Cornwall Cancer Cafe Podcast

Mick Howell: How support groups make a difference

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:41:36 GMT

Mick was a fireman and described himself as 'rufty tufty' - he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma - and now heads up the group supporting patients in Cornwall - and further afield. More stories on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lesley Chandler: Living alone through breast cancer treatment

Fri, 29 May 2026 06:28:26 GMT

Lesley discusses some challenges to being in treatment while living alone and having family the other end of the country. She has benefitted from supportive friends in the Quaker community as well as dipping into writing poetry. More podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

In females in the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer, with around 57,900 new cases every year. That's 30% of all new female cancer cases in the UK (2018-2019,2021). In males in the UK, breast cancer is not among the 20 most common cancers, with around 400 new cases every year. (Cancer Research UK)

DIAGNOSIS:

1. About 90% of breast lumps are not cancerous. They are benign but may require some medical attention.

2. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women but men are not exempt.

3. Breast cancer is on the increase fortunately all women between 50 and 71 in the UK registered with a GP will be invited for breast screening every 3 years with a mammogram which x-rays breast tissue. My advice is to take it. Most women around the world are denied this test. We are lucky in the UK If caught in the early stages, almost 9/10 women survive their cancer for 5 years or more.

4. Causes of breast cancer - lifestyle? HRT? Alcohol? Hereditary? They are various with no single definitive answer but the chances of developing breast cancer increase within the above age range..

5. If below 50 and above 71 and you find a lump or changes in breast tissue appearance get it checked out with your GP. You will be referred on if anything is questionable.

6. Beyond 71 years of age you won’t be recalled for screening but you can request ongoing screening by mammogram. See your GP with any suspicious change or ring the Mermaid Centre in Truro on 01872 252880 Monday to Friday from 8.30 am weekdays for information on screening near you.

7. If you identify as transgender or non-binary and suspect breast changes, make an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns.

LC April 2026 (drawing extensively on information from Cancer Research UK)

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teens & Young Adults support

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:59:18 GMT

Anyone with a cancer diagnosis has a difficult time during and after treatment. Teens and young adults have a dedicated team looking after them at The Cove at The Royal Cornwall Hospital. We talk to them to find out what challenges youngsters face. Find out more about cancer support in Cornwall and further afield from our website www.cancercafepodcast.org

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Harris: How a garden can help people with a cancer diagnosis

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:45:47 GMT

The Potager Garden in Cornwall is running sessions to help people with a cancer diagnosis. A garden is a therapeutic environment - and that's director Mark Harris's view. He's working with The Cove (MacMillan service at Royal Cornwall Hospital) to give people an experience of horticultural mindfulness. Emma and I are also discussing how new treatments can help deliver hope to patients.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Father Peter: Faith, hope and cancer - a Cornish priest's view

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:33:35 GMT

Father Peter is very open about how a cancer diagnosis hit him and how it became known to his flock. He is also open about how he deals with issues and challenges day to day and where he finds his hope. Find out more about our podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Cove manager - Nicky Lampshire

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:13:16 GMT

Nicky Lampshire is one of the managers at The Cove - a unit at The Royal Cornwall Hospital operated by MacMillan Cancer Support. It is a welcoming place with a cafe and many supportive programmes to help patients through every stage of cancer. We ask Nicky about her work there.

Please visit our website and find out about more help and support in Cornwall and nationally.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma & Claire: Music therapy for cancer patients

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Matthi and Emma meet Claire and Emma who run music therapy sessions at The Cove centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. We find out how they came to take up the role and what benefits are available to those with a diagnosis of cancer. We even have a mock-up music therapy session in the studio.

Emma's music therapy website: Www.midcornwallmusictherapy.co.uk

Clare's music therapy website:https://www.keskarmusictherapy.co.uk/

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Gllasson: Cornwall, My Home

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:25:59 GMT

'Cornwall, My Home' has become Cornwall's new anthem. It is sung everywhere and at Cornwall's most important events. How many realise, however, that the composer has a cancer story of his own? We meet Harry Glasson and find out about how he had built so much of his life around singing and music, to only then be given a diagnosis which would change so much.

ind more information about our podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Please SHARE our episodes on social media so that other people can benefit too.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Emma: our co-host

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:02:19 GMT

This week, we are introducing co-host Emma Coombe who is in treatment currently for melanoma. We recorded most of this podcast in a quiet room at The Cove centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. I know how important it is to our listeners that the team has lived experience to be able to share support. Emma talks about her experience thus far and what she has learned from it.

ind more information about our podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Please SHARE our episodes on social media so that other people can benefit too.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Guymer: Cancer Support UK

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:15:27 GMT

This podcast series, sponsored by The National Lottery Community Fund, aims to bring a wide range of thoughts and people to talk about supporting people through cancer. Some of these are those with lived experience, others are those providing support. This episode talks with the chief executive of Cancer Support UK - Mark Guymer.

He explains what the charity does and how he came to running the organisation.

We will also preview another up-coming episode.

ind more information about our podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Please SHARE our episodes on social media so that other people can benefit too.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthi Clarke: Cornwall Cancer Cafe Podcast

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:44:05 GMT

Welcome to the first episode of the Cornwall Cancer Cafe Podcast. We are supported financially by the National Lottery Community Fund to run a year of weekly cancer support podcasts. These will be a weekly audio show and some videos too. We aim to give people with a diagnosis, their family and friends a big virtual hug while also informing and offering a hand of friendship.

We are not medical experts, counsellors, doctors, or consultants - what we are, though are people with lived experience. Your host, Matthi Clarke, is shown in this episode's cover image having his stem cells harvested for a stem cell transplant in 2023. Matthi takes you through what to expect from this podcast series in this show, and introduces himself so that you can be assured that he is hosting this with real and recent lived experience.

Though this is targeted at the Cornwall,UK audience, we hope the hug and support travels further afield too.

ind more information about our podcasts on www.cancercafepodcast.org

Please SHARE our episodes on social media so that other people can benefit too.

Visit our website for more information www.cancercafe.org and follow us on Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.