In this deeply moving episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I reconnect with my old friend and colleague, Glynn Chambers—a psychologist based in Bendigo, Australia—who shares his raw and personal journey through cancer.

Glynn speaks with honesty, insight, and even humour about his diagnosis, the emotional rollercoaster that followed, and what it means to live with uncertainty. He reflects on how he’s made sense of suffering, the role of vulnerability, and how self-compassion has become both a refuge and a resource. We also talk about his beautifully honest blog, Psych With Cancer, and his podcast, Chemotional Rollercoaster, where he explores the highs and lows of cancer with grace and wit.

This conversation is full of heart—offering comfort, connection, and a few good laughs—for anyone living with illness or supporting someone who is.

If you’re going through something hard, this one’s for you.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Glynn Chambers

01:19 Reconnecting After 15 Years

02:04 Glynn’s Cancer Diagnosis Journey

04:51 The Emotional Rollercoaster07:57 Facing the Diagnosis

16:22 Acceptance and Reflection

24:39 Managing Expectations

30:52 Finding Gratitude in a Cancer Diagnosis

31:07 Expectations vs Reality of Life with Cancer

32:18 Facing Intrusive Thoughts and Grief

33:21 Embracing the Present Moment

34:18 The Discipline of Leaning into the Present

34:56 Lessons from Children and Nature

37:55 Self-Compassion and the Inner Critic

48:13 Receiving Compassion from Others

57:50 Humour and Playfulness in Adversity

01:03:10 Advice for New Cancer Patients

LINKS:

Chemotional Rollercoaster Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/chemotional-rollercoaster/id1783415934

Psych with Cancer Blog

https://psychwithcancer.substack.com/

If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here:

https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

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Video hashtags:

compassion, cancerjourney, selfcompassion, psychology, vulnerability, healing