Talking With Cancer

This week's bonus episode is in memory of Paola Marra, who made a moving and thought provoking film with world famous photographer Rankin, about her decision to go to Dignitas in Switzerland to die. Katie was privileged enough to speak to Rankin, about why he made the film for the Dignity in Dying Campaign, which was launched in March 2024 to coincide with Paola’s death.  He talked about his bond...

This week is a sort of bonus episode. At last, Katie speaks with Lauren Mahon, following a few attempts. They have a very open chat about a lot of things. Of course from one podcast host to another they talk about "You, Me & the Big C", and how that legacy lives on. Lauren talks candidly about how she navigates grief and death anxiety, particularly over recent years when so many people close to he...

Katie recently hosted a Cancer Myth Busting workshop at Soho House and in this week’s episode she shares some of that audio. Discussing topics such as a holistic approach to health, chemotherapy, cancer community, radical remission and generally what it’s like to live with cancer.  Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcancer.com  To follow Katie’s journey on...

This week Katie celebrates all the amazing Voices with Cancer who have featured on the podcast this series. She is thrilled to be part of a community of people who have shared their cancer story with her and her listeners. She has learnt something from each one and hopes in turn that having a platform to speak about their experience has helped them in some way too.  Talking With Cancer For all en...

This week Katie thought it might be useful to highlight some of the things she's learnt along the way. So she breaks down four key headings and reflects back. They are: Narratives, Self-Advocacy, Death and Hope. She really hopes this is useful for you too. Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcancer.com  To follow Katie’s journey on Instagram, go to @talking_...

Katie's guest this week has over 20 years working in mycology and the ecosystem, understanding the benefits of mushrooms, and sharing that knowledge all around Europe. In her words she had to evangelise the study of mushrooms to help build her audience and in turn her business. Hearing about the benefits was fascinating, and Katie has first hand experience of their products which she believes have...

Katie is back from her holiday and realises she has become really good at doing nothing, something she is proud to admit. She has a lot to process but isn't quite ready to do that just yet. So she'll wait. She reflects on who she used to be, and how she wants to feel like she is moving forward following everything she's experienced.  Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello...

Katie feels so inspired to have interviewed Dr Nina Fuller Shavel this week. So much so, that she has now become a patient of Synthesis Clinic herself. Their integrative approach to Oncology and Women's Health feels like a breath of fresh, an organisation where healthcare is collaborative, personalised, holistic and above all about feeling well. Nina always wants to look at the "why?"...why does s...

Katie is still processing the amazing news about her clear scan result. And is also trying to get calcium levels back to a steady pace. But she is confident that working with Synthesis Clinic, on an integrative oncology health plan will help her maintain her good level of health & wellbeing with a holistic approach, and she is very excited to get started. This week's VWC is from Florence. Check ou...

Katie chats to the founder of cancer charity Hello Beautiful, Jane Hutchison all about non-toxic lifestyle, and illness prevention. She shares her own story of breast cancer diagnosis, which was in 2012, and why she thoroughly promotes and believes in a life that is toxic-free.  https://www.hellobeautiful.org/ Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcancer.com ...

This is not the episode that anyone is expecting. Katie receives some news that absolutely blows her mind and is trying to digest so much. Despite her joy, she has had to spend some time in hospital lately, but recognises she has a lot to be grateful for. Juliet Simmons on Instagram as @julietsimmons Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcancer.com  To follow...

Katie shares her menopausal symptoms and is trying to find ways to manage them. She’s been noticing how normal life feels lately and realises that she is very much living with cancer as a chronic illness.  Dani Billington on Instagram @healthywholeme Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcancer.com  To follow Katie’s journey on Instagram, go to @talking_withca...

Dame Laura Lee founded Maggie's Centre following her work as a nurse with Maggie Keswick Jencks, who's vision it was to set up beautifully designed cancer centres. The idea being that people impacted by cancer could come along for support and care and have somewhere to be in contrast to the hospital. They should walk out feeling better than when they went in. Laura fully understands the needs of p...

Katie is tired, but that's OK. She partied a lot recently and so it's been well worth it. She reflects on the experience of being social again for the first time in a really long, and was very aware of how special and important it felt to be around loved ones.  You can follow Hayley Gullen On Instagram as @hayleygullen Talking With Cancer For all enquiries or to get in touch: hello@talkingwithcan...

Katie continues to enjoy her relationship with the Institute of Cancer Research and this week she interviews Professor Kevin Harrington, Head of the Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, specialising in head and neck cancer and melanoma. His research in to the immune system and how to use treatment to manipulate, block and deter cancer cells is absolutely fascinating.  https://www.icr.ac.uk/our-re...

Katie marks 50 episodes of the podcast by going back to the very beginning and sharing how it all began. She is so grateful to all her guests and of course Clair for helping to create a body of work that she feels so proud of. As she continues to learn so much throughout the series, she is thrilled that in turn, she is able to share the knowledge, as well as her own very personal experience with c...

The brilliant writer and journalist Rosamund Dean chats to Katie this week about her book Reconstruction; and life after breast cancer when you’re told there is No Evidence of Disease, but a risk of recurrence. She speaks very openly about how hard a reality that is. She shares all the things she's learnt since her diagnosis, and has a huge thirst of knowledge on the subject of health and well-bei...

It’s been a much needed break from the pod and Katie is happy to be back. She shares what’s been a good few weeks of change, and has had some time to reflect and process what she’s been going through. As ever she’s approaching this new chapter with hope and a strong belief that things will be ok. This week’s VWC is from Emily Taylor who is on Instagram as @emystartshealing Talking With Cancer For...

Katie chats to the Rad Chat podcast hosts Jo and Naman today. They share their passion for the world of oncology, specifically their field of radiotherapy. Both continue to practise as therapeutic radiographers. They love the patient interactions and relationships they build along the way. And they are really keen to create more awareness and a better understanding of what they do.  On Instagram a...

Katie talks more about her sessions with her Death Doula and explains how this is a great opportunity for her to think about her life and living. She decides to take a break from social media, and the pod for four weeks. And she gets her mum to share how she felt accompanying her to the colonoscopy a few weeks ago. This week's VWC is from breast cancer patient Andrea Hans @andreahansoc who shares...

Katie interviews theatre director and writer Raz Shaw about how “cancer saved his life”. He reflects back on his cancer journey which happened when he was 28, and how it gave him structure and focus at a time when he was struggling with a gambling addiction. Once he was cured of cancer, his addiction was cured within weeks and he entered in to a new life chapter, doing what he loved for a living a...

Katie feels reborn following her colonoscopy, or more precisely following the prep for it. It feels great to have had some consecutively good days again. She has met with a Death Doula and feels that the more she talks about the death the less scary the subject feels. Katie also shares her experience of couples therapy which is provided through her hospital and has been a positive experience for h...

This week Katie interviews registered dietician Alastair Lynn, who himself was diagnosed with cancer aged 29, in 2019 (he's a VWC in ep 7), and is on a long term treatment plan. They talked about Alastair's training and the work he's done in hospitals as well as his work with cancer patients. They also busted some myths around food groups which was informative and educational. https://www.hcpc-uk....

Inspired by Ed Sheeran's documentary, Katie decides to get real and honest and talk about the bad stuff whilst she’s in it as she reflects all the sadness and upset she’s feeling at the time. She is still managing her persistent cough and is feeling unwell a lot of the time. She is struggling too with how her cancer is impacting those around her and is very conscious of feeling like a burden.  Thi...

Katie speaks to Rabbi Susan Goldberg based in LA who runs the community Nefesh (which means soul). She shares her own cancer story and discusses how her diagnosis enabled her to connect more deeply and more empathetically to her congregation. She works with individuals who are experiencing cancer or other life challenges and tries to help them be ok with all the deep emotions that come with that c...