Upfront About Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Network Australia
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Upfront About Breast Cancer

Upfront About Breast Cancer provides people affected by breast cancer and their family with real stories, insights and helpful tips from those who have had their own breast cancer experience as well as access to the latest essential information from a range of different health professionals and experts. Conversational in style, Upfront About Breast Cancer explores a range of topics designed to help those at all stages diagnosed with early breast cancer, DCIS or metastatic breast cancer, and those around them.

  1. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 0: Welcome to Unlimited

    Episode 0: Welcome to Season 2: Unlimited  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Welcome to What You Don’t Know Until You Do: Unlimited, with Dr Charlotte Tottman.  Charlotte and Kellie reflect on the success of season 1 of the podcast and share the topics and themes that they will be exploring through Charlotte’s clinical experience in season 2.  They discuss what unlimited means and unpack and tackle the things we often don’t want to speak about due to avoidance and protection, but these conversations often allow us to confront our fears and more importantly, make us feel empowered.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at helpline@bcna.org.au (mailto:helpline@bcna.org.au), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  2. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 1: A Mixed Dozen: Anxiety in a Cancer Context

    Episode 1: A Mixed Dozen: Anxiety in a Cancer Context  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about anxiety in a cancer content. In this episode Charlotte discusses ‘the mixed dozen’: the types of anxiety that are common during and beyond a cancer diagnosis, including diagnosis shock, fear of recurrence, scan anxiety and the impact on family, partner and friends. We also explore some common behavioural responses and strategies that can help such as challenging the anxiety, sitting in the uncertainty, getting to know your fear and triggers and mindfulness and exercise. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at helpline@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  3. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 2: Forged in Fire: Relationships with your Medical Team and Self-advocacy

    Episode 2: Forged in Fire: Relationships with your Medical Team and Self-advocacy  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be Upfront about navigating relationships with your medical team. Your medical team is often comprised of a group of professionals who you don’t know and who come into your life at short notice, in a highly stressful and emotional time. In this episode, Charlotte explores how for many people their experience with their medical team is a positive one, however this isn’t always the case. Charlotte shares how it’s important to advocate for yourself and have expectations of what you can reasonably expect from different members of your medical team and what is important to you. We also learn about cognitive and behavioral strategies to help you identify your individual needs and tools that can assist. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at helpline@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  4. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 3: Sugar, Stress, and Misdemeanours: Causal Beliefs

    Episode 3: Sugar, Stress, and Misdemeanours: Causal Beliefs  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about causal beliefs and how they impact our feelings and behaviours.  It is common for people to search for an explanation to help them make sense of a situation and why it may have happened to them. Within a cancer context, people often want to understand what caused their cancer and what they did that may have resulted in a diagnosis.  In this episode Charlotte explores the thinking behind causal beliefs and breaks down the common elements and lifestyle behaviours people think may have contributed to their diagnosis. We also learn about risks associated with casual beliefs and discover the acceptance model.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at helpline@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  5. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 4: Bittersweet: Living with Metastatic Disease

    Episode 4: Bittersweet: Living with Metastatic Disease  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about the challenges for those living with metastatic breast cancer. In this episode Charlotte discusses metastatic disease from a psychological perspective, exploring the thin line between coping and not coping, artificial intensity, avoidance and reassurance. BCNA and Charlotte would like to acknowledge BCNA Consumer Representative Dr Andrea Smith who generously shared her story and knowledge about living with metastatic breast cancer in this episode.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au, email us at helpline@bcna.org.au (mailto:helpline@bcna.org.au), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  6. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 5: Re-entry Wobbles: Re-starting Life after Cancer Treatment

    Episode 5: Re-entry Wobbles: Re-starting Life after Cancer Treatment  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about life after cancer treatment. It can be difficult to adapt to life after a breast cancer diagnosis and beyond. In this episode, Charlotte explains challenges in the experience of re-entering work and other obligations after cancer treatment, the common drop in self-confidence, and the importance of purpose and meaning. Just like physical stamina, strength, and capacity, we decondition psychologically much faster than we recondition. Charlotte shares strategies including repetition that allow a sense of progression and success that can then act as a motivator.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at helpline@bcna.org.au (mailto:helpline@bcna.org.au), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  7. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 6: Hanging Out with The Bad Boys: Helpful and Not So Helpful Behaviour Changes

    Episode 6: Hanging Out with The Bad Boys: Helpful and Not So Helpful Behaviour Changes  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about behavioural changes.  A behavioural change is a change within someone's behaviour when compared to a previous behaviour and can be quite common after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this episode Charlotte shares what some of these common behaviours are and discusses the behavioural change model and role of obstacles.  We learn about the guilt and anxiety model, flexibility, the power of helpful language and other strategies that can help you adjust.  This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at helpline@bcna.org.au (mailto:helpline@bcna.org.au), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

  8. 19/04/2023

    What you don’t know until you do: Unlimited: Episode 7: The View from the Other Side of the Bed: The Partner’s Perspective

    Episode 7: The View from the Other Side of the Bed: The Partner’s Perspective  We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.au  Let’s be upfront about different perspectives during and beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. A breast cancer diagnosis affects not only the person diagnosed, but also those around them, whether that be a partner, family, friends or a carer. It can be quite common for people to experience feelings of anxiety, helplessness and not being quite sure of whether they are doing the right thing to help support. In this episode, Charlotte explores the common perspective and experiences of those close to the person diagnosed, and how together you can navigate the new normal. This podcast was recorded in February 2023  RESOURCES:  * Sign up to My Journey (https://myjourney.org.au/) and access a range of resources  * Visit our Online Network (https://www.bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork/) to connect with people going through a similar experience  Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.  Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA.  Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.  Want to get in touch? Visit our website at www.bcna.org.au (https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/www.bcna.org.au), email us at helpline@bcna.org.au (mailto:helpline@bcna.org.au), or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

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About

Upfront About Breast Cancer provides people affected by breast cancer and their family with real stories, insights and helpful tips from those who have had their own breast cancer experience as well as access to the latest essential information from a range of different health professionals and experts. Conversational in style, Upfront About Breast Cancer explores a range of topics designed to help those at all stages diagnosed with early breast cancer, DCIS or metastatic breast cancer, and those around them.

Information

  • Creator
    Breast Cancer Network Australia
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2023
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Upfront About Breast Cancer
  • Show Website
    Upfront About Breast Cancer

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