Introducing Voice No. 33 - Lucy Thompson; the incredible strength that is the founder of the charity Nip (Nipple Innovation Project). In this episode Lucy is talking to us as a Voice - sharing her journey with some very rare conditions and discussing topics very rarely spoken about but that may resonate with so many people. Firstly Lucy shares her experience of being born with a congenital hip disease - Developmental Dysplasia Hip (DDH) and how despite having hip surgery as a baby, she will inevitably need surgery again in the future. However this means that every day she is faced with debilitating pain, mobility issues needing occasional mobility aids. We talk openly about the stigma of needing a mobility aid as a young person, and the immense battle as a young working woman and mother to adjust to having a hidden disability. We then continue to talk about a condition which very few people know about but probably affects a lot more people than they realise - PMDD which is Premenstrual Dysphoric disorder. This is a severe form of PMS, whereby the hormone imbalance during the menstrual cycle becomes so severe that it can cause irrational and overwhelming mood swings, including suicidal ideation that can be difficult to manage. We do have an honest and in-depth conversation about how there is greater need for a supportive society that recognises that mental health is not a choice, nor a personality trait and that better understanding is needed to help people adjust and recover. Lucy is a brilliant example of the need to become self-aware as she shows how learning to listen to her body has helped her find a way to live the best life she can by making adjustments to knowing her own limitations. Including how she discovered the life-changing benefits for her of cold water dips and how these have had a profound impact on her mental health. A truly honest and inspiring Voice that covers some lesser-talked-about health conditions.

Mortal and Strong provides a campaign using art to shine the spotlight on women facing their own mortality - those affected at a young age by a life changing illness or disease. 100 artworks produced by artists across the country along with a powerful photography series ‘Scars of Gold’ inspired by kintsugi. 100 Voices sharing messages of hope and strength through our podcast. Building a platform to provide health awareness, support and education to change the face of disease in young people. Founded by Dr Liz Murray. @lizmurrayart and led with photographer @samwestonphotography

For more information on support available for these issues discussed in todays episode, including direction to medical information, visit our website. This episode is not intended as specific medical advice, always see your own GP/physician if you have any concerns regarding your own health.

#mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #art #artist #doctor #charity #campaign #womenshealth #cancer #nonhodgkinslymphoma #thyroidcancer #breastcancer #stemcelltransplant #lupus #autoimmunedisease #ms #fibroids #endometriosis #adenomyosis #miscarriage #ectopicpregnancy #infertility #menopause #mastectomy #opticneuritis #disability #trauma #sepsis #podcast

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Voice No. 34 is the wonderfully articulate Alex who shares a very important perspective on how breast cancer helped her re-evaluate what she wanted from life. Every interview we share offers a different outlook on how facing one's mortality at a young age can propose different challenges or messages of hope. Alex's story is another invaluable bank of life lessons; how there is not enough emphasis on the fact that after the physical treatment for cancer there is a real need for the psychological support and time to process the trauma experienced. Alex discusses the incredible value of counselling and time to grieve and process the experience, and how there is a period where people around presume because your treatment is over that you have 'moved on'. Alex's own journey led her to completely change her perspective on life and her career. She now works as a life coach in a unique process, and how liberating it was for her to give up striving for 'the next holiday' rather than taking the utmost pleasure in the every day. A really insightful conversation and another lovely and inspiring Voice to add to the 100 Voices for this campaign.

Mortal and Strong is a campaign shining the spotlight on women facing their own mortality - those affected at a young age by a life changing illness or disease. 100 artworks produced by artists across the country along with a powerful photography series ‘Scars of Gold’ inspired by kintsugi. 100 Voices sharing messages of hope and strength through our podcast. Charity led campaign supporting other charities. Founded by Dr Liz Murray.

#mortalandstrong #scarsofgold #kintsugi #art #artist #doctor #charity #campaign #womenshealth #cancer #nonhodgkinslymphoma #thyroidcancer #breastcancer #stemcelltransplant #lupus #autoimmunedisease #ms #fibroids #endometriosis #adenomyosis #miscarriage #ectopicpregnancy #infertility #menopause #mastectomy #opticneuritis #disability #trauma #sepsis #podcast

For more information on support available for these issues discussed in todays episode, including direction to medical information, visit our website. This episode is not intended as specific medical advice, always see your own GP/physician if you have any concerns regarding your own health.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another brilliantly articulate and lovely Voice - the humble and inspiring soul that is Meera. Meera shares how she went from being a dentist to navigating her journey with Multiple Myeloma and shares the unique insight into navigating the journey of cancer whilst being a new mum. Meera began having chest and back pain whilst pregnant and her symptoms were so vague and initially dismissed as pregnancy related. After giving birth and getting to the point where she couldn't lift her own child, scans eventually found a rare cancer manifesting in her sternum - solitary bony plasmocytoma. Meera shares the struggles of breast feeding and weaning whilst starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 8 years the cancer progressed to multiple myeloma. As Meera shares her journey, the parallels of navigating being a mum progress with this incredibly moving and inspiring story. Even pre-diagnosis, Meera's philosophy to life was one of embracing it to the fullest, wanting to travel and see as many countries as her age. Meera shares how her son is now into his teenage years and the difficulty of not even being able to fully embrace him because of the cancer in her sternum, but how she is embracing life to the fullest and her desire to watch him grow up fuelled her determination to continue, and overcoming a stem cell transplant. An amazing journey and story and we are honoured to have Meera as one of the Voices for the Mortal And Strong campaign.

Mortal and Strong is a campaign shining the spotlight on women facing their own mortality - those affected at a young age by a life changing illness or disease. 100 artworks produced by artists across the country along with a powerful photography series ‘Scars of Gold’ inspired by kintsugi. 100 Voices sharing messages of hope and strength through our podcast. Charity led campaign supporting other charities. Founded by Dr Liz Murray.

For more information on support available for these issues discussed in todays episode, including direction to medical information, visit our website. This episode is not intended as specific medical advice, always see your own GP/physician if you have any concerns regarding your own health.

#mortalandstrong #mas #iammas #scarsofgold #kintsugi #scars #strength #hope #joy #cancer #secondarycancer #cancerpodcast #womenshealth #podcast #myeloma

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.