Upfront About Breast Cancer

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 and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network 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

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 and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network 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

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 and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network 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

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 and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network 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

Episode 8: No. is a sentence: Boundary Setting 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 setting boundaries. After a cancer diagnosis and treatment, you often discover you are not able to operate at the same level as you did pre-cancer, physically, cognitively and emotionally. In this episode, Charlotte explains the importance of boundary setting in self-care, particularly in relation to the challenges in continuing to care for loved ones while navigating a cancer experience, and the role of guilt in this. We learn about how to identify your limits and act on them, communicate to others and ourselves, and how to identify alternative helpful activities and prioritise them. This podcast was recorded in February 2023 RESOURCES: Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network 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

Episode 10: The Inevitable: Death, Dying and Mortality 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 *Please note that this episode is an unscripted conversation and does not reflect the full spectrum of experience of end-of-life. It is suggested that you exercise self-care when listening and for more information on personal circumstances seek the guidance of your medical professional. Let’s be upfront about death, dying and mortality. End of life is something people often don’t want to speak or think about, usually because of the uncertainty that surrounds the death and dying experience and the fear of not being here, however, having the tough conversations early can really help to support you and your loved ones. In this episode, Charlotte speaks frankly about the process of dying, common thoughts and feelings about death, and mortality vulnerabilities, and why confronting some of this can be helpful. This podcast was recorded in February 2023 RESOURCES: Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources Visit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experience Charlotte Tottman’s end of life preferences discussion prompts. 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

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting.Let’s be Upfront about men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is often thought as a disease that only affects women, however, in Australia in 2022 it is predicted that 212 men will be diagnosed. As this diagnosis is less common, men who are diagnosed with breast cancer often feel a range of emotions, including feeling isolated and alone and being unsure who they can speak to or what to do next.Joining us for this In Conversation episode are Harry and Pieter.Harry was diagnosed with early breast cancer in 2005 and had chemotherapy, after which he was cancer-free. In 2018, at a routine appointment with his GP, he had a series of blood tests, and his cancer was found to have returned. Harry was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at that time.Pieter was diagnosed with triple-positive grade 3 breast cancer, which had spread to a sentinel lymph node, in 2021. He underwent a mastectomy and axillary node clearance and then started four rounds of chemotherapy. Pieter lost his wife to breast cancer in 2017.During this candid conversation between Harry and Pieter we’ll hear their stories, their initial reaction to their diagnosis, the biggest challenges they face, who they went to for support and why they want to help spread awareness of the disease for other men. This podcast was recorded in May 2022.RESOURCES:- Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources for men diagnosed with breast cancer- Visit our Online Network to connect with other men going through a similar experienceUpfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons.If this episode helped you or someone you know, you can support the show in the following ways to allow us to continue to be upfront with you and reach more people through meaningful content. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, download so you always have an episode ready to listen to, leave a rating and review and tell us what you liked about the episode. Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting.Let’s be Upfront about living in a rural area following a breast cancer diagnosis. For people living in rural areas there can be additional stress and challenges, which may include limited, or no, local cancer treatment centres, having to travel long distances for treatment and the resulting financial impact, and having to leave family at home while you are away for treatment.Joining us for this In Conversation episode are Tania and Fiona.Tania was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when she was 32 and living in a rural community 100kms from Adelaide. After her diagnosis she had to travel to Adelaide for tests, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Fiona was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and lives on a farm in southwest Victoria. She had a mastectomy, four and half months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and has recently commenced hormone blocking medication.During this candid conversation between Tania and Fiona we hear their stories, the challenges they faced, how they coped with the hardship of travelling for treatment and the financial impact, where they found support and the advice they have for those diagnosed with breast cancer living in a rural area.This podcast was recorded in April 2022.RESOURCES:Sign up to My Journey and for a range of resources on living in a rural or regional area with breast cancer including Breast cancer information for people in rural areas, Questions to ask if you live in a remote or rural area and Financial support for people with breast cancer in rural and remote areasCancer Australia Women in rural areasVisit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experienceUpfront 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.This episode was engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.If this episode helped you or someone you know, you can support the show in the following ways to allow us to continue to be upfront with you and reach more people through meaningful content. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, download so you always have an episode ready to listen to, leave a rating and review and tell us what you liked about the episode and complete the survey that you’ll find in the show notes. This survey will help us to tailor and create content that is relevant to our members and their breast cancer diagnosis. Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting.Let’s be upfront about LGBTIQ+ communities that are affected by breast cancer. We know that cancer doesn’t discriminate and depending on who you are, and how you identify, your experience can be different.Joining us for this episode is Mel Krollig and her partner Riki Owens-Bennett.Mel was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 at the age of 36 and has had fertility treatment, a single mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Riki works as a community worker for the LGBTIQ+ communities in South Australia and has been by Mel’s side during her breast cancer journey. Riki and Mel have been together for 19 years, and despite a few COVID-19 related delays, married in 2021 in a celebration surrounded by family and friends.We’ll hear about Mel’s experience of breast cancer, how Riki supported her, the challenges the couple faced together and how they navigated the system as a LGBTIQ+ couple.This podcast was recorded in August 2021.RESOURCES:Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources on LGBTIQ+ couplesVisit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experienceCancer Connect – 131 120National LGBTIQ+ Health Alliance – (02) 8568 1123Switchboard Victoria – 1800 184 527Living Proud – 1800 184 527QLife – 1900 184 527Upfront 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 Cancer Australia.If this episode helped you or someone you know, you can support the show in the following ways to allow us to continue to be upfront with you and reach more people through meaningful content. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, download so you always have an episode ready to listen to, leave a rating and review and tell us what you liked about the episode and complete the survey that you’ll find in the show notes. This survey will help us to tailor and create content that is relevant to our members and their breast cancer diagnosis. Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. Let’s be upfront about the side effects of hormone-blocking therapies for the treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer. About 70% of breast cancers are hormone receptor positive, meaning that the breast cancer cells use these hormones to grow. Hormone-blocking therapy is usually prescribed as part of the treatment as works by lowering the amount of oestrogen in the body or blocking the oestrogen receptors on the cancer cells, depriving them of the hormones they need to grow, with the aim of reducing the risk of breast cancer coming back, or new breast cancer developing. In this episode we’re joined by Debbie Packham who was diagnosed with early breast cancer in 2016 and 4 weeks later was diagnosed with oligometastatic breast cancer and has been on hormone-blocking therapy for 4 years, Ro Woods who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and has been on hormone-blocking therapy for 5 months and Lisa Sheeran who has worked with breast cancer patients for over 21 years and has been a breast care nurse for 9 years. We’ll hear about the different types of hormone-blocking therapies, the common side effects and impacts on quality of life, the key benefits, effective strategies and the support available to help you manage your treatment.Resources:· Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources on hormone-blocking therapy for early breast cancer and managing the impacts of hormone-blocking therapy for the long term · Visit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experience· Watch our hormone-blocking therapy webcast To help us continue to develop podcasts that are relevant to our members and their breast cancer diagnosis, we ask for your feedback via our online survey. 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 Dry July. Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. Let’s be upfront about the challenges you may face in accessing specialised breast cancer treatment, care and support when living in rural, remote and regional areas in Australia. A breast cancer diagnosis is difficult enough, and many people from regional and remote areas often experience additional hardship and stress due to the absence of specialised services. There can be significant physical and emotional distress and financial strain due to the increased need to travel for treatments and tests and the loss of income. Finding practical information and support is important to ensure everyone has access to the best treatment and care. In the episode, we’re joined by Sandy Vlatko and Asha Scott. Asha lives in Kalgoorlie, a regional part of Australia, located nearly 600km northeast of Perth. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and had to travel to Perth for a large part of her treatment, including surgery, IVF and radiation, which added further complications and stress to her already worrying situation. Sandy is a McGrath Breast Care Nurse who is based at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. She helps her patients navigate their breast cancer experience, including the many trips to Perth, educates them on their treatment plans and navigates their many worries and concerns. We’ll hear about how Sandy helped support and navigate Asha’s complex medical situation in a regional setting and how she helped organise her treatments away from home, manage access to breast cancer services and other practical support available including allied health. RESOURCES: - State government, community assistance and other organisations that can help people with breast cancer via My Journey - The financial cost of breast cancer via My Journey -Cancer Councils in each state and territory offer a range of services for people affected by cancer. Contact your Cancer Council on 13 11 20 for information about: Financial assistance schemes , accommodation options, travel assistance , practical assistance such as home help , grants or subsidies that may be available in your stage , programs that provide free legal, financial and workplace assistance advice and access to a financial counsellor. To help us continue to develop podcasts that are relevant to our members and their breast cancer diagnosis, we ask for your feedback via our online survey.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 Cancer Australia. Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258

Episode 2: What You Don’t Know Until You Do, With Dr Charlotte Tottman: A Tale of Two Husbands: Emotional IsolationWe recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to the Upfront About Breast Cancer What You Don’t Know Until You Do with Dr Charlotte Tottman podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. Each episode is raw and real and covers a range of topics, some of which may be triggering for people at various stages of their journey. The intention is to have meaningful conversations, present relevant information and provide practical strategies that may help someone or someone you know on their cancer journey. 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 contact@bcna.org.au.In this episode of What You Don’t Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman, we hear about Charlotte’s experience of emotional isolation during her cancer journey, which is the feeling of being alone in the intense experience of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, despite being surrounded by loved ones. Charlotte shares her 'tale of two husbands' in which she reveals her own feelings of emotional isolation following unexpected responses from both her long term and current husband and her ex-husband. We learn about the importance of empathy and strategies of how to best get emotional needs met. To help us continue to develop our podcasts, we ask for your feedback via our survey.Resources:- Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources on partner support. - Visit our Online Network 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 JT Reid.Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN StudiosVisit our website at www.bcna.org.au/, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258 if any of the content in this podcast has raised any concerns or questions.

Episode 4: What you don’t know until you do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman: The Mirror Image: Body Image DifficultiesWe recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to the Upfront About Breast Cancer What You Don’t Know Until You Do with Dr Charlotte Tottman podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. Each episode is raw and real and covers a range of topics, some of which may be triggering for people at various stages of their journey. The intention is to have meaningful conversations, present relevant information and provide practical strategies that may help someone or someone you know on their cancer journey. 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 contact@bcna.org.au.In this episode of What You Don’t Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman, we hear about Charlotte’s experience of the changes to her body as a result of cancer treatment and how the changes to our physical form can challenge our sense of self, identity and who we are. Charlotte shares her personal stories of the challenges she faced after her second surgery, the triggers and responses she had to un-learn and strategies she used to change her mindset to focus on what her body could do as opposed to what it looked like. To help us continue to develop our podcasts, we ask for your feedback via our survey.Resources:- Sign up to My Journey and access a range of resources onChanges to the way your body looks and feels Choosing to stay flat after mastectomy- Visit our Online Network 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 JT Reid.Produced by Dr Charlotte Tottman and BCNA Engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN StudiosVisit our website at www.bcna.org.au/, email us at contact@bcna.org.au, or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258 if any of the content in this podcast has raised any concerns or questions.