This episode is about the role of storytelling as a way of making sense of illness, and generating hope for ourselves and others. Hope does not cure cancer but it makes cancer life more manageable.

Heidi and Mand are in conversation with Kevin Donaghy (driving force behind Stories Of Cancer And Hope). We talk about hope and hopelessness, community spirit, and living a good life alongside terminal illness. 

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

Contact us on: [email protected]

Once upon a time we were professionals and really good at our jobs... then we had to retire because of cancer.

This episode focuses on early retirement due to ill health, the financial implications of metastatic cancer, and reflections on leaving the workforce before the typical retirement age.

Link to the Marie Curie petition mentioned in the podcast: Marie Curie Campaigns

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: [email protected]

In this episode we are on a road trip. In the spirit of 'death talk', we're visiting a local forest burial site to set the scene for our conversation about what we want to do with our remains when we die.

Tune in to listen to our thoughts on burials, cremations, and the importance of normalising death (... you'll also catch bird song, wind rustling in treetops, and tea-slurping). 

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. Neither do we 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: [email protected]

Surviving metastatic cancer for 10 years is an amazing feat but why does it feel wrong to celebrate it? 

Mand was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April 2015. This episode is about her thoughts on living with a terminal illness, how (and if!) to acknowledge her #Cancerversary, and reflections on lives cut short by cancer. 

Mand is our very own #CancerDinosaur and although she enjoys life, this milestone is giving us all pause for reflection. Maybe 'celebration' is too strong a word? Instead, let's acknowledge this fabulous lady who has lived through 10 years of cancer treatment.

A quick disclaimer: the 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: [email protected]

Enough about us and our cancer! Let's hear how OUR illness affect others.

Joking (and references to 'main character energy') aside, terminal illness has a way of making its mark on everybody.

This is the first of a two part episode about the impact of cancer on families. In this episode, we introduce Helen (Mand's mum) and Marianne (Heidi's mum).

Marianne and Helen share their experiences of navigating their parenting role under cancer circumstances, how they manage social expectations of others, and how they use their love to be a strength to us.

Presenters: Heidi Keeling & Mand Black

Editing: Mark Keeling

Music: Mark Keeling & Darren Scothern

Contact us on: [email protected]

When there's cancer in the family, you need all the love and support you can get. Those of us who have sisters (and good sisters they are!) will appreciate that very special relationships.

This is the second of a two part episode about the impact of cancer on families. In this episode, we hear from Bryony (Mand's sister) and Rikke (Heidi's twin sister). They might sound like us but they have their own mind and stance on sisterhood in the maelstrom of metastatic cancer lives.

Presenters: Heidi Keeling & Mand Black

Editing: Mark Keeling

Music: Mark Keeling & Darren Scothern

Contact us on: [email protected]

"We are all going to die one day", yet it can feel awkward to speak about this truth. It can be even harder when you or the person you speak to have a life limiting illness such as cancer.

In this episode we talk about the language used to speak about terminal illness and death. We talk about our language likes and dislikes and the worst and kindest things people have said to us.

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: [email protected]

In recognition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness day (13th October 2024), we're sharing voice notes sent between us following a frustrating and distressing phone call trying to organise insurance.

Our podcasts always focus on how we try to remain realistically optimistic in living a cancer life. This 'pod call' was recorded immediately after Heidi's experience of dealing with a sales representative. It is an acknowledgement that because of our illness we experience powerless and frustration. We can't always 'laugh in the face' of difficulty but as Mand says, we can find ways to feel empowered.

Callers: Heidi Keeling & Mand Black

Editing: Mark Keeling

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:

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: ⁠[email protected]

Being generally optimistic, and some might say a bit daft, has stood us in good stead for living with metastatic breast cancer. In this episode we talk about how humour and laughing helps us manage the difficulties of living with a terminal illness. And in answer to the title... Yes, of course it is!

Topics:

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: [email protected]