Talking Blood Cancer

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Kate Arkadieff speaks with Eve Cossette about her experience with a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Diagnosed during the height of COVID-19 while living far from her family in Canada, Eve's journey offers insights into both the physical and emotional challenges of facing blood cancer. Eve shares the unexpected nature of he...

In this special episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, hosts Kate Arkadieff and Maryanne Skarparis wrap up the season and reflect on an incredible year filled with impactful stories. They discuss the various conversations they've had throughout the year. Kate and Maryanne share their appreciation for the healthcare professionals who have provided insights and support to the community. Emphas...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Kate Arkadieff speaks with Bhaskar Majumdar and his daughter, Urvi Majumdar, about their experience with blood cancer and the profound impact it had on their lives. Discussing the complexities of Bhaskar’s journey, beginning with his initial diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and the subsequent need for an allogeneic haemopoie...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis is joined by Michael Burridge, who candidly shares his experience living with blood cancer. Michael, a resident of Emerald, Queensland, recounts his life before diagnosis, working in the mining industry and living on a farm. He delves into the four years leading up to his diagnosis when he was misdiagnosed with various co...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Kate Arkadieff is joined by Siobhan Hoy to discuss her experiences living with blood cancer and the aftermath of her treatment. Siobhan's journey with leukaemia, starts from her initial diagnosis at 14 to her experience with a relapse at 18. She opens up about the physical and emotional hurdles she encountered, the impact on her family, and...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis is joined by Rosie Proctor to recount her journey with acute myeloid leukaemia. Diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 32, Rosie shares the initial symptoms she experienced, including pain in her hip and a high fever, leading to her diagnosis.   Rosie elaborates on the challenges and emotions she encountered following her d...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis is joined by Dr Ralph McConaghy to discuss the important topic of having early conversations about serious illness and end-of-life decisions. Dr McConaghy, who is the Medical Director of the Palliative Care Service at Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, emphasises the necessity of open communication with loved ones about potenti...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis is joined by Sage Wilder to discuss his personal journey with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Diagnosed in 2016, Sage details his experiences from the initial symptoms, including extreme fatigue and night sweats, through to his intense chemotherapy treatment and eventual bone marrow transplant. Sage discusses the phy...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Kate Arkadieff is joined by Eleanor Davis to explore the vital topic of estate planning, particularly in the context of those affected by blood cancer. Eleanor Davis, a Senior Associate and Practice Manager with David Davis & Associates, shares her professional insights on the importance of appointing Financial and Personal Attorneys as...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis is joined by guest Joshua Gourlay, who shares his personal journey of living with blood cancer. Joshua candidly reflects on his experience of processing the diagnosis and the subsequent impact on his life, asserting the mindset that "life is too short" to waste. This led him to make a significant and impulsive decision to...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, Maryanne Skarparis is joined by guest Vince O'Donnell to talk about his experiences living with hereditary amyloidosis. Vince shares that he was diagnosed at 59 and has surpassed his prognosis by about seven years, thanks to advancements in treatment options. They discuss the impact of genetic testing in identifying hereditary conditions, the sy...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Kate Arkadieff is joined by Nerys Welch, who shares her deeply personal experience as the caregiver and widow of her husband, Richard, who battled T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Kate sets the tone by acknowledging the sensitive nature of grief and loss, encouraging listeners to approach the episode with compassion towards themselves...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, Kate Arkadieff invites Theresa Webb to share her deeply personal journey with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and her daughter's battle with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Kate begins the conversation by acknowledging the tough reality faced by patients and their families. Theresa opens up about the complexities of managing her own health alongside her r...

In this enlightening episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Maryanne Skarparis welcomes Perry Judd, a remarkable blood cancer survivor with a tale of resilience and triumph. Throughout the episode, Perry provides an in-depth look at his personal ordeal with blood cancer, recalling a harrowing infection that led to a transformative health journey. His narrative details a demanding transp...

In this episode of Talking Blood Cancer, host Kate Arkadieff welcomes Tahli Batkilin, who bravely shares her personal battle and subsequent victory over blood cancer. Tahli takes us through the moment she first received her lymphoma diagnosis amidst the chaos of lockdown and running her home baking business. The confusion of initial misdiagnoses escalating to the eventual life-changing news is rec...

In this inaugural episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, our distinguished host Kate Arkadieff welcomes Peter Geary, a resolute myeloma patient and advocate, to share his profound journey since being diagnosed with asymptomatic myeloma in 2018. The episode begins with Peter recounting the moment of diagnosis and the subsequent "watch and wait" approach that marked the early days of his exper...

In this special Christmas wrap-up episode of Talking Blood Cancer, hosts Kate and Maryanne reflect on the stories and conversations shared in Season 3 of the podcast.   We touch on various topics including feelings of happiness, managing fatigue, coping with infections, and pondering the essence of time. The festive season is a significant time, one that it can be both a time of celebrat...

In this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer podcast, host Vanessa is joined by guest Glenys Davidson to share her journey with acute myeloid leukaemia candidly.    Vanessa reflects on the observation of people navigating through treatment at the facility where she is based, setting the stage for a real, raw conversation about the impact of blood cancer on patients and their support netwo...

Harry shares in conversation how he valued working and how it was essential to his recovery to remain committed to challenging his mind. He also shares the importance of good relationships and how he relied on these in his recovery. 

Lisa Smith is the CEO of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR). ABMDR is the only organisation in Australia responsible for arranging bone marrow/blood stem cell donations for patients needing a transplant. ABMDR also administers government funding of public cord blood banks in Australia.  Lisa shares in this podcast the purpose of ABMDR and her passion for this area. LIVE  N...

Carmel Woodrow has been in nursing for over 40 years, with 30 of those years spent in haematology.  Now working as a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Carmel focuses mainly on myeloma and amyloidosis patients. The Leukaemia Foundation offers a range of services. Click below to read more. Accommodation services Support services

Jennifer Marx shares insight into being diagnosed with myeloma at almost 27 years old - a condition far more prevalent in older people.  Jennifer shares how she navigated the healthcare system, managed treatment and relationships, and her experience having two autologous transplants. The Leukaemia Foundation offer a range of services. Click below to read more. Accommodation services Support s...

In May 2020, Fiona was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Also known as MDS, it is a type of blood cancer that affects the production of normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Fiona shares what it was like to be diagnosed with a rare blood disease as a mother of five, wife and nurse, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fiona has since participated in the World's Greatest Shave and raised...

As 2022 draws to a close, our hosts Kate, Maryanne and Vanessa reflect on the past year and all the wonderful guests who have shared their stories for Season Two of Talking Blood Cancer. Stay tuned for Season Three in the coming months. Did you enjoy listening? We're always looking to improve our podcast so we'd love your feedback. Follow this link to answer our short survey. The Leukaemia Foundat...

Living in regional NSW as a cattle farmer, Regina Batten noticed she was becoming increasingly fatigued. It was a week before her wedding however, so a blood cancer diagnosis was the last thing on her mind. After a visit to the doctor and some blood tests, it wasn't long before Regina was told the news - she had acute myeloid leukaemia . Regina was rushed to hospital in Sydney where she had chemot...