In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Jay shares her journey working in cancer research to receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer herself.

Jay opens up about discovering a lump in 2018 at age 47, navigating a stage 3 diagnosis, and dealing with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Drawing on her science background, she also explains how understanding the system helped her advocate for herself and regain some sense of control.

She reflects on the emotional realities of cancer, and the role of family, culture and her community in her experience. Jay also speaks about the challenges within the South Asian community, where cancer is often a taboo subject, and highlights the urgent need for better awareness and representation.

Jay is now a strong advocate for health literacy and inclusion, and tells Laura about her dedication to empowering women to listen to their bodies, ask questions, and speak up in healthcare settings.

Breast Cancer Now support & information: https://breastcancernow.org
Clinical trials database: https://clinicaltrials.gov

Key topics:
01:11 Let's get to know Jay
02:19 Jay's background working in clinical trials
03:52 Jay is diagnosed with breast cancer
08:59 The loneliness of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
12:12 What Jay learned from her cancer diagnosis
16:19 The importance of self advocacy and health literacy
20:43 How Jay approached telling her parents about her cancer diagnosis
26:53 Jay 8 years on from diagnosis
28:38 Troubles with tamoxifen
31:33 Ways Jay deals with life after cancer treatment
34:45 Working towards better research representation in under-represented communities
37:44 Jay's work educating people about breast cancer
40:51 Cancer in the South Asian community
42:59 Improving cancer outcomes in Black and South Asian populations

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy shares his experience of being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Chris discusses the shock of diagnosis, adapting to life with incurable cancer, and how his mindset as an elite athlete has helped him navigate uncertainty. He also introduces the Tour de 4, a community cycling event raising funds and awareness for metastatic cancers.

Together with Laura Price—who is also living with metastatic breast cancer—the conversation explores resilience, the importance of healthy living, and finding meaning while living with an incurable diagnosis.

Tour de 4 will take place on Sunday 6 September 2026 – sign up now.

Breast cancer support and information on metastatic breast cancer from Breast Cancer Now.
Prostate cancer support and information on metastatic prostate cancer from Prostate Cancer UK.
Check your risk of prostate cancer in 30 seconds with Prostate Cancer UK's risk checker.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Key topics
01:37 Life before cancer
03:52 Dealing with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer
08:20 The mental resilience and drive of an athlete
12:42 Tour de 4 – Sir Chris Hoy's cycling fundraiser
14:28 The community of Tour de 4
17:40 Who can take part in Tour de 4?
19:10 The impact of Tour de 4
21:32 How to sign up for Tour de 4
22:31 Laura's experience of last year's Tour de 4
24:58 Raising awareness about metastatic cancers
28:02 Chris Hoy opens up about mental challenges posed by his diagnosis
30:14 Chris Hoy's tips for dealing with fear and anxiety
33:18 The importance of exercise with a cancer diagnosis
35:36 Nutrition and avoiding sensational diets
39:11 Chris Hoy shares the most important things he's learned since his cancer diagnosis
46:38 How to get involved in Tour de 4

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, returning guest Laura Ashurst shares her experience of living nearly 20 years with metastatic breast cancer.

Laura speaks about why she thinks she has survived so long with a metastatic diagnosis, about the importance of holistic care and the importance of mental wellbeing. Laura talks about her advocacy for improved treatment access, the need for more consistent support, and improved data collection for those with metastatic breast cancer.

Find out more about metupUK
Laura Ashurst's website

Key Topics
02:35 Laura's diagnoses
13:40 What happened next?
14:40 How it felt to be told you had 3-6 months to live
18:55 Reflections on treatment and knowledge
20:18 Letrozole
24:27 What needs to be done for in terms of treatment for breast cancer?
26:00 What Laura thinks has contributed to her survival, mental wellbeing
35:35 Survivors guilt
38:37 The metup UK charity
40:20 The importance of improving data collection for metastatic breast cancer diagnoses
41:40 Working with Rishi Sunak
44:40 What Laura is working on with metup UK
46:35 The importance of signs and symptoms of metastatic breast cancer
48:45 Where do you find hope?
50:18 "I will never say I am grateful that cancer entered my life."
50:43 How Laura's metastatic breast cancer diagnosis has affected her children
56:00 Advice for those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
56:46 What should people take away from this episode?
58:20 Information on metup UK

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, documentary filmmaker Victoria Mapplebeck shares her experience of raising her son as a solo parent while documenting the journey over 20 years.

She talks to Laura about her film Motherboard, which captures the humour and heartbreak of parenting, and how her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis affected her teenage son Jim.

Victoria opens up about navigating breast cancer treatment without a partner, and how she uses creativity as a way to cope with and process those challenges.

Motherboard is now streaming on Apple, Amazon, BFI Player, Rakuten and YouTube Movies & TV.

Family Viewing – Capturing family life with your smartphone. A series of workshops for parents navigating family life with breast cancer – register for free.

Parenting support from Fruitfly Collective.
Breast cancer support from Breast Cancer Now.

Listen to our episode with Caroline Leek from Fruitfly Collective, about parenting with cancer.

01:26 Getting to know Victoria
03:00 Motherboard, filmed over 20 years
10:19 Being a solo parent
14:19 Victoria is diagnosed with breast cancer
15:56 Talking to a child about a breast cancer diagnosis
22:07 The emotional impact of Victoria's breast cancer
26:12 Mutual support between a child and a parent
32:06 The pitfalls searching for cancer information online
37:08 Working with Fruitfly Collective to help parents with cancer
40:19 How to get started documenting your experience
48:13 How to watch Motherboard

Laura speaks to Breast Cancer Now’s chief executive, Claire Rowney, about our long-term vision, and her own recent experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Claire talks about the importance of attending mammogram screenings, and how her diagnosis was discovered through a routine screening. She reflects on the emotional impact of diagnosis, the lack of control she felt, and how the experience has given her a deeper understanding of what patient empowerment really means. They also talk about how Breast Cancer Now’s new strategy and look will help us achieve our bold vision. That by 2050, everyone with breast cancer will live and live well.

Listen to Fran's episode about the benefits of exercise with cancer or watch on YouTube.

Listen to Dr Sam Orange's episode on exercise after breast cancer or watch on YouTube.

You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website: https://www.breastcancernow.org/podcast

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:
04:01 What do the charity's goals actually mean?
05:10 Breast Cancer Now's new look
07:13 What does the charity's new strategy mean for people with breast cancer?
15:23 Reaching that 2050 goal
18:40 Claire's own breast cancer diagnosis
23:30 What empowerment really is
26:30 The importance of attending your breast cancer screening
29:05 What Breast Cancer Now is doing to help younger people with breast cancer
32:10 The importance of getting diagnosed early
33:30 Raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer
36:40 How the charity is going to support people post-treatment
38:50 How is Claire doing, now?
44:45 What work is being done into health inequalities
46:05 How close is a cure for breast cancer?
48:20 Research into what causes breast cancer
49:30 The colour pink
50:30 Why was it important to spend money on the new look?
51:20 They importance of fundraising
53:07 What did Claire learn as a result of her diagnosis?
53:40 What should the listener take away from this episode?

• why travel insurance matters, especially when you have a cancer diagnosis,
• how medical screening works and what insurers are really looking for,
• common myths about being “uninsurable” after your treatment changes or a progression,
• confusing terminology when applying for travel insurance and how to make sense of it,
• practical tips for planning trips, timing holidays around treatment, and talking to your medical team,
• Fiona’s own story, taking her frustration with the system and creating a travel insurance brand with people with cancer at its heart.