Shows / Taking Control of Cancer
Taking Control of Cancer
Welcome to Taking Control of Cancer, the podcast from the North East London Cancer Alliance. Think of us as your ‘how to’ guide when it comes to busting common cancer myths, overcoming fears and barriers, and improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. This 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…
Episodes
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 72: Discovering breast cancer breakthroughs for tomorrow
In the third and final special episode from the new Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital, host Steve Bland delves into the world of research to…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 71: Helping women with breast cancer live well today
In our second episode from the new Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital, host Steve Bland speaks to Amie Murphy, the centre's lead nurse for…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 70: Transforming breast cancer care
In the first of three episodes recorded at the brand new breast cancer centre of excellence at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, host Steve Bland finds out how the…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 69: Breaking cancer news - September 2026
In September's wrap-up of breaking cancer news Steve Bland and Femi Odewale chat about the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and look back on a hotter…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 68: Telling breast cancer to 'Go and Do One'
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Deborah Fox, whose life changed after attending what she thought would be a routine…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 67: Breaking cancer news - August 2026
In this month's cancer news round-up, Steve Bland is joined by the Alliance's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Angela Wong, to chew over August 2026. Steve and Angela…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 66: Making cancer movies - sharing a powerful cancer story through film
What happens when someone living with cancer decides to pick up a camera and tell their story? In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 65: Moving forward together - using exercise to transform life with and beyond cancer
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by the charity MOVE Against Cancer, and some of the people at the heart of the…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 64: Breaking cancer news - July 2026
In this month's news round-up, Steve and Femi cover everything going on in July 2026 including cervical cancer news, an AI alert that could help spot breast…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 63: Taking control through prehabilitation
A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but what if there were ways to help patients feel stronger, more prepared and more confident before treatment even…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 62: Breaking cancer news - June 2026
In June's news episode Steve Bland and Femi Odewale are joined by Nellie Gbadebo, CEO & Founder of Touchy-Feely, the UK's leading creative and cultural cancer…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 60: Starting the cancer conversation
Early detection saves lives, and your GP is your first line of defence. In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, recorded live at a men’s health event on…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 61: Checking your prostate cancer risk
Recorded on World Prostate Cancer Day, this episode Taking Control of Cancer explores one of the most important ways to improve outcomes for men with prostate…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 59: Busting myths about skin cancer
Following last year’s episode on protecting your skin and staying safe in the sun, Taking Control of Cancer returns to tackle one of the biggest challenges in…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 58: Nutrition and eating well for a healthier life
What we eat plays a powerful role in our health. In this episode, host Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale, Managing Director of North East London Cancer…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 57: Breaking cancer news - May 2026
It's May 2026 and we are back with another news episode where we dissect the ways in which cancer is making the news. In this episode Steve and Femi look into…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 54: Launching our Workforce Strategy
In the first of three episodes recorded at a special event at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland explores the North East London Cancer Alliance's new…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 55: Launching our Artificial Intelligence Strategy
In the second of our three special episodes recorded at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland delves into the brand new AI and Digital Strategy launched by…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 56: Launching our Health Inequalities Strategy
In the third and final episode of three special episodes recorded at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland hears all about the new Health Inequalities…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 53: Breaking cancer news - April 2026
In this April 2026 news roundup episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale explore Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the story of Joel, whose cancer was discovered…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 52: Returning to work after cancer
Returning to work after cancer can be both a hopeful milestone and a daunting challenge. For many people living with and beyond cancer, work represents…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 51: Developing a world-class workforce strategy
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Dr Angela Wong, Chief Medical Officer, Sarita Yaganti, Programme Lead for…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 50: Harnessing AI to improve cancer outcomes in North East London
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Wayne Douglas, Diagnosis and Treatment Programme Lead, and Angela Wong, Chief…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 49: Breaking cancer news - March 2026
It's that time of the month again when Steve Bland and Femi Odewale dissect the month's cancer news - and this time it's March 2026. Steve and Femi cover…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 48: Caring across borders - sharing the journeys of international cancer nurses
In this episode, host Steve Bland is joined by three international nurses currently working in cancer services across north east London - Angie Pol and Robbie…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 47: Strengthening cancer nursing across London
In this episode, host Steve Bland chats to Kate Williams, the Macmillan Cancer CNS Development Lead (CDL) for North East London Cancer Alliance, and Rani…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 46: Listening to our communities
The North East London Cancer Alliance has been working closely with local communities to develop a cancer inequalities strategy that aims to close the gap in…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 45: Following up on bowel screening - the colonoscopy
Getting a bowel screening result is just the first step. For some, follow-up tests are needed to make sure everything is okay. In this episode of Taking…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 44: Breaking cancer news - February 2026
In February's cancer news round-up, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale talk oesophageal cancer month, they explore a new pilot to use complex HIPEC surgery to treat…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 43: Launching a virtual hospital tour
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, Steve Bland is joined by Jay Scott-Nicholls, the Creative Director at Circus, and Dr Adam P Januszewski PhD MRCP…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 42: Celebrating World Cancer Day
For this World Cancer Day special episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, Managing Director of North East London Cancer Alliance, are joined by Dr Jagan John —…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 41: Understanding bowel screening
Bowel screening saves lives, but many people are unsure of what it involves or why it’s so important. In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, we go back…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 40: Breaking cancer news - January 2026
Steve Bland and Femi Odewale are back with another look at the ways in which cancer is making the news. This time we're looking back on a January that's…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 39: Improving the mental health of cancer patients
In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Caroline Dancyger, Psychosocial Clinical Lead for the North East London Cancer…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 38: Breaking cancer news - December 2025
In this episode Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale and Paul Thomas, from the North East London Cancer Alliance, to dissect the big cancer stories making the…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 37: Getting men to talk about their prostate
In this powerful episode of Taking Control of Cancer, the North East London Cancer Alliance shines a spotlight on prostate cancer, which is one of the most…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 36: Amplifying Voices - Improving the cancer patient experience
In this episode, Steve Bland is joined by Sarah Koya, Patient Experience and Engagement Lead, at the North East London Cancer Alliance, and patients Samina…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 35: Breaking Cancer News - November 2025
In our latest round up of all the ways in which cancer is making the news, host Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, the managing director the North East London…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 34: Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
In this episode Steve Bland and guests talk pancreatic cancer - a cancer often called the “silent cancer” because its symptoms can be subtle and easy to miss…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 33: Breaking Cancer News in October 2025
In the third of our special episodes looking at how cancer is making the news, Steve Bland and North East London Cancer Alliance Managing Director Femi Odewale…
Taking Control of CancerEpisode 32: Sharing Lynda’s Story: Love, loss and lessons in breast cancer care
This episode of Taking Control of Cancer 'Sharing Lynda’s Story: Love, loss and lessons in breast cancer care', is dedicated to Lynda Soltysiak. In this deeply…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 31: Uncovering neuroendocrine cancer
In this episode host Steve Bland and guests explore a lesser known cancer that impacts thousands of people each year in England. Around 6,000 people each year…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 30: Breaking Cancer News - September 2025
In the second of our special episodes looking at how cancer is making the news, Steve Bland and North East London Cancer Alliance Managing Director Femi…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 29: Leading from experience - a hospital CEO’s cancer story
In this episode host Steve Bland headed to Whipps Cross University Hospital to speak to hospital CEO Dr Amanjit Jhund, whose unique experience, from hospital…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 28 (part two): Breast screening
In this special two-part episode of Taking Control of Cancer, we’re diving into a topic that could save lives - breast screening. Every year, breast screening…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 28 (part one): Breast screening
In this special two-part episode of Taking Control of Cancer, we’re diving into a topic that could save lives - breast screening. Every year, breast screening…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 27: Improving life after cancer
For many patients, completing their cancer treatment is only just the start of difficult times ahead. Life After Cancer, a specialist charity led by founder…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 26: Breaking Cancer News – August 2025
In the first of a new mini-series of monthly episodes looking at cancer in the news, host Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale, Managing Director, and Paul…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 25 (part two): Checking your balls
This part two of our episode from Highgate School, which is all about checking your balls: A life-saving guide for boys and young men to help them look out for…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 25 (part one): Checking Your Balls
Did you know that testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in boys and young men, but when found early, it's over 99% curable? This episode - in two…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 24: Protecting your skin
The weather is changing and the summer holidays are almost here so we're talking skin cancer on this episode of Taking Control of Cancer. Host Steve Bland is…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 23: Using Artificial Intelligence to boost cancer diagnostics
In this episode host Steve Bland explores the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cancer diagnosis with Oliver Hawkins, Senior Project Manager, at the North…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 22: Live at the UK Oncology Forum pt2
In part two of our special from the UK Oncology Forum in Harrogate, Steve Bland is once again joined by Wayne Douglas, Programme Lead for Diagnosis and…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 21: Live at the UK Oncology Forum pt1
This special episode (in two parts) comes from day one of the UK Oncology Forum in Harrogate. In part one, Steve Bland is joined by Wayne Douglas, Programme…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 20: Performing life-saving cancer surgery
In this episode host Steve Bland gets an exclusive insight into a 12-hour operation which saved - and transformed - a cancer patient's life. Steve is joined by…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 19: Talking about the C word
In this episode we're talking about the C Word and breaking the silence around cancer as host Steve Bland is joined by Paul Thomas, Communications and…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 18: Breaking barriers to breast screening
In this episode host Steve Bland takes a look at how fear within communities is stopping people getting free life-saving checks. Steve is joined by Riyad…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 17: Bringing in the experts for a cancer diagnosis
In this episode, host Steve Bland takes a look behind the scenes at the vital work going on when it comes to diagnosing cancer, and the stringent safety checks…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 16: Teaching cancer awareness early - CATTS in the classroom
In this episode we're exploring how to teach cancer awareness early with the team from CATTS - Cancer Awareness in Teens and Twenties (CATTS). Host Steve Bland…
- Taking Control of Cancer
Episode 15: Knowing your body
In this episode Steve Bland is joined once again by Toby Freeman, the founder and CEO of The Robin Cancer Trust and also Obi Onyiah, Prevention, Awareness and…