Explore every episode of the podcast Bad Blood

Dan Clark has leukemia. Not the same as me, but similar. We talk through his experience, what’s hard about it and how it feels.

It’s a heavy one!

Bonus

In this episode, we have our first interview! When Brett woke up one morning with pain in his groin, he knew something wasn’t right.

In this heart wrenching story, hear the low points and high moments of Brett’s journey through testicular cancer,

You can find Brett on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-james1?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

On Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/brettjames07?igsh=ZmdkNzB1Y2xjb2Zx

MacMillan cancer forums: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~cmp~~ag~~ar~670204021147~kw~macmillan%20forum~mt~e&gclsrc=aw.ds&&infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~670204021147~kw~macmillan%20forum~mt~e~cmp~G_PS_COM_BND~ag~Community&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8--BhBREiwAj7og1w1KKgb9EqmEAC9hnVaAQzKx1F0MLWXNAHqCBIQilXrcpfA0KAzGhRoCQmYQAvD_BwE

Most podcasts don’t make it past 7 episodes. This is our 50th!

One year ago today I was smack bang in the middle of week one of my second cycle of chemotherapy.

What does remission mean?

Not always what you think it does.

Is cancer gone? No.

But yes. But depends who is measuring it. And why.

Oh, and I had another eye operation.

Enjoy!

Health visitors were always a lottery.

And I’m having eye surgery again.

Enjoy!

One year ago today, I finished my first cycle of chemotherapy.

11 days post hospital exist.

Discussion on treatment, home life and what health looks like today!

22 years ago today, I was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes.

This is that story.

In the season one finale, I make it home from Hosptial. After 41 days, six gruelling weeks, I get to go home.

And I didn’t even tell Maddi I was coming.

Maddi visited me one year ago today with a Five Guys Burgers and Fries in hand for a date night.

So felt like a good time to bring her on the pod to share some thoughts!

What does a good day look like at hospital?

One year ago today, I was moved back to my own room.

My mental health had a boost, as did my confidence level that I was progressing.

Enjoy!

One year ago today I had my first conversation about work since my diagnosis.

Today, I am having my first day back at work since Christmas!

Another night in hospital. Another day in paradise.

What’s the plan for 2025 I hear you ask? Have a listen, find out!

New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.

Doesn’t it?

2025 is so different to 2024.

Both in terms of the tone of the beginning and the experiences I am going to have.

End of the year.

Moving from a side room to a bay room.

Highlights and excitement.

Happy new year!!

You will see why this was todays episode when you hear tomorrows… but as 2024 draws to a close I wanted to share some thoughts that have been going through my head recently,

Hope it’s enjoyable!

My brother Callum dropped everything when I was diagnosed, and was an amazing support through my cancer journey.

In this episode I discuss the experience and what he felt and saw throughout.

What were my symptoms before diagnosis?

Not medical advice. But also ask your doctor more questions. They might need prompting.

Not driving anymore means I am a passenger princess.

In this concept episode, all recorded while in the car, passenger princessing, (is that a verb?) I discuss a life of no more driving.

One month of episodes deep, and one year on from a whole month in hospital,

One year ago, Boxing Day with the Kings had to come to me. Today we could go to the Kings!

Featuring a returning guest Paul, we discuss the differences between a year ago and today!

Christmas Day in hospital.

Christmas Day at home.

What a difference a year makes.

Listen to the end, you are in for a treat.

What do croissants, Camembert, a Christmas carol and Chinese food have in common?

They are all in this episode!

Featuring Maddi, Quinn and Orla too!

Neutropenia. What is it. Why is it. What does it mean.

I also talk about blood transfusions.

Why i couldn’t visit home on Christmas Day last year.

Adam Thomas’ story: https://newsletters.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/a-fight-begins-for-a-man-known-but-not-really-to-50000-plus-leeds-fans

His twitter if you need to cry: https://x.com/walmot_?s=21&t=sVEhXvgmgcjmrAzKQiezPA

And gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/walmot-let-what-you-love-be-what-you-do?attribution_id=sl:8c262c2e-9b03-4620-b18e-6b84444083b6&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

One year ago today, I started keeping a journal.

Want to find out what it said? Have a listen!

Creating habits and setting goals helped me last year.

Reflecting on it this year at a Christmas party,

How do I find out I’m not going home for Christmas?

The cycle of knowledge transfer to me was terrible. Why? Who knows.

First - apologies for the late upload!

This episode is all about my move from Freeman Hospital in a Newcastle to York Hospital, one year ago today.

It’s always darkest before the dawn.

The day before I moved to York hospital, one year ago.

I had a day full of worries. A time full of worries.

Enjoy!

An episode celebrating the wonderful nurses and healthcare assistants that looked after me in Newcastle.

Sponsoring this episode (decided by us, not paid for by them) is Bright Red, a Newcastle based charity that helps provide better support for blood cancer patients through the nurses that care for them.

You can support them here: https://www.brightred.org.uk/

The most important person in my life shares her version of events.

These are apparently the correct version, as they are unimpeded by the haziness that comes with being the person with Leukemia.

Yes, this is a Taylor Swift inspired title.

Enjoy, Diagnosis (Maddi’s Version)

Is 6 weeks even a long time? Does my cancer even count as ‘real’ cancer?

All this and more in today’s episode!

I can only apologise for the sound levels in this episode.

My kids love to shout and can only be restrained somewhat.

Enjoy!!

Discussions on hope, comparing a lack of it one year ago despite positive signs, and a filling of it today despite difficulty.

The dreaded move from my side room to a bay room was today.

Along with a hospital hair cut and recovery from my eye operation, you are in for quite an episode!

First things first, apologies it is a day late!

As I wrap up some stories from the last two weeks, follow me to hospital again for a vitrectomy.

Be warned, this episode includes some gory details of what they are doing to my eyes.

13 days after my diagnosis, and I finally get to see my children.

Only for them to be unceremoniously removed after a short visit.

Featuring the wonderful aforementioned Maddi for the first time properly on the podcast:

Bonus Episode where I share a recording of the talk I delivered at church today.

As you may have guessed, I’m a believer.

In this episode I share some of my beliefs, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but more importantly how those beliefs helped me while going through cancer.

All views are my own!

MySalesCoach (MySalesCoach.com) is the business I am a cofounder in with Mark and Kev.

It’s truly a wonderful business. But the people are even better.

My colleagues, our coaches, our customers. All of them. Wonderful.

I talk a little about a blood cancer charity that’s based in Newcastle called Bright Red in this episode. You can learn more about them here: https://www.brightred.org.uk/

An episode of two very distinct parts.

Part one is a tribute to my visitors.

Thank you for all of you who visited me in hospital. You meant so much to me!

Part two is all about an injection I had in my eye today.

Not for the faint of stomach. Or eye.

Enjoy!

Such an important topic. Such a rollercoaster.

Being in hospital one year ago was the worst mental health period of my life. In this episode I talk about how that felt, why that was and what helped the most to mitigate it,

I also compare it with where I am today, and how I deal with challenges to my mental health now.

Short discussion on sleeping, or not in hospital, followed by the story of my laser eye surgery under general anaesthetic a few weeks ago.

What is a day in the life of a hospital inpatient?

Obvs after obvs after obvs.

Reflections on a daily routine and what happened one year ago today.

With moments shared from one year ago today, I reflect on how I responded to my cancer diagnosis differently to a more recent diabetic retinopathy diagnosis.

You also will get to hear all about my laser eye surgeries … and from Shrek.

This was the Friday night of my first weekend in hospital.

A shorter episode today, but it would be remiss of me not to talk about Maddi. My wife, my rock, my support, my life.

Alongside a sprinkling of Christmas!

Chemotherapy. Kinda.

What happens? What do you get told? How does it feel?

All this plus some visits from family members alongside,