When you are told you have cancer, dealing with it can't happen soon enough, right?

Being a cancer patient requires patience... oodles of patience, which takes as much mental energy as the actual treatment itself.

This episode focuses on the processes involved in cancer care from screening, to diagnosis, and treatment. We talk about how we manage the practical and emotional aspects of being a patient and we acknowledge the positive relationships we have with our health care team may not be the experience every cancer patient has.


Topics:

• Forgiving ourselves for not realising the early symptoms of cancer and what tumours look and feel like in reality.
• Getting the balance right between cancer treatment and medication to deal with the side effects is not always easy.
• Our experiences of health services before and after our cancer diagnosis.
• How we juggle self advocacy and being 'the patient'.
• What is involved in a cycle of treatment.
• Managing the stress and anxiety when waiting for scan results (also known as 'scanxiety').
• The impact of cancer care on families.

Disclaimer: This podcast is about life and death, with regular swearing and humour. The content is about our experience; we do not speak for everybody in the community. We do not give medical advice so if in doubt, check it out!

Presenters: Heidi Keeling & Mand Black

Editing: Mark Keeling

Music: Mark Keeling and Darren Scothern

Contact us on: ⁠laughbeforedeath@gmail.com