That’s Not My Age Podcast: the breast surgeon with breast cancer, Dr Liz O’Riordan
Photos courtesy of Liz O’ Riordan
My latest podcast guest is an extraordinary woman. The consultant breast surgeon, Dr Liz O’Riordan’s world turned upside-down in 2015 when, aged 40, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a series of incredibly honest and informative blog posts, Liz chronicled her treatment and experience as a doctor-turned-patient, detailing everything from how to cope with chemotherapy to going through early menopause.
Following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Liz returned to work, but found it tough talking about cancer all the time. ‘ It was really hard reliving it everyday. Eventually, the stress of telling 10 women a day that they had breast cancer, got to me.’ Then in 2018, the cancer came back on her chest wall. After dedicating 20 years of her life to becoming a surgeon, she made the difficult decision to take early retirement. Recovering physically and mentally from her treatment, Liz now had the additional challenge of rebuilding her career.
The amazing response she had received from readers of her blog posts offered Liz a new role, another way of helping women. Now, in her second career as an author and public speaker, she educates healthcare professionals about what life is really like after a cancer diagnosis and offers invaluable information to women going through similar experiences. Dr Liz O’Riordan is on a mission to change the conversation around cancer care.
Liz before surgery in 2018, when her cancer came back
In 2018, Liz co-wrote The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer with Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, an academic and GP. Both women have had breast cancer and the book combines their knowledge gathered as doctors and patients. In her recently launched podcast Don’t Ignore The Elephant, Liz ‘talks about the stuff that no-one else will… the stuff that scares us.’ Covering topics, such as: sex, divorce, depression and death. And, her latest project is to write a medical memoir called Under the Knife; she’s currently raising money through crowdfunding publisher Unbound. If you’d like to support Liz, you can make a pledge HERE and the book will be published next year.
In this That’s Not My Age podcast episode, Liz joins me to talk about what it was like to be on the other side of the consultant’s desk. How she overcame the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and found a new purpose in life. She details her second career as a speaker, author and storyteller, the newfound respect for her body and how she now leads a more balanced life. And, after having problems finding clothes to fit her new figure – Liz doesn’t have a left breast and doesn’t wear a prosthetic – she now makes all her own. ‘ I’m still using my hands to reshape and recreate. Sewing is my way of carrying on as a surgeon.’
Liz’s glasses are by German brand Hoet Couture from The Eye Company. She recommends Knitted Knockers, an organisation connecting volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors – and is currently reading Make Time (How to focus on what matters everyday) by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky and The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben; and watching the second series of Bridgerton.
Hope you enjoy the episode, Liz is a brilliant woman and a wonderful guest.
PODCAST LINKS
Listen to the podcast on Spotify HERE
Listen to Apple Podcasts HERE
Please, please rate, review and subscribe, to help more listeners to find the podcast.
We’re also on Stitcher, Podtail, Poddtoppen, and Google Podcasts.
PODCAST CREDITS
Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Liz O’Riordan
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson
*Due to the pandemic the That’s Not My Age podcast is now recorded using a web-based application on my computer. It is odd not being in a room with someone, not seeing a person’s facial expression or knowing if they’re about to continue talking…But it also means we can go global!
Discussion (10 Comments)
Ellen Tannenbaum says:
I am a three time breast cancer survivor., treated in 1998, 2008, and 2021. No genetic mutations so reasons unknown. Doctors and society are finally acknowledging that the options for reconstruction are often debilitating and more and more women are opting out of reconstruction or using prostheses. Social media groups and people like O’Riordan are helping women see they are far from alone in the experience. Another related blog/FB page is Nancy’s Point.
Marcie Powell, Vancouver Canada says:
An excellent podcast; very worthwhile. My mother died of breast cancer at the young age of 37, when I was just six years old. Her sister (my favourite aunt) and her mother also died of breast cancer. After the birth of my first child, when I was 32, I insisted on having a mammogram and have had one every year or two, because I didn’t want my children to grow up without a mother, as I did. At 88, I have had numerous surgical biopsies but have so far been lucky; my sister also has not had a positive mammogram. I urge everyone to remember that younger women do sometimes get breast cancer, and it is often very aggressive. It’s easy to get tested, and so worth the effort.
Cindy from Canada says:
I think it’s important for woman (and men) to have screening tests. When I go for my mammogram, I stay in the room where I had it done, to see if they need to do a retake – used to be have it done and go back to a sitting area with other women waiting for the all clear (no retake) before I can leave. I like this approach, as there are women who may be nervous before having it done, and it’s a one on one with the technician from beginning to end.
Catriona Mowat says:
Liz is entirely inspiring. Her book got me through diagnosis and treatment at the very start of lockdown ( they were closing theatre the day of my surgery as they needed the ventilators for covid patients). I started to run and do weights on her advice and am also a ‘single-breasted sewist’ looking for great patterns that work for my new look. I read her work avidly and will definitely get the new book.
Mrs Tonia says:
Finally listened to this podcast. Wow.
What an impressive person Liz sounds. So important that she uses her personal experiences of being a breast cancer patient to help and inform others and raise questions about intimacy which aren’t usually discussed.
I wish her well going forward and will contribute to her book fundraising. Thank you Alyson for this podcast.Paula says:
Loved listening to this podcast. Someone recommended I follow Liz on Insta & I’m so glad they did, she’s a breath of fresh air!! She says it how it is & is brilliant at debunking the wrong information out there! Look forward to her book coming out!
Great podcast Alyson.Sury Bagenal says:
This was such an amazing podcast, I felt quite tearful when I listened to it. I have close friends who have had cancer, and I lost a dear freind to it, but we don’t actually talk openly about cancer. There were issues discussed on the podcast I had no idea about! Thanks for making it a natural and relaxed discussion.
I’m over 50 and feel that age is just a number, I want to hear about other like minded women and this is one of my “go to “podcasts, its so inspirational and relatable !Eileen Nemeroff says:
Our Mother, grandmother, cousins on grandmother’s side plus 5 of us girls have all had breast cancer. Me being the eldest daughter was diagnosed during the pandemic 2019. I was 67 then and elected to have a double mastectomy.. During this time me and two of my sisters were in the hospital at the same time, although different hospitals and different states. All breast cancer related.
I opted for reconstructive surgery. Knowing now I never would recommend it especially with the expanders. Everyday is a constant reminder of how uncomfortable and sometimes painful situations with back pain. However, I am cancer free today at this moment.
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This was such an interesting interview. Funnily enough, I had my second routine mammogram yesterday which I’m fairly sure will reveal nothing untoward, but I can’t help speculating on the other women in the waiting room. Liz has so much good advice. Wishing her well.