In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Laura speaks to fellow authors and previous podcast guests, Rosamund Dean and Alice May Purkiss. 

They talk about writing, specifically how to put your own breast cancer experience into words. Laura talks to Rosamund and Alice about how they started writing and why they wanted to share their experience with others. They each discuss topics such as how writing affects their mental health, imposter syndrome and how anyone can be a writer. Both Rosamund and Alice also share their book and newsletter recommendations for people experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis.  

Key Topics:

02:06 What made you decide to write about your cancer?

06:40 What affect does writing have on your mental health?

09:53 What do you find the most difficult part of writing?

10:51 Getting started

12:24 Rosamund talks about the process of writing her book, 'Reconstruction'

14:40 Advice for someone interested in writing

16:35 Book recommendations

18:30 Which authors inspire Rosamund the most

19:50 Rosamund's best tips for writing

23:06 Where to find Rosamund's work

23:35 Laura's thoughts

24:40 How writing affects Alice's mental health

26:48 Where should people start if they are interested in writing?

30:15 Advice for someone looking to get published

31:20 Long form writing, e.g. blogs

33:31 Alice's self-publishing process and advice

36:55 Tips for writing or creativity

41:27 Book recommendations

49:05 Inspiring authors books/blogs

54:10 Where to find Alice's work

Well well well newsletter- rosamunddean.substack.com

Rosamund’s books- Reconstruction + Mindful Drinking

@rosamunddean

Alice's book- Life Lemons and Melons

alicemaypurkiss.co.uk 

@alicemaypurkiss 

Laura

Laura's book- Single Bald Female

Hattie Crissel - In Writing

Oliver Burkeman - Four Thousand Weeks

Miranda July - All Fours

Fran Littlewood - Amazing Grace Adams

Kris Hallenga - Glittering a Turd

Bessel Van Der Kolk - The Body Keeps The Score

Sophie Savage - Lifeshocks

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross -Your Brain on Art

Rick Rubin - The Creative Act

Will Storr - The Science of Storytelling

Alice Vincent - Savour

Daisy Buchannan - Creative Confidence Clinic

Porna Bell - As I Was Saying

Hayley Nahman - Maybe Baby

Dr Hajra is a GP and aesthetic doctor who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, aged 37. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Hajra talks to Laura about the shock of her recent diagnosis, the effects of the chemotherapy treatment she’s undergoing, and the treatment plan coming up, including a double mastectomy.

Hajra also shares the differences in experiencing cancer as a doctor, compared with as a patient, and the surprising ways it’s affected her. She tells Laura about her BRCA gene mutation, and how that news affected her outlook on her breast cancer diagnosis.

You can find Dr Hajra on Instagram @drhajrasdiary

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

1:56 Hajra's work as a GP and aesthetic doctor

6:23 Practising breast awareness as a doctor

9:02 Biopsies and scans, as a doctor

16:18 Receiving biopsy results with friends and family

18:09 Hajra is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer

19:19 The treatment plan for Hajra's breast cancer

20:26 Being treated as a patient rather than as a doctor

21:40 Hajra is the first in her family with breast cancer

22:14 The physical effects of chemotherapy

23:42 Genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutations

29:03 Coping with the impact of a gene mutation diagnosis

33:22 Breast cancer treatment and fertility

39:22 The effect of chemotherapy on physical apperarance

44:57 Hajra's plan for aesthetic treatments after chemotherapy

47:28 Thoughts on the upcoming double mastectomy

50:15 Mental health and breast cancer treatment

53:17 Working during treatment for breast cancer

54:53 The importance of sharing your story

56:43 What it means to Hajra to "live well"

Laura was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, aged 28. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Laura shares how she felt when she first received that diagnosis 9 years ago, and how it impacted her life. She goes on to talk about living her life to the full, and adjusting to an uncertain future.

 

Later in the conversation, Laura talks about founding Secondary Sisters, an online community supporting people with secondary cancer. She also shares how it feels, after almost a decade of living with secondary breast cancer, when people look to her as an example for living well with an incurable disease.

 

You can find Laura on Instagram @baldbooblessandbeautiful

You can find Secondary Sisters on Instagram @secondary.sisters

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

1:34 What is secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer?

2:20 Laura's life before cancer

3:24 Laura finds a lump and is diagnosed with primary breast cancer

8:11 Treatment and surgery for breast cancer

11:14 Ways of coping with hair loss and other visible effects of cancer treatment

13:39 Laura is diagnosed with secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer

20:29 Laura writes a living list

24:35 How Laura is doing now

26:25 Laura sets up Secondary Sisters

37:37 How it feels losing friends to the same disease you have

39:07 Having time and people away from cancer

41:24 Laura's thoughts on how her story has given people hope and inspiration

42:28 Not being able to have children after breast cancer

48:10 Coping with a new diagnosis of secondary breast cancer

49:46 Laura shares her vulnerability as well as her story

56:23 What it means to Laura to "live well"

Hayley Gullen is an illustrator who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 37.  In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Hayley talks to Laura about her graphic memoir ‘This Might Surprise You’. She talks about why she decided to write a graphic memoir, and how she used her illustrations to express her identity whilst going through the “dehumanising” experience of breast cancer treatment.

The conversation also goes into how Hayley’s book covers the ups and downs of a breast cancer diagnosis, from the painful, grim experiences to some of the more absurd and hopeful moments. Hayley talks about the importance of self-expression and using this to connect with others, and how she hopes her book will act as a companion for other people facing treatment, helping them feel less alone.

You can find Hayley on Instagram @hayleygullen

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:00 Hayley talks about her history of drawing

3:26 Hayley's book, This May Surprise You

6:50 Hayley is diagnosed with breast cancer

11:52 The impact of breast cancer on Hayley's life

13:37 Drawing the relatable parts of the breast cancer experience

24:07 Hayley's history of writing

30:30 Finding humour in the difficult times

32:32 Looking after a young child alongside a breast cancer diagnosis

37:20 Feeling guilty during breast cancer

39:43 Breast cancer and mental health

43:20 Taking the book to the public

49:52 Meeting other people in the cancer community

50:54 Reflecting on the cancer experience

52:02 Hayley's next book

53:17 What it means to Hayley to "live well"

Sam Evans is an intimate health and pleasure expert who shares tips on intimacy during menopause and coping with the side effects of cancer treatment. This week on the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Sam talks candidly about the effects of breast cancer on our sex lives, and how these may be relieved to allow more enjoyment of sex and intimacy again. She also speaks about why she set up the online company Jo Divine, which sells sex products with a particular focus on safety and sexual health.

Sam is joined by Jane, one of Breast Cancer Now’s nurses, who gives insight into the sex and intimacy concerns we hear about from people with breast cancer on our helpline and ask our nurses service.

Jo Divine has kindly provided a discount to listeners: BCN10 (£5 minimum spend on full-priced products excluding P&P). This promo code expires on 30/11/25.

You can visit the Jo Divine website

You can find Sam on Instagram @samtalkssex

Listen to Liz O'Riordan's episode here

Listen to Dani Binnington's episode here

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:01 Sam talks about her work in sex and intimacy

2:55 Jane talks about her work as one of Breast Cancer Now's nurses

3:45 The effects of breast cancer treatment on sex life

5:51 Discussing the menopause and the perimenopause

9:36 What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

13:16 Discussing low libido after breast cancer treatment

15:17 Dealing with vaginal dryness during sex

16:59 The importance of checking ingredients of lubricants

23:54 The effects on the vagina of lowered oestrogen levels

25:39 The benefits of vaginal oestrogen for sex life

28:06 The psychological effects of breast cancer treatment on sex and intimacy

30:13 The importance of communication

33:45 Approaching sex after breast cancer as a single person

38:51 The benefits of sex toys

48:02 Where to turn if you don't feel you can talk to your treatment team about sex and intimacy

55:32 Useful resources

1:03:09 What it means to Sam to "live well"

1:03:24 What is means to Jane to "live well"

Helen Skelton is a psychotherapist and campaigner who lives with secondary breast cancer. In this episode, Helen talks in depth with Laura about grief. How grief isn’t just about losing someone, but about the loss of anything; your hair, your body image, your friendships, the life you hoped you’d have.

Drawing on her own experience, Helen shares the grief she’s experienced as part of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how that grief extends to losing friends in the breast cancer community she’s a part of. She also promotes acceptance of grief and anger as emotions that should be recognised and lived with, and shares some outlooks that may help others see their grief in a new light.

You can find Helen on Instagram @secondary.psych

You can read Helen's writing on Substack

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:08 Helen is diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020

5:51 Dealing with a cancer diagnosis during COVID

8:22 Living with secondary breast cancer

10:39 Getting a primary and secondary breast cancer diagnosis at the same time

16:35 There's more to grief than just the dictionary definition

23:19 Grief as a result of a cancer diagnosis

25:49 Processing the grief from losing someone to the same disease you have

29:17 Helen attends a grief retreat

33:09 What is grief tending?

34:05 Discussing rage and anger, and how to come to terms with them

37:29 Why it's important to talk about emotions and feelings

41:27 Helen shares tips and techniques for coping with grief

46:14 Emotional triggers can cause you to reevaluate and make different decisions

53:38 What it means to Helen to "live well"

Kelly Crump is a model and influencer who lives with secondary breast cancer. On the Breast Cancer Now podcast she talks to Laura about finding out at the age of 40 that her cancer had spread, and how she feared she wouldn’t be able to continue doing the things she loves, like hiking and running.

But Kelly also shares how exercise, positivity and talking openly and honestly all helped her to live life on her own terms, even while living with breast cancer. She speaks about her experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and how she was the first person to post with a mastectomy scar in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine.

You can follow Kelly on Instagram @itskellycrump

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

1:45 Kelly is first diagnosed with breast cancer

3:44 Kelly is diagnosed with secondary breast cancer

5:28 The impact of breast cancer treatment on fertility

9:02 Kelly's lines of treatment for secondary breast cancer

14:10 The experience of when a drug stops working

15:45 Sharing a breast cancer story on social media

17:17 Challenging the perceptions of what a person with cancer looks like

19:10 Breast cancer and body image

21:37 Kelly climbs Kilimanjaro, and other challenges

26:36 Kelly's tips for taking on physical challenges

34:09 Dealing with the physical challenges of a cancer diagnosis

38:08 Dealing with death in the secondary breast cancer community

40:42 Important to talk about experience, challenge media perceptions

40:59 Kelly has to give up her career in fashion after her diagnosis

43:47 Making plans living with secondary breast cancer

48:51 Kelly models her mastectomy scars in Sports Illustrated

52:48 Positive attitude to body image after breast cancer treatment

54:40 What it means to Kelly to "live well"

Sophie Blake, who lives with secondary breast cancer, talks to Laura about Breast Cancer Now's campaign to make sure everyone with breast cancer across the UK can get access to the drugs they need to survive.

Eleanor from Breast Cancer Now also joins the conversation to explain the issues with the drug approval system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and what work Breast Cancer Now is doing to help change things.

Help us take action now with our automatic form that contacts your MP asking them to help fix the system.

Find out more about Breast Cancer Now's campaign, #MoreTimeToLive

You can follow Sophie Blake on X @sophieRblake and Instagram @sophieblake72.

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:01 Sophie explains what secondary breast cancer means to her

3:23 The importance of access to breast cancer drugs

4:54 The meaning of "More Time To Live"

6:44 Enhertu: a drug that was rejected for use on the NHS in England

10:10 Eleanor outlines the problem with drugs not being approved

13:07 The Severity Modifier, explained

18:38 The reality that people are dying of breast cancer every day

22:23 Breast Cancer Now's recommendations to MPs to help change the system

25:49 The response to the campaign so far from Wes Streeting and NICE

28:21 The timescales required for change

34:33 How listeners can get involved in the More Time To Live campaign

37:31 Sophie talks about the impact of her campaigning on her family

42:39 What it means to Eleanor to live well

44:30 What it means to Sophie to live well

Faye and Rebecca join Laura in the podcast studio to talk about The Show by Breast Cancer Now. At The Show, they joined 21 other people who live with or beyond breast cancer, as models for the day.

They speak about the nerves and excitement of taking to the catwalk in stylish outfits, the importance of support and friendship between all their fellow models, and how they feel several weeks after the big night!

Faye also talks about how her diagnosis of breast cancer affected her body image, and how it gave her a new perspective on her career. Rebecca talks about the difficulties of going through cancer treatment when her body reacted badly to the drugs, and the importance of sharing her story to help others.

You can watch The Show 2025.

Apply to be a model in The Show 2026.

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:18 Rebecca's diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer

5:03 Faye's diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer

9:49 Looking back at The Show by Breast Cancer Now

19:26 Overcoming a breast cancer diagnosis

21:48 Taking part in The Show while going through active treatment for breast cancer

24:29 Experience of breast cancer in a West African community

27:13 Cultural taboos around breast cancer

28:04 Taking to the catwalk in The Show!

30:58 Working with a fashion stylist

33:05 The experience of having hair and make up done for The Show

35:50 Losing body confidence after breast cancer

36:40 Rebecca's bodybuilding career

39:51 Making your own choice regarding cancer drugs

42:40 Faye's body image after breast cancer

44:35 Faye changes career after her cancer diagnosis

46:45 The feeling of community as a model in The Show

51:41 What it means to Rebecca to "live well"

52:55 What it means to Faye to "live well"

Donna Fraser OBE, Team GB athlete, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36, with no family history. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Donna talks to Laura about how this shock diagnosis affected her and the tough decisions she had to make about her world-class athletics career.

Donna also speaks about being an Ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, and her work to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment more accessible for people in ethnically diverse communities.

You can follow Donna on Instagram: @donnalegz and @donnafraserobe

If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.

Key Topics:

2:08 Donna is diagnosed with breast cancer

6:05 Introducing "Diane", Donna's voice of determination

7:37 Making the decision to have a mastectomy

9:20 Recovering from a mastectomy

11:21 The effects of breast cancer surgery on body image

15:18 Donna's new relationship with her body after breast cancer

18:23 Donna makes the decision to go public about her breast cancer

20:21 Black women and breast screening attendance

23:48 Donna's work raising breast awareness among younger women

24:37 The barriers to accessing breast cancer diagnosis and care

27:58 Donna becomes an Ambassador for Breast Cancer Now

31:05 Pink Ribbonwalks – a charity fundraiser

34:39 Sport and exercise after breast cancer

36:12 Tips for getting back into exercising after surgery

39:23 Staying breast aware after active treatment for breast cancer

40:07 Donna makes the decision to retire

45:05 The highlights of Donna's athletics career

46:18 What it means to Donna to "live well"