MORTAL AND STRONG - The Podcast

In this episode, Dr Liz is joined by the ray of sunshine that is Lisa! Lisa talks us through her story of being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at just 18 years old. Just as she was ready to go off to university, Lisa's world was turned upside down by cancer, chemo, and the physical and mental after-effects a diagnosis like this has, especially at such a young age.After getting back to some normality, Lisa also shares how she went on to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and later when pregnant with her second child, a second primary diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Lisa talks candidly of her patient experiences, giving us an insight into the fear of leaving two young children to face a thyroidectomy, as well as radioactive iodine therapy, and so much more. Despite all that has happened, Lisa still manages to find joy and hope; even sharing her gratitude that these experiences have lead her to the life she has now. We are so grateful to Lisa for sharing her story for the Mortal and Strong Scars of Gold Campaign - thank you Lisa!Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by charity @mortalandstrong (No.1209448). #podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #thyroidcancer #cancer #healthpodcast #hypothyroidism #hodgkinslymphoma 

Next up on the Mortal and Strong podcast is the wonderful soul that is Amie. Amie talks us through her story of experiencing sudden Cardiac Arrest, resulting in a serious car accident, that she incredibly walked away from fairly unscathed. Amie shares of the years and years she was dismissed by doctors, despite having continuous cardiac symptoms since she was a teenager, and tells of the mental and physical impact this lack of support had on her. Amie shares a unique insight into what it's like living with 'arrhythmogenic bileaflet mitral valve prolapse', and the isolation you can feel when facing such a rare condition with little sense of community. Thanks to charities like Heart Charged, she has found her voice, and feels encouraged to speak out about being a young person facing her mortality through ill cardiac health. We are so grateful to Amie for becoming part of the Scars of Gold campaign, and are excited to see her continuing efforts in raising awareness of cardiac conditions!Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by charity @mortalandstrong (No.1209448).  #podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #breastcancer #cancer #healthpodcast 

Today, we are joined by the vibrant soul that is Natalie. Natalie shares her story of facing a Stage 2 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis; from first discovery of a lump to treatment of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and a lumpectomy. Natalie speaks on the difficulties of receiving a diagnosis like this, whilst simultaneously talking with such hope and positivity - an attribute that helps her to cope on the tough days. Natalie fills us in on all the incredible things she's been a part of since her diagnosis; such as CoppaTrek, being part of the BOLD campaign, to now becoming a Voice for our Scars of Gold Campaign!Thank you so much to Natalie of sharing her story, and being another wonderful Voice. Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by charity @mortalandstrong (No.1209448). #podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #breastcancer #cancer #healthpodcast 

Welcome back to the Mortal and Strong podcast! Today we’re welcoming our newest voice, the wonderful Bev. Bev shares her story receiving two diagnosis’ of primary breast cancer, and being a carrier of the BRCA1 gene. From first discovery of a lump, to having a double mastectomy, Bev talks openly and honestly about her family history, genetic testing, her experience of facing a double mastectomy, and decision to not have nipple reconstruction. Bev gives her personal advice to those facing a similar journey, with meaningful insight into what it’s like to be a young person facing their mortality. Thank you Bev for being another fantastic Voice for the Scars of Gold campaign! Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by charity @mortalandstrong (No.1209448). #podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #breastcancer #cancer #healthpodcast 

We are delighted and honoured to share our latest interview with another incredible Voice from the Scars Of Gold campaign - our wonderful charity Ambassador and a voice from the record-breaking band Atomic Kitten; Natasha Hamilton. Natasha has joined our charity as an ambassador and as one of the 100 Voices sharing her story of facing life changing health conditions at a young age. In this episode Natasha shares with charity founder Dr Liz Murray how growing up in a girl band from a teenager and the pressures that went with this led to serious mental health issues and severe postnatal depression. Natasha shares the highs and lows of being in the music industry from a young age with some brilliant and funny stories, whilst also sharing of the intensity and lack of mental health support for pop bands in the 90's. After having children Natasha left the music industry for a while and focused on her own wellbeing and nurturing her own family, but shares something that so many people discover too late; how sometimes life stresses take their toll physically. Natasha then went on to be diagnosed with autoimmune disease (thyroid disease) and how this has had a profound impact on her. Natasha has now returned to the music industry not only as a successful solo artist but also launching her own record label to provide the type of support and care for young artists that Natasha herself knows is needed. We are so grateful to Natasha for sharing her Scars Of Gold with us for our health awareness campaign; sharing a unique and incredible interview for our charity and being an Ambassador supporting our charity. Scars Of Gold is a health awareness campaign using the power of photography, art and interviews to raise awareness of 100 women facing life changing or incurable health conditions at a young age. The collection is being exhibited in London for Women's Health Week in may 2025 (tickets available now on Eventbrite or our website).Mortal And Strong is a registered charity (1209448) providing centralised support for anyone facing life changing or incurable health conditions.Interview by Dr Liz Murray BCA(h), photography by Sammy Weston. Scars Of Gold including all content is copyright and trademark protected.

Introducing our latest voice to be interviewed by Dr Liz Murray - the fabulous lady that is Gloria. Gloria shares so beautifully and honestly how life was feeling 'too much' with several challenges and then after being unwell for months without anyone finding a cause Gloria found a lump and skin changes on her breast. Gloria describes the classic 'orange peel' effect that can happen with certain types of breast cancer and shares the emotional responses to treatment and how she found ways to come through this. Gloria is a fierce example of someone who not just found a way to get through the most difficult of life challenges, but through coming through it has found herself a stronger and more life embracing version of herself. Gloria now is a very active member of the breast cancer community engaging with multiple charities across the UK to share her story and help promote awareness and representation. Thank you so much to Gloria for being one of our Voices and sharing her Scars of Gold for our campaign.Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by the charity @mortalandstrong (No. 1209448).#podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #hope #pov #dr #art #documentary #realvoices #cancer #breastcancer #cancerpodcast #healthpodcast

Our latest Voice - the lovely and ever optimistic Laura H sharing with Dr Liz her experience of having tracheal cancer (a rare type of cancer Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma ACC), having a tracheostomy and the impact of this on her life. Laura woke one day to have a change in her voice but no sore throat, then began having breathing difficulties. For so many people this could have been dismissed as a viral infection but thankfully she was referred early for investigations which confirmed the rare cancer obstructing her trachea (windpipe). Laura immediately needed a tracheostomy which is a breathing tube into the neck which for Laura meant for months she was unable to talk. Laura shares the impact of going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment, unable to speak and in and out of intensive care. Laura recently had the tracheostomy removed before the interview with us and shares how having something rare and visible invited so much stigma and challenging questions from strangers in public. A wonderful interview discussing how to help others going through something like this, discussing the prejudice people can have of cancers needing to be 'caused' by something when actually they can happen for no obvious cause, and how these misperceptions need addressing in society. Thank you to Laura for sharing her Scars of Gold and experience with us and being part of the campaign.Scars of Gold is a health campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by the charity Mortal And Strong (1209448). Concept Dr Liz Murray, Photographer Sammy Weston. A campaign produced entirely with volunteers and support from organisations.#podcast #mortalandstrong #charity #mas #sog #scarsofgold #scarsofgoldcampaign #kintsugi #kintsugionscars #cancer #healthawareness #womenshealth #womenshealthinequalities #scarsofgoldtheevent #interview #documentary #pov #povcancer #tracheostomy #tracheacancer #acc #adenoidcysticcarcinoma

Our latest interview with Voice No. 80 in the Scars Of Gold campaign; Emma W. Emma shares her experienced of how finding a slight 'dent' in the skin of her breast became a life changing diagnosis of breast cancer requiring a double mastectomy. Emma is a wonderful example of how the need for humour and an optimistic but honest approach to life is needed. Emma shares with us a really important insight into how there is a profound difference between the transition from active treatment to long term treatment - a transition which society often doesn't fully understand or recognise. Emma shares how she approached remaining flat after a double mastectomy, and how she dealt with processing the adjustment to life after cancer; "You're supposed to carry on like normal - but I don't feel normal". A really lovely insight and reflection on what it is to be mortal and have life thrown upside down and how to approach it. Thank you to Emma for being another wonderful Voice and bringing so much positive energy and vibrance to the campaign.cars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by the charity @mortalandstrong (No. 1209448).#podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #hope #pov #dr #art #documentary #realvoices #cancer #breastcancer

Our latest Voice to be interviewed for the Scars Of Gold campaign is the beautiful and always-smiling Jemma sharing her experience of triple negative breast cancer. Jemma is a nurse and shares how suddenly experiencing what it was to be a patient posed new perspectives. Jemma shares the honest challenges of having to make decisions quickly about fertility at a time when so much turbulence and confusion became overwhelming, but how it was with the wonderful strength and support from her family and friends that helped her get through it. Jemma's wonderful relationship with her father visiting her appointments with her, and finding humour and fun by embracing all opportunities that came her way through her journey. Jemma bought a puppy called Hope which helped give her a focus and purpose to distract her through that time of recovery and shares how important it was to her to seek support from other charities and how (in her words); the NHS treated her physically but it was the support of charities that repaired her as a person.Thank you to Jemma for being another wonderful Voice in our campaign and for being a volunteer and ambassador with the health support projects for the charity. Scars of Gold is a health awareness campaign sharing the voices of 100 women facing their mortality at a young age with life changing or incurable health conditions. Produced by the charity @mortalandstrong (No. 1209448).#podcast #podcastprevious #interview #mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #hope #pov #dr #art #documentary #realvoices #cancer #breastcancer #triplenegativebreastcancer #triplenegative #tnbc