Hosts Anna and Andy mark two years since Dr Michele Afif became Chief Executive at The Brain Tumour Charity by asking about her early life, her previous careers in medicine and law - and a few more questions that we crowdsourced from our listeners. In response, Michele explains how she's focused The Charity on turning its co-created strategy into a 'strategy in action'. She's honed in on what it needs to deliver, what evidence backs that up and how it can deliver truly transformative re...

In this episode, we'll hear from four of our much-valued Involvement Champions : Rebecca, Oriana, Claire and Mark. We recorded their presentations to the whole organisation as they explained why they wanted to become key voices in the brain tumour community. (Trigger warning, they talk about diagnosis and mental health issues, and their stories are very moving.) Then our host Anna Blyszko - a former Young Ambassador herself - quizzes The Brain Tumour Charity’s Involvement Manager,...

After weeks of toil and training, The TCS London Marathon 2025 is just around the corner and The Brain Tumour Charity has 145 runners taking part this year - more than ever before! Our Involvement Champion Imelda Turnock speaks to two of them - Barbara Prodger and David Barrow - about their reasons for running. But first, Andy Tudor gets some insider tips from our man at JustGiving. Sam Gurry delves into the data to explain how anyone taking part in a charity challenge can maximis...

Our focus in this episode is on friendships and close bonds. How does a brain tumour diagnosis affect our loved ones and who can we turn to for support or advice when we don’t want to worry or upset those closest to us? To answer that question, Andy Tudor talks to five women who were all treated at the same hospital for the same meningioma diagnosis but who only met through one of The Brain Tumour Charity’s online peer support groups. They describe that group as "invaluable", "a ...

A warm welcome to Let's Talk About Brain Tumours! After a break since the summer, we're back to bring you interesting and informative conversations with members of the brain tumour community and at The Brain Tumour Charity.A new production team is now at the helm, so bear with us while we learn the ropes of podcast production. But we're delighted that our volunteer co-hosts remain unchanged: Anna Blyszko, Chandos Green and Andy Tudor."On the cusp of change...!" today, Anna and Chandos quiz An...

Anna talks to Anna Solth and Victoria Wyes about their experiences of being neurosurgeons and women in the field of neuroscience. They share their passion for neuroscience, discuss the work they are doing now and their plans for the future.Better Safe Than Tumour Money Advice ClinicIf you would like to speak to a member of our support team you can call 0808 800 0004 or email support@thebraintumourcharity.org

We meet Gavin Burden and Louise Worthington who have both been diagnosed with brain tumours. Gavin has been living with his brain tumour since he was 21 - for 28 years. Gavin and Louise have been friends for a long time so when Louise was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018 Gavin contacted her to offer support. In the episode, they share the difficulties of living with hidden disabilities as Gavin has since lost 75% of his vision. Despite these challenges, they have decided to celebrate Gav...

Today, Chandos talks to Support Manager Beth Ryall, about the support available at The Brain Tumour Charity for people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health following a brain tumour diagnosis.You can find out more about this here Better Safe Than Tumour Money Advice ClinicIf you would like to speak to a member of our support team you can call 0808 800 0004 or email support@thebraintumourcharity.org

Anya Jones and Kaz Melvin about their experiences of rehabilitation. Anya needed extensive rehabilitation after her diagnosis and treatment while Kaz has both personal and professional experience of brain tumours and rehab. She is a physiotherapist and she supported her sister Ria who sadly died from a glioblastoma in 2021.Anya and Kaz have worked with The Charity to create some resources to help people understand the sort of rehab that's available and how it can help them. You can find...

Chandos talks to one of our Future Leaders: Dr Angel Alvarez-Prado. Angel is a highly accomplished researcher at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland where he is currently working on an innovative project to simultaneously target both cancer cells and their supporting immune microenvironment in the hope of finding more effective treatments for glioblastomas. Angel explains what his research involves and how it may help people diagnosed with glioblastoma in the future. You can read more a...

When Alex - also known as the performer Syren - was diagnosed with a rare paediatric brain tumour called DLGNT at the age of 20, his family found that there were limited treatment options. His mum, Katie, did her own research into how to best help Alex and found out about the Everest Centre. In February 2024, His dad Martin and three of his friends took on the Everest in the Alps challenge to raise £500,000 to go towards research into paediatric brain tumours.You can follow Alex A...

We talk to Liam Young about how physical fitness contributed to his recovery from treatment for a brain tumour. Liam found that the traditional route of counselling wasn't for him. His perfect form of therapy was with a personal trainer.At 25 he had never prioritised his health, but after his diagnosis Liam realised how important it was and that led to him embarking on a fitness program which he says helped him to deal with the mental and emotional trauma of his diagnosis.To find out more abo...

In this episode we talk to Bethan and Gbenga Adelekan who's son Ravi was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was just 6 years old. Despite this Ravi, now 8 has not let this stop him from using his experience to help others and also to continue to follow his own dreams!After his diagnosis and surgery, Ravi decided that he want to do something that would help other children like him and one day help find a way to stop any other child going through what he had gone through so with the he...

In this episode Anna and Chandos talk to Ben Rimmer, a research assistant at Newcastle University and the work they are doing on the quality of life of people diagnosed with low grade glioma's. The Ways Ahead research project aims to understand more about the lived experience of people with low grade gliomas and how to improve their quality of life. You can find out more about the Ways Ahead Research hereYou can find out more about the research that The Brain Tumour Charity fund h...

In this episode Will Garrett talks about the death of his dad when he was just 11 and how this has shaped his life. Will is now a Neuro Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, a career that was shaped by his experieces as a child where he now works with other families who are impacted by brain tumours. Will shares what it was like for him as an 11 year old and how he looks back on his experiences now as an adult and a parent himself.If you would like to talk to a member of our Children and ...

In this episode Chandos talk with two of our Children and Families and Young Adults Workers Amy Watts and Jessie Poole about the support that is available to families who have children under 18. Some of the things mentioned in this episode include:Family DaysBrainy BagsOnline support group for parentsTalking to children about brain tumoursTaling to children about their brain tumourTeens InstagramTeen Meet upsSibling SupportIf you would like to know more about our Childrens and Fam...

(Trigger Warning) In this episode - Benj talks about the impact of his daughter Ivy's diagnosis and coming to terms with the changes this has brought to both Ivy and their lives as a family. He talks about the impact on mental health and the impact of trauma that parents and loved ones experiene as a result of a brain tumour diagnosis. This episode contains conversations that some people may find distressing such as the effects of the tumour and treatment.It's important to remembe...

In May this year, we hosted not only our first in-person Young Adult event since Covid but our first ever Masquerade Ball. Anna and Chandos, explain why events like this are so crucial to young people whose lives have been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. We also hear from other young adults about the impact these events have on people like themselves who may not have the same opportunities to experience events like this as other young people.You can find out more about our Y...

(Trigger Warning) In this episode - Benj talks us through every parent's worst nightmare, from the moment he and his wife Sarah were told their 4 year old daughter Ivy had a mass in her brain to where they are now as a family 18 months later. This episode contains conversations that some people may find distressing such as the effects of the tumour and treatment. It's important to remember that everyone's experience is different, this is Benj's experience, your experience may diff...

If you are a parent who has recieved a brain tumour diagnosis, telling your children can be one of the hardest things to do. In this episidode we talk to Simone Baldwin, the author of the book 'Mummy has a lump' which she wrote after recieving her own brain tumour diagnosis and struggled to find any resources for parents to help her explain to her young son. Simone also went on to write 'Daddy has a lump'You can find out more about Simone here You can find 'Mummy has a...