And Then Came Breast Cancer - A Future Dreams Podcast

'And Then Came Breast Cancer' is a podcast series created by Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, for anyone whose lives have been touched by the disease. Hosted by the award-winning journalist Victoria Derbyshire - herself a breast cancer survivor - each episode discusses an aspect of the cancer journey, from how to spot the first signs, to dealing with the aftermath of treatment and everything in between. The discussions are frank and honest but also practical...

What are the changes in your body you should be looking out for to find out if you have breast cancer? In this episode of "And Then Came Breast Cancer", host Victoria Derbyshire talks to Merlene and Amanda about the awful moment they first realised they had the disease and there's practical advice from clinical nurse specialist Bernie Phelan...

The deeply personal relationship women have with their hair is discussed in this episode of "And Then Came Breast Cancer". Host Victoria Derbyshire talks to Nicky, Nicole and Natasha about how they dealt with the effect chemotherapy had on their hair, and she gets advice from cold cap expert Claire Paxman. They talk about the psychological trauma of facing up to hair loss and Victoria reveals that losing hers was more difficult than having a mastectomy...

How do you deal with having breast cancer when you can't hug anyone because of Covid? In this edition of "And Then Came Breast Cancer" Abbie, Carla, and Corinne join host Victoria Derbyshire to talk about facing hospital visits alone and trying to get help when the NHS is coping with the pandemic. If having breast cancer wasn't frightening enough, women have faced delays in diagnosis and longer waiting times for treatment...

What happens when you've been diagnosed with breast cancer- but some people in your community choose to deal with it with prejudice and disinformation? In this episode, three women talk to Victoria about the different reactions they received from their neighbours, and their nearest and dearest- and how they weren't always helpful or understanding. The answer, as we hear in this edition, is for more and more women to form their own support communities...

What does having breast cancer mean for your mental health? In this episode, Victoria Derbyshire is with three women- Shevelle, Carly and Saskia- who speak frankly about the personal and psychological challenges that followed their diagnosis. Some women say they have emerged from their cancer "journey" feeling mentally stronger, while others found they needed as much support for what was going on in their heads as they did for their bodies...

The benefits of exercise on our lives are well documented. But how can even a gentle fitness regime help people recovering from breast cancer? How soon can you go back to the sports you were doing pre-diagnosis ? And what about those women who- for whatever reason- feel they can't do much physical exertion? Four women- including British Olympian Donna Fraser discuss all these points with host Victoria Derbyshire...

How do you cope when you are told that your breast cancer has come back? Victoria talks with three women who are facing that situation right now. They offer practical advice based on their own experiences and demonstrate that many people are a lot stronger than they think.

Brought to you by the Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, "And Then Came Breast Cancer" is for everyone whose lives have been touched by the disease...

The vast majority of breast cancer diagnoses are given to women- but in around 1 in 100 cases, it's a man who's being told they have it. In this episode, Victoria talks to one of the 350 men each year in Britain that happens to. 

Brought to you by the Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, "And Then Came Breast Cancer" is for everyone whose lives have been touched by the disease. If you would like to contact us for help and advice please email podcast@futuredreams.org...

How does having treatment for breast cancer affect your chances of having children? For some women sadly it means the end of their chances of motherhood, but in this episode, Victoria speaks to women who found ways to overcome fertility issues after their diagnosis- including IVF or surrogacy. 

Brought to you by the Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, "And Then Came Breast Cancer" is for everyone whose lives have been touched by the disease...