Living with Cancer

Lived Experience - Young and Diagnosed: Episode 1 with Caitlin Carpenter & host Dr Belinda Wagner

At 24 years old, Caitlin Carpenter was building her future,studying towards her law degree, working full time and planning the next chapter of her life when everything changed with a cancer diagnosis. In this episode of Lived Experience, Caitlin shares the reality of facing Hodgkin's Lymphoma as a young adult and the profound impact it had on her education, career plans, friendships, independence and future aspirations. She speaks candidly about the isolation of watching peers move forward while life is placed on hold, navigating conversations about dating and the future, and confronting mortality at an age when most people feel invincible. The conversation explores the unique challenges younger cancer patients face, including the assumptions others make about young people with cancer, the emotional impact of disrupted life plans and the gaps that still exist in support for younger adults navigating diagnosis and treatment. Through honesty, humour and remarkable resilience, Caitlin offers valuable insight into what it means to be young and diagnosed, reminding us that cancer does not only affect health. It changes timelines, expectations and the future we imagine for ourselves. Lived Experience is a podcast series by Living with Cancer SA, sharing the authentic voices of patients, survivors and caregivers to create greater understanding, connection and hope.

What Cancer Reveals about From Patient to Purpose: Episode 8 with Barrie van den Berg & host Dr Belinda Wagner

In this moving episode of What Cancer Reveals About Patient to Purpose, Dr Belinda Wagner speaks with Barrie van den Berg, Director of Living with Cancer South Africa, about a journey that transformed both his life and his purpose. Having spent many years working in the pharmaceutical industry supporting cancer treatment, Barrie understood cancer from a clinical perspective long before receiving his own prostate cancer diagnosis. Becoming a patient changed everything. It taught him that cancer is never just a disease.It is a deeply personal journey that affects families, relationships and entire support networks. Barrie reflects on what it means to move from treating cancer as a medical condition to understanding the human experience behind every diagnosis. He shares how his own experience strengthened his commitment to patient advocacy, why no one should face cancer alone, and how volunteering with Living with Cancer South Africa has become part of his own healing journey. This episode is a powerful reminder that every patient deserves to be seen as a person, that hope grows through community, and that purpose can emerge from even life's most difficult challenges. Whether you are living with cancer, supporting someone you love, or working in healthcare, this conversation offers encouragement, wisdom and a reminder that together we can change the cancer journey. Learn more about Living with Cancer South Africa andjoin our growing community at https://livingwithcancersa.co.za [https://zaf01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flivingwithcancersa.co.za%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cadmin%40livingwithcancersa.co.za%7C22c5d221456c46b1e9dc08dede86122f%7C7325b236053f4d0a862ce9826eacf5b3%7C0%7C0%7C639192864569699900%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jvqWaSV%2BgL9ghltzsqmllX8iIVAJDDcgU5aRpRb4iIk%3D&reserved=0].

What Cancer Reveals About Watching the Ones You Love Suffer: Episode 7 with Moira Keymer & host Dr Belinda Wagner

Cancer does not only affect the person diagnosed. It ripplesthrough families, friendships and entire support networks, leaving loved onesto navigate fear, uncertainty, helplessness and hope alongside the patient. Inthis deeply moving conversation, Belinda Wagner speaks with Moira about theexperience of watching those she loves face cancer, including her father,grandson, daughter-in-law and brother. Together, they explore the emotional weight of witnessingsuffering, the challenge of wanting to fix what cannot be fixed, and theprofound lesson of learning to simply be present. Through stories of family,faith, resilience and love, this episode reveals how cancer can strengthenrelationships, deepen compassion and remind us that sometimes the greatest giftwe can offer is not to rescue, but to hold space. A powerful conversation about hope, faith, love and the courage towalk beside those we love through life's most difficult journeys.

What Cancer Reveals about Control, Vulnerability and Letting Go: Episode 6 with Natalie Singer & host Dr Belinda Wagner

In Episode 6 of the What Cancer Reveals podcast series, Dr BelindaWagner speaks with Natalie Singer about her deeply personal journey through arare gastric blood cancer diagnosis and the emotional reality of navigatingtreatment while trying to maintain control over work, family and everyday life. Natalie shares how her diagnosis challenged her identity as ahigh-performing, independent and self-sufficient person, forcing her toconfront the difficult lessons of surrender, vulnerability and accepting help.From balancing motherhood and a demanding career during treatment, to theemotional impact of uncertainty, delayed results and scan anxiety, this episodeexplores the hidden mental and emotional weight that often accompanies cancer. Through honest reflection, Natalie speaks about resilience, thepressure many people place on themselves to “keep going”, and the importance ofgiving yourself grace during difficult seasons. This conversation is a powerfulreminder that cancer does not only reveal physical vulnerability, it revealswho we are beneath the strength we show the world.

What Cancer Reveals about Navigation: Episode 5: with Anton Els & host Dr Belinda Wagner

In this powerful episode of What Cancer Reveals, Anton shares his journey following his diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma in 2021 and Stage 1 kidney cancer in 2022. He speaks openly about the physical impact of cancer, the dramatic weight loss he experienced, the importance of support, and the reality of navigating a healthcare system that does not always fully capture patient experiences. This episode explores the gaps in cancer data, the patients who become invisible within the system, and why accurate patient stories matter for care, policy, funding and advocacy. A conversation about survival, resilience, gratitude and the importance of ensuring every cancer story counts.