Everything you need to know to prepare for chemo with Rachel Clifton

Just hearing the words ‘you need chemotherapy’ can turn your world upside down. I hated telling my patients they needed it, and when I found I out I would have it myself, I felt lost.Would my hair fall out? How bad would it be? Would it work? How would I cope? Add to that the other drugs we give patients - targeted therapies and immunotherapy - it can feel like treatment never ends. That’s when you need someone in your pocket you can call for help, and on this episode  we have Rachel Clifton, a Macmillan Breast Oncology Nurse Specialist. I worked with her when I was a consultant at Ipswich and I knew she was the one to answer all your questions. Not only is Rachel an incredible nurse, but she’s passionate about raising the profile of metastatic breast cancer, with the ‘Secondary. Not Second Rate’ campaign. But there’s more - she’s even been a nurse advisor for Holby City.

 

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Rachel’s go to sources are  Breast Cancer Now, which has useful information about chemo here, and Macmillan, whose chemo pages for breast cancer are here 

 

She also mentioned the amazing Cancer Hair Care - who will be on the show next week! But if you can’t wait their website is here. 

 

The Cancer Care Map can also signpost you to support services near you - see their website here

My amazing  podcast poet is Donna Ashworth and you heard  a poem from her new book ‘Wild Hope - available now in all online bookstores. You can find out more about Donna on her website, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook

 

If you’ve got a question for the show, then please get in touch online or send me a voice note. 

 

You can find me on social media  -  Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or e-mail me at hello@oriordan.co.uk . 

 

If you’ve got a question for season two, then please get in touch online or send me a voice note. 

 

You can find me on social media  -  Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or e-mail me at hello@oriordan.co.uk . 

 

You can also watch this episode! Head to my Youtube channel @DrLizORiordan to see this season’s episodes as they are released and lots of other useful videos full of reliable information. 

 

AND MY BRAND NEW MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS HERE! Find out what I’ve been up to and get some useful recommendations by subscribing here 

 

Another place to find out more about breast cancer is my book ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’. And if you’re nosey and want to find out more about my life, my memoir  ‘Under The Knife’ - is also available in all good bookshops.

 

Finally, if you loved the show and want to help other women like you find it, you can leave a 5-star review wherever you get your podcasts, or you can show your support to help keep the show going and buy me a coffee here.