Talking With Cancer is a weekly podcast that does exactly that; two friends, Katie Phillips & Clair Whitefield, talking. Katie has cancer and Clair doesn’t; just like the statistic, that “one in two of us will experience cancer in our lifetime”. 

In February 2022, at 43 years old and with no prior health issues or concerns, Katie was told that she had thyroid cancer. To be more specific, a type of thyroid papillary cancer known as hobnail, with a ROS1 fusion. The doctors said that her diagnosis was “rare” and “complicated” – not words that Katie wanted to hear in the same sentence. 

In the early weeks following her diagnosis, she decided to keep an audio diary of her journey and immediately thought of her good friend Clair. 

With Clair’s background in journalism, and Katie’s career in PR (she set up entertainment PR agency KPPR in 2011), they were the perfect match and recorded their weekly conversations over zoom.  

‘Talking With Cancer’ gives insight into Katie’s life with cancer, her treatment and how she’s experiencing her world now that - in her own words - “everything has changed and nothing has changed”.  

The chats between Katie and Clair can often be poignant and hard-hitting, but with Clair’s, compassionate and inquisitive approach complimenting Katie’s can-do, positive outlook toward life with cancer, the episodes are always cathartic, inspiring, and more often than not, very funny too (thanks to the weekly ‘mum cancer jokes’)! 

Whether it’s tackling the more challenging topics that arise from facing life with cancer or the lighter moments encountered on the journey – “never moisturise before an echocardiogram” – each week, the podcast offers something for everyone, as we are all, in some way, affected by cancer.  

Have a listen. You might learn something, understand a little more about living with cancer than you did before and hopefully, you’ll have a giggle too. 

For more enquiries or to get in touch: [email protected] 

To follow Katie’s journey on Instagram, go to: @talking_withcancer 

Artwork & logo design by Emily Juniper. Illustrations by Amy Browne.Series Audio Production by Pixiu