If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you or someone you love has recently received some unwelcome news: you’ve got cancer. Those are three words that nobody wants to hear.

There are 375,000 cancer diagnoses in the UK every year and if you’re one of them, no doubt you’ll have a lot of questions.

The first of which is likely, “now what?”

Now What? Your Cancer Support Podcast is hosted by Julia Bradbury and features personal testimony from over a dozen patients from Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, all of whom have been through the cancer journey. Across a variety of topics, such as coping with a diagnosis and building a support network, they’ll offer advice and first-hand experience with a disease that will at some point, either directly or indirectly, affect us all. Think of them as your cancer support group…just in audio form.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year, 375,000 people across the UK receive news from their doctor that completely turns their lives upside down: “you’ve got cancer”. The moment of diagnosis is such a destabilising experience that most people will hear nothing else beyond those three words. But you’re not alone. We’re here to help.

In our first episode we’ll introduce you to your peer support group. They come from a wide range of backgrounds. One thing they all have in common? First-hand experience with cancer in its many shapes and forms. They’ll tell you how they processed their diagnosis as well as offer advice, like what questions to ask your doctor and how having someone with you when you first hear the news can be enormously beneficial.

This podcast was developed in collaboration with the Cancer Psychology Collective.

Resources:

Help to deal with a diagnosis

What to expect from an urgent cancer referral

Tools for personalised cancer care

For more information and resources relating to the content of today’s episode, visit our website at https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following your diagnosis, there’s further difficult conversations to be had. How do you let the people in your life know that you have cancer? There are many reasons why you might hold off on sharing your diagnosis with loved ones: a fear of burdening them with such heavy news, a desire to retain your independence, or a worry that others may make a big fuss. Telling your loved ones about a potentially fatal disease is no small task but it’s critical to getting the support you need. In this episode, you’ll hear from your peers on how they navigated sharing this difficult news and how it helped them to draw support from their loved ones.

This podcast was developed in collaboration with the Cancer Psychology Collective.

For more information and resources relating to the content of today’s episode, visit our website at https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.