How do you cope with the fear of recurrence? What do you do when scanxiety hits? Can you make your family understand what you’re going through? This episode is all about how to cope with anxiety with Dr Suzanne Cruickshank, a breast cancer nurse who now leads research at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London about how to help people cope with the fear of recurrence. ****** Susanne spoke about the Ruth Strauss Foundation - https://ruthstraussfoundation.com/ Maggies also offer counselling services ...
Dec 11, 2024•38 min•Ep. 11
Breast cancer can be really scary, especially when your oncologist rattles off a list of treatments and side effects. I can’t think of anyone better to help me explain what they are and why you have them than Dr Eleonora Teplinsky. She’s the Head of Breast and Gynecologic Medical Oncology at Valley Health System and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She dedicates her free time to creating videos on YouTube and Instagram to explain breast cancer ...
Dec 04, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 7
How do you style your new body shape after breast cancer ? Where do you get the confidence to try something new? What do you do when your grey chemo curls mean that the colours in your wardrobe don’t suit you anymore? This episode is all about how to find your style again with Alyson Walsh, journalist, author and founder of ‘That’s Not My Age’ ****** You can find Alyson’s site That's Not My Age here: https://thatsnotmyage.com/ You can also find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsno...
Nov 27, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Do you struggle to get a good nights’ sleep? Is the fear of recurrence keeping you awake? Can you ever get rid of insomnia? On this episode I'll be finding out how we can improve our sleep with Alison Gardiner - behavioural psychologist and CEO and Founder of Sleepstation, the UK’s leading online sleep support programme for insomnia. There’s also a discount code below so you can try it for free. ****** To find out more about Sleepstation just visit https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/ You can also f...
Nov 20, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Do you know what your legal rights are when returning to work after cancer? What should your employer do to help you get back to work? Do you have to say you’ve got cancer in a job interview? This episode is all about getting back to work with Barbara Wilson, the founder of the social enterprise Working with Cancer. ****** You can find Working with Cancer on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-with-cancer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingwithcanceruk Or head straight t...
Nov 13, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Can changing your diet stop your cancer coming back? What does a healthy plate of food look like? Are probiotics worth the hype? This episode is all about what to eat after breast cancer treatment with Associate Professor Dr Krystle Zuniga. She’s a board certified oncology dietician with a PhD in nutritional sciences and a clinical cancer exercise specialist, and she puts out incredible posts on instagram to give us all sensible, evidence-based advice about what to eat after a cancer diagnosis. ...
Nov 06, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Is your hair starting to fall out? Do you want to know what shampoo you should be using? Is there anything you can do to stop it happening? This episode is all about hair thinning during breast cancer treatment with Jasmin Julia Gupta, founder of Cancer Hair Care. We had a great response to Jasmin’s episode in Season Two talking all about hair loss during chemo. I ran out of time to ask her all your questions, and she kindly agreed to come back and help us deal with this really sensitive subject...
Oct 30, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 2
How do you keep going when your world falls apart? Can you make a difference and turn a bad thing into a good thing? Is it possible to get your fitness back when treatment ends? To kick off Season 3 of So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer, I’m speaking to a very special guest, the Olympian Donna Fraser OBE. She’s a quadruple Olympian sprinter who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 while she was still a professional athlete. She has since been awarded an OBE for her services to equality, inclusion...
Oct 23, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 1
I know what it’s like to have your sex life turned upside down by breast cancer treatment. I’d only been married for a couple of years and neither my husband Dermot or I were prepared for what was about to happen. I wanted him to divorce me and find a woman with 2 healthy breasts and a libido to match.And I know I’m not alone. You’ve sent me so many questions about this that have made my heart break just reading them, and I’m thrilled that we’ve got Charlene Douglas with us this episode to answe...
Apr 24, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Is it true that sugar feeds cancer? Do you really need to detox? What should you eat when you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer? As a breast surgeon I had no idea my patients were scouring the internet looking for a miracle diet, but the minute I became a patient I realised how much misinformation is out there regarding what we should eat. On this episode I’m going to set the record straight with the help of Dr Clare Shaw, consultant oncology dietitian and author of The Royal Marsden Cancer C...
Apr 17, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Have you found out that you need to have radiotherapy? Do you want to know how it works or why you need it in the first place? Maybe you're worried about the side effects? In this episode I’m going to answer all your questions about radiotherapy with this weeks’ experts, Jo and Naman, the two therapeutic radiographers behind the award-winning podcast RadChat. ****** You can find out all about Radchat and loads of radiotherapy support sites here My amazing podcast poet is Donna Ashworth and you h...
Apr 10, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 6
One of the questions I dreaded getting asked when I worked as a breast surgeon was ‘How do I tell my children?’ I don’t have children of my own, and I had no idea what to say. My breast care nurses would step in and I would breathe a sigh of relief. Judging from all your questions this week, telling your children you have cancer can be fraught with anxiety, worry, guilt and stress. And that’s the last thing you need when you’re going through breast cancer treatment. This week’s guest is here to ...
Apr 03, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 5
One of the first questions my patients asked when I told them they needed chemo was ‘Am I going to lose my hair?’. And when your hair does fall out, there are even more questions. Why does it come back grey and curly? How do I explain to my children that I’m bald? Where can you find a decent wig? On this episode I’m going to answer all your questions about hair loss with this week’s guest, Jasmin Julia Gupta, founder of the charity Cancer Hair Care. She's a hairdresser and a hair loss expert who...
Mar 27, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Just hearing the words ‘you need chemotherapy’ can turn your world upside down. I hated telling my patients they needed it, and when I found I out I would have it myself, I felt lost.Would my hair fall out? How bad would it be? Would it work? How would I cope? Add to that the other drugs we give patients - targeted therapies and immunotherapy - it can feel like treatment never ends. That’s when you need someone in your pocket you can call for help, and on this episode we have Rachel Clifton, a M...
Mar 20, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Are you struggling to decide what breast surgery to choose? Do you want to know if it’s worth having both breasts removed? How do you work out whether to have a breast reconstruction? There are so many things to consider when it comes to breast surgery, and in this episode I’m going to answer all your questions with this week’s guest, Anushka Chaudhry. She’s a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and like me and is committed to making sure her patients get the best possible care. She also dedic...
Mar 13, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 2
I'm really excited to tell you that we're starting season 2 with a bit of sparkle. Amy Dowden is one of the highest ranked ballroom and Latin American dancers in the county, and star of Saturday Night blockbuster TV show Strictly Come Dancing. And like many of you, I was so angry and sad when she told us that she had breast cancer in May last year at the age of 32. She’s bravely shared each step of her journey, and I’m thrilled that Amy has joined me to talk about her diagnosis, dealing with bre...
Mar 06, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 1
I’m excited to announce that So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer is back! Season two is coming soon, packed full of useful - and reliable - information for anyone who’s just been diagnosed, from how to tell your kids, to how chemo works, and what to eat… all powered by YOUR questions. Here’s a little flavour of season one, and details below of how you can get in touch. ****** If you’ve got a question for season two, then please get in touch online or send me a voice note. You can find me on social med...
Feb 17, 2024•2 min
To mark the end of the month I’m releasing another bonus episode! This is a conversation I had in my previous podcast Don’t Ignore the Elephant which was hugely popular and I think could help you too. It’s all about sex, and I’m in conversation with sex expert Sam Evans - aka Sam Talks Sex. After Annice’s episode on the menopause, I had so many questions about sex and intimacy, and a lot of your queries are answered in this show. We cover sexual health, sexual pleasure, why lube is your best fri...
Jan 31, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Happy New Year everyone! While I prep season two I’m sharing a couple of bonus episodes with you. They’re conversations from my last podcast, Don’t Ignore the Elephant. I covered the things that no-one else talks about, and it touched a lot of people at the time. They’re subjects I’m really passionate about as a breast cancer patient myself, so that’s why I’m re-releasing them now as part of ‘So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer’. This re-run is all about taking the fear out of death and dying, with Pa...
Jan 17, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Getting a diagnosis of breast cancer can be terrifying. One of the first thoughts that ran through my mind 8 years ago when I found a lump was ‘Am I going to die?’ It’s often the first question my patients asked me when I told them they needed chemo. You could say it’s a ridiculous question to ask, as we are all going to die at some point, but the fear of dying from breast cancer is real. This week’s guest, Kris Hallenga, has been living with that fear for the last 14 years. She’s the founder of...
Dec 06, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Are you scared that you’ll get lymphoedema? Has anyone actually told you what it is? Do you wonder if there’s anything you can do to prevent it ? I’ve had so many questions about this - and it’s something that has worried me ever since I was diagnosed all those years ago. On this episode, I’m going to put your mind at ease and tell you everything you need to know with this week’s guest Dr Melanie Thomas. She’s the National Clinical Lead for Lymph Wales and she’s my go-to woman whenever I’ve got ...
Nov 29, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Do you ever wonder if every breast cancer patient is treated the same? I thought they were until I listened to this week’s guest talking about her experiences during treatment. Several of you shared your own stories with me saying that cancer isn’t talked about in your community. You’re also wondering why you don’t see yourself represented in breast cancer spaces. On this episode, I’m speaking about this with Leanne Pero MBE, founder of Black Women Rising, who's leading the charge in making brea...
Nov 22, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Did you know that exercise should be the first treatment you get for breast cancer? Maybe you’re motivated to finally get fit but you don’t know where to start? Or has someone told you that exercise can stop your cancer coming back but you don’t believe it’s true? On this episode I’m answering all your questions about breast cancer and exercise with this week’s guest, Dr Kathryn Schmitz from the University of Pittsburgh. She’s dedicated her life to researching the benefits of exercise for cancer...
Nov 15, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Are you struggling to cope with the menopausal side effects of breast cancer treatment? Do you lie awake at night tossing and turning as the sweat pours off your body? Maybe you wish there was something you could take when HRT is off the table? On this episode I’m going to answer all your questions about breast cancer treatment and the menopause with this week’s guest, Professor Annice Mukherjee. She’s a consultant endocrinologist, and the author of ‘The Complete Guide to the Menopause.’ ****** ...
Nov 08, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Being diagnosed with breast cancer floored me mentally. I could handle the side effects of chemo by swallowing tablet after tablet, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts running through my head. Like many of you, I would lie awake until the small hours of the morning thinking things like ‘Am I going to die?’, ‘IIs it going to come back?’ ‘How am I going to get through this?’ On this episode I’m going to help you deal with the tough stuff with the help of the amazing Professor Dame Lesley Fallowfield,...
Nov 01, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 3
How do you find a bra that fits after a mastectomy? Has your relationship with your breasts changed and you’re struggling to accept your new shape? Or maybe you don’t know how to check your breasts now that everything’s changed? This episode is all about breast health after breast cancer and I’m joined by the incredible Dr Philippa Kaye to answer your questions. She’s a well-known GP, a regular on the sofa at This Morning and author of the great book ‘Breasts: An Owner’s Guide’. ******* If you w...
Oct 25, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 2
I’m kicking off this new season - and new podcast - with a special show. I’ll explain what to expect from So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer, answer some of your questions and introduce you to our new podcast poet, the incredible Donna Ashworth. ******* If you want to find out more about the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer, here are some great resources: abcdiagnosis.co.uk Future Dreams Breast Cancer Now My amazing podcast poet is Donna Ashworth and you heard a poem from her new book ‘W...
Oct 18, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 1
I’ve got a very special announcement for you… the podcast is changing! It’s time to say goodbye to Don’t Ignore the Elephant, and hello to my new podcast - So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer. I’m going to be focusing on all the issues that people you like face, when you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. You could say I’m an expert in breast cancer. After all, I was a consultant breast surgeon before I had breast cancer three times... Now it’s time to put all my knowledge to good use in this safe ...
Oct 03, 2023•1 min
This week’s guest is Natalie Woodward, a truly remarkable young woman. She was diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer at the age of 36, but after a full year of treatment, the cancer started to grow. In the middle of the pandemic, she literally had the mother of all operations to remove it. She had to learn to walk again. To dance again. To accept she would never have sex again. And yet there is still hope. She is passionate about balancing the scales when it comes to cancer treatment. Cancer po...
May 10, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This week’s guest is Eleanor Mills, award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster who founded of Noon, an online community to bring together women celebrating the opportunities of midlife. She describes it as a time for transformation and reinvention as a Queenager, and I want to be one. Many of us reach a mid-life clusterf*ck when everything can seem to crumble around us – divorce, bereavement, redundancy, difficult teenagers, elderly parents, physical and mental health problems, and that’s ...
May 03, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 7
