Taking Control of Cancer

Episode 50: Harnessing AI to improve cancer outcomes in North East London

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Wayne Douglas, Diagnosis and Treatment Programme Lead, and Angela Wong, Chi...

Episode 49: Breaking cancer news - March 2026

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of the month again when Steve Bland and Femi Odewale dissect the month's cancer news - and this time it's March 2026. Steve and Femi co...

Episode 48: Caring across borders - sharing the journeys of international cancer nurses

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, host Steve Bland is joined by three international nurses currently working in cancer services across north east London - Angie Pol an...

Episode 47: Strengthening cancer nursing across London

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, host Steve Bland chats to Kate Williams, the Macmillan Cancer CNS Development Lead (CDL) for North East London Cancer Alliance, and R...

Episode 46: Listening to our communities

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The North East London Cancer Alliance has been working closely with local communities to develop a cancer inequalities strategy that aims to close the...

Episode 45: The Colonoscopy - following up on bowel screening

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Getting a bowel screening result is just the first step. For some, follow-up tests are needed to make sure everything is okay. In this episode of Taki...

Breaking cancer news - February 2026

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In February's cancer news round-up, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale talk oesophageal cancer month, they explore a new pilot to use complex HIPEC surgery ...

Episode 43: Launching a virtual hospital tour

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland is joined by Jay Scott-Nicholls, the Creative Director at Circus, and Dr Adam P Januszewski PhD MRCP, Consultant Medical ...

Episode 42: Celebrating World Cancer Day

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For this World Cancer Day special episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, Managing Director of North East London Cancer Alliance, are joined by Dr Jaga...

Episode 41: Understanding bowel screening

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bowel screening saves lives, but many people are unsure of what it involves or why it’s so important. In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, w...

Episode 40: Breaking cancer news - January 2026

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Bland and Femi Odewale are back with another look at the ways in which cancer is making the news. This time we're looking back on a January that...

Episode 39: Improving the mental health of cancer patients

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Caroline Dancyger, Psychosocial Clinical Lead for the North East London Can...

Episode 38: Breaking cancer news - December 2025

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale and Paul Thomas, from the North East London Cancer Alliance, to dissect the big cancer stories m...

Episode 37: Getting men to talk about their prostate

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode of Taking Control of Cancer, the North East London Cancer Alliance shines a spotlight on prostate cancer, which is one of the...

Episode 36: Amplifying Voices - Improving the cancer patient experience

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland is joined by Sarah Koya, Patient Experience and Engagement Lead, at the North East London Cancer Alliance, and patients S...

Episode 35: Breaking Cancer News - November 2025

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest round up of all the ways in which cancer is making the news, host Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, the managing director the North East Lon...

Episode 34: Understanding Pancreatic Cancer

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Steve Bland and guests talk pancreatic cancer - a cancer often called the “silent cancer” because its symptoms can be subtle and e...

Episode 33: Breaking Cancer News in October 2025

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the third of our special episodes looking at how cancer is making the news, Steve Bland and North East London Cancer Alliance Managing Director Fem...

Episode 32: Sharing Lynda’s Story: Love, loss and lessons in breast cancer care

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Taking Control of Cancer 'Sharing Lynda’s Story: Love, loss and lessons in breast cancer care', is dedicated to Lynda Soltysiak.In t...

Episode 31: Uncovering neuroendocrine cancer

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode host Steve Bland and guests explore a lesser known cancer that impacts thousands of people each year in England. Around 6,000 people e...

Episode 30: Breaking Cancer News - September 2025

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of our special episodes looking at how cancer is making the news, Steve Bland and North East London Cancer Alliance Managing Director Fe...

Episode 29: Leading from experience - a hospital CEO’s cancer story

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode host Steve Bland headed to Whipps Cross University Hospital to speak to hospital CEO Dr Amanjit Jhund, whose unique experience, from h...

Episode 28 (part two): Breast screening

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special two-part episode of Taking Control of Cancer, we’re diving into a topic that could save lives - breast screening. Every year, breast...

Episode 28 (part one): Breast screening

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special two-part episode of Taking Control of Cancer, we’re diving into a topic that could save lives - breast screening. Every year, breast...

Episode 27: Improving life after cancer

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For many patients, completing their cancer treatment is only just the start of difficult times ahead. Life After Cancer, a specialist charity led by f...

Episode 26: Breaking Cancer News – August 2025

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a new mini-series of monthly episodes looking at cancer in the news, host Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale, Managing Director, an...

Episode 25 (part two): Checking your balls

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This part two of our episode from Highgate School, which is all about checking your balls: A life-saving guide for boys and young men to help them loo...

Episode 25 (part one): Checking Your Balls

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in boys and young men, but when found early, it's over 99% curable? This episode...

Episode 24: Protecting your skin

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The weather is changing and the summer holidays are almost here so we're talking skin cancer on this episode of Taking Control of Cancer. Host Steve B...

Episode 23: Using Artificial Intelligence to boost cancer diagnostics

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode host Steve Bland explores the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cancer diagnosis with Oliver Hawkins, Senior Project Manager, at ...

Episode 22: Live at the UK Oncology Forum pt2

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In part two of our special from the UK Oncology Forum in Harrogate, Steve Bland is once again joined by Wayne Douglas, Programme Lead for Diagnosis an...

Episode 21: Live at the UK Oncology Forum pt1

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This special episode (in two parts) comes from day one of the UK Oncology Forum in Harrogate.In part one, Steve Bland is joined by Wayne Douglas, Prog...

Episode 20: Performing life-saving cancer surgery

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode host Steve Bland gets an exclusive insight into a 12-hour operation which saved - and transformed - a cancer patient's life. Steve is ...

Episode 19: Talking about the C word

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're talking about the C Word and breaking the silence around cancer as host Steve Bland is joined by Paul Thomas, Communications and...

Episode 18: Breaking barriers to breast screening

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode host Steve Bland takes a look at how fear within communities is stopping people getting free life-saving checks. Steve is joined by R...

Episode 17: Bringing in the experts for a cancer diagnosis

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, host Steve Bland takes a look behind the scenes at the vital work going on when it comes to diagnosing cancer, and the stringent safe...

Episode 16: Teaching cancer awareness early - CATTS in the classroom

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're exploring how to teach cancer awareness early with the team from CATTS - Cancer Awareness in Teens and Twenties (CATTS). Host St...

Episode 15: Knowing your body

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Steve Bland is joined once again by Toby Freeman, the founder and CEO of The Robin Cancer Trust and also Obi Onyiah, Prevention, Aware...

Episode 14: Losing a family member to cancer

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of two episodes with Toby Freeman, CEO & Founder of The Robin Cancer Trust (www.therobincancertrust.org). In this episode Toby t...

Episode 13: Coping with menopause and cancer

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, Steve Bland is joined by Dani Binnington, the founder of the charity Menopause and Cancer, to talk about ...

Episode 12: National CNS Day - explaining the role of a Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode to mark National CNS Day 2025, Steve Bland is joined by five guests to explore the role of a Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist ...

Episode 11: Standing up to prostate cancer

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're Standing up to prostate cancer, busting some common myths and giving men the facts they need to help them survive prostate cance...

Episode 10: Taking action together - a view from the managing director of the Alliance

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, it's all about collaboration as Steve Bland is joined by Femi Odewale, the Managing Director of North East London Cancer Alliance, to...

Episode 9: Dealing with death: how to open up conversations about end of life

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Death is something that happens to us all...but we shy away from talking about it. The result is that we are not prepared for it and the process becom...

Episode 8: Spotting symptoms of womb, cervical, ovarian, vulval and vaginal cancers

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale talk to stand-up comedian Karen Hobbs, who works with the leading gynae cancer charity, the Eve Appeal. ...

Episode 7: Speaking to your GP about cancer

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale speak to 'local GP of the year in 2019' Dr Farzana Hussain about how to help encourage people to come fo...

Episode 6: Understanding your risk of prostate cancer

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland talks to British athlete Joe Appiah, who shares his experience of prostate cancer and talks about prostate cancer risks, ...

Episode 5: Looking after your lungs

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale are exploring the Targeted Lung Health Check programme and finding out how it is saving lives through ea...

Episode 4: Improving your health for cancer treatment and recovery

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, host Steve Bland and Femi Odewale, the MD of the North East London Cancer Alliance, take the pod on the road as they visit Maggie's B...

Episode 3: Becoming cancer free

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Taking Control of Cancer features an inspirational breast cancer story from diagnosis to treatment and recovery. Host Steve Bland and ...

Episode 2: Staying positive after a cancer diagnosis

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode two of Taking Control of Cancer, the podcast from the North East London Cancer Alliance. In this episode, award-winning former BBC ...

Episode 1: Getting to know the Chair of the Cancer Alliance Board

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode one of Taking Control of Cancer, the podcast from the North East London Cancer Alliance. In this episode, award-winning former BBC ...

Intro to Taking Control of Cancer

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas