriona Williams continues her GLP-1 series with an honest conversation about lived experience, informed choice, and long-term health. Sally, who lives with type 1 diabetes, shares her experience of being prescribed a GLP-1 medication off-licence through her NHS diabetes team. She explains why it was offered, how it affected appetite and food noise, and the challenges of navigati...

Vaginal health is one of the least talked-about — yet most common — aspects of menopause. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jacqueline Radley , GP and British Menopause Society–accredited menopause specialist and founder of The Birmingham Menopause Clinic, for an open and reassuring conversation about vaginal atrophy, also known as genitourinary syndrome of the menopause (GSM). Dr Radley explain...

GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Explained: What You Need to Know GLP-1 medications are increasingly used for weight loss, yet many people feel uncertain about how they work, their side effects, and how to manage the physical and psychological changes that come with them. In this first episode of a new series, we’re joined by personal trainer Becky Lever to explore what GLP-1s are, why they were developed,...