Cancer Council Podcasts

Listen to experts and people affected by cancer talk about how to navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis or find calm with our meditation and relaxation podcast.

Podcasts

In this series from Cancer Council NSW, Julie McCrossin chats to cancer experts and people affected by a cancer diagnosis. Get information and insights as we explore all things cancer.

  • Cancer Affects the Carer Too

    How can you look after your own needs if you are caring for someone with cancer? Julie McCrossin chats to health psychologist Ben Britton about the carer’s role.

  • Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis

    What coping strategies can you turn to when faced with the life-changing news of a cancer diagnosis? Julie McCrossin chats with psychologist Cath Adams about life after a cancer diagnosis, and how to ride the emotional roller-coaster that often follows.

  • How to Help Someone with Cancer

    What can you say or do to help someone with cancer? Host Julie McCrossin chats to social worker Kim Hobbs about ways to offer meaningful support.

  • Making Treatment Decisions

    How do you decide on the best cancer treatment pathway for you? Julie McCrossin chats to Lyndal Trevena, a practising GP and Professor of Primary Health Care at Sydney University.

  • Welcome episode: What is ‘The Thing About Cancer’?

    Julie McCrossin introduces this new series from Cancer Council NSW. Get information and insights as Julie chats to experts and people affected by cancer. Together we’ll explore a range of topics covering all things cancer.

  • Appetite Loss and Nausea

    How do you keep eating when you are feeling sick? Julie McCrossin chats to dietitian Merran Findlay about ways to ensure your body is well nourished throughout cancer treatment.

  • Tests and Cancer

    Why does cancer involve so many tests? Julie McCrossin chats with medical oncologist Dr Lorraine Chantrill about all the different tests you might need − from blood tests and biopsies to CT, MRI and PET scans.

  • Sleep and Cancer

    What can you do if cancer is disrupting your sleep? Julie McCrossin chats with psychiatrist Dr Catherine Mason about why cancer affects sleep and how to get the sleep you need.

  • Sex and Cancer

    Will your sex life change after cancer? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Ussher about the impact of cancer on sex and intimacy, and why it’s so important to have open and honest conversations with your doctor and partner.

  • New Cancer Treatments – Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy

    What are immunotherapy and targeted therapy? How are they transforming cancer treatment? Julie McCrossin chats to medical oncologist Steven Kao about these exciting new treatments.

  • Managing Fear

    What can you do if you feel overwhelmed by your fears? Julie McCrossin chats to psychologist Cath Adams about how you can manage fear and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis.

  • Managing Cancer Pain

    Does cancer always mean pain? And if pain occurs, what can you do about it? Julie chats with pain expert Professor Paul Glare about practical strategies for managing acute or chronic pain.

  • Managing Cancer Fatigue

    Why can cancer make you so tired and what can you do about it? Host Julie McCrossin chats with Dr Haryana Dhillon about ways to manage cancer fatigue.

  • Genetic Tests and Cancer

    Why is cancer called a genetic disease and what does that mean for you? Julie McCrossin chats to genetic oncologist Dr Hilda High about what genetic tests can tell us about cancer.

  • Family Dynamics and Cancer

    How does cancer change family relationships? Can you avoid conflict and misunderstandings? Julie McCrossin chats with social worker Ray Araullo and psychologist Cath Adams about how to manage the impact of cancer as a family.

  • Explaining Cancer to Kids

    How do you tell your children you have cancer? Julie McCrossin chats to CanTeen’s John Friedsam about ways to talk about your cancer diagnosis with your kids.

  • Brain Fog and Cancer

    Are you finding it hard to concentrate or remember things during or after cancer treatment? Julie McCrossin chats with medical oncologist Professor Janette Vardy about her research into this “chemo brain” issue and finds out what you can do about it.

Host Julie McCrossin asks experts the big questions about advanced cancer. Whether you are living long-term with advanced cancer, facing end-of-life, or caring for someone with advanced cancer — this podcast series has information and insights that can help you navigate through these challenging times.

  • What Does Advanced Cancer Mean?

    What exactly is advanced cancer? And what does a diagnosis mean for you and your family? Julie McCrossin talks with medical oncologist Dr Craig Gedye about how to cope with the challenges of living with advanced cancer.

  • Caring for Someone with Advanced Cancer

    What’s involved in caring for someone with advanced cancer? And where can you turn for support? Julie McCrossin talks with clinical psychologist Dr Toni Lindsay about the challenges and rewards of caring for someone with advanced cancer.

  • Living Well with Advanced Cancer

    If you’re living with advanced cancer, how do you keep yourself as physically and emotionally well as you can and maximise your quality of life? Dr Judith Lacey joins Julie McCrossin to talk about how a holistic approach can help.

  • The Role of Hope and Purpose in Advanced Cancer

    How can you make sense of your life after a diagnosis of advanced cancer? Where do you find hope and purpose? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative care specialist Dr Megan Best about sources of strength when things are really tough.

  • Treatment Options for Advanced Cancer

    What hope do new cancer treatments offer? And how do you decide when it’s time to stop treating the cancer and focus on quality of life? Julie McCrossin talks with medical oncologist and cancer researcher Dr Craig Gedye about choosing the best treatments for advanced cancer.

  • Avoiding Delirium when Cancer Is Advanced

    Why do people with advanced cancer sometimes experience episodes of confusion known as delirium? And how can carers recognise the early signs? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Phillips about steps you can take to reduce the risk of delirium.

  • Managing Breathlessness when Cancer Is Advanced

    What can you do if advanced cancer causes you to become breathless? Julie McCrossin talks with Prof Jane Phillips about ways to cope with breathlessness, from medical procedures to handheld fans and mindfulness.

  • Managing Pain when Cancer Is Advanced

    Does everyone with advanced cancer experience pain? And what can be done about it? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Melanie Lovell about how medicines and other methods can help manage pain caused by advanced cancer.

  • Managing Relationships as the Carer

    NEW EPISODE: Caring for someone with advanced cancer can affect your relationships with family and friends and sometimes leads to conflict. Julie McCrossin chats with clinical psychologist Cath Adams about navigating this tricky territory.

  • Self-care for Carers

    NEW EPISODE: If you’re caring for someone in their last months, you need to look after yourself, but how exactly do you do that? Julie McCrossin discusses practical self-care strategies with Professor Liz Lobb.

  • Caring for Someone in Their Last Months

    If you are caring for someone with cancer who may not have much time left, how can you prepare yourself? And where can you find support? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Phillips about the caring role at the end of life.

  • End-of-Life Care at Home

    NEW EPISODE: If you’re a carer of someone who wants to die at home, what would it involve and where can you find support? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative medicine specialist Dr Cynthia Parr about end-of-life care at home.

  • Living with Dying

    If you know you have only months or weeks to live, how do you make the most of whatever time is left? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative care specialist Dr Megan Best about facing end of life and answering the big questions.

  • Coping with Grief

    NEW EPISODE: If someone you care about dies from cancer, how can you tell if what you are feeling is normal and when should you think about seeking extra support? Julie McCrossin explores these questions with bereavement counsellor Nathan MacArthur.

  • Life After Loss

    NEW EPISODE: How can bereaved carers come to terms with their loss? Julie McCrossin talks with bereavement counsellor Nathan MacArthur about the experience of grief.

Join Cancer Council NSW and Dr Lisbeth Lane in this series of meditation and relaxation practices. You can use these exercises to control worrying thoughts and find calm after a cancer diagnosis.

Note – These podcasts encourage you to rest and relax. Please do not listen to these podcast episodes while you are driving or if you need to remain alert.

  • Introducing Finding Calm During Cancer

    In the Finding Calm During Cancer podcast, join psychologist Dr Lisbeth Lane as she guides you through a series of meditation and relaxation practices.

  • Meditation podcast Introduction

    Introducing the Meditation podcast. Dr Lisbeth Lane explains what meditation is and how it helps improve coping and quality of life.

  • Awareness of breathing

    A general exercise that uses the breath to bring your attention to the present moment.

  • Leaves on a stream

    A short exercise for times when you feel you just can’t stop thinking about something troubling.

  • Mindfulness of the breath

    A longer exercise that builds on the “Awareness of breathing” exercise.

  • Informal exercises

    This is a series of short exercises you can do anywhere.

  • Relaxation podcast Introduction

    Introducing the Relaxation podcast. Dr Lisbeth Lane explains what relaxation is and how it encourages deep breathing and restfulness. Listen now.

  • Abdominal breathing

    A gentle practice to learn how to take slow full breaths from the abdomen.

  • Body scan relaxation

    An exercise to bring attention to every part of your body by mentally scanning from head to toe.

  • Sleep

    A practice designed to help your mind slow down to allow you to get to sleep or stay asleep.

In this series from Cancer Council NSW, Julie McCrossin chats to cancer experts and people affected by a cancer diagnosis. Get information and insights as we explore all things cancer.

  • Cancer Affects the Carer Too

    How can you look after your own needs if you are caring for someone with cancer? Julie McCrossin chats to health psychologist Ben Britton about the carer’s role.

  • Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis

    What coping strategies can you turn to when faced with the life-changing news of a cancer diagnosis? Julie McCrossin chats with psychologist Cath Adams about life after a cancer diagnosis, and how to ride the emotional roller-coaster that often follows.

  • How to Help Someone with Cancer

    What can you say or do to help someone with cancer? Host Julie McCrossin chats to social worker Kim Hobbs about ways to offer meaningful support.

  • Making Treatment Decisions

    How do you decide on the best cancer treatment pathway for you? Julie McCrossin chats to Lyndal Trevena, a practising GP and Professor of Primary Health Care at Sydney University.

  • Welcome episode: What is ‘The Thing About Cancer’?

    Julie McCrossin introduces this new series from Cancer Council NSW. Get information and insights as Julie chats to experts and people affected by cancer. Together we’ll explore a range of topics covering all things cancer.

  • Appetite Loss and Nausea

    How do you keep eating when you are feeling sick? Julie McCrossin chats to dietitian Merran Findlay about ways to ensure your body is well nourished throughout cancer treatment.

  • Tests and Cancer

    Why does cancer involve so many tests? Julie McCrossin chats with medical oncologist Dr Lorraine Chantrill about all the different tests you might need − from blood tests and biopsies to CT, MRI and PET scans.

  • Sleep and Cancer

    What can you do if cancer is disrupting your sleep? Julie McCrossin chats with psychiatrist Dr Catherine Mason about why cancer affects sleep and how to get the sleep you need.

  • Sex and Cancer

    Will your sex life change after cancer? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Ussher about the impact of cancer on sex and intimacy, and why it’s so important to have open and honest conversations with your doctor and partner.

  • New Cancer Treatments – Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy

    What are immunotherapy and targeted therapy? How are they transforming cancer treatment? Julie McCrossin chats to medical oncologist Steven Kao about these exciting new treatments.

  • Managing Fear

    What can you do if you feel overwhelmed by your fears? Julie McCrossin chats to psychologist Cath Adams about how you can manage fear and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis.

  • Managing Cancer Pain

    Does cancer always mean pain? And if pain occurs, what can you do about it? Julie chats with pain expert Professor Paul Glare about practical strategies for managing acute or chronic pain.

  • Managing Cancer Fatigue

    Why can cancer make you so tired and what can you do about it? Host Julie McCrossin chats with Dr Haryana Dhillon about ways to manage cancer fatigue.

  • Genetic Tests and Cancer

    Why is cancer called a genetic disease and what does that mean for you? Julie McCrossin chats to genetic oncologist Dr Hilda High about what genetic tests can tell us about cancer.

  • Family Dynamics and Cancer

    How does cancer change family relationships? Can you avoid conflict and misunderstandings? Julie McCrossin chats with social worker Ray Araullo and psychologist Cath Adams about how to manage the impact of cancer as a family.

  • Explaining Cancer to Kids

    How do you tell your children you have cancer? Julie McCrossin chats to CanTeen’s John Friedsam about ways to talk about your cancer diagnosis with your kids.

  • Brain Fog and Cancer

    Are you finding it hard to concentrate or remember things during or after cancer treatment? Julie McCrossin chats with medical oncologist Professor Janette Vardy about her research into this “chemo brain” issue and finds out what you can do about it.

Host Julie McCrossin asks experts the big questions about advanced cancer. Whether you are living long-term with advanced cancer, facing end-of-life, or caring for someone with advanced cancer — this podcast series has information and insights that can help you navigate through these challenging times.

  • What Does Advanced Cancer Mean?

    What exactly is advanced cancer? And what does a diagnosis mean for you and your family? Julie McCrossin talks with medical oncologist Dr Craig Gedye about how to cope with the challenges of living with advanced cancer.

  • Caring for Someone with Advanced Cancer

    What’s involved in caring for someone with advanced cancer? And where can you turn for support? Julie McCrossin talks with clinical psychologist Dr Toni Lindsay about the challenges and rewards of caring for someone with advanced cancer.

  • Living Well with Advanced Cancer

    If you’re living with advanced cancer, how do you keep yourself as physically and emotionally well as you can and maximise your quality of life? Dr Judith Lacey joins Julie McCrossin to talk about how a holistic approach can help.

  • The Role of Hope and Purpose in Advanced Cancer

    How can you make sense of your life after a diagnosis of advanced cancer? Where do you find hope and purpose? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative care specialist Dr Megan Best about sources of strength when things are really tough.

  • Treatment Options for Advanced Cancer

    What hope do new cancer treatments offer? And how do you decide when it’s time to stop treating the cancer and focus on quality of life? Julie McCrossin talks with medical oncologist and cancer researcher Dr Craig Gedye about choosing the best treatments for advanced cancer.

  • Avoiding Delirium when Cancer Is Advanced

    Why do people with advanced cancer sometimes experience episodes of confusion known as delirium? And how can carers recognise the early signs? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Phillips about steps you can take to reduce the risk of delirium.

  • Managing Breathlessness when Cancer Is Advanced

    What can you do if advanced cancer causes you to become breathless? Julie McCrossin talks with Prof Jane Phillips about ways to cope with breathlessness, from medical procedures to handheld fans and mindfulness.

  • Managing Pain when Cancer Is Advanced

    Does everyone with advanced cancer experience pain? And what can be done about it? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Melanie Lovell about how medicines and other methods can help manage pain caused by advanced cancer.

  • Managing Relationships as the Carer

    NEW EPISODE: Caring for someone with advanced cancer can affect your relationships with family and friends and sometimes leads to conflict. Julie McCrossin chats with clinical psychologist Cath Adams about navigating this tricky territory.

  • Self-care for Carers

    NEW EPISODE: If you’re caring for someone in their last months, you need to look after yourself, but how exactly do you do that? Julie McCrossin discusses practical self-care strategies with Professor Liz Lobb.

  • Caring for Someone in Their Last Months

    If you are caring for someone with cancer who may not have much time left, how can you prepare yourself? And where can you find support? Julie McCrossin talks with Professor Jane Phillips about the caring role at the end of life.

  • End-of-Life Care at Home

    NEW EPISODE: If you’re a carer of someone who wants to die at home, what would it involve and where can you find support? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative medicine specialist Dr Cynthia Parr about end-of-life care at home.

  • Living with Dying

    If you know you have only months or weeks to live, how do you make the most of whatever time is left? Julie McCrossin talks with palliative care specialist Dr Megan Best about facing end of life and answering the big questions.

  • Coping with Grief

    NEW EPISODE: If someone you care about dies from cancer, how can you tell if what you are feeling is normal and when should you think about seeking extra support? Julie McCrossin explores these questions with bereavement counsellor Nathan MacArthur.

  • Life After Loss

    NEW EPISODE: How can bereaved carers come to terms with their loss? Julie McCrossin talks with bereavement counsellor Nathan MacArthur about the experience of grief.

Join Cancer Council NSW and Dr Lisbeth Lane in this series of meditation and relaxation practices. You can use these exercises to control worrying thoughts and find calm after a cancer diagnosis.

Note – These podcasts encourage you to rest and relax. Please do not listen to these podcast episodes while you are driving or if you need to remain alert.

  • Introducing Finding Calm During Cancer

    In the Finding Calm During Cancer podcast, join psychologist Dr Lisbeth Lane as she guides you through a series of meditation and relaxation practices.

  • Meditation podcast Introduction

    Introducing the Meditation podcast. Dr Lisbeth Lane explains what meditation is and how it helps improve coping and quality of life.

  • Awareness of breathing

    A general exercise that uses the breath to bring your attention to the present moment.

  • Leaves on a stream

    A short exercise for times when you feel you just can’t stop thinking about something troubling.

  • Mindfulness of the breath

    A longer exercise that builds on the “Awareness of breathing” exercise.

  • Informal exercises

    This is a series of short exercises you can do anywhere.

  • Relaxation podcast Introduction

    Introducing the Relaxation podcast. Dr Lisbeth Lane explains what relaxation is and how it encourages deep breathing and restfulness. Listen now.

  • Abdominal breathing

    A gentle practice to learn how to take slow full breaths from the abdomen.

  • Body scan relaxation

    An exercise to bring attention to every part of your body by mentally scanning from head to toe.

  • Sleep

    A practice designed to help your mind slow down to allow you to get to sleep or stay asleep.

Cancer Council podcasts are a great way to learn more about cancer, treatments, side-effects and more.

Sometimes listening is easier than reading and our podcast series are a great way to hear experts explain common experiences for people with cancer.

We currently have four podcast series available:

  • The Thing About Cancer – Information and insights for people affected by cancer
  • The Thing About Advanced Cancer – Information and insights for people affected by advanced cancer
  • Finding Calm during Cancer – Listen to our relaxation and meditation podcast.

The Thing About Cancer and The Thing About Advanced Cancer come with full episode guides, including a transcript and links to the resources and services mentioned in each episode.

Click on the episode titles above to find out more.

It’s easy to listen to any episode of our podcast series in your browser.

Just follow these steps:

  1. Click on the series title at the top of this page. 
  2. Scroll down the list of episodes and click the play button underneath your chosen episode.  A podcast player should pop up at the bottom of your window.

Note: if you navigate to a different page or close your browser, the podcast will stop playing.  If you want to listen while doing other activities, we’d recommend following the instructions below.

Go to your favourite podcast app and search for one of our podcast series or follow these steps:

  1. Click the series logo at the top of this page
  2. Click the apple/google/spotify link for that series
  3. Once the app opens, play the episodes as you normally would in that app.

If you haven’t used a podcast app before, check out our full guide on how to download and listen to podcasts on your smart phone.

Leave us some feedback, suggest a topic for our podcast or ask us a question. All fields are required.

The stories and experiences contained in this podcast have been relayed to The Cancer Council NSW by the speakers and represent their own views and opinions. They do not represent the views and opinions of The Cancer Council NSW, and The Cancer Council NSW specifically excludes all responsibility and liability for any of those views and opinions, or otherwise arising out of any reliance upon them or any action taken on the basis of the information in this podcast or any errors or omissions therein. The Cancer Council NSW recommends you obtain independent advice specific to your circumstances from appropriate health and other professionals.