So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer

I hope this episode bring you as much joy as it did to me to record it - self-proclaimed cancer kicker, poetry prattler, sales director, photo-grapher, animal lover and nature bather (and possibly the world’s wonkiest qualified personal trainer) Dearbhaile O’Hale aka Derv turned to writing when she was diagnosed with breast cancer to help her process the experience. She was generous enough to share some of her poems with us in this special episode, and talk about her own story from diagnosis to now. I hope her words give you some comfort, or perhaps she will inspire you to write yourself. 

 

Show Notes

 

Derv’s book of poems Things Went Tits Up is a joy to read - you can buy a copy here - https://www.thingswenttitsup.ie/

How do you know what to trust online and even - dare I say it - in podcasts, when it comes to breast cancer? There is so much information out there nowadays including people claiming to have “cures” and alternatives to traditional treatments. That’s why I needed to get Consultant Oncologist and Chief Medical Officer for Macmillan, Richard Simcock, onto this episode to help us sift through fact and fiction.  

 

Show Notes

 

Website - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/worried-about-cancer/cancer-myths-and-misinformation

 

Cancer Research also has a guide to spotting cancer misinformation - https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/02/16/sorting-fact-from-fiction-a-guide-to-spotting-health-misinformation/

CEO and Founder of Menopause and Cancer, Dani Binnington, talks to me about her own experience of the menopause with breast cancer, what menopause can look like when you are a BC patient and ways to cope. 

 

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Menopause and Cancer is a global support network to help every woman living with cancer manage their menopause symptoms.

 

For free, practical and accessible support you can visit

www.menopauseandcancer.org

@menopause_and_cancer

 

For a copy of Navigating Menopause After Cancer go here: https://amzn.eu/d/033PUCt6

 

The FB support group Dani mentioned is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/

 

You can also listen to Dani’s podcast here: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-menopause-and-cancer-podcast/id1631842514

Health psychology expert Dr Lauren Heathcote talks to Liz about the impact of breast cancer in our mental health and how to manage the dreaded scanxiety.

 

Find out more about Lauren and her team’s research here - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/lauren-heathcote 

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/entrust

 

Their paper on Scanxiety and ‘bracing for bad news' - is here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-52747-001. 

 

You can also watch this episode! Head to my Youtube channel @DrLizORiordan to see this season’s episodes as they are released and lots of other useful videos full of reliable information. 

 

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter here to find out what I’ve been up to and what I’m recommending each month. 

 

Here are links to buy my third book ‘The Cancer Roadmap’, or the updated edition of my first book ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’. Plus, if you’re nosey and want to find out more about my life, my memoir  ‘Under The Knife’ - is also available in all good bookshops.

Finally, if you loved the show and want to help other women like you find it, press the thumbs up on Youtube, leave a 5-star review or comment wherever you get your podcasts, or buy me a coffee to help keep the show going. Huge thanks to everyone who’s donated so far, it means a lot.

Oncologist and skin care expert Dr Fiona McCarthy talks to Liz about the importance of skincare during treatment, why it’s ok to look after yourself, and what actually works.

 

It’s important to be gentle to your skin during chemotherapy. Use non-perfumed products and avoid soap. You don’t have to spend a lot of money and you don’t need cancer-specific products. If you did want to spend a bit more, Fiona works with and recommends La Roche Posay who have tested their products on people living with cancer. Instead of being confused by serums and toners and drops, Fiona swears by CPM - Cleanse, Moisturise and Protect

 

Cleanse - Try to avoid soap and look for products with syndets (synthetic detergents - this sounds horrible but it’s just soap alternatives which are nice for the skin)

Moisturise- Humectants are key as they draw moisture into the skin - Urea, Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and shea butter are key ingredients which actually work for moisturising the skin (look for them in first 4 or 5 listed, and you don’t have to spend loads on it).

Protect - A good spf is really important for looking after your skin. It doesn’t need to be expensive but it shouldn’t be in your moisturiser - buy it separate. And it should be SPF 30 or over. Fiona loves Altruist  https://altruistsun.com/ that you can get in Boots.  

If you suffer from dry, flaky heels, or your hands and feet are sore during treatment, she recommends Udderly cream and Flexitol heel balm - for heels and hands

And don’t bother buying collagen. 

 

There's some great advice on the Macmillan website - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/changes-to-your-appearance-and-body-image/skin-and-nail-changes-from-cancer-treatment

 

And you can find out more about Fiona's clinic here - www.thebronteclinic.com

 

 

 

You can also watch this episode! Head to my Youtube channel @DrLizORiordan to see this season’s episodes as they are released and lots of other useful videos full of reliable information. 

 

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter here to find out what I’ve been up to and what I’m recommending each month. 

 

Here are links to buy my third book ‘The Cancer Roadmap’, or the updated edition of my first book ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’. Plus, if you’re nosey and want to find out more about my life, my memoir  ‘Under The Knife’ - is also available in all good bookshops.

 

Finally, if you loved the show and want to help other women like you find it, press the thumbs up on Youtube, leave a 5-star review or comment wherever you get your podcasts, or buy me a coffee to help keep the show going. Huge thanks to everyone who’s donated so far, it means a lot.