I found out about Stan by reading his book and it really spoke to me because it covers all the difficult topics that come with talking to someone with cancer. Stan is a really deep thinker who uses his own cancer experience to distill his wisdom into practical ways of dealing with cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: Dealing with the shock of being diagnosed with cancer How to get the support you want Different perspectives and dealing with reality of cancer and much, much more! Lin...
Mar 20, 2019•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast! I’ve got a great conversation for you today. I’m talking to my new friends, Gabrielle and Alex. They have a podcast called Soar Above Cancer, which I love and we have a fantastic chat today about what it’s really like to be a young adult who’s dealing with cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: The shock of being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult The importance of calling on your support network through treatmen...
Mar 12, 2019•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast! Today you meet with Lee Silverstein who had cancer twice in his life, once as a child and once as an adult. He has such an incredible attitude and he’s using it to live the life the best way that he can and to help other people through his podcast called We Have Cancer. Through this podcast, Lee shares information, inspiration, and hope for living the best life you can despite cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: L...
Feb 28, 2019•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: Worries during cancer, they grow like grass – needs to be cut regularly or it will take over I tried to get into mindfulness, but realised that I already live life this way, taking each day one at a time, appreciating the little things I tried meditating without success – I’d lie down and feel relaxed but still have a million thoughts buzzing around in my head It didn't help - still tense, still all over the place… I discovered that the mind releases tens...
Feb 24, 2019•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: With cancer, it’s so hard to make sense of it all - at times, you feel so lost, there is no energy, no spark… But this one time, I thought to myself – what if this my last day, what would I do now? Seemed scary when it first popped into my head, but the more I thought about it, the easier it has become to only do things that I enjoy, that are important to me right now With this clarifying question, you are only doing things that really matter and everythi...
Feb 19, 2019•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: Everyone sees you in a particular way, and that builds up gradually to form one powerful feeling It seems like an incredibly complex process that we have no control over, yet do so unconsciously with every interaction And when we start to change it, something magical happens! With my son, I thought – how do I want him to see me, remember me? I picked out fun, the one aspect of our relatioship that I wanted to stand out for him, andhe responded to it in a ...
Feb 15, 2019•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: Panic attack can happen at any time it takes over and you're not myself anymore You start to worry: - What if I fall down or faint, or stop breathing? How do other people see me, can they tell what’s going on? But fighting it and trying to keep it under control which makes things worse, leaving you worn out and exhausted A good way to think about it is like a train coming towards you – you can't stop it so get out of the way My technique for dealing with ...
Feb 11, 2019•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast I know that cancer changes the way you look at things, the way you think about the future, even the way you see yourself, but even when things are tough, there is still the light at the end of the tunnel, you can make it through and have the life that you want despite cancer! And that’s what I’m talking about today with my new friend, Jim Adams. Here are some things that we cover today: Reflecting on the cancer experience 28 years later Dealing with the ups and downs of cancer treatment The tran...
Feb 01, 2019•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: When you go through treatment, you get worries that pop up in your head It starts with something small like an ache or a pain and then somehow you start thinking about something awful then it spirals out of control until you can’t stop thinking about it I believe it’s because we lose so much control with cancer things just seem to come out of nowhere So the key to get your power back and that starts with looking at what is within your control It seems lik...
Jan 24, 2019•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here is what is covered in this episode: Treatment is tough and it's important to tackle cancer on every level Mental: to deal with pressure of balancing life and treatment, staying on top of your worries, doing more things that bring you more fun and joy over the long term Physical: being prepared for treatment to speed up recovery, managing side effects better when you know what to watch out for early on, setting yourself up for better life after treatment Social: how to get people in your lif...
Jan 18, 2019•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Look, I know that supporting someone you love through cancer can really be the toughest job in the world. Not only do you have to support them through it, but you somehow have to try to find a way to deal with all the craziness and the uncertainty yourself. Today, we get to hear what it’s like to be a caregiver from Honore, who went on this extraordinary adventure of supporting her husband through cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: The shock of cancer diagnosis in your 20s The tou...
Jan 17, 2019•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In short: Resilience is not about being positive... It's doing your best to work around things that get in your way! And you need the ability to recharge it during the many ups and downs throughout your cancer adventure But where do you find it – I believe that it has to come from people in your life your life is in danger you don’t know what to expect or how things are going to turn out, so this is truly the time when you need your people the most It's makes sense to Accept that you should not ...
Jan 17, 2019•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In short: Some people in your life go missing just when you need them most There were people who let me down cancer treatment that put me on a quest to find out why Having collected and analyzed hundreds of reasons people have provided, I can share with you 3 top reasons why people fade away during cancer Reason #1: Their own fear of death and dying gets in the way of supporting you when it’s easier to turn away from Reason #2: People don't want to offend you by saying the wrong thing so they do...
Dec 31, 2018•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast I’m super excited today because we have Linda who is a world-leading expert at applying mindfulness to dealing with worries and uncertainty, both during cancer and beyond. Here are some things that we cover today: The truth about mindfulness Untangling past, present and future Two ways of coping with trauma Putting mindfulness into practice Step by step diaphragmatic breathing walk through and much, much more! Links About Dr Linda Carlson Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery Mindfulness Based Stres...
Dec 30, 2018•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to making decisions about your cancer treatment, you expect your specialist to have all the answers so you know exactly what you need to do, but often, that’s not how things turn out. You may have different treatment options, each with its pros and cons. All of a sudden, you have to make life and death decisions over things you don’t really understand… So how do you go about making a decision that is right for you? This is what I learned from experience that may help. In short: You...
Dec 28, 2018•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Waiting room hammers home the reality of cancer – yes, this IS actually happening, and it’s happening to you, of all people! Your entire life turns upside down when you are confronted with the ultimate uncertainty... But when you are prepared for what you need to bring with you and what you want to take away from your appointment, you create confidence for getting yourself through treatment in the best way possible. Here are some things that I am going to discuss in this episode: When it comes t...
Dec 28, 2018•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast With cancer comes uncertainty. Often, you don’t really know what’s going on, yet, you have to make decisions over things that you don’t really understand. How do you know what’s happening? How do you know what’s the best option for you when it comes to treatment? Is clinical trial the right way to go? These are just some of the things we’re talking about to David who is a radiation oncologist and who also wrote a fantastic book called "Taking Charge of Cancer". Here are some things that we cover...
Dec 19, 2018•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you’re dealing with cancer, your oncology nurse is there for your every step of the way - asking you about your symptoms, administering treatment. Your nurse is answering the most pressing questions that you have right now and ultimately, helping you preserve your dignity at a time when you really need it the most. Right now, we’re talking to one amazing nurse, her name is Natasha and she’s helped so many folks like you and me to get through treatment in the best way possible. Natasha also ...
Dec 12, 2018•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast I have a really special guest in Sami who is an expert in exercise and cancer who will share why exercise is so crucial during cancer, and how you can do it in a way that really helps you to get the outcomes that you want and also do it in a way that is safe and is really going to make you feel better over the long-term! Here are some things we cover today: Why exercise is crucial during cancer treatment Types of exercise that will help you most during recovery Surprising fact: doing exercise sa...
Nov 20, 2018•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast In her quest for life, Petrea has come through cancer to really find herself again. She has discovered a unique approach to find peace of mind during the craziness and the certainty that comes with cancer. Here are some things we cover today: Finding peace of mind during cancer Responding rather than reacting to crisis situation How commitment to living makes you more resilient The best definition of forgiveness you are likely to come across 4 key characteristics that help you get through cancer...
Nov 07, 2018•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Look, I know there are just a million things you need to worry about when you’re dealing with cancer - you have to plan around treatment, worry about side-effects, and keep your family and friends in check... It’s tough, but there are also many solutions out there to make life easier - and that’s what we’re talking about today with Haryana. Haryana takes her incredible medical expertise and she’s transposing it over the real world, to find better ways of dealing with cancer, from the time that y...
Oct 03, 2018•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Having cancer blow up in your face is never easy, but it’s especially tough when you are only just beginning to make your way through life as a teenager or a young adult. Michael has been through cancer himself and he and went on to become a psychologist helping thousands of young people to deal with cancer. He’s also built this incredible support system through CanTeen, an organisation that helps so many young people to deal with caner emotionally and socially. Michael is simply an amazing pers...
Sep 21, 2018•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Let’s be honest, it’s hard to be positive when cancer has turned your entire world inside out, but we can still look for ways to focus on things that make life a little bit easier, things that give you joy and sharing good times with people that you care about. That’s what we’re talking about today with Ros - she is a cancer survivor who is incredibly passionate about healing and wellness and wrote a book called: "Laughing at Cancer: How to Heal with Love, Laughter, and Mindfulness". Here are so...
Sep 20, 2018•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Isn’t it true that cancer brings home the reality that you’re not forever and so you ask yourself, what happens if I die? Have I been the person that I’ve always wanted to be? How are people going to remember me? Joseph answers these huge existential questions every single day. He’s a rabbi who does some unbelievable work in a hospice helping people who are facing cancer to bring out life and make peace with it. Here are some things we cover today: Universal questions about life and death Surpri...
Sep 01, 2018•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cancer sweeps into your life like a hurricane, and you’re not the same person you were before treatment, and sometimes it’s tough to adjust to those changes, and even tougher to open up about it with people you love, with people you care about. And that’s where we need to talk about sexuality and intimacy and how it works through cancer so today you’re going to hear from Sage who has such an eloquent and down to earth way of working through things, you’re getting the best advice on the planet! H...
Aug 29, 2018•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to friends and family supporting you during cancer, it’s a tricky balance to maintain: on one hand, you don’t want to Impose or come off like you can’t handle it, but then again you want to let them in and help because they want to be there for you, but they don’t know how. Today I’m talking to Rachael who went through cancer herself and created a solution a mobile app that can break those barriers and make it easy for people in your life to help out and for you to get the support ...
Aug 26, 2018•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you’re done with treatment, when you’re hopefully done with cancer, you don’t want to put yourself under too much pressure. You want to have realistic expectations and look after yourself emotionally, physically and socially and connect with the people you care about. That’s really what we’re talking about today with Alene: Knowing your rights as a patient Approaching survivorship as a wellness opportunity The importance of connecting with other cancer patients and survivors Find the right ...
Aug 19, 2018•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to treating cancer, we rush into it as early as possible, and rightly so, you want to get rid of it, but it’s easy to miss something crucial and that’s where we need to talk about fertility. You want to make sure you’re clear about your options, even if you’re not thinking about having kids right now! To help you navigate the world of fertility and cancer, you’re going hear from Mahmoud, here is the expert in the field of oncofertility and is a representative of the Oncofertility C...
Aug 16, 2018•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The way I see it, a clinical trial is a bridge between research and the patient, this is an opportunity to access the latest treatment out there to get the best outcome possible, which is what it’s all about, right? So, in order to find out more about how it all fits together, I’m talking to Ian Davis who is the chair of ANZUP, a group of medical experts who look after clinical trials for below-the-belt cancers. Here is what we cover in this conversation: The Guinea Pig myth Are clinical trials ...
Aug 11, 2018•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yes, it’s hard to put up with cancer, but isn’t it also true that you’ve had to stand up to challenges before? Isn’t it true that you’ve had to come up against problems, against pressure, you had to deal with uncertainty, so is there anything that’s helped you then? Something that’s made things easier? Something that you could perhaps apply to your life right now? This is just one cool strategy that you’re going to hear about from Lisa. Lisa Beatty is a psychologist at Flinders University in Ade...
Aug 09, 2018•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
