Not Your Grandma‘s Cancer Show

Stories of breast cancer

October is breast cancer awareness month and in our latest podcast Tatum speaks to three members of Shine's community about their experiences of the UK's most common cancer.  She speaks to Kate, who was diagnosed in lockdown and Hannah who was diagnosed with breast cancer after an earlier cancer diagnosis. Tatum also speaks to Dror about what it's like to be a man living with advanced breast cancer. 

And now for the science bit: frontiers of cancer research with Prof Gerard Evan

This month, we're delighted to speak to Prof Gerard Evan who is based at the UK's Francis Crick Institute and is one of the world's leading cancer researchers. Prof Evan talks to Tatum about why cancers occur, how we can treat them, and why there are many reasons to be hopeful for the future of cancer treatment. Fun fact: you have more cells in your body than there are stars in a thousand Milky Way galaxies.
Like what you hear? Join us *in person* on 14 October at Shine Connect, the UK's only conference for younger adults with cancer. Find out all the details and register here. 

Talking about cancer, sex and intimacy

In this episode, Tatum chats to Sarah and Cheryl of the Cancer, Sex and Intimacy Project which is now a partner of Shine Cancer Support. Sarah and Cheryl talk about what inspired them to work on the topics of sex and intimacy after cancer and also unpick whether advice not to sleep in the same bed as your partner means you can have sex on the couch....
Cheryl and Sarah will be joining us at Shine Connect (Shine's annual conference) in October 2023. 
You can check out Cancer, Sex and Intimacy on Instagram @sex_cancer_intimacy and read their booklet here. 
 
Cheryl's story: 00:01:20
Sarah's story: 00:02:20
Differences between men and women in approaching sex after cancer: 00:17:29
Reigniting pleasure: 00:23:17
 

Going Out Out! The Pride and Cancer episode

To celebrate London Pride, our podcast this month is looking at how we can navigate the desire to go OUT OUT for Pride while also managing cancer and all the things that brings with it. Tatum is joined on the podcast by Scott, who lives with multiple myeloma, and Indigo who is living with the effects of kidney cancer treatment. 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:54 - Scott's story 
00:11:56 - Indigo's story 
 
Topics:
- LGBTQI+
- Pride
- Multiple myeloma
- Kidney cancer
- Coping with long-term conditions

Talking about infertility: Part 2, Stories of Infertility after Cancer

In this podcast, we explore what it's like to be left infertile after cancer. Tatum talks to Amanda, Katy and Gemma about their experiences of cancer diagnoses, treatment, fertility preservation and adjusting to the thought of a life without children.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:17 - Amanda's story
00:15:04 - Katy's story
00:31:42 - Gemma's story
 
Topics:
- Breast, ovarian and womb cancer
- Cancer diagnosis
- Treatment
- Fertility preservation
- Life without children
- Living with infertility
- Coping strategies

Talking about infertility: Part 1

Tatum speaks to Dr. Cheryl Fitzgerald, a consultant gynaecologist in reproductive medicine in Manchester, and Shine volunteer Hannah, about the ways in which cancer and cancer treatment can affect fertility. They discuss the emotional impact of post-cancer (in)fertility and also provide some really useful tips for shaping discussions with healthcare practitioners. 

Exercise after cancer

May is Shine's Exercise after Cancer Month and on the podcast we've got two great guests: exercise specialist and breast cancer survivor Carolyn Garritt, author of Get Your Oomph Back, and size-inclusive personal trainer Gemma Saeger, who also lives with multiple myeloma. They discuss the ins and outs of exercise after cancer, including why it's important and where to get started if you're not feeling motivated. 
 

Chronic cancer: when your cancer doesn’t fit inside the cancer box

This month we're talking about chronic cancer. Chronic cancer often can't be cured but it also may not need treatment immediately. Sometimes, they can be treated long-term, or they might require treatment every so often.  Myeloma, some lymphomas and leukaemias and even some ovarian cancers can fall into this category, but they're often not well understood by friends and family (or people in general!). Tatum talks to David, Lucy and Kerrie about their experiences. 

And now for our highlights....the Not Your Grandma’s Cancer Show compilation

Just listening in for the first time? Need a reminder of everything we've covered in the podcast? Look no further! In this special episode, we've got a run down of some of topics we've covered previously and a few highlights of our favourite bits. Living with cancer as a young adult isn't easy, but we've got you covered. 

Cancer’s mental health impact: experiences of young adults

In this episode, Tatum welcomes Clare from Shine to review some of the experiences that were shared at Shine's annual conference. They hear from Rime, who lives with bipolar disorder and experienced a severe mental health emergency after her diagnosis; Ben who has experienced anxiety and used alcohol to cope; and from Ciaran who was diagnosed with testicular cancer and then experienced suicidal thoughts. 
Warning: Please be aware that this episode contains descriptions of mental illness, suicide and alcohol abuse.