The C Word Radio

The Breast Surgeon Who Got Breast Cancer

In this episode, my guest shares her unique experience of cancer. 
 
Dr Liz O'Riordan was working as a consultant breast surgeon in 2015 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. 
After decades of treating people with breast cancer, the doctor was now the patient and Liz realised how little she knew about the treatments and experience for breast cancer. 
Three years later cancer returned on her chest wall. She had both breasts removed which meant she couldn't move her left shoulder and was forced to retire. 
 
We cover: 
- what it is like going from doctor to patient 
- Losing your career and identity
- how little we are taught about menopause
 
And more! 
 
Liz’s links
Website https://liz.oriordan.co.uk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oriordanliz/
 
Helen's links:
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer During a Pandemic

Today’s episode will be a continuation of our theme of dealing with cancer during the covid pandemic. It’s basically the two Cs no one wants. 
 
Amanda Wallace joins us from deep in the US mid-west, Idaho. She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 after experiencing flu-like symptoms. At the time she was working at her local movie theatre but once she was diagnosed treatment happened almost instantly. 
 
Amanda had a recurrence in 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. 
"And you're trying to figure out what normal is because it just doesn't seem to exist anymore." - Amanda
 
Going through cancer treatment is one thing, but going through it during a global pandemic? 
No one prepares you for that kind of situation. 
 
In this episode, we talked about:
 
What is it like going through a whirlwind of tests and scans for chemotherapy maintenance.
How to manage cancer recurrence and remission amid the pandemic.
The staggering effect chemotherapy has on the brain.
How cancer confronts people and reveals their true selves in relationships.
And why being a cancer patient is like being a fish in ‘Finding Nemo’... And more! 
 
Helen's links:
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
The C-Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer, Covid, and Children with Guest Jessica Licata

Cancer, Covid, and children are three C’s you never hope to experience at the same time. In this episode, Jessica Licata shares her experience of having a beautiful baby and being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during the pandemic. 
Accessing healthcare as Covid ripped through Chicago was challenging, Jessica shares the lengths she went to in order to get a diagnosis. And why it’s important to learn how to advocate for yourself. 
In this episode, we talked about:
 
The challenge of a cancer diagnosis during the Covid pandemic
How do friendships or relationships dynamics change during and after a cancer diagnosis
The different experiences of pregnancy after cancer remission
What is the importance of having a support group as you battle cancer
Why do you need to celebrate your cancer wins
And more! Check out the full episode. 
Helen's links:
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
 The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.

Humor Beats Cancer with Olivia Clarke

Cancer can be a traumatic experience in both mind and body. Once treatment ends many of us struggle with the fear of reoccurrence. But what if happens when you discover that your cancer has returned?
Our guest for this episode is Olivia Clarke, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. At the end of 2021, her cancer returned.
Despite the challenges she faced in her life, she decided to find humor in her own little ways. This experience has also motivated her to form an online community where she helps people who are undergoing cancer treatment by raising money and awareness with her blog Humor Beats Cancer.
I met Olivia on Instagram in 2018 when I was going through treatment for breast cancer. She reached out to me and I submitted a post for Humor Beats Cancer. I shared one of my more embarrassing stories! You can read it here.
 
In this episode, we talked about:
How do you move on after having cancer
Why you don’t need to be as active as you were pre-cancer
How does cancer affect our relationship with friends and family
What is the importance of a therapist while dealing with cancer
Is it possible to go back to your life pre-cancer
 
Resources and Links Mentioned In This Episode
Olivia Clarke:
Website:https://www.humorbeatscancer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humorbeatscancer/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/humorbeatscancer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/humorbeatcancer?lang=en
 
If you want to contribute or have any funny thing to share, reach out at editor@humorbeatscancer.com

Cancer is the Worst Birthday Present with Jonny Puglia

What's the worst birthday present you've ever had? For New Yorker Jonny Puglia a shock diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer was not the gift he was expecting on his 30th birthday.
Fortunately, Jonny decided not to dwell on it and decided to face it with his humor. After battling stage IV colorectal cancer for years,  beating cancer not once but twice, he has now used his experience to help adults who are also affected by cancer with his blog Thrivr.
In this episode, we talked about:
- Living through cancer symptoms without the benefit of insurance
- Why mental health is just as important as chemotherapy
- How to properly use other people's experiences to help yours
- The importance of having someone come with you to doctor's appointments
- Why you shouldn't shy away from asking your doctor everything you need to know
 
Jonny's links: Website
Instagram
Facebook
 
Helen's links:
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.
 

Cure Our Ovarian Cancer with Jane Ludemann

What would motivate someone to start their own charity in the midst of a shock cancer diagnosis? Jane Ludemann was in her early 30s when she was diagnosed with low-grade serous ovarian cancer in 2017. A rarer form of ovarian cancer, patients are usually given a life expectancy between 5-15yrs and is more common in younger women. 
Jane started the charity Cure Our Ovarian Cancer when she realised how little research or funding there was for her type of ovarian cancer. She works tirelessly to advocate and raise awareness. 
Jane had experienced niggling health problems for a number of years before she was diagnosed. Her story is all too familiar for younger people - she was dismissed a number of times before finally getting her diagnosis. 
 
We discuss Jane's story and answer these questions:
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
What is the life expectancy of someone with ovarian cancer?
How to advocate for yourself in the doctor's office 
How much funding does ovarian cancer receive?
Why is ovarian cancer called 'the silent disease?'
 
...and more! 
Jane's links: 
Donate
Instagram
Facebook
Helen's links:
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.

Get Over It Already: Life after ovarian cancer

How many times have you been asked ‘you’re over it now, right?’ by a well-meaning friend or family member?
In this episode, I’m joined by Mandi Chambless who shares her experience of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 28. Mandi was given a 20% chance of survival beyond five years, 13-years later she’s beaten the odds. 
Mandi shares the first five years after her diagnosis she was terrified of reoccurrence, in fact, the fear of her cancer coming has never gone away. 
 
In this episode we talk about: 
- Ovarian Cancer 
- Infertility after cancer treatment 
- Young people cancer survivorship 
- Relationships & cancer 
 
‘Survivorship to me does not mean I'm a hero. It actually doesn't mean not a warrior to be completely honest with you. It doesn't mean I am special. It doesn't mean that I should be an inspiration. So I've done a lot of writing in the past few years and. One of the things I've written over and over is I'm just a girl that was lucky enough not to die.’
 
Don’t miss this refreshingly honest conversation about what it’s like navigating long-term cancer survival and why we never get over a cancer diagnosis. 
Ovarian Cancer Links
Talk Peach
Cure Our Ovarian Cancer
Mandi’s Links
Instagram @chamblessmandi
Facebook 
 
Helen's links:
Ripple App
Goodpods
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.

Young Cancer Survivorship with Vicky Pellowe

Can you imagine being diagnosed with stage four cancer six months after you got married? In 2016 a bomb went off in the middle of Vicky Pellowe’s world. The 29 was in newlywed bliss when she found a lump in her neck. The Perth local was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and her life was turned upside down. 
 
Vicky’s cancer treatment impacted her fertility, income, and mental health. Like so many young cancer survivors, Vicky struggled to find a post-cancer treatment that resonated with her experience. The first 24 months after her diagnosis was a rollercoaster as she tried to piece her life back together. Vicky shares everything had changed and she felt confused about how to move forward. 
 
“I remember saying to friends and family, I don't know why I feel like this. I'm so happy. I'm so over the moon, I am literally the most grateful in the world that I am still here.
 
So why do I feel confused? Why am I sad? Why am I crying in the car?”
 
In this episode we talk about:
 
Young cancer survivorship
Navigating infertility after cancer treatment 
Mental health challenges after a cancer diagnosis 
Dealing with toxic positivity 
 
Vicky now inspires other young cancer survivors through public speaking. Don’t miss this important discussion about how you can navigate post-treatment life. 
 
Vicky's links: 
https://www.instagram.com/vickypellowe/?hl=en
Helen's links:
Membership on Ko-Fi
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.