You, Me and the Big C: Putting the can in cancer
Episodes
About Changing The Cancer Conversation
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of World Cancer Day 2026, the groundbreaking podcast You, Me and the Big C is back for a special legacy episode about how it changed the cancer ...
About Cancer and Creativity
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Actor and writer, Rosa Hesmondhalgh hosts this legacy episode discussing cancer and the creative arts, and how to remain creative when living with can...
About The Cost Of Cancer
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon hosts this legacy episode discussing the cost of having cancer. She speaks with 77-year-old Helen van Bueren who is living alone in Notti...
About Single Parents Going Through Cancer
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Bland returns to host this legacy episode discussing cancer and single parents. Steve is joined in the studio by Sophie Blake, who is living wit...
About The Today Podcast on Cancer
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We wanted to share this podcast with you. In the week in which King Charles III shared his cancer diagnosis, Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson asked why it...
About Cancer and Homelessness
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon returns to host this legacy episode discussing cancer and homelessness. Lauren travels to Burnley to meet with Pastor Mick from The Churc...
About Your Cancer Staff
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter and broadcaster, Chris Latchem makes an emotional return to the hospital that saved his life to talk to the staff that got him through it, T...
About Cancer And Diversity
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After meeting during their treatment for breast cancer, Eloise Wynter and Lizzi Amartay host the second episode of this legacy series of podcasts, thi...
About Losing A Parent
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Good friend of the podcast, Tony Livesey hosts the first episode of this brand new series looking into the issues around losing a parent to cancer whe...
About The Legacy Podcasts
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The legacy continues as Lauren Mahon has an exciting announcement about the next series of the 'You, Me and the Big C' podcasts. Episode one with Tony...
About Bowelbabe In Her Own Words
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lights, camera, reaction! The #YouMeBigC team share their thoughts on the extraordinary documentary about Dame Debs.'Deborah James: Bowelbabe in her o...
About The Last Five Years
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland, alongside producers Mike Holt and Al Entwistle, get together to reflect on the fifth anniversary of You, Me and the Big ...
The Live Show
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James' family, medical professionals and members of the cancer community come together to celebrate five years and recognise how the podcast h...
About The Big Announcements
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland get together for a long awaited catch up. They then bring in producers Mike Holt and Al Entwistle for a very exciting You...
About Our Debs
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon, Steve Bland, producers Mike Holt and Al Entwistle recount treasured stories and memories of Deborah James: friend, broadcaster, campaign...
5 Live's tribute to Dame Deborah James
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BBC Radio 5 Live's Tony Livesey celebrates the life of You, Me & The Big C broadcaster Dame Deborah James.
Deborah James' Last Dance
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As Deborah James stops active treatment for her cancer, she speaks with Producer Mike one last time.Join the conversation and the online community to ...
About Where Debs Is At Right Now & Saying Goodbye
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lozza and Steve catch up with Deborah about her hospital recordings, how she feels now and what the immediate future looks like. We also say bon voyag...
About When Debs Thought She Was Going Home
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After three weeks in hospital Deborah James is finally told she can go home. But nothing ever seems to run smoothly. Little did Debs know that she’...
About The Days In Hospital
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah is joined by Lauren as they go through some of recordings she made in hospital. The conversation and recording range from the challenges Debs ...
About Debs' Near Death Experience
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On the day our previous podcast came out Deborah James suffered a serious medical emergency. While in hospital she started recording her experiences. ...
About Debs' Current Situation
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After five months away from the pod, the team are back together and Deborah updates Lauren and Steve on the latest developments with her health.Don't ...
About Debs Recording Live From The Chemo Chair
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve and Lauren check in with Deborah from her hospital chemo chair. They all talk about life now the Covid restrictions have been lifted and what th...
About Getting Men Talking
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Bland is flying solo this week as he asks why men sometimes find it hard to talk and to share their stories. He’s joined by Danny de Brabander...
About Hitting Rock Bottom
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James is joined by fellow stage four’ers Emma Campbell and Darren Roberts to talk about hitting rock bottom, what happens physically, mental...
About Deborah’s 13th Operation
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah speaks with Lauren and Steve about the latest changes with her cancer, the complications, resulting adjustments to her treatment and what the ...
About The Fear Of Recurrence
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time Lauren sits down with her mum, Tina, who is 31 years on from her own cancer diagnosis, to discuss the fear of cancer recurrence. La...
About Nightbirde, Homework and Speculums
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland are back together again to talk cancer headlines, geek of the week and share your 'laugh or you'd cry' sto...
About Intimacy and Sex After Treatment
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren is joined by relationship and sex psychotherapist Miranda Christophers to answer your questions on how to regain confidence and intimacy follow...
About Deborah and the Organoid
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The team get together for an update on Debs' latest developments, discover what organoids are, reflect on reactions to the last two #YouMeBigC episode...
About Love, Grief and Cancer
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Samuel, a psychotherapist who has spent over 30 years working with bereaved families and TV chef Tim Bilton who has a rare stage 4 melanoma join...
About Cancer and Covid
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James hosts a special podcast talking about the challenges of dealing with cancer treatment and diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic. She's ...
About Turning The Mics Back On
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah, Steve and Lauren are back for a new series. Debs shares how her treatment is going, including an explanation of the latest cutting-edge trial...
About Trying To Find The Positives In 2020
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a very testing 12 months for everyone, so Deborah, Lauren and Steve finish 2020 hearing some positive stories, outlooks and reflections on...
About Surrogacy
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren and Steve are joined by Kreena Dhiman, Sophie Beresiner and Laura Boyd to discuss their experiences of surrogacy and cancer.Each share a very d...
About Sex and Cancer
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sex, dating and relationships educator Lala and Sinead Collins from GM Cancer, also previously an oncology advanced practitioner, join Debs Lauren and...
About Skin Cancers
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Medical Advisor for Melanoma UK and Clinical Lead for Skin Cancer at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, Wayne Jaffe, joins #YouMeBigC. Kate Cochrane...
About Pancreatic Cancer
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Naureen Starling, a Consultant Medical Oncologist specialising in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and Cariad Lloyd, presenter of the Grie...
About Supporting From Afar During Lockdown
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Steph Blackwell, finalist from The Great British Bake Off and her dad, Roger, who has prostate and bowel cancer, join Debs, Lauren and Steve.They disc...
About Lung Cancer
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Charlie Swanton, Cancer Research UK's Chief Clinician, who is leading ground-breaking studies into lung cancer and Joanna Heard, who was dia...
About The Goodbye To All This Podcast
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Internationally acclaimed audio storyteller Sophie Townsend joins Deborah, Lauren and Steve to discuss the story and experiences behind her new podcas...
About The Future Of Cancer Detection
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr David Crosby, Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research at Cancer Research UK, joins Deborah, Lauren and Steve to talk about what the future ...
About Female and Male Breast Cancer
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren, Debs and Steve mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month with a jam packed episode!Dr Zoe Williams joins the team to talk about early di...
About Cancer Treatment and Covid-19
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Karol Sikora, an oncologist for 50 years and former Director of the World Health Organisation's cancer programme and Katharina Hauck, a Reader in Heal...
Gamechangers: Grief
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Dutton co-founder of Untangle Grief and the artist behind Grief Kid join Lauren, Debs and Steve to discuss how they are helping people come to te...
Gamechangers: Mobile Cancer Care
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tina Seymour, chief executive of Hope For Tomorrow, joins Debs, Lauren and Steve to talk about how the charity provides mobile cancer care units to NH...
Gamechangers: Leanne Fisher
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After the death of her son, aged just 23 months, Leanne Fisher and her husband co-founded Fletcher's Fund - a small charity with the aim of providing ...
About Panorama Part 2: Behind the camera
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Executive producer Lucie Kon and director Chris Alcock of Panorama’s 'Britain’s Cancer Crisis' join Deborah, Lauren and Steve to give a fascinatin...
About Panorama Part 1: Kelly's Story
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Smith, known on social media as Kickass Kell, talks to Deborah, Lauren and Steve about her cancer treatment during the coronavirus pandemic. We ...
Gamechangers: Leanne Pero
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before lockdown, we'd started to record a new series speaking to gamechangers in the cancer community. Our first recording was with Leanne Pero and Ch...
About the Mental Heath Impacts of Lockdown
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Leyla Hussein OBE, a psychotherapist and social activist joins Lauren, Deborah and Steve to talk about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on cance...
About the Impact of Coronavirus on Cancer
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Mitchell the CEO of Cancer Research UK and Lucy Gossage, a consultant oncologist working in Nottingham University Hospitals join Lauren, Debo...
About the World Cancer Day Takeover
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah, Lauren and Steve do a #youmebigc takeover of Sarah Brett’s late night 5 Live radio show on World Cancer Day. They catch up with the person ...
About The Best Friends
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren, Steve and Deborah speak one to one with their best friends, Lereese, David and Sarah, about how they approach supporting them through the impa...
About The Year
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah, Lauren and Steve take a look back at 2019 and catch up with some good friends of the podcast.
About The Legacy
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jess Mills, daughter of Baroness Tessa Jowell and Grant, father of #YouMeBigC friend Jack Morgan, join Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland. We...
About The Proton Beam
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The #YouMeBigC team visit the Christie in Manchester to find about the UK’s first ever NHS Proton Beam centre. John Archer, the centre’s clinica...
About Male Specific Cancers
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Newcastle Falcons' Johnny Williams, who was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer, and specialist prostate nurse Meg Burgess from Prostate Cancer ...
About The Technology
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Gould the Chief Executive Officer for NHSX, a new body set up to ensure that staff and patients have the technology they need, and Paul Landau...
About The Gynaecological Cancers
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
CEO of The Eve Appeal Athena Lamnisos, author of The Gynae Geek Dr Anita Mitra, cancer information officer and comedian Karen Hobbs discuss all things...
About Cancer on Coronation Street
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The #youmebigc team look at the way cancer storylines are told in soaps and take a trip to television's most famous cobbles – Coronation Street.Debs...
About The Second Opinion
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Jackson, who was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, shares her experience and frustrations of looking for more treatment options. Ri...
About The Primary Care
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Leon, a cancer education lead, works with the Christie in Manchester and is a practicing GP in the North West of England. Dr Rebecca joins Deb...
About Dating and Relationships
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah, Lauren and Steve are back for a new series. They start by talking about dating with cancer and the impact it can have on relationships.They s...
About Remembering Rachael One Year On
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
To mark a year on from Rachael Bland’s death her husband Steve Bland introduces a collection of moments from the pod, some previously unheard clips ...
About The Rare Cancers
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
BBC newsreader Kate Williams and Jack Morgan join Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland to talk about the challenges they’ve both faced after ...
About Your Questions – Part 2
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren, Deborah and Steve answer more of your questions on cancer (and anything else you wanted to ask them) in the second of this special two part po...
About Your Questions – Part 1
21 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren, Deborah and Steve answer your questions on cancer (and anything else you wanted to ask them) in this special two part podcast. Thank you to ev...
About Putting Life On Hold
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Head of features for ITV’s Lorraine, Helen Addis, talks about taking a break from work after finding out she had breast cancer and launched a campai...
About The Fundraising
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Actor Larry Lamb, TV's Bill Turnbull and many others at the Marsden March speak to Deborah, Steve and (eventually) Lauren about the cancer charities a...
About Recurrence
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Author (with ‘ongoing cancer sizzle’) Emma Campbell and Anne Crook, counsellor and cognitive behavioural therapist at The Christie, join #YouMeBig...
About Representation
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Following a recent campaign that provoked a strong reaction Debs, Lauren and Steve are joined by Delyth Morgan the Chief Executive of Breast Cancer No...
About the London Marathon
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eastenders' Jake Wood, Great British Bake Off’s Candice Brown, TV presenter Helen Skelton and Charlie Webster join the #YouMeBigC team for a London...
About The Operation
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland join Deborah James at the Royal Marsden Hospital as Debs goes in for an operation for the ablation of her liver tumours. ...
About The Update
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
No guests, but a quick update on the #YouMeBigC team from Lauren Mahon, Deborah James and Steve Bland.
About Child Cancer
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Vicki Woodall, whose son George was diagnosed at the age of five, shares her experiences with Lauren Mahon, Deborah James and Steve Bland.Tierney Kins...
About The Food
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland talk all about food and diet when you have cancer. They do some myth busting with Toral Shah, a nutritiona...
About The Book
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Marking the release of Rachael Bland's book to her son Fred, Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Rachael's husband Steve talk about the challenges she wen...
About Palliative Care
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
CoppaFeel’s Kris Hallenga joins Deborah, Lauren and Steve alongside Kathryn Mannix, who’s worked in palliative care since 1986, and Adrienne Bette...
About The Hope
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James and Lauren Mahon visit the Francis Crick Institute to explore the hope in cancer research. They talk to Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Resear...
About Cultures
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James and Lauren Mahon are joined by Saima Thompson, a restauranteur who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, to explore how different cult...
About Exercise
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The benefits of exercise pre and post cancer are discussed by Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland. Project leader Zoe Merchant and personal...
About Cancer At Christmas
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James and Lauren Mahon are joined by Steve Bland to talk about cancer at Christmas. The first part was recorded a month before Christmas. In ...
About The Loss
14 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Bland joins Deborah and Lauren to talk publicly for the first time about the loss of Rachael.A year after the sudden tragic death of his wife Ge...
About The New Normal
13 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In Rachael’s final podcast with Deborah and Lauren they discuss the 'new normal'. This term is commonly used by doctors and cancer communities when ...
About Our Rachael
06 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Deborah James AKA Bowelbabe, Lauren Mahon AKA Girl vs Cancer, producers Mike Holt AKA 'The Bear' and Al Entwistle AKA 'Vid Skills' talk about Rachael’...
About The Pain
30 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael, Deborah and Lauren talk about dealing with the pain caused by cancer. Plus Dr Matthew Brown, a consultant in pain medicine and anaesthetics f...
About Dating and Intimacy
22 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The girls discuss how cancer has had an impact on dating and intimacy with their partners. They speak to author Annie Belasco who wrote a book on her ...
About Death
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some people have such a problem talking about death? Rachael, Deborah and Lauren are joined by the actor Greg Wise, who took care of his dying ...
About The Future
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The girls look into the future of cancer care. They talk to Dr Fiona Thistlethwaite from The Christie who is looking after Rachael’s current drug tr...
About The Friends
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael talks about receiving some bad news. The #YouMeBigC team discuss the different reactions they've had from friends and the public about going p...
About The Alternatives
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jules Peters, the wife of The Alarm frontman Mike Peters, and Jean Slocombe, a Cancer Research UK specialist information nurse, join #YouMeBigC to tal...
About The Doctors
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Former Arsenal and Celtic footballer John Hartson and Rachael’s surgeon Richard joins #YouMeBigC as we look at the relationships between cancer pati...
About the Nearest and Dearest
18 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Emma & Jonathan Agnew join #youmebigc The girls leave Rachael’s husband, Lauren's brother, Deborah’s father and Aggers to talk openly about th...
About The Money
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A Macmillan expert shares tips on dealing with the financial pressures of cancer, plus Hollyoaks and The Bill star Ben Richards talks about acting whi...
About The Body
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael, Deborah and Lauren talk about the effects of cancer on the body. Claire Paxman joins the girls to talk about scalp cooling during chemo and g...
About The Kids
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry joins Rachael, Deborah and Lauren as they talk about fertility issues around cancer. They also discuss the effect...
About The Positives
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Linda Nolan joins Rachael, Deborah and Lauren to discuss a few of the positives they've found with cancer, including; friendship, dating, presents and...
About The Chemo
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The #youmebigc team, Rachael, Deborah and Lauren give you their personal guide to all things chemo. They are joined by chemotherapy nurse Kate Lewis f...
About The Head
07 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The #youmebigc team, Rachael, Deborah and Lauren discuss how battling cancer can impact mental health. Event rider Ben Hobday shares how he maintained...