Taking Control of Cancer

Taking Control of Cancer is a podcast series from the North East London Cancer Alliance to help overcome common cancer myths, fears and barriers.

The series aims to provide both patients and healthcare professionals with tangible things they can do to help when it comes to cancer. Whilst we know not all cancers are preventable, there are things we can all do that could make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of our family, friends and colleagues.

Our host is Steve Bland. Steve is an award-winning podcaster and producer and one of the three presenters of the BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C, which was set up by his first wife - BBC presenter Rachael Bland - before her death from triple negative breast cancer in 2018.

Podcast Channels

Don't miss an episode! Follow our podcast channel now on your preferred choice of platform. Click on the links below.

Episode 7: Speaking to your GP about cancer

A unique view from Dr Farzana Hussain - local GP of the year in 2019 - to help encourage people to come forward for life-saving screening and to get checked for symptoms by their GP.

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Episode 6: Understanding your risk of prostate cancer

British Athlete Joe Appiah shares his experience of prostate cancer and talks about prostate cancer risks, urging men with a higher risk to take action.

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Episode 5: Looking after your lungs

Stephanie Uys from Barts Health NHS Trust talks about the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, being delivered in partnership with InHealth, and how it is saving lives through early diagnosis of lung cancer, as well as the support available to help people stop smoking.

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Episode 4: Improving your health for cancer treatment & recovery

Host Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, MD of the North East London Cancer Alliance, take the pod on the road as they visit Maggie's at Barts Health. Here, they chat to Victoria Curran, Centre Head at Maggie's, about the fantastic free support available for cancer patients to help them both prepare for, and recover from, their cancer treatment.

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Episode 3: Becoming cancer free

Guest speaker is the fantastic Pamela Okyere from Black Women Rising, who shares her inspirational breast cancer story from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.

She talks about some of the challenges along the way and how we can help our diverse communities to come forward and get the support they need when it comes to cancer.

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Episode 2: Staying positive after a prostate cancer diagnosis

Join prostate cancer patient Kevin Kibble in our podcast with Steve Bland, where he opens up about his experience of prostate cancer —from diagnosis to treatment—and the power of staying fit to boost recovery.

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Episode 1: Overcoming local challenges in cancer care

A view from guest speaker Professor Charles Knight OBE, Chief Executive of St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Chair of the Cancer Alliance Board, who gives a personal insight into the challenges in north east London, some of the recent successes and a look ahead to the future.

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