Everyone’s cancer journey is unique and in this episode you’ll hear how Victoria’s guests demonstrate that by talking frankly about their differing responses to being told they had breast cancer. The fact that two of those guests are sisters only adds to the point. Cathy and Tracey - two siblings of seven - were diagnosed a few months apart and despite their closeness, they got on it in different ways. Their stories are uplifting and poignant and they are joined by Jackie, Future Dreams’ Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist - who explains how different people react differently to everything ..read more

Getting a breast cancer diagnosis is traumatic enough when it comes as a surprise. What if you know there’s a higher chance you might get breast cancer because of a genetic fault? Not only that, it might get passed on to your children. If you have close relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer you may have a higher risk of developing the disease yourself. Most cases of breast cancer don’t run in families but if there’s a problem with the BRCA 1 or 2 genes, your chances of getting it go up. In this remarkable episode, Victoria speaks to three women from the same family. A ..read more

What is the difference between a radiotherapist and a radiologist ? Stage 3 and Grade 3 ? If you’re told you have carcinoma in situ, how bad is that? When you are diagnosed with breast cancer it marks the beginning of the steepest learning curve you’ve probably ever been on. You’re learning a whole new lexicon while you are coping with the stress and the fear of knowing you now have a serious illness.   In this episode Victoria has two guests to help us work through the terminology and vocabulary and finds out how doctors and nurses are being trained to eliminate some of the jargon and he ..read more

What is the difference between a radiotherapist and a radiologist ? Stage 3 and Grade 3 ? If you’re told you have carcinoma in situ, how bad is that? When you are diagnosed with breast cancer it marks the beginning of the steepest learning curve you’ve probably ever been on. You’re learning a whole new lexicon while you are coping with the stress and the fear of knowing you now have a serious illness.   In this episode Victoria has two guests to help us work through the terminology and vocabulary and finds out how doctors and nurses are being trained to eliminate some of the jargon and he ..read more

The drugs you take when you’ve had a breast cancer diagnosis can prolong your life by reducing the chances of your cancer coming back. But they can also come with some pretty unpleasant side effects- from hot flushes and fatigue- to pain and depression. In this episode, Victoria speaks to women who’ve experienced a variety of hormone therapy treatments- and gets some advice and guidance from consultant medical oncologist Dr Fharat Raja, who specialises in breast cancer care. Brought to you by the Future Dreams charity, "And Then Came Breast Cancer" is for everyone whose lives have been touch ..read more

It may sound obvious, but what you eat during and after breast cancer treatment is hugely important for the way in which you deal with the illness, and helps you towards the hoped-for recovery. In this bonus edition of the podcast, guest presenter Louise Court talks to nutritionist and dietician Jane Clarke who shares advice and ideas drawn from her more than 30 years of experience in this field. Brought to you by the Future Dreams charity, "And Then Came Breast Cancer" is for everyone whose lives have been touched by the disease. You can contact us at FutureDreams.com for help and advice and ..read more

It should be one of the happiest stages of a woman’s life when they find out they are having a child. But in around one in a thousand pregnancies cancer, in one of its forms, can rear its ugly and unwelcome head. The changes in a woman’s body during that time can disguise breast cancer symptoms. Getting a diagnosis then or soon after giving birth can be psychologically, emotionally, and physically draining-and frightening. But there is help out there.   In this episode, Victoria speaks to women who’ve gone through this, and to Pete Wallroth, who founded the Mummy’s Star charity after his ..read more

It would be impossible to do a series helping women when they get a breast cancer diagnosis if we don’t talk about dying-or the fear of dying. For many people that is a conversation they don’t want to have or it may be a conversation they don’t want to have right now- which is understandable. Others find it therapeutic and helpful to have frank conversations about it. If this is you, please listen to this special episode, where guest presenter Louise Court talks to three women about how they have dealt with this most difficult subject, from facing up to the possibility of the end of life, to g ..read more

Dawn Butler is the Labour MP for Brent Central and became the first elected African-Caribbean woman to become a government minister in the UK. Dawn arrived in Westminster via work on a market stall, a family-owned bakery ,and as a computer programmer. She also has breast cancer and was diagnosed last year, during Covid. She has decided for the very first time, to share her story with presenter Victoria Derbyshire on this podcast. It is a frank, emotional and, at times humorous account of one woman’s experience with the disease. Brought to you by the Future Dreams charity, "And Then Came Brea ..read more

When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, your friends will play a big part in how you deal with the treatment and emotions that follow. It could be a voice at the end of a phone in the middle of the night or a ready-made meal hand-delivered to your door, but the strength and support of your mates will mean a lot. But of course, some friends don’t know what to say, and go quiet. In this episode, Victoria speaks to women -and their friends -as they share stories of how their lives changed- but their friends love didn’t. They also talk about the friends who couldn’t cope. Brought to you by the ..read more