Rad Chat

Trigger Warning: this episode discusses HPV, anal cancer, cancer treatment, sex and intimacy, late effects and survivorship.

Description: In this powerful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Clare Laverty. Claire is a mum, wife & dental practice manager, with lived experience of anal cancer. After undergoing chemo-radiotherapy in 2024, she now advocates for awareness, support, and honest conversations around side effects and survivorship.

This episode is a deep dive into Claire’s anal cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

CPD Reflection Points:
read about the signs and symptoms of anal cancer.
consider how you could improve your ability to recognise potential symptoms of anal cancer in female patients, and avoid misattributing these to more common benign conditions.
consider how you could adapt your communication and clinical approach to better support patients experiencing stigma, emotional distress, or concerns about body image and intimacy related to anal cancer.
what steps could you take take to ensure patients receive holistic, multidisciplinary care, including appropriate referrals and support for both physical and psychological needs.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Practical considerations for anal intimacy during and after cancer treatment
The impact of anal cancer treatment on female sexuality and intimacy: a systematic review
Sexual Toxicity After Chemoradiation for Anal Cancer Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Anal Cancer BMJ Best Practice
Vaginal and sexual health after radiotherapy for anal cancer: A Danish prospective cohort study
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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 HPV, HIV, anal cancer, cancer and cancer treatment.

Description: In this powerful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Alex Sparrowhawk and Emma Davy to discuss HPV and HIV, their link to anal cancer and the George House Charity.
This series has been supported by an unrestricted grant from Incyte Biosciences. Incyte had no involvement in the development, content, or editorial review of the activities associated with this initiative.

CPD Reflection Points:
Reflect on the latest insights from the podcast regarding the relationship between HIV, HPV, and anal cancer. Identify one or two clinical scenarios in your own practice where this knowledge could influence patient assessment, screening, or education. Plan a small change to incorporate this learning into your practice.
The podcast introduced multidisciplinary care approaches. Reflect on any gaps in your current knowledge, or skills regarding anal cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment in people living with HIV. Identify one learning resource (from the links attached) to review and plan how you will apply this knowledge in your clinical work.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Liverpool HIV Interactions
George House Trust
People First Charter - HIV Language, Person First Language
EACS: Cancer
Campaign raises awareness of anal cancer in men living with HIV :: Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance
Our Health Matters: A Conversation About Anal Cancer - BHA for Equality
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis(PrEP)
HPV Vaccination
Research links from the Episode:
European AIDS treatment group
Human Papillomavirus Vaccines: An Updated Review
Preexposure Prophylaxis(PrEP) for HIV
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 treatment, blood cancer, breast cancer, childhood cancer and late effects.

Episode 204: Part of the Living With and Beyond Cancer Series (Part 70)

Description: In this powerful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Jess Synge. Jess is a Radiation Therapist turned industry professional, brining over 20 years of Oncology experience shaped by both her work and her own life story. Her path began at age 15, when a cancer diagnosis sparked her commitment to supporting others through theirs. After many years in clinical practice, she joined Elekta to help improve patient care on a wider scale. Based in Tauranga, New Zealand, Jess lives with her husband and two young boys. In late 2024, she faced a second cancer diagnosis, deepening her empathy and adding a profound layer of insight to her work. She continues to find joy in life’s simple comforts - family, staying active, baking, gardening and home DIY.

This episode is a deep dive into Jess’ childhood cancer, training to become a radiation therapist, role at Elekta and more recently breast cancer.

CPD Reflection Points:
Reflect on your own decisions to become a healthcare professional.
Consider how you could support a colleague or friend who has had a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Consider the long term effects of mantle radiotherapy and understand how you could support someone who experiences these effects.
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Camp Quality Charity
Adolescents and Young Adults - Australian Cancer Plan
Hodgkins Lymphoma
Elekta
Research links from the Episode:
High incidence of late effects found in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors, following recall for breast cancer screening
A Case Report on Breast Cancer Following Mantle Radiation for Hodgkin Lymphoma: Screening and Management
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
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Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

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

Episode 203: Part of the Living With and Beyond Cancer Series (Part 69).

Description: In this powerful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Dr. Saahil Mehta. 

Saahil is a consultant Plastic Surgeon and founder of Plexaa, is revolutionising surgical outcomes. His research on preconditioning & prehabilitation led to Bloom43, a wearable device & prehabilitation app for breast cancer patients, to help patients empower their preparation for their surgery. Plexaa was recognised as a top innovator in the Medtech Innovator Accelerator program, demonstrating Saahil's commitment to improving patient care.

In this insightful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara hear about Saahil’s journey, innovation, Plexaa and Bloom43.

CPD Reflection Points:
How could digital tools (wearables, remote monitoring, AI risk prediction) enhance prehabilitation before breast cancer surgery? Consider how med-tech could track fitness, nutrition, and psychological readiness to improve surgical outcomes.
Patients vary in fitness, comorbidities, and treatment pathways. What data or technologies would you use to design personalised prehabilitation programmes before breast cancer surgery?
If you identified a gap in prehabilitation for breast cancer patients, what steps would you take to translate that clinical problem into a medical technology solution or startup?
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Plexaa Bloom43
Breast Cancer Symptoms Breast Cancer Now
PRosPer module
Research links from the Episode:
Supraphysiological preconditioning
Local Heat Preconditioning in Skin Sparing Mastectomy: A Pilot Study, Mehta S, Rolph R, Cornelius V et al., 2013 
A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial to Evaluate Local Heat Preconditioning on Wound Healing After Reconstructive Breast Surgery: The preHEAT Trial. Mehta S, Cro SC, Coomber B et al., 2019
Thermal Preconditioning for Surgery: A Systematic Review
Rad Chat Links:
Rad Chat Website
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Facebook
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Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.

Trigger Warning: this episode discusses disabilities and life limiting conditions.

Episode 202: Part of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Series (Part 20)

Description: In this powerful episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Sarah Phillips. Sarah lives with two incurable conditions that shape her daily life. The first is a rare genetic neuromuscular disease caused by the absence of a gene needed to produce the myelin sheath, leaving her with an exceptionally unusual presentation even within a rare disorder. She also has a metabolic condition that causes her body to burn calories at an extreme rate, making it impossible to maintain weight without enteral nutrition and placing her at high risk of refeeding syndrome and related complications. Despite these challenges, she's committed to transforming her experiences into meaningful projects and businesses that support others living with chronic illness and disability.

CPD Reflection Points:
Reflect and consider how your assumptions about “ability,” productivity, or independence shape the way you interact with people living with disabilities or incurable conditions.
Read this article and consider the impact of not being provided reasonable adjustments.
Look up the George ASDA adult adaptive clothing range and consider how you can share this. 
Complete this form for your accredited digital badge: Digital Badge Form.

Links from the Episode:
Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies(HNPP)
The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition(BAPEN)
Demyelinating disease: What can you do about it?
Intermittent Self Catheterisation - Bowel and Bladder Community
Foot drop
Mencap
Money Saving Expert: Critical Illness Cover
Personal Independence Payment(PIP)
Transfer of Undertakings(Protection of Employment)(TUPE)
Natalie Woodward
Research links from the Episode:
Disabled people’s employment in the UK: A thematic review of the literature
The role of workplace accommodations in explaining the disability employment gap in the UK
Enabling inclusion: an analysis of positive and negative outcomes of discretionary work arrangements for employees with disabilities
Disclosing non-visible disabilities in educational workplaces: a scoping review
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.