Episode 9 – Angie Shepherd, ‘Kia Kaha’ and Cancer April Fools

Angie Shepherd talks about her role as a colorectal clinical nurse specialist. The inspirational Māori expression, ‘Kia kaha’, and cancer-themed April Fools are also featured.

The following points are among those covered in this episode:

• Erica Banks, Communications Lead for Friends of ANCHOR, provides an update on news items and forthcoming events, including the progress being made with preparations for this year’s ‘Brave’ and ‘Courage on the Catwalk’ events. [00:47]
• Mike talks to Colorectal CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Angie Shepherd, about her role in supporting bowel cancer patients. As well as highlighting various ways in which Friends of ANCHOR provides invaluable assistance in this area, Angie draws attention to information awareness initiatives such as Bowelbabe and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (which, this year, has included a very helpful and informative video featuring Alan Titchmarsh). [04:34]
• Mike continues his attempts to create a podcast quiz format that works, this time asking listeners to fill in the ‘beeps’ to discover the puns that were used in 2010 and 2012 news items to describe the brilliant fundraising efforts of various supporters of Friends of ANCHOR. [20:16]
• In the ‘Finding the Words’ section of this episode, Mike and Alison discuss some examples of how words can keep our spirits up while we are dealing with the rollercoaster of emotions, uncertainties and questions that come with the territory when a diagnosis of cancer occurs. Mike had found the Māori expression, ‘Kia kaha’ (‘Stay strong!’), particularly helpful, often using it to have a word with himself when he was feeling a bit ‘wobbly’. [22:32]
• For this month’s ‘And Finally’ slot, Mike considers the question of whether or not a cancer-themed April Fool can ever work! One attempt worthy of note was Macmillan Cancer Support’s 2010 spoof campaign in support of their annual coffee morning when they worked with Google to showcase a fictional island called “Macmilland”, which was shaped like a coffee cup and appeared on Google maps! [28:25]

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