Breathe Strong Season 1: It's A Wrap!

"Don't lose heart - these side effects, they come in waves."

Maria said this in the final episode of Breathe Strong, and it's the kind of thing that only someone living it can really say. It's honest, it's reassuring, and it's exactly what makes this podcast so special.

We've been pleased and privileged to be involved in Breathe Strong since the beginning. Created and hosted by lung cancer and mesothelioma nurse specialist Rachel Thomas, and made in partnership with EGFR+ UK and HASAG, the podcast set out to give space to the conversations that don't always happen in a clinic room or a support group. Over ten episodes it has done exactly that.

In this final episode, Maria is joined by Sarah and Natasha, all three living with stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer, for a conversation about what treatment life really looks like. Between them they have experience of chemotherapy, TKIs, radiotherapy and surgery, and they talk openly about fatigue, skin changes, the practicalities of daily medication, and the process of adapting. It's the kind of conversation we hope feels familiar to many of you.

For us, being part of this project has been an opportunity to hear directly from members of our community about what living with EGFR+ lung cancer looks like day to day. That matters enormously.

More than 1,850 downloads across 25 countries speaks for itself. Thank you to Rachel, HASAG and the podcast team, and to everyone who listened and shared it with others.

This podcast wouldn’t have been possible without the people who shared their feeling and experiences so openly, so a very special thanks to Charlie, Max, Mel, Natasha, Sarah and Maria from our EGFR+ UK community and Lesley, Doug and Barbara from the HASAG community.

Watch this space for news on season 2…

🎙️ Search Breathe Strong on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

N.B. AstraZeneca has provided a grant towards this independent project and has had no involvement in its creation or organisation.