The MOVE Against Cancer Podcast

This episode is hosted by Tony Collier, who is an incredibly inspiring individual who despite living with incurable prostate cancer, continues to live an active and fulfilling life, and is passionate about raising awareness of men's health, particularly men's cancers.Around 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year.2,400 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the UK each year and this is the most common cancer among young men.Across the UK, 13 men die by suicide every day, with males accounting for around 75% of all suicides.Tony gathered some of his friends together to take part in this conversational episode, which raises awareness of men's mental and physical health. Tony says: "We are just trying to get people talking... Maybe, just maybe, this little campaign could help save a father, a brother, a son, a friend, a partner, a man's life".Trigger Warning: Conversations about SuicideEpisode produced by Kevin Bannon

Dr Sarah Swan is a clinical psychologist who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019.  Sarah shares her personal experience of the emotional impact of breast cancer along with her professional skills in how to cope with the difficult thoughts and feelings that result. She also talks about using her own experience to write a self help book for others impacted by breast cancer titled 'Coping with Breast Cancer: How to Navigate the Emotional Impact Throughout Your Journey'. Her book is available to buy HERE.Episode Produced by Kevin Bannon.

We kick off our new series with 2 very special guests, Mel Kelly and Gemma Bavister. These two young people were faced with a cancer diagnosis in their 20's. In this episode they discuss navigating their way through cancer treatment, whilst also dealing with the physical, psychological and emotional changes that come as a result of their diagnosis. We talk body image, confidence, self esteem and climbing mountains (both literally and figuratively!) and how movement is a powerful tool to combat the physical and mental side effects of cancer. This is a truly inspiring and uplifting episode and we hope you enjoy listening!

In this episode, Sophie chats to Simon Darby MBE and Mark Adams. Simon has been a Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker for 12 years and founded the MOVE Forward Programme in Northern Ireland, which is a CrossFit based exercise programme for young adults living beyond cancer.This is an incredibly inspiring and uplifting chat and shows just how powerful exercise can be in changing the lives of those living with and beyond cancer. Find out more about MOVE Forward: https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/life-with-cancer/i-have-cancer/health-and-wellbeing/crossfit-move-forward/Simon DarbyInsta: @crossfitmoveforward @simon.younglivesYoung Lives vs Cancer Social Work Manager- Northern IrelandCrossFit Level 2 TrainerFounder of CrossFit MOVE ForwardAdaptive and Inclusive TrainerMark AdamsInsta: @mark_adams_weightlifting_coach @mark__cfCrossFit Level 1 trainer British weightlifting level 1 and 2 coachVisit our website and social media channels to find out more about what we do.https://movecharity.org/Insta: @5kyourwayTwitter: @cancer5kYourWayYouTube: @moveagainstcancer

Krista is an NHS junior doctor. She also has metastatic bone cancer.She qualified as a doctor in 2021, in-between lockdowns and chemotherapy regimes, despite having been told when her sarcoma returned that there was no way she could finish medical school.Krista likes proving her doctors wrong. As part of her primary treatment she had her femur, knee, top of her tibia and all 4 of her quadriceps muscles resected. Last year she climbed Mount Toukbal in the Atlas mountains. This year she is gunning for Kilimanjaro. Krista has a moving, funny, beautiful Instagram blog where she shares titbits from her life as a junior doctor, her life as someone living with cancer and above all, her overwhelming lust for life. Find her on instagram HERE. This conversation was a real treat. We hope you enjoy!Bone cancer research trustSarcoma UK

This week’s guest is the wonderful Louise Minchin. Many of you will have woken up to Louise on your TV screens as she presented BBC Breakfast for 20 years and she’s also appeared on a number of other radio and television programmes. Louise is also known for her love of endurance sport, having completed a number of extreme triathlons, which is how she met Lucy Gossage, the co-founder of our 5k Your Way initiative. In this episode, Louise talks to Sophie, MOVE’s Admin and Fundraising Coordinator, and among many other things they discuss:Louise’s TV career and the challenges she faced.Her love of extreme triathlon.Her journey to the London Marathon, which she will be running with her daughter this month in support of MOVE.Louise is a huge supporter of MOVE Charity and has previously won money for us on The Celebrity Chase and Pointless All Stars. She will also be joining us for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in September! Louise is such a warm, funny and honest person and we are delighted to have her as a guest on our podcast.If you would like to support Louise for the London Marathon this year, you can donate to her fundraising page HERE. Louise’s new book - ‘Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women’ is out on 25th May and can be preordered HERE.

Leah talks to MOVE’s Sophie Mulligan, who has had cancer herself and also had a partner support her through it. In this episode they discuss:-Andrew’s previous treatment and very recently receiving news that the cancer had returned.-The highs and lows that a couple goes through when one of them has cancer.-How life changes for the partner, as well as the person with the diagnosis.-How being a partner of someone with cancer can be lonely and isolating.-Coping mechanisms and how looking after yourself means you can be a better version of you to support your partner through their treatment and beyond.-How still doing things that you enjoy together and also communicating and being honest with each other can benefit the relationship.-Advice and support for partners of someone with cancer.This is the first episode we’ve done which features a partner as opposed to the person with cancer themselves and we guarantee that even if you are not affected by cancer directly, you will learn something from this episode and you will feel inspired by Leah’s strength, character and honesty. Cancer is a journey full of highs and lows and this episode will encourage you to embrace your emotions and use them to build a better version of yourself, in order to be a better person to support those around you.Listen to ‘Cancer and the Comeback with Andrew McAslan’ HERE.Andy's blog on our website.Athletics Weekly Article.Cancer and the ComebackLinktreeYouTubeInstagram: @cancerandthecomebackTwitter: @cancerncomeback 

Laura and Nicola have a remarkable ability to find a silver lining to any adversity life throws at them. Despite everything she has and is going through, Laura still says she is lucky. In this episode we discuss:·      Laura’s bucket list·      Balancing treatment with university·      The implications of a cancer diagnosis on friendships·      Travelling to Germany for treatment·      The challenges and benefits of speaking publicly about cancer·      The highs and lows of twitter for Nicola·      Their ambassadorial role for the Brain Tumour charity Laura and Nicola epitomise the tag- line of this podcast. They’re ordinary people doing extraordinary things despite cancer and I dare you not to be inspired by them. Twitter: @shitscaredmumwww.doingitforlaura.com@braintumourorg

Henry is articulate, eloquent, funny and brutally honest.During this conversation, among many things, we discuss: ·      Henry’s experience of transitioning from eminent neurosurgeon to cancer patient.·      How a rational person can entertain irrational thoughts.·      The challenges of hormone therapy for prostate cancer.·      Finding the balance between empathy and detachment.·      What he thinks makes a good doctor.·      Hope – finding the balance between realism and optimism.·      Decision making as a neurosurgeon and as a patient.·      Failure as a doctor.·      Henry’s relationship with running.·      Why he believes assisted dying should be legalised and his thoughts about death.·      Why being a doctor still can be the best job in the world. Twitter: @DrHenryMarsh

Erin’s now taken a temporary step back from rowing to finish her treatment but in the meantime, is using her platform to raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women and highlight the importance of early detection. Erin is an incredibly articulate speaker and has mastered the art of finding the silver linings that can come with adversity.Discussion points include:The role of a cox in a rowing boat and the importance of the team.Balancing treatment with rowing and making difficult compromises.The frustrations that cancer treatment rarely sticks to plan and how she overcomes these.Learning to accept support from those who care about her but doing so on her terms.Communicating what she needs and wants (and conversely what she doesn’t need and want) from those in her camp.www.mealtrain.comChoosing to share her treatment experience publicly.Turning challenges into opportunity and looking for silver linings.Erin’s changing room challenge.Twitter: @ErinWysockiInstagram: @erinmwjWatch Erin’s BBC interview that went viral HERE.Coppafeel Instagram and website. British Rowing.

Themes we discuss include:Getting comfortable with being uncomfortableImposter syndromeThe power of hope and optimism. Are oncologists too negative?Taking back control and not being a passive patientThe importance of discussing sexuality and body image in oncologyappointmentsThe Ann Summers MyViv rangeBeing your own cheerleaderThe power of self-talkThe currently perceived ‘brand’ of living with cancerThis is a conversation you can’t help but take something from. We know you will enjoy!Follow Jacqueline on social media:TwitterInstagramAnd if you want to know more about Jacqueline’s life, we recommend this fantasticinterview with Steven Bartlett HERE.

In this episode they discuss:Tony’s life as a professional footballer and the winning mentality that he still has to this day.Tony’s diagnosis of Lymphoma and how it was the ‘kick up the backside’ that he needed.How even despite his diagnosis, he went on to do incredible things such as becoming an Ambassador for Lymphoma Action, trekking in the arctic raising £6000 for charity and even starting up his own charity, Briteside, to support people affected by cancer. How some of the skills that he learnt as a footballer, including being incredibly resilient, helped him to navigate through his cancer treatment.How writing a blog gave him a purpose whilst he was going through treatment.The incredible work that Tony is doing with support groups that he has set up in his local community, including his plans to set up more support groups specifically for family and friends of those with cancer, as well as those who have been bereaved.Lymphoma Action - https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/Briteside - https://www.britesidecic.org/home

In this episode you will hear:All about what Naomi does as a clinical psychologist: A step by step guide on how she talks, supports and equips young people with strategies for coping with what they are going through.The connection Naomi builds with people that are going through one of the hardest periods in their lives and seeing the difference it makes for them to open up to her.About the pivotal point in people's lives that often comes after treatment where they get to re-evaluate who they are, what they want to do and who they want to be.The resilience and strength of young people diagnosed with cancer and how empowering and inspiring this can be.All about the topic of identity: Who we are and where our life is going. Recognising there can be grief about the loss of who you were.How looking forward can sometimes be tricky but looking backwards to see how far you've come can be helpful.Links from Naomi:Macmillan - Big Health UK | Helping millions back to good mental healthAnd then talking to Sinéad:All about The Norseman Triathlon. What being part of #TeamZalaris and fundraising for MOVE meant to Sinéad.Sinéad's diagnosis and how that changed her outlook.The fact that Sinéad used to run 1k then built it up to 3k then.... to an Ironman!

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift. That is why they call it the present.”In this episode you will hear: The strategies Sophie, Jade and Ashley learnt during their treatment from celebrating every milestone to taking small and manageable steps. The importance of a support network. That sometimes it helps to talk to someone who is not in your inner family/friends circle. How having a positive mental attitude in life may take you a long time to learn but if you can embrace it early on then it is life changing.How it can be very tricky to accept help but it is so worth it when you do. Why Jade no longer uses the word 'should.' How Ashley learnt to cope with having his independence taken away and now has such a positive outlook.The lesson of not comparing yourself to anyone else, even yourself. A HUGE thank you to Sophie, Jade and Ashley- it really was an honour to speak to them and we hope anyone listening, no matter what they are going through, will be able to challenge themselves to really live in the moment as much as possible. 

If you met Connor on the cricket field you’d just think he was your average 27 year old,albeit one with an exceptional batting prowess.You would have no idea he has cancer. You would have no idea he is on chemotherapy.You would have no idea what he has to go through every single day, to keep his life asnormal as possible.Lucy and Connor have known each other for just over 2.5 years. Lucy is one of hisoncologists.In this episode, Connor talks to Lucy about how he has found his own way to move againstcancer, and, particularly for him the importance of keeping life as normal as possible despiteeverything cancer throws at him.Not all superheroes wear capes; some wear camouflage. Connor is one of those.

"We all only have one life and it's all going to end, whether because of cancer or something else, so how are you going to do the things that really matter? It's not about the challenge that you face, it's how you come to respond to it."Head back to Oct 2021 (episode 10) to hear our previous episode with Luke: Talking being a CanLiver: HERE.Firstly, a HUGE thank you to Helen Murray for sharing this brilliant episode with us that she recorded for the Inside Tri Show podcast. This is a fantastic podcast so definitely check it out.   In this episode you will hear: The importance about concentrating on what you CAN control rather than what you cannot. The journey being an expression of what you can do with cancer.All about how Luke prioritises the things that matter. The impact that Covid had on his expedition. About how Luke didn't expect to finish the ride: "At the beginning of the ride, my mum wasn't expecting me to get to Beijing. In the very early days of the ride, I had aches in my shoulder. I thought it had come back."The core belief of Luke's that every day should be worth living. The art of being non-judgemental: Everyone does things for the right reasons. And that won't be the same for everyone.Luke's vision that doctors should see exercise as treatment for cancer. Luke's exciting future plans. Our 5k Your Way initiative recently celebrated our 4th anniversary and this really wouldn’t have been possible without Luke and the INCREDIBLE funding from the Bristol 2 Beijing Expedition. This enabled us to employ a full time 5k Your Way Operational Manager and survive covid where we had so long without group meet ups. Thank you so so much to Luke and to the Bristol 2 Beijing Team.Luke is truly the epitome of Moving Against Cancer. This episode is 100% going to change your day, and maybe even the way you live your life. Listen now. Bristol 2 Beijing Website. Bristol 2 Beijing Instagram. 

In this episode you will hear:All about the power of the mind in overcoming challenges. How working as a team takes on a whole new meaning on a small boat in the middle of the ocean. The importance of breaking down barriers.All about relationships based on honesty, trust and integrity.The value of living in the moment and living life the way you want to. This episode will make you want to take on your own personal challenge, whether that be walking 5k or rowing the Atlantic, we hope this episode inspires you to Move Against Cancer and live life to the full in your own way. 

In this episode you will hear:Jenny's breast cancer diagnosis and what that was like as a GP.All about the impact of parkrun on Jenny's life.How having had cancer and been a patient herself has affected the way she works with her patients now as a GP. 14 years since Jenny's diagnosis: How the relationship between exercise and cancer has changed completely. Lockdown and exercise: How this changed lots of people's outlook on exercise for the better.Fundraising: What challenges Jenny is doing and why she is so passionate about fundraising to support more people to Move Against Cancer. Jenny's Justgiving PageBooks Jenny recommends: Get Your Oomph Back, Carolyn GarrittThe Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control, Professor Trisha Greenhalgh and Liz O'RiordanThe Cancer Ladies Running Club, Josie Lloyd

In this episode you will hear: The detail on how and why Andy is on a journey of comeback to elite sport after a cancer diagnosis. All the questions, doubts and fears of having an incurable cancer. The difficulties of talking to people who cannot relate to what you are going through. The importance of a support network and how Andy has found that in his running community. The need for further support for partners/family members of those diagnosed with cancer. How Andy relates to our goal of supporting and inspiring others to Move Against Cancer. The importance of a 'can-do' attitude no matter what card you're dealt. About how mindset is half the battle.Advice for someone going through a difficult period in their life. Andy's blog on our website.Athletics Weekly Article.Cancer and the ComebackLinktreeYouTubeInstagram: @cancerandthecomebackTwitter: @cancerncomeback Two26 PhotographyInstagram: @two26_photographyTwitter: @two26_photos

We read the BBC Article about Caitlin Wilde: 'I was ashamed to ask for help' and wanted to put something together about sex and cancer to help anyone else in a similar situation. In this episode you will hear:Young people bravely opening up about sex, relationships, dating, fertility and cancer.The impact of cancer on sex: Discomfort, body image, confidence and not knowing how to ask for help.About how the advice they were given by their medical teams surrounding these issues was very minimal, despite this being a very important part of a young person’s life.Discussion on treatment induced menopause and erectile dysfunction.Excellent advice, problem solving and signposting with Psychosexual Therapist Angela Gregory.Resources Angela talks about include:Enhance UK Love Lounge‘Users Guide to the Penis’Erectile Dysfunction infoDr Karen Gurney TEDx TalkEmily Nagoski ‘Come As You Are’