Breathe Strong

10. Lung Cancer Treatments: Navigating Side Effects

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation. -- Chemotherapy accumulates in the body, and understanding its effects can shape the treatment journey for cancer patients. In this episode, Rachel and her new guests dive into the side effects of lung cancer treatments, focusing specifically on chemotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). They emphasise that the first chemotherapy experience can often indicate how future treatments will go. Listeners hear firsthand accounts from guests Sarah, Maria, and Natasha, who share their personal stories about battling lung cancer and managing side effects. This conversation aims to provide insights and reassurance for those currently undergoing treatment or about to start, highlighting the importance of communication with healthcare teams about any side effects experienced.

9. Coping with Side Effects of Immunotherapy Treatment: Real Experiences from Patients

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation. -- Leslie Harrison and Doug Read are people living with mesothelioma whose experience of treatment was marked by severe immunotherapy side effects, from hepatitis and inflammatory arthritis to rash, weight loss, weakness and sudden loss of independence. In this episode of Breathe Strong, they speak with Rachel Thomas about how quickly treatment complications escalated, the fear of being taken off therapy, the reality of recovery, and the importance of reporting side effects early and asking for specialist help. Leslie and Doug leave you with a clear sense that survival is not just about treatment itself, but about persistence, support, adapting to a changed body, and learning to keep going even when life no longer feels familiar.

8. Answers, Options, and Hope with Professor Sanjay Popat

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation. -- Professor Sanjay Popat is a medical oncologist and thoracic oncology professor whose life was shaped by a career spent advancing lung cancer and mesothelioma treatment through research, clinical trials, and patient-centred care. In this episode of Breathe Strong, Professor Popat answers patient-led questions on early-stage and stage four EGFR lung cancer, treatment decisions around Osimertinib, trials, vaccines, menopause and HRT, mesothelioma immunotherapy, genetic testing, and the promising therapies now emerging on the horizon. Sanjay leaves listeners with a sense that while these diseases remain complex and difficult, real progress is happening through science, better understanding, and the willingness of patients and clinicians to keep pushing treatment forward together.

7. Communication in Relationships: The Key to Navigating Cancer

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation. -- The podcast dives into the essential theme of communication in relationships, particularly when facing a cancer diagnosis. Host Rachel and her guests, Doug, Barbara, Max, and Charlie, share their experiences and insights about how cancer impacts partnerships. They emphasise that strong relationships can remain resilient despite the challenges posed by illness. Open dialogue is highlighted as crucial, with couples discussing their strategies for supporting one another and navigating difficult conversations. Listeners are encouraged to reach out for support and not to bottle up their feelings, reinforcing the idea that relationships are tested, but can also grow stronger through adversity.

6. The Impact of Cancer on Love and Friendship

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation. -- Relationships can change significantly when facing a cancer diagnosis. The guests discuss how they prefer to view their partners as "co-pilots" instead of "carers," emphasising a more positive dynamic, and they share personal experiences about how their roles have shifted but the core of their relationships remains strong. The conversation highlights the emotional impact of cancer on friendships, family ties, and even dating, with some expressing the struggle of feeling distant from friends after their diagnosis. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to recognise the importance of self-love and connection, especially on Valentine’s Day, reminding them that they are more than just their diagnosis.