Regarding Me

Have you ever been dismissed by a doctor and wondered if it was just you?In this episode, award-winning journalist and Health Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald, Kate Aubusson, shares what their medical misogyny investigation uncovered.The series revealed clear, systemic patterns of dismissal, delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, including what Kate describes as “nightmare fuel” — cases where women were diagnosed with psychiatric conditions and involuntarily admitted to psychiatric wards while experiencing serious physical illness.The investigation has already led to changes in policy and practice, showing what can happen when these experiences are recognised at scale.This episode discusses experiences of dismissal, misdiagnosis and psychiatric misdiagnosis in healthcare.Please take care while listening and reach out for support if you need it. Beyond Blue has a range of free resources online, or you can call them 24/7 on 1300 224 636.Connect with Luan:Sign up for Luan's personal newsletterEmail LuanFollow Luan on InstagramConnect with Luan on LinkedInVisit Luan's websiteGuests share their personal experiences of healthcare. Individual clinicians or services are not identified, and the experiences discussed are not intended as allegations about any specific practitioner or service. Experiences are shared to explore broader patterns in healthcare and the impact they can have on patients to help improve healthcare for patients.Please read more in this DisclaimerCREDITS:Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods is an award-winning women’s health advocate, speaker and host of the Regarding Me and Rewritten Me podcasts.

After the events Tammy shared in Part 1, her treatment was delayed, with significant impacts on her wellbeing.This episode is Part 2 of Tammy’s story. Check out Part 1 — Doctor, Have I Done Something to Offend You? — before listening to get the full story.In Part 2, Tammy MacPherson shares what happened next.She describes another difficult moment before her DIEP breast reconstruction surgery, which meant that a decision she had carefully made the night before about her treatment did not go ahead.Tammy speaks about the grief and regret she has had to process since that moment, and how experiences like this can leave patients feeling that control over their own care has slipped away.This conversation explores what informed consent can mean in practice, particularly when patients are vulnerable and decisions carry lasting consequences.Tammy also shares the turning point in her care when she met a new plastic surgeon who approached her questions and concerns very differently and helped rebuild her trust.Some listeners may find parts of this conversation difficult to hear. Please take care while listening and reach out for support if you need it. Beyond Blue has a range of free resources online, or you can call them 24/7 on 1300 224 636.Connect with Luan:Sign up for Luan's personal newsletterEmail LuanFollow Luan on InstagramConnect with Luan on LinkedInVisit Luan's websiteGuests share their personal experiences of healthcare. Individual clinicians or services are not identified, and the experiences discussed are not intended as allegations about any specific practitioner or service. Experiences are shared to explore broader patterns in healthcare and the impact they can have on patients to help improve healthcare for patients.Please read more in this DisclaimerCREDITS:Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods is an award-winning women’s health advocate, speaker and host of the Regarding Me and Rewritten Me podcasts.Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Tammy was told she had the earliest possible stage of breast cancer. But the decisions that followed were still confronting. Not helped my her experiences in the healthcare system.In this episode, Tammy MacPherson shares what happened after a high-risk screening detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and what unfolded as she tried to understand the treatment decisions in front of her.She also reflects on a moment in the pre-operative room that left her feeling humiliated, ashamed and scared. Unfortunately this wasn't the only moment that affected her deeply.The conversation raises questions about diagnosis, decision-making and what can happen when women ask questions in healthcare.Some listeners may find parts of this conversation difficult to hear. Please take care while listening and reach out for support if you need it. Beyond Blue has a range of free resources online, or you can call them 24/7 on 1300 224 636.To understand how to give feedback or make a complaint about a surgeon in Australia, listen to this Rewritten Me episode explaining the RACS concerns, complaints and compliments process:https://www.luanlawriewoods.com.au/breast-reconstruction-podcast/how-to-give-feedback-or-complain-about-your-surgeon-rhea-liangThis is Part 1 of Tammy’s story. Part 2 is out next week.Connect with Luan:Sign up for Luan's personal newsletterhttps://www.luanlawriewoods.com.au/contactEmail Luanluan@luanlawriewoods.com.auFollow Luan on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/luanlawriewoodsConnect with Luan on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/luanlawriewoodsVisit the websitehttps://www.luanlawriewoods.com.au/DisclaimerGuests share their personal experiences of healthcare. Individual clinicians or services are not identified, and the experiences discussed are not intended as allegations about any specific practitioner. Experiences are shared to explore broader patterns in healthcare and the impact they can have on patients.CREDITS:Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocatePost-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Self-advocacy is encouraged but rarely explained or made explicit. And many women still don’t know they have the right to ask questions, get a second opinion, and offer feedback when it comes to their healthcare.You don’t need permission to advocate for healthcare that meets your needs. But if you wanted a reminder, this is it.In this timely episode of Regarding Me, I’m joined by Rebecca White, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health, and Women, to talk about self-health advocacy, not as a ‘bonus’ or nice-to-have, but as a right.We unpack the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights, the importance of informed consent and shared decision-making, and what it takes to shift a healthcare system where women, especially younger women, are still dismissed or not taken seriously.Whether you’re in Australia or elsewhere, this conversation will help you understand what you’re entitled to and how to confidently speak up for the care that fits your life.You’ll hear:What your healthcare rights really mean and why they matterWhat the Australian Government is doing to support women's self-health advocacyHow to use the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights as a toolWhat informed consent is – across all healthcare interactionsWhy second opinions are a rightWhat to say when you feel dismissed or unsure what to askThe support services available to women from diverse communitiesHow we can shift systems and support each other to speak up“We are the only people we can depend on to be our own advocates when it comes to our healthcare.” — Rebecca White🔗 Want to start now?Download my free Six Self-Advocacy Steps (SSAS) guide, a practical tool to help you ask better questions and get the care you need.For the links to all the resources mentioned in this show, go to the episode blog page.Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host & Producer: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocateSound engineering: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

Before she passed from metastatic breast cancer, Sarah’s mum gave her the greatest gift: knowledge that may help Sarah future-proof her health.In this powerful follow-up conversation, Sarah Wallace opens up about what it means to self-advocate when you live with inherited risk factors for breast cancer but no diagnosis. For her, it’s a complicated space: considered ‘elective’ in the system, but a risk too great for her to wait.And now she’s facing the prospect of accessing her superannuation again drawing from the little she’s managed to save since using every cent she had to fund IVF. Together we talk about:The inherited cancer risk space, and why it can leave women feeling invisibleHow her mum’s knowledge shaped Sarah’s decisions around genetic testingWhy she feels risk-reduction surgery using her superannuation is her only optionWhat it looks like to advocate for yourself in the gaps, between risk and prevention, system and selfSarah’s story is a powerful reminder that advocacy is not only about facing a diagnosis. It is also about the courage to act before one comes.⚠️ This episode includes discussion of fertility challenges, pregnancy loss and related experiences. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you. It’s always okay to pause or step away if you need to.For the links to all the resources mentioned in this show, go to the episode blog page.Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host & Producer: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocateSound engineering: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

What price do you pay to advocate for your health - and for hope?For Sarah Wallace, that question has been answered in ways both heartbreaking and costly.Luan is joined by Sarah, founder of the Wish Collective, to talk about her experience of Assisted Fertility Treatment, pregnancy loss, and what she describes as the four hardships of fertility treatment: mental, emotional, physical and financial.When the wait lists were too long and the Medicare rebates fell short, Sarah drew down all her superannuation, more than $50,000, to fund IVF alone. That meant wiping out some of her future financial security for the chance of an earth-side baby. And to access those funds, she had to take on a mental health diagnosis that will remain on her health record.Together, they talk about dashed hopes, resilience and the strength that comes from community support in moments when you can’t carry it alone. Sarah’s story shines a light on the hidden costs women are asked to taken on, not just in the moment, but in ways that shape their future too.Her honesty is a powerful offering. It includes the gift of an earth-side baby, and now, a quietly joyful update.This is part one of their conversation. In part two, Sarah shares why she faces the prospect of drawing down on her superannuation again to help future-proof her health and reduce her inherited cancer risk. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!⚠️ A note for listeners: this episode discusses fertility challenges, pregnancy loss and related experiences. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you. It’s always okay to pause or step away if you need to.For the links to all the resources mentioned in this show, go to the episode blog page.Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host & Producer: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocateSound engineering: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

After cancer treatment ends, the pressure to bounce back can feel overwhelming. But what if your energy doesn’t return? What if the brain fog lingers, the pain persists, and “normal” expectations no longer fit?That’s where the concept of 'Crip Time' could help.Luan continues her discussion with Shona Edwards, Deputy Chair of Cancer Voices SA and co-founder of the University of Adelaide’s student Disability, Illness and Divergence Association. Together, they explore how 'Crip Time', a term from disability studies that offers a different way to think about time, energy and capacity, can resonate with people living with chronic illness or the long-term and ongoing effects of cancer.Together they explore:• Why “normal” timelines don’t work for people still healing• What crip time means, and why it can be a relief to discover• How it can help people after cancer reframe their recovery and survivorship• Why invisible impacts like fatigue, brain fog and pain don’t fit neatly into linear time• How advocacy and peer support roles can amplify these impacts, demanding more energy from those with lived experience• How supportive care and advocacy structures can better account for the fluctuating needs of advocates• Why solidarity and community are essential to making space for differenceThis episode speaks to anyone still navigating life after cancer or chronic illness, and to those working alongside lived experience patient advocates, peer supporters or community leaders.If you haven’t already, listen to Part 1: Looking After You While Supporting Others: Patient Advocacy & Peer Support where Luan and Shona explore the emotional labour of advocacy, and how to make it more sustainable.For the links to all the resources mentioned in this show, go to the episode blog page.Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host & Producer: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocateSound engineering: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

You become an advocate because you care. Because you want to make things better for the next person. Because your hard-earned experience shouldn’t go to waste. And you want people to have a better experience than you did and less alone.But advocacy - whether through peer support, sharing your story online online or policy work - can quietly take more from you than you realise.In this episode, Luan speaks with Shona Edwards, Deputy Chair of Cancer Voices SA and a leader in disability and patient advocacy, about the emotional and energetic cost of showing up for others while still living with health challenges yourself.Together they explore:• What peer mentoring, online community support and patient advocacy look like• How to recognise the roles you might already be playing• Why so many advocates feel called to support their community• The emotional labour that comes with being the “go-to” person• Practical ways to protect your energy, privacy and boundaries• Why self-care is a vital skill that helps make advocacy sustainableThis episode speaks to anyone who offers peer support or patient advocacy in a WhatsApp group, on Instagram, or through a formal advocacy or peer role. And if you work alongside lived experience advocates, it’s an important reminder of the respect and care they need too.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 2, we explore a concept from the disability space that might just help you rethink your relationship to time, energy and recovery.Make sure you’re following or subscribed so you don’t miss it.For the links to all the resources mentioned in this show, go to the episode blog page.Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host & Producer: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocateSound engineering: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)