image source, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Oncology nurse Caroline Tweedy launches and hosts 'Patient Cancer Podcast' series
- author, Pamela Tickell
- role, BBC News, North East and Cumbria
An NHS-run podcast for cancer patients is returning after a hiatus due to strikes and pressure on the workforce.
The Patient Cancer Podcast was launched in 2021 by the NHS in Gateshead to help communicate with patients during the pandemic lockdown.
Episodes cover topics such as lifestyle changes, real-life experiences, and new research and developments.
“Even if your story touches one person, you've won,” said podcast guest Nicola George, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
George, 44, from Hebburn, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40.
In her podcast episode, she shared her experiences as a mother, business owner, and living with cancer.
image source, Nicola George
George said recording the podcast was “almost like a therapy session.”
“It was really empowering to not only know that I was helping the people who were listening to the podcast, but also to be able to talk about it in my own time and feel like I was being heard,” George said. .
She said people who heard her story reached out to her and told her she was an inspiration.
George said: “Now that I have grandchildren, I have been able to welcome them into the world and my business has grown.
“It’s nice to feel like I’m giving people hope.”
“Very adaptable.”
Cancer nurse expert and presenter Caroline Tweedy said podcasts were an ideal vehicle for cancer treatment as they were subject to change as new guidance was released.
“They're very adaptable,” Tweedy says.
“This is personalized information,” she said, adding, “This is not a flyer. It's professionals and patients speaking from the heart about their experiences.”
image source, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Breast cancer nurse Emily Turnbull also shares her expertise on the podcast.
Another podcast guest, breast cancer nurse Emily Turnbull, said she was a bit “uneasy” about recording at first.
“It's strange because we're used to talking to patients one-on-one, but it was really nice to be able to provide that information to patients in the comfort of their own home.”
James McCourt, Service Line Manager at Gateshead Health, said: “The series will continue to cover a range of topics across his NHS services, making it more accessible to a wider range of people and helping us work towards reducing health inequalities” in our communities. ”
