Jesse, Farman and Meera join Tatum to share how their sense of time has been impacted by their cancer diagnoses. All three of our guests are living with an incurable cancer diagnosis and they discuss with Tatum how they live now, including how they cope with the pressure to make the most of their time - whether that means keeping busy or chilling out with their cat and watching Eastenders.

Benisha and Poornima chat with Tatum about their cancer diagnoses, feminist fathers, younger brothers' weddings and being single.  They share what it's like to have doctors who understand, as well as as situations which could have been better.  Benisha and Poornima met in a Shine Break Out Programme and they share what it's like to be able to talk to other people who 'get it'.

If you're newly diagnosed with cancer, welcome, you're in the right place.  

In this episode, members of the Shine community share their top tips and what they wish they knew when they were in your position. We have two great guests, Matt, diagnosed just last year with bowel cancer, shares his whirlwind entry into the world of cancer and how important humour is, and Ceinwen, co-founder of Shine Cancer Support, shares the breadth of her knowledge. Having met hundreds of newly diagnosed younger adults she reminds us that however we are feeling we aren't alone and we're not doing it wrong.  

Tatum explores what it's like to carry a 'cancer gene' and speaks to Helen, who carries the BRCA gene, and Cara who has Lynch syndrome. 

Cara developed bowel cancer at 32 for which she was successfully treated. She later developed early stage womb cancer and had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy during the pandemic. Her father had also had bowel cancer. 

Three generations of Helen's family have been affected by cancer, including her mother who died of breast cancer in the 1990s. Helen tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation as a child and later developed ovarian cancer. 

Both Cara and Helen discuss what it's like to live with the constant awareness of cancer and how they continue to process their experiences.

Tatum speaks to Dr. Char Goodwin and Neil MacVicar, both of whom are neurodivergent and have been diagnosed with cancer.

The quote Char references is from Dr Jac den Houting  @JacdenHouting  TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jac_den_houting_why_everything_you_know_about_autism_is_wrong?language=en

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. 

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. 

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

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

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

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. 

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. 

What do you do when your BFF disappears? Or your other friends ghost you? If you've found that some of your friendships haven't lived up to the hype, you're not alone. In this episode, we look how and why this can happen, as well as ways of coping.

Tatum talks to Becca and Will about how their friendships changed after they were diagnosed with cancer, from people who disappeared to those who really stepped up. She also talks to Jenny, a therapist, about why friends might behave in different ways and how we can cope with the situations that can come up within friendship groups. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

If you missed our amazing Shine Connect 2022 young adult cancer conference fear not! In a special podcast episode, we bring you some highlights from our Dating after Cancer and Sex and Intimacy sessions. You'll hear some of the best bits but if you're hankering for more, check out our YouTube playlist for the full sessions. 

In this mini-sode, Shine Cancer Support co-founder Emma Willis discusses her breast cancer diagnosis, aged 29 and how her experiences of isolation led to the creation of Shine. Tatum also chats about the upcoming Shine Connect 2022 conference for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s with cancer. You can view the agenda and speakers (as well as register free) for the conference HERE.

Having a friend die is tough under any circumstance but when you're part of the cancer community it can hit you in a different way. Anxiety (could this happen to me?) and survivor's guilt can all be part of the complex web of feelings that we experience. In this podcast, Tatum, Hannah and Mari talk about how they've managed and why friendships with others who have cancer are so important.

In the third of our series about menopause after cancer, Tatum talks to Dr. Jane Davis, a GP and women's health specialist, about managing menopause when you can't take HRT. 

In the second of our trio of menopause episodes, Tatum talks to Dr. Juliet Balfour, a GP and menopause expert based in Somerset, England. Tatum and Dr. Balfour discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the research on its uses, and how it can help those who are able to take it. 

In the first of our trio of menopause episodes, Tatum talks to three Shine community members about their experiences of menopause after a cancer diagnosis. Together our guests and host discuss the impact of menopause and what's helped them cope.

Our upcoming menopause episodes will include chats with doctors who have expertise in menopause. Our second episode will cover managing menopause with HRT and our third will cover managing menopause without HRT. 

In this episode, we chat to Aff, one of Shine's fabulous volunteers, about her experience of breast cancer as a Black woman in her 30s. From wigs to prosthetics and more, Aff talks to Tatum how and why services need to change to be more inclusive.

In this bonus episode, Tatum talks to Christopher, Maddie and Amber who are all living with cancer long-term. Christopher was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia at 40. He watched and waited over a decade to start treatment. Maddie has had cancer for 8 years, after being diagnosed with a rare sarcoma at 18, while Amber, 21, is living with chronic myeloid leukaemia and will be coming off treatment in January 2025.

In this podcast, all of them reflect on the mental and physical stamina they've needed to live with a diagnosis few people understand. 

June is Pride month and we're delighted to share our new episode on queer sex after a cancer diagnosis. Tatum was joined by Stewart O'Callaghan from Live through This and Lizzy Scott, a radiotherapy specialist who is working to make radiotherapy more queer-inclusive. 

Being a parent with cancer can be especially isolating. You may have friends with children or friends who have cancer - but you probably don't have many friends who are coping with both. 

In this episode, Tatum talks to Sarah and Mark about their experiences looking after little people while navigating life with cancer. 

A huge percentage of people who have cancer and cancer treatment experience 'cancer-related cognitive impairment' - aka 'chemo brain' or 'brain fog'. In this episode, we chat to occupational therapist Tamsin Longley and research nurse Sarah Stapleton from the Royal Marsden in London, two women on a mission to help people affected by brain fog. 

Dominic Walker is a filmmaker storyteller and in this episode, he shares his story of diagnosis and treatment for Grade 4 glioblastoma, as well as how he's (re) learning to live with his diagnosis. This podcast features Dominic's storytelling project which combines spoken word with music and soundscapes, as well as an interview afterwards with podcast host Tatum.

You can hear more of Dominic's work at https://www.purpleear.co.uk or contact him at dominicwalker12@outlook.com. Sound design credit to Caleb Watson.

In this episode, Tatum talks to Barbara and Rime about the long-term impact of cancer and cancer treatment - those "cancer souvenirs" that we often get left with but very often don't talk about. Barbara discusses her tongue cancer diagnosis and treatment, while Rime chats through her experience of breast cancer in her 30s. 

In this episode, Tatum talks to Neil and Elinor about friendships and cancer: how cancer impacts our friendships and how relationships might change through a diagnosis and treatment. 

In this episode members of the Shine team talk about cancer scammers and scams - those people who fake cancer and offer up fake cancer cures - and how they affect us all. And hey, we even cover Belle Gibson so if you're watching Apple Cider Vinegar, have a listen. 

In this episode, Tatum talks about weight (gaining it and losing it!) and how we can eat well with an eye on nourishing ourselves. Guests include Shine member Jemil, fitness coach (and cancer patient) Sarah Newman and registered dietician Victoria Deprez.

Tatum interviews Ceinwen, a founding Director of Shine, and then talks about “scanxiety” with Christopher and Meera, two young adults living with cancer.

Tatum welcomes Dr Isabel White, a Psychosexual Therapist and Oncology Nurse to discuss common issues faced by men and women during and after cancer treatment and answer your questions.

In this episode, we dive into the feelings that numbers and stats can bring up when you're diagnosed with cancer, and talk about how we can put them into context. Tatum speaks to Laragh, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 24 after being told that the chance of having cancer was 'negligible'. She also speaks to Ceinwen, Shine's Co-CEO, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 and thought that the universe owed her some good luck after her diagnosis.

Tatum's final guest is Krishnan Bhaskaran, a statistical epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Krishnan talks about working with numbers and stats, and how he managed when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. He also gives tips on how to understand scientific studies and what to look for if you're trying to find good data on your diagnosis and treatment. 

Tatum talks to three young adults that have all faced a diagnosis of cancer and then coped with symptoms of anxiety, stress or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Richard, Greig and Natalie discuss their experiences and talk about ways of coping.

Tatum interviews Fiona, Shine member and founder of InsuranceWith, a specialist travel insurer for people with pre-existing conditions. She also talks to Kate about travelling after cancer treatment.

How do we respond when someone tells us to keep quiet about our diagnosis? In this episode Tatum talks to three guests who’ve had that experience. Jelilat Oyetunji, Precious and Anoushe share how cancer is perceived in different cultures, how they reacted, and they let us in on how their responses evolved over time.

Produced in partnership with students from Townley Grammar School, in this episode Tatum talks to Chloe and Ed about what it’s like to be a teenager whose parent has cancer and how adults can help them cope.

Dating can be tough at the best of times – but what about after cancer? In this episode of our podcast, Robin and Jess join Tatum in the studio to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of dating after cancer.

In this episode of Not Your Grandma's Cancer Show, Tatum talks to Salma, Geoff, Matt, and Jason about what it’s like to be a partner of a young adult living with a cancer diagnosis.

In this episode, Tatum discusses the way in which fatigue affects us after cancer and talks to three guests who have all dealt with fatigue in different ways.

In this episode, Tatum talks to George about his experiences of work during and after two experiences of leukaemia, as well as a coach who provides support to people returning to work after cancer.

In this episode of Not Your Grandma's Cancer Show, Tatum interviews Marbellys, Adam and Cara, all of whom are living with an incurable cancer diagnosis.

In this episode, Tatum talks to one of the world’s leading cancer researchers, Professor Gerard Evan, about the causes of cancer, why he’s optimistic about the future – and whether a ‘cure for all cancers’ already exists.

This month we're looking at gender identity and cancer. Whether you're non-binary, trans or questioning, Tatum and our guests are here for you, and they're looking at what it feels like when cancer care is set up to affirm a gender that isn't yours. Matt and Angie tell their stories of cancer and treatment, how they coped with assumptions about what surgeries and drugs they should take, and how they've recovered a sense of self along the way. 

In this episode, Tatum talks with Naveed, Mikki and Daniella about guilt, that surprising feeling that can be very powerful.

In this episode we are talking about the end of the infertility line, when cancer has taken away the opportunity to have children. Terri, Clare and Tatum share how they respond to the innocuous but loaded question “Do you have children?”, and how to make space for grief and reinvention.

In this episode, we talk with Dan, Mike and Neil about the impact of cancer and how, as men, they deal with emotions that can emerge.

In this episode, Tatum talks to Stewart from Live through This about living with cancer as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.