In this deeply honest episode of Cups & Courage, Saskia shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2025, navigating surgery, radiation, and the often-conflicting world of medical advice. A professional working in oncology herself, Saskia offers a rare dual perspective — as both patient and insider — on how information, bias, and communication shape our choices. She opens up about wanting agency in her treatment, the emotional gap left by rushed consultations, and...

When Alice Nicholson discovered she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, she made the life-changing decision to undergo preventative double mastectomies — not because she had cancer, but because she didn’t want to wait for it. In this open and emotional conversation, Alice shares how she navigated the medical system, grief after losing both parents and her sister, and the reality of reconstructive surgery — from the practical to the deeply personal. She and host Samantha Vale talk candidly about ...

When Tashmia first raised her symptoms, she was told she was too young and that “women like you don’t get cancer.” For three years, her concerns were dismissed — until her cancer was finally found. In this raw and vital conversation, Tashmia shares the reality of being a British South Asian woman navigating breast cancer: the racial bias and cultural blind spots in healthcare, the taboos that keep women silent, and the painful invisibility that comes when systems aren’t built with you in mind...

In this inspiring episode of Cups & Courage, we sit down with Nevo — a breast cancer survivor, image consultant, and stylist — who empowers women to reconnect with their bodies and confidence after treatment. Diagnosed in 2012, Nevo shares her journey from diagnosis to recovery, and how fashion and styling became powerful tools for healing, self-expression, and resilience. We explore courage, body image, cultural barriers, and the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. Full of honesty...

In this inspiring conversation, we meet Priyanka, a teacher, children’s author, and mother of two, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36. Her journey has included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a mastectomy with reconstruction, and multiple revision surgeries — but also powerful moments of advocacy, family resilience, and finding her voice. Priyanka shares: What it was like to receive her diagnosis in a difficult consultationHow her young daughters shaped every de...

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Georgette Oni, one of only a handful of surgeons in the UK dual-qualified in both plastic surgery and surgical oncology. Georgette shares her unique perspective on breast reconstruction — from the surgical options available, to the psychological impact, to the challenges of ensuring women across the UK receive consistent, compassionate care. Together, we explore: What courage means in the context of cancer treatmentDifferent types of breast reco...

Charlotte was just 32 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. What followed was a whirlwind of treatment, failed reconstructions, cancelled surgeries, and years of fighting to be heard. In this powerful conversation, Charlotte shares what it really means to advocate for your body in the face of a system that doesn’t always listen. From gruelling chemo to choosing to live flat, she speaks with raw honesty about pain, resilience, and the courage it takes to keep movin...

In this moving episode, we speak with Rosie, a clinical psychologist whose world changed when she was diagnosed with stage four incurable bowel cancer in 2021. Against all odds, Rosie went into remission in 2022, and later faced further life-altering decisions after testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation and undergoing a double mastectomy. Rosie shares with honesty and warmth what courage means to her: facing pain with an open heart and going through suffering, not around it. We explore ...

Welcome to Cups & Courage — the podcast that’s breaking the silence around breast cancer. Hosted by Samantha Vale, breast cancer survivor and advocate, Cups & Courage shares raw, unfiltered conversations with people who’ve faced breast cancer head-on — patients, survivors, clinicians, and loved ones. These are honest stories about body image, treatment choices, survival, grief, humour, biscuits (always biscuits 🍪), and the courage it takes to keep going when life throws its hardest pu...