Rad Chat

Trigger Warning: this episode discusses cancer and cancer treatment. 

Episode 214: Part of the Living with and Beyond Cancer Series (part 75)

Description: In this inspiring episode of the Living With and Beyond Cancer series, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara are joined by Anne-Marie Ball, a Clinical Exercise Practitioner, researcher and Cancer Exercise Specialist, to explore the transformative role of exercise throughout the cancer pathway.

Anne-Marie holds an MSc in Cancer Care and has extensive experience delivering exercise rehabilitation programmes across both hospital and community settings. Her research focuses on multimodal exercise interventions and how they can optimise health-related outcomes for people affected by cancer. Throughout the episode, she explains the science underpinning exercise oncology, dispels common misconceptions surrounding exercise during treatment, and highlights the importance of integrating personalised exercise into routine cancer care.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, student, researcher, exercise practitioner or someone living with and beyond cancer, this episode offers evidence-based insights into one of the most impactful supportive interventions available to people affected by cancer. It highlights why exercise should be considered an essential component of personalised cancer care, rather than an optional extra.

CPD Reflection Points:
Critically evaluate how exercise is currently integrated into the cancer pathway within your own area of practice. To what extent does your service reflect the contemporary evidence for exercise before, during and after treatment? Consider the barriers and facilitators to embedding exercise as a standard component of personalised cancer care.
Despite strong evidence demonstrating the benefits of exercise for improving physical function, reducing treatment-related side effects and enhancing quality of life, implementation remains inconsistent. Reflect on your own confidence, knowledge and professional responsibility in discussing exercise with people affected by cancer. How can healthcare professionals move beyond signposting towards actively integrating exercise conversations into routine clinical practice while maintaining person-centred care?
Identify one evidence-informed improvement that could be implemented within your own organisation to strengthen access to exercise or rehabilitation. Justify your proposal using current evidence, national guidance or policy, and reflect on how you would evaluate its impact on patient outcomes and experience.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Prehabilitation and cancer treatments 
Education podcast 
Implementation of exercise prescription 
Research links from the Episode:
Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment: ASCO Guideline
Movement Is Medicine: Structured Exercise Program May Lower Risk of Cancer Recurrence and Death for Some Colon Cancer Survivors
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
Link Tree
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
BlueSky
YouTube
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

© Rad Chat 2025. All rights reserved.  
We (or our licensors) own all intellectual property rights in this podcast and all related content, online and offline.  
You may not use, copy, modify, download, archive, reproduce, distribute, display, publish, licence, create derivative works from or commercially exploit any part of our content unless we expressly agree in writing.  
You must not use any images, audio, video, graphics or clips separately from their accompanying context.  
Please acknowledge Rad Chat (and any identified contributors) clearly whenever referencing or sharing our content.

Trigger Warning: this episode discusses breast cancer, cancer, self esteem and mental health.

Episode 213: Part of the Living with and Beyond Series (Part 74)

Description: In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode of the Living With and Beyond Cancer series, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara are joined by Louise Butcher, who shares her extraordinary journey of living with breast cancer, finding strength through running, and challenging perceptions of body image after cancer.

Louise first turned to running as a way of managing severe health anxiety, using exercise as a form of self-medication and reassurance that her body was healthy. Ironically, while training for her first marathon, she was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, a devastating shock, particularly as her mammogram had shown no abnormalities just three weeks earlier.
Determined not to let cancer define her, Louise continued training throughout her treatment. She underwent bilateral mastectomies and remarkably completed her first marathon just six weeks after surgery and during the same week as her radiotherapy treatment. Running became more than exercise; it became her therapy, her resilience, and her way of reclaiming control during one of the most traumatic periods of her life.

Since then, Louise has completed five marathons, four of them running topless to proudly display her mastectomy scars. Through this courageous act, she is challenging societal perceptions of women's bodies after breast cancer, promoting body positivity, reducing the stigma surrounding mastectomy and flat closure surgery, and demonstrating that choosing not to undergo breast reconstruction does not diminish femininity, strength or confidence.

In 2024, Louise made history by becoming the first woman in the world to complete the London Marathon topless following bilateral mastectomy, earning a Guinness World Record while raising more than £3,500 for Breast Cancer Now. Her advocacy has inspired thousands of people affected by cancer, encouraging honest conversations about body image, survivorship and life beyond treatment.

In this heartfelt episode, we explore the emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, coping with trauma, the role of exercise in recovery, body image after cancer, advocacy through lived experience, and the power of visibility in challenging stigma. Louise's story is one of resilience, courage and hope, reminding us that life after cancer is not simply about surviving, it is about thriving.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, student, researcher, patient, family member or someone living with and beyond cancer, this episode offers invaluable insights into compassionate cancer care and the profound impact that listening to lived experiences can have on improving practice.

CPD Reflection Points:
Reflect critically on how healthcare professionals balance clinical priorities with understanding the individual's lived experience. How might integrating patient narratives into your own practice influence communication, shared decision-making and personalised care?
Critically evaluate your own assumptions regarding body image following cancer treatment. How can healthcare professionals ensure that all treatment choices are presented without bias, enabling truly informed, values-based decision-making?
Critically evaluate whether your current service adequately supports the holistic needs of people living with and beyond cancer. Identify one evidence-informed change that could enhance patient experience or outcomes within your own area of practice, justifying how and why this would improve care.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
The Happy Pod 
Louise’s Instagram Page
Most Women Satisfied With Choice to Go Flat After Mastectomy, but Choice Not Supported by Many Surgeons
Research links from the Episode:
Women’s decision process when actively choosing to‘go flat’ after breast cancer: a constructivist grounded theory study
"Best for Me": Decision-Making and Medical System Interactions When Going Flat After Bilateral Mastectomy
Women with cancer in one breast who opt to have both removed report satisfaction with their decision
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
Link Tree
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
BlueSky
YouTube
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

© Rad Chat 2025. All rights reserved.  
We (or our licensors) own all intellectual property rights in this podcast and all related content, online and offline.  
You may not use, copy, modify, download, archive, reproduce, distribute, display, publish, licence, create derivative works from or commercially exploit any part of our content unless we expressly agree in writing.  
You must not use any images, audio, video, graphics or clips separately from their accompanying context.  
Please acknowledge Rad Chat (and any identified contributors) clearly whenever referencing or sharing our content.

Trigger Warning: cancer, children dealing with cancer, death, dying and mental health. 

Episode 213: part of theLiving with and Beyond series (part 73).

Description: In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara are joined by Caroline, founder of the multi-award-winning Fruit Fly Collective. 

Caroline has a background in neuroscience research and medicine regulation policy. In 2012, she founded the multi-award-winning Fruitfly Collective, a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on empowering parents diagnosed with cancer to navigate family life and support their children.
Fruitfly Collective’s work has included research into building a service within the NHS to support cancer patients who are parents, delivering primary school cancer education programmes and  family workshops, developing resources for families affected by parental cancer, and designing Parenting with Cancer coaching programmes.

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked challenges faced by parents living with cancer, discuss how healthcare professionals can better support families throughout the cancer pathway, and highlight why honest, age-appropriate communication with children is so important. Caroline also shares the inspiration behind Fruit Fly Collective, the impact of its work, and her vision for embedding family-centred support into routine cancer care.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, researcher, educator, student, charity worker, or someone with lived experience of cancer, this episode offers valuable insights into compassionate, holistic and family-focused cancer care.

CPD Reflection Points:
watch Caroline’s Tedx talk on Parental Love vs Parental Empowerment. Consider how parents diagnosed with cancer might engage with their children on the subject.
Reflect on how confidently you ask patients whether they have children or caring responsibilities, and whether this is embedded in routine assessment.
Identify one practical change you can make in your clinical role, such as asking about children, offering a parenting resource, or discussing family needs at key points in the cancer pathway.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Churchhill fellow
Fruitfly Collective
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
Link Tree
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
BlueSky
YouTube
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

© Rad Chat 2025. All rights reserved.  
We (or our licensors) own all intellectual property rights in this podcast and all related content, online and offline.  
You may not use, copy, modify, download, archive, reproduce, distribute, display, publish, licence, create derivative works from or commercially exploit any part of our content unless we expressly agree in writing.  
You must not use any images, audio, video, graphics or clips separately from their accompanying context.  
Please acknowledge Rad Chat (and any identified contributors) clearly whenever referencing or sharing our content.

Trigger Warning: this episode discusses cancer, cancer and pregnancy and treatment side effects.

Episode 211: Part of the Living with and beyond cancer series (Part 72)

Description: In this honest, emotional and deeply inspiring episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara are joined by Holly Stubbs and her partner, Lee Wilkinson, to discuss the realities of facing a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, navigating the physical and emotional side effects of treatment, and finding hope through some of life's most challenging moments.
Holly is a devoted mother of three whose family is at the centre of everything she does. After receiving the life-changing news of a cancer diagnosis whilst pregnant, her world was turned upside down. Through courage, honesty and resilience, Holly has documented her journey online, sharing the highs and lows of treatment, motherhood and adapting to a new normal, providing comfort and support to thousands of others facing similar experiences.

Lee, a father of three from the North East, began sharing their family's story on social media as a way of documenting their journey for their children. What started as a personal record has grown into a platform reaching millions, raising awareness of cancer, pregnancy and the importance of family, resilience and hope.

Together, Holly and Lee offer a powerful insight into the impact cancer has on the whole family. They discuss balancing treatment with parenthood, coping with uncertainty, supporting one another through adversity, and the role of social media in connecting with and helping others.

This is a moving conversation about love, strength, vulnerability and resilience that reminds us of the importance of compassionate, family-centred cancer care. Whether you are a healthcare professional, student, patient, caregiver or simply interested in the lived experience of cancer, this episode offers valuable lessons that will stay with you long after you've finished listening.

CPD Reflection Points:
Holly and Lee share the realities of living with and supporting someone through cancer. How has their story influenced your understanding of the emotional and practical impact of cancer on patients and their families?
What can healthcare professionals learn from patient and caregiver experiences shared on social media, and how might these insights help improve communication, empathy, and person-centred care?
Reflecting on Holly and Lee’s journey of adapting to a “new normal,” how can your practice better support patients and families beyond diagnosis and treatment, particularly during periods of adjustment and uncertainty?
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Oracle, Head and Neck Cancer UK 
Mouth Cancer Foundation
Young Tongues
The Swallows
Mummys Star
Research links from the Episode:
New research brings hope to head and neck cancer survivors with radiotherapy-induced dry mouth
Research into mouth and oropharngeal cancers
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
Link Tree
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
BlueSky
YouTube
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

© Rad Chat 2025. All rights reserved.  
We (or our licensors) own all intellectual property rights in this podcast and all related content, online and offline.  
You may not use, copy, modify, download, archive, reproduce, distribute, display, publish, licence, create derivative works from or commercially exploit any part of our content unless we expressly agree in writing.  
You must not use any images, audio, video, graphics or clips separately from their accompanying context.  
Please acknowledge Rad Chat (and any identified contributors) clearly whenever referencing or sharing our content.

Trigger Warning: we discuss cancer and cancer treatment.

Rad Chat live at ESTRO 2026 in Sweden in collaboration with Elekta.

Description: At this live event, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Sonja Engberg, Margarida Costa and Roel Bouwmans.

CPD Reflection Points:
1. Reflecting on Current Practice
Compare the adaptive radiotherapy workflow discussed in the podcast with your own department's approach, if applicable. Identify one aspect of your current practice that aligns with the panel's experiences and one area that could be improved. Reflect on how any changes could enhance patient care or service delivery.
2. Leadership in Adaptive Radiotherapy
The panellists describe how they have led the development of adaptive radiotherapy services. Reflect on the leadership behaviours, or skills that stood out to you. How could you apply these within your own role, regardless of your level of experience? Identify one action you will take to support your own professional development.
3. Putting Learning into Practice
Identify three key learning points from the podcast. For each, explain how it could be applied within your own clinical practice, or department. Conclude by identifying one realistic change or improvement you will aim to implement over the next three months and describe how you will evaluate its impact.

Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Elekta
Elekta MR-Linac
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
Link Tree
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
BlueSky
YouTube
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

© Rad Chat 2025. All rights reserved.  
We (or our licensors) own all intellectual property rights in this podcast and all related content, online and offline.  
You may not use, copy, modify, download, archive, reproduce, distribute, display, publish, licence, create derivative works from or commercially exploit any part of our content unless we expressly agree in writing.  
You must not use any images, audio, video, graphics or clips separately from their accompanying context.  
Please acknowledge Rad Chat (and any identified contributors) clearly whenever referencing or sharing our content.