Healthy eating and cancer | TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. We know food gives us energy “but it also provides so much more”. This podcast looks at the raw materials you’ll need, when facing a cancer diagnosis, to get a better outcome; the vitamins, minerals and proteins, as well as the energy sources you’re best using. What is a balanced diet when you have cancer? “We’re talking about eating well to stay well […] we’re not really looking for people to lose weight”; it’s often important for people to try to maintain their weight during a cancer diagnosis, should you track your weight throughout your cancer journey? Recorded at the height of the COVID 19 crisis this podcast also reflects upon how this information is applied in the context of a global pandemic. What foods can we store which also contain the vital building blocks of our body’s natural defenses? Presented by Nick Margerrison with his guest Clare Shaw, consultant Dietician at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport

Get active and feel good? | TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. It’s vital you remain active after a cancer diagnosis, why is this? Hear the fascinating story behind the discovery that activity not only reduces your overall levels of fatigue but also improves your chances of recuperation. “You have to pace yourself […] listen to your body”; but any physical activity will help fight feelings of tiredness. In short, if you get active you feel good. Also in this podcast, with direct reference to medical trials and studies, our guests give you the mechanism behind incredibly helpful changes caused by moderate exercise in cancer patients, evidence which has led medics to conclude that “exercise is real medicine”. “When we’re talking about being active during cancer it’s at any stage of the cancer journey: from prehabilitation through recovery”. Prehabilitation is the process by which people prepare their bodies for a major obstacle such as an operation or chemotherapy. It’s like rehabilitation but it takes place before the event. Just as when you start your recovery after treatment you would expect to get your body back to full health, here you try to achieve the best possible physical health before you start. The key point is that the medicine of exercise can be useful from diagnosis right through to full recovery and beyond. Again, with direct reference to the evidence, find out how incredible research into prehabilitation is changing the way we think about cancer and recovery. Recorded specifically at the height of the COVID 19 crisis hear how this research is being applied in the context of a global pandemic. Group forms of exercise are not an option while social distancing restrictions are in place, can exercising with other people bring us special benefits? If so, can those benefits be matched if we use the internet to continue the social side of going to a gym or a class? Presented by Nick Margerrison with the Professor of Clinical Exercise Science, Anna Campbell, MBE, of Edinburgh Napier University and the director of CAN Rehab and the Professor of Prehabilitation Medicine, Sandy Jack, a consultant clinician scientist from The University of Southampton and University of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust . For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport

Mental well being for the patient | TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. “It’s very normal to sit with some difficult thoughts and feelings” after a cancer diagnosis. Broadly there are two types of mindsets; anxiety, which can be helpful, an element of wanting to ‘do something’ and, on the other hand, low mood, a feeling of not wanting to do anything, this can be unhelpful if not addressed at a certain level. We should expect both of these mindsets the question is ‘how does the latest scientific research show can we control them’? Your body and mind are not separate, one effects the other, this is why it is so important we look at mental health as part of an overall approach. “You can do quite a lot of things […] that put you into a better mood”; exercise, meditation, even simple breathing exercises. Spending time communicating with friends and family is another suggestion. Recorded at the height of the COVID 19 crisis this podcast also reflects upon how this is applied in the context of a global pandemic; how important is it that people engage with online facilities and opportunities to maintain relationships? “In an odd way the relationships seem to intensify”. It’s not about ignoring negative feelings though, anxiety and low mood are very common for people with a cancer diagnosis. Hear how it is important to allow yourself to reflect, part of understanding your mental health is about regaining control, we are allowed to let ourselves feel difficult thoughts as part of the process of monitoring and working with them. This podcast also contains a reminder about the importance of goal setting in allowing people to regain control over their lives. Small, realistic and specific, short term goals are useful at this particular stage of life; “start with the thing you are most confident you are able to change […] make a day and a time that you’ll stick to”. Presented by Nick Margerrison with his guests Judit Varkonyi-Sepp psychologist, psychology lead for the Wesfit prehabilitation programme and Chloe Grimmett, behavioural scientist and lead for Wesfit prehabilitation. For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport

TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support | Mental well being for the patient

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. “It’s very normal to sit with some difficult thoughts and feelings” after a cancer diagnosis. Broadly there are two types of mindsets; anxiety, which can be helpful, an element of wanting to ‘do something’ and, on the other hand, low mood, a feeling of not wanting to do anything, this can be unhelpful if not addressed at a certain level. We should expect both of these mindsets the question is ‘how does the latest scientific research show can we control them’? Your body and mind are not separate, one effects the other, this is why it is so important we look at mental health as part of an overall approach. “You can do quite a lot of things […] that put you into a better mood”; exercise, meditation, even simple breathing exercises. Spending time communicating with friends and family is another suggestion. Recorded at the height of the COVID 19 crisis this podcast also reflects upon how this is applied in the context of a global pandemic; how important is it that people engage with online facilities and opportunities to maintain relationships? “In an odd way the relationships seem to intensify”. It’s not about ignoring negative feelings though, anxiety and low mood are very common for people with a cancer diagnosis. Hear how it is important to allow yourself to reflect, part of understanding your mental health is about regaining control, we are allowed to let ourselves feel difficult thoughts as part of the process of monitoring and working with them. This podcast also contains a reminder about the importance of goal setting in allowing people to regain control over their lives. Small, realistic and specific, short term goals are useful at this particular stage of life; “start with the thing you are most confident you are able to change […] make a day and a time that you’ll stick to”. Presented by Nick Margerrison with his guests Judit Varkonyi-Sepp psychologist, psychology lead for the Wesfit prehabilitation programme and Chloe Grimmett, behavioural scientist and lead for Wesfit prehabilitation. For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 Email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport

TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support | Healthy eating and cancer

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. We know food gives us energy “but it also provides so much more”. This podcast looks at the raw materials you’ll need, when facing a cancer diagnosis, to get a better outcome; the vitamins, minerals and proteins, as well as the energy sources you’re best using. What is a balanced diet when you have cancer? “We’re talking about eating well to stay well […] we’re not really looking for people to lose weight”; it’s often important for people to try to maintain their weight during a cancer diagnosis, should you track your weight throughout your cancer journey? Recorded at the height of the COVID 19 crisis this podcast also reflects upon how this information is applied in the context of a global pandemic. What foods can we store which also contain the vital building blocks of our body’s natural defenses? Presented by Nick Margerrison with his guest Clare Shaw, consultant Dietician at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport

TopMedTalk & MacMillan Cancer Support | Get active and feel good?

TopMedTalk in Collaboration with MacMillan Cancer Support in the UK developed this podcast series to support patients during their cancer journey amidst the COVID 19 crisis. It’s vital you remain active after a cancer diagnosis, why is this? Hear the fascinating story behind the discovery that activity not only reduces your overall levels of fatigue but also improves your chances of recuperation. “You have to pace yourself […] listen to your body”; but any physical activity will help fight feelings of tiredness. In short, if you get active you feel good. Also in this podcast, with direct reference to medical trials and studies, our guests give you the mechanism behind incredibly helpful changes caused by moderate exercise in cancer patients, evidence which has led medics to conclude that “exercise is real medicine”. “When we’re talking about being active during cancer it’s at any stage of the cancer journey: from prehabilitation through recovery”. Prehabilitation is the process by which people prepare their bodies for a major obstacle such as an operation or chemotherapy. It’s like rehabilitation but it takes place before the event. Just as when you start your recovery after treatment you would expect to get your body back to full health, here you try to achieve the best possible physical health before you start. The key point is that the medicine of exercise can be useful from diagnosis right through to full recovery and beyond. Again, with direct reference to the evidence, find out how incredible research into prehabilitation is changing the way we think about cancer and recovery. Recorded specifically at the height of the COVID 19 crisis hear how this research is being applied in the context of a global pandemic. Group forms of exercise are not an option while social distancing restrictions are in place, can exercising with other people bring us special benefits? If so, can those benefits be matched if we use the internet to continue the social side of going to a gym or a class? The YouTube link mentioned in this piece is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4YhGgVzlQXjhq6UYbX7idSDYcPX5PRy9 Presented by Nick Margerrison with the Professor of Clinical Exercise Science, Anna Campbell, MBE, of Edinburgh Napier University and the director of CAN Rehab and the Professor of Prehabilitation Medicine, Sandy Jack, a consultant clinician scientist from The University of Southampton and University of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust . For more information, in the UK, phone: 0808 808 00 00 email: CancerPrehabilitation@macmillan.org.uk Twitter: @macmillancancersupport