My Health Focus

Show NotesDr Adam Barsouk, oncology fellow at Johns Hopkins University and author of Outsmarting Cancer: Risk Reduction and the Power of Prevention, joins Catriona Williams to discuss why half of all cancer diagnoses could be prevented and why modern medicine has focused on treatment rather than prevention.Key takeaways:1. Obesity is the second leading cause of cancer globally after smoking, contributing to nearly every cancer type through chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction2. Cancer rates in adults under 50 have more than doubled in the last 30 years, driven by obesity, ultra-processed foods, microplastics, and environmental exposures3. The HPV vaccine can prevent 98-99% of cancers caused by human papillomavirus, including cervical, anal, and head and neck cancers, yet vaccine hesitancy limits its impact4. Lung and liver cancers receive less research funding due to stigma, even though many lung cancer patients are non-smokers and addiction is a medical disease, not a lifestyle choice5. Only 5% of healthcare expenditure goes to prevention despite evidence that prevention could eliminate half of all cancer cases, largely because there is no short-term financial incentive for industry or policymakersDr Adam Barsouk is an oncology fellow and researcher at Johns Hopkins University and has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications on cancer epidemiology and treatment.For more expert health insights, visit My Health Focus.

Most people assume clinical trials are purely about testing new medicines. But what if the process of being screened to join a trial could uncover a health condition you didn't know you had?In this episode, Catriona is joined by Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager at Liverpool's Clinical Research Facility, and Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director of the NIHR-funded CRF at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.Together they discuss a research paper exploring the clinically significant findings identified during trial screening, and why that changes the conversation around participation.They cover:What a clinical trial screening actually involves — and why it functions as a comprehensive health checkThe real-world cases their research uncovered, including latent TB, hepatitis B, Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, and a lymphoma diagnosisWhy the standard phrase "no direct benefit" doesn't tell the full storyThe data behind the findings: roughly 1 in 17 healthy volunteers and 1 in 25 patients had a previously undetected condition identifiedHow they worked with communities to rewrite patient information into genuinely accessible language, reducing the reading age from 14-15 down to the recommended 11Their discussions with the Phase One Advisory Group at the HRA, and the goal of making this level of transparency standard across all trialsWhether you've ever considered joining a clinical trial or simply want to understand more about how medicines are developed and tested, this conversation offers a perspective that's rarely heard outside research circles.Guests:Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research FacilityDr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility

When Bridget McNulty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 years ago, she felt like the only person in the world it had ever happened to. She later discovered that almost everyone she spoke to had felt exactly the same way.Bridget is the founder of Sweet Life, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and a published author. In this episode, Catriona talks to her about why that sense of isolation at diagnosis is so universal, what people with chronic conditions actually need from a community, and why managing diabetes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is exhausting in a way that's almost impossible to explain to people who don't live it.They also discuss the divide between public and private healthcare in South Africa, why type 2 diabetes carries a stigma that type 1 doesn't, the relief of talking to people who just get it without needing everything explained, and why the language healthcare professionals use around diabetes needs to change.Connect with Sweet Life: sweetlife.org.za South Africans with Diabetes on Facebook @sweetlife.org.za on InstagramFollow My Health Focus for more expert health interviews and patient education content.Article: Sign up to my newsletter here:https://bit.ly/3NA40IQ

Dr Max Draper, author of Testosterone Decoded, joins Catriona Williams to discuss the dramatic decline in testosterone levels since the 1980s and its implications for men's health. After experiencing low testosterone following testicular cancer, Dr Draper changed his career focus to specialise in this overlooked area of men's health. In this episode, he explains how testosterone affects far more than muscles and sex drive, influencing energy, mental clarity, mood, and fertility.Key takeaways:1. Testosterone levels have been declining across generations since the 1980s, with each decade showing lower average levels than the previous one2. Low testosterone symptoms include low energy, brain fog, reduced motivation, mood changes, and reduced resilience to stress3. Proper testing requires checking both total and free testosterone levels, not just total testosterone alone4. Lifestyle factors including sleep, exercise, diet, stress management, and body composition should be optimised before considering testosterone replacement therapy5. Testosterone replacement therapy can complicate fertility and requires careful consideration, particularly for younger men who haven't completed their familiesDr Max Draper is a medical doctor, author, and specialist in testosterone and men's health, bringing both professional expertise and personal experience to this crucial health topic.Follow My Health Focus for more expert health interviews and evidence-based patient education.

Living with GallstonesWhen Juliet Sullivan collapsed in agony on a pavement in England, she had no idea what was happening to her.The diagnosis was gallstones, and along with it came instructions to follow a low-fat diet for several months until her gallbladder could be removed. What she could not find anywhere was a practical, accessible book to help her through it. So she wrote one.In this episode, Juliet joins Catriona Williams to talk through her experience from first attack to full recovery, and shares the dietary wisdom she gathered along the way.5 Key Takeaways1. Gallstone attacks are frequently misdiagnosed at first because the pain, though felt in the upper abdomen, can mimic other conditions including appendicitis or cardiac events.2. A low-fat or very low-fat diet is typically recommended to reduce the risk of triggering further attacks while awaiting surgery, but it is not a long-term solution and healthy fats remain important for overall wellbeing.3. Keeping a food diary after diagnosis can help identify personal trigger foods, which vary between individuals. Common culprits include oils, butter, avocado, and rich restaurant or ready-made meals.4. Gallbladder removal is a common procedure, but recovery is a genuine physical experience that deserves honest preparation rather than being minimised by healthcare teams.5. After surgery, most people can gradually reintroduce a full and healthy diet, though many find their eating habits and awareness of fat content change permanently for the better.Juliet Sullivan is the author of The Gallstone Friendly Diet, a practical and warmly written guide for anyone navigating life with gallstones before and after surgery.Find the book online and follow My Health Focus for more conversations on everyday health.

In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Rolfe, author of The Addiction Blueprint, to explore a form of addiction that often goes unnoticed — high-functioning addiction.From the outside, it can look like success: long hours, professional drive, financial achievement, responsibility.But beneath the surface can sit exhaustion, trauma, stress and emotional disconnection.Oliver shares his own experience of burnout, the moment he realised something had to change, and what recovery actually involves. We discuss:• The link between trauma and addictive behaviours• Why overworking can become socially acceptable avoidance• The difference between stress and true burnout• The stigma around the word “addiction”• The importance of awareness and early intervention• Why relapse is part of the journey — not failureThis is not a conversation about extremes.It’s about recognising the quieter patterns many high achievers live with — and understanding that support is available long before crisis point.If you’ve ever felt you were running on empty, this episode may resonate.

In this Medmin episode, Catriona Williams is joined by Javeria Iqbal, Consultant Breast Surgeon, to discuss common breast symptoms and what to expect when attending a breast clinic.The conversation focuses on reassurance, early assessment and helping people understand which changes should be checked and how clinics work.Discussion includes:• Common breast symptoms and changes• What is considered normal and what needs checking• Breast self-examination and when to seek help• The triple assessment process• NHS breast screening and self-referralThis episode is for information and education only and does not replace medical advice.Sign up to the My Health Focus newsletter here:https://bit.ly/3NA40IQWebsite:https://myhealthfocus.com

In this episode, Catriona Williams speaks with personal trainer Becky Lever about protecting mental and physical health when using GLP-1 medications.They explore the importance of support, self-awareness and monitoring both emotional and physical changes throughout the process.Discussion includes: • Mental wellbeing during weight loss • Physical health and muscle maintenance • Side effects and seeking professional support • Social changes and food relationships • The value of journalling and reflectionThis episode is educational and does not provide medical advice.Sign up to our newsletter here:https://bit.ly/3NA40IQWebsite:https://myhealthfocus.com

In this episode, Catriona Williams is joined by Karen Lee, nutritionist and former intensive care nurse, to discuss autoimmune conditions and the role of whole food plant-based nutrition.Karen shares both professional insight and lived experience following her MS diagnosis.Discussion includes: • Understanding autoimmune conditions • Gut health and inflammation • Fibre, microbiome and immune balance • Practical food changes and sustainability • Enjoying food while supporting healthThis episode is educational and not intended as medical advice.Sign up to our newsletter here:https://bit.ly/3NA40IQWebsite:https://myhealthfocus.com