Upfront About Breast Cancer

Episode 0: Welcome to Season 2: Unlimited  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Welcome to What You Don’t Know Until You Do: Unlimited, with Dr Charlotte Tottman.  Charlotte and Kellie reflect on the success of season 1 of the podcast and share the topics and themes that they will be exploring through Charlotte’s clinical experience in season 2.  They discuss what unlimited means and unpack and tackle the things we often don’t want to speak about due to avoidance and protection, but these conversations often allow us to confront our fears and more importantly, make us feel empowered.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 1: A Mixed Dozen: Anxiety in a Cancer Context  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about anxiety in a cancer content. In this episode Charlotte discusses ‘the mixed dozen’: the types of anxiety that are common during and beyond a cancer diagnosis, including diagnosis shock, fear of recurrence, scan anxiety and the impact on family, partner and friends. We also explore some common behavioural responses and strategies that can help such as challenging the anxiety, sitting in the uncertainty, getting to know your fear and triggers and mindfulness and exercise. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 2: Forged in Fire: Relationships with your Medical Team and Self-advocacy  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be Upfront about navigating relationships with your medical team. Your medical team is often comprised of a group of professionals who you don’t know and who come into your life at short notice, in a highly stressful and emotional time. In this episode, Charlotte explores how for many people their experience with their medical team is a positive one, however this isn’t always the case. Charlotte shares how it’s important to advocate for yourself and have expectations of what you can reasonably expect from different members of your medical team and what is important to you. We also learn about cognitive and behavioral strategies to help you identify your individual needs and tools that can assist. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 3: Sugar, Stress, and Misdemeanours: Causal Beliefs  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about causal beliefs and how they impact our feelings and behaviours.  It is common for people to search for an explanation to help them make sense of a situation and why it may have happened to them. Within a cancer context, people often want to understand what caused their cancer and what they did that may have resulted in a diagnosis.  In this episode Charlotte explores the thinking behind causal beliefs and breaks down the common elements and lifestyle behaviours people think may have contributed to their diagnosis. We also learn about risks associated with casual beliefs and discover the acceptance model.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 4: Bittersweet: Living with Metastatic Disease  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about the challenges for those living with metastatic breast cancer. In this episode Charlotte discusses metastatic disease from a psychological perspective, exploring the thin line between coping and not coping, artificial intensity, avoidance and reassurance. BCNA and Charlotte would like to acknowledge BCNA Consumer Representative Dr Andrea Smith who generously shared her story and knowledge about living with metastatic breast cancer in this episode.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 5: Re-entry Wobbles: Re-starting Life after Cancer Treatment  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about life after cancer treatment. It can be difficult to adapt to life after a breast cancer diagnosis and beyond. In this episode, Charlotte explains challenges in the experience of re-entering work and other obligations after cancer treatment, the common drop in self-confidence, and the importance of purpose and meaning. Just like physical stamina, strength, and capacity, we decondition psychologically much faster than we recondition. Charlotte shares strategies including repetition that allow a sense of progression and success that can then act as a motivator.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 6: Hanging Out with The Bad Boys: Helpful and Not So Helpful Behaviour Changes  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about behavioural changes.  A behavioural change is a change within someone's behaviour when compared to a previous behaviour and can be quite common after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this episode Charlotte shares what some of these common behaviours are and discusses the behavioural change model and role of obstacles.  We learn about the guilt and anxiety model, flexibility, the power of helpful language and other strategies that can help you adjust.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 7: The View from the Other Side of the Bed: The Partner’s Perspective  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about different perspectives during and beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. A breast cancer diagnosis affects not only the person diagnosed, but also those around them, whether that be a partner, family, friends or a carer. It can be quite common for people to experience feelings of anxiety, helplessness and not being quite sure of whether they are doing the right thing to help support. In this episode, Charlotte explores the common perspective and experiences of those close to the person diagnosed, and how together you can navigate the new normal. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 8: No. is a sentence: Boundary Setting  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about setting boundaries.  After a cancer diagnosis and treatment, you often discover you are not able to operate at the same level as you did pre-cancer, physically, cognitively and emotionally. In this episode, Charlotte explains the importance of boundary setting in self-care, particularly in relation to the challenges in continuing to care for loved ones while navigating a cancer experience, and the role of guilt in this.  We learn about how to identify your limits and act on them, communicate to others and ourselves, and how to identify alternative helpful activities and prioritise them.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 9: Pain without Fear: Pain, Persistent Side-Effects and Palliative Care  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email [email protected]  Let’s be upfront about pain, side effects and palliative care.    From a psychological standpoint, Charlotte explains the challenges in managing pain, and persistent side effects like peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, and cognitive changes, and the role of and common misconceptions about palliative care.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023.  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258