The Answers for Cancers

As April is bowel cancer awareness month we are delighted to have a bonus episode for our listeners. We are joined by Carmel Drohan who was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2015 and she talks us through her experience to date. Carmel has had multiple surgerys and chemotherapy treatments and we are extremely grateful to her for sharing her story with us. We are also joined by her friend and well known surgeon Professor Ann Brannigan who walks us through what bowel cancer is and how it may present, advancments in bowel cancer treatments, and the important role of the multidisciplinary team plays in deciding individual treatment plans for patients.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

This week on the podcast we are joined by Claire Kelly and Amy Walsh champions for promoting exercise before treatment and after treatment and during and living with a cancer diagnosis.

This episode is dedicated to shedding light on how physical activity can be a lifeline of hope for cancer patients. We'll be joined by experts who will share their insights and stories.

This week on the podcast we are joined by Dr Daniel Cagney to discuss Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Patients .

Dr. Daniel Cagney is clinical director of radiation oncology at Mater Private Hospital, Dublin and network director of stereotactic radiation. 

Dr. Cagney’s internship and general medical training was in the Mercy Hospital Cork and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. He did a year in medical oncology in Mater Hospital before commencing specialist training in radiation oncology in St Luke’s Hospital, Dublin. In parallel to his radiation oncology training, he received a MSc in oncology and palliative care from Newcastle University. His radiation oncology fellowship was in Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Boston. He is a fellow of the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FFR RCSI) and a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology (DABR). 

Since 2017 he has held several strategic positions at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, including consultant radiation oncologist, director of stereotactic radiation and director of MRI Guided Radiation Programme. He held the academic appointment of assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

On today's episode of the answersforcancers podcast we have a special bonus episode for you! Today we will be chatting with Mary Drummond, who is a make up artist for LGFB Ireland and her history with skin care.

Look Good Feel Good Ireland is renowned for its unwavering commitment to helping cancer fighters and survivors feel their best, both inside and out. Through workshops, support programs, and beauty expertise, they empower individuals to embrace their beauty and strength, no matter the challenges they face. 💖✨

This week on the podcast we are joined by Aine who shares her story from her beginnings and her journey through life with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Through her words, we gain insight into the highs and lows of the cancer journey, the importance of a supportive community, and the incredible impact of maintaining a positive outlook. This episode is a tribute to all those who fight the battle, reminding us that every individual's story is a mosaic of courage and determination.

On today's episode of the answersforcancers podcast we have a special bonus episode for you! Today we will be chatting with Jennifer Rock, who is the CEO of the Skin Nerd and her history with skin care.

Look Good Feel Good Ireland is renowned for its unwavering commitment to helping cancer fighters and survivors feel their best, both inside and out. Through workshops, support programs, and beauty expertise, they empower individuals to embrace their beauty and strength, no matter the challenges they face. 💖✨

On today's episode of the answersforcancers podcast we have a special bonus episode for you! Today we will be chatting with Annabel O'Keeffe, who is the General Manager of Look Good Feel Better and her history with the organisation.

Look Good Feel Good Ireland is renowned for its unwavering commitment to helping cancer fighters and survivors feel their best, both inside and out. Through workshops, support programs, and beauty expertise, they empower individuals to embrace their beauty and strength, no matter the challenges they face. 💖✨

This week on the podcast we are joined by Dr Karen Cadoo to discuss breast cancer genetics. Dr Cadoo kindly joined us last season on the podcast for our world GO day special when we discussed gynaecological oncology genetics. Today we discuss the benifits and risks of genetic testing, the importance of knowing family history when possible, gene mutations assosiated with breast cancer and they pros and cons of genetic testing at a young age.

A special thank you to Pfizer healthcare Ireland for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.

Today on the podcast we are delighted to be joined by Dr Sinead Lynch senior councilling psychologist in the Mater hospital Dublin and a member of the psychoncology team, an extremly valuable service to cancer patients that was started in 2021. Dr Lynch explains to us on the podcast how events in her personal life led her to a career caring for cancer patients.

Today we discuss the difference between pity and self compassion and that having self kindness does not mean giving in. Dr Lynch talks us through practical tips for managing mental health and recognising the difference between a low mood assosiated with a cancer diagnosis and when to seek help.

A special thank you to Pfizer healthcare Ireland for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.

This week on the podcast we are joined by Linsey Blair to discuss cancer diagnosis and sexual functions.

A special thank you to Pfizer healthcare Ireland for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.

Today on the podcast we have part 2 of our episode on lymphedema after cancer with Clare Kelly. We have split this episode into two parts as it is packed full of information by 2 incredible specialists so we felt they needed their own episode. If you have not listened to part 1 with Monica Conway we suggest you go back and listen to this episode first. Monica and Clare have extensive experience helping people recover after a cancer diagnosis and beyond. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. As always please like and subscribe it really does help let people know we are here. If you want to reach out email us at theanswersforcancerspodcast@gmail.com and follow us on instagram @theanswersforcancers_podcast.

Thank you Pfizer Healthcare Ireland for supporting this episode of the podcast.

WE ARE BACK!! Today on the podcast we are discussing lymphedema after cancer with Monica Conway and Clare Kelly. We have split this episode into two parts as it is packed full of information by these 2 incredible specialists so we felt they needed their own episode. Monica and Clare have extensive experience helping people recover after a cancer diagnosis and beyond. Today we discuss how to calculate your risk score, the cornerstones of lymphedema and the psychological effect of lymphenema and how to address this. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. As always please like and subscribe it really does help let people know we are here. If you want to reach out email us at theanswersforcancerspodcast@gmail.com and follow us on instagram @theanswersforcancers_podcast.

Dr Emily Harold returns for part two in which we discuss Bladder Cancer

Part one of our chat with Emily Harold focusing on renal cell carcinoma

Dr Adrian Murphy

We discuss what to expect when attending and recovering from surgery with Gynaecology Oncology CNS Louise Comerford

Dr. Karen Cadoo is a consultant Cancer Geneticist and Medical Oncologist at St. James's Hospital, Dublin

We are very excited to announce starting today the 20th of September we will be releasing and episode a week for 4 weeks to answer all of your questions for world gynaecology oncology day. The theme for this year is 'dare to ask' so we will be asking all of the questions sent in by you to 4 specialists. We will speak with Prof Donal Brennan, Dr Karen Cadoo,  Helen Greally, and Louise Comerford. We hope you enjoy. Special thanks to careplus pharmacy who are sponsoring this mini series with all proceeds going to the Emer Casey foundation. We feel very privileged to be asked to take part in raising much needed awareness and getting you the answers you need.

Today we are joined by Leanne

This week we discuss stress and it's impacts with Mary Scarf from ARC

Naomi Algeo an Occupational Therapist by background, and Irish Research Council Scholar (2018-21) currently completing my doctoral studies in cancer and employment in Ireland, under the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin

Consultant Psychotherapist Carmel O'Hara joins us this week to talk about mindfulness in relation to diagnosis and also the benefits of mindfulness in general. Carmel also leads a drop-in mindfulness session at the end of the podcast (33:16) we learned so much in both the recording of this podcast and by dropping in on one of Carmel's mindfulness sessions in ARC, we hope you enjoy this podcast and share it with anyone you may feel it could help.

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Yvonne Lucas is Services Manager at ARC cancer support. 

ARC Cancer Support Centre is a registered voluntary organisation providing a drop-in service and professional support to people affected by cancer and to their families, friends, and carers. All our services are provided free of charge.   Whether you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, are in recovery, are the parent of a child with cancer, or a family member or friend of someone with cancer, ARC welcomes you with open arms and will care for you during these difficult times.

Sam is the founder of Growing Families, previously known as Families Through Surrogacy . He and his partner have two girls born via international surrogacy in 2011. Sam has been involved in family formation journeys for over eight years. He established the not-for-profit organisation Surrogacy Australia in 2010, which quickly became Australia’s go-to resource for media, government and intended parents. He is also an Executive Officer at Surrogacy Australia. Sam maintains diverse global networks with surrogacy researchers, families, agencies, donor banks and reproductive specialists. He is a regular media commentator and has c0-authored a number of articles on surrogacy utilisation and attitudes in the Medical Journal of Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Bionews and the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

This week we're joined by a colleague and friend Sarah Robinson

COMING SOON !!! The answers for cancers podcast is a nurse-led initiative aimed at breaking down all aspects of cancers into language we can all understand. From consultant diagnosis to treatment plans, from managing your symptoms to supports available we have it covered. We speak to experts in their field to unravel what it truly means to have cancer. So whether you or a loved one has been personally affected by cancer or you are working in oncology and want to know more this podcast is for you.

IG: @theanswersforcancers_podcast