What does it take to run an ultramarathon just months after cancer treatment?

In this episode, Barbara is joined by Danielle Welsh from Melbourne, Australia, who shares her experience of being diagnosed with tongue cancer at 43, undergoing surgery and radiotherapy, and navigating the challenges of recovery while raising two young children.

A lifelong endurance athlete, Danielle was determined to keep moving throughout treatment, adapting her exercise routine even as the side effects became increasingly difficult. But her story goes far beyond physical fitness.

Together, Barbara and Danielle explore the importance of self-advocacy, the difficult decisions patients face around treatment, and the gaps in care that often emerge once treatment ends. They discuss why survivorship needs a more holistic approach, the value of finding the right healthcare professionals, and the emotional challenges of explaining cancer to young children.

An insightful and thought-provoking conversation about resilience, patient-centred care, and finding ways to regain control when cancer turns your world upside down.

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

What happens when tongue cancer threatens not just your health, but your ability to communicate, work and live life on your own terms?

In this episode, Barbara is joined by Kylie Young from New Zealand, who shares her remarkable journey from a persistent tongue ulcer and delayed diagnosis to major surgery, radiotherapy and life beyond treatment.

Kylie speaks candidly about the challenges she faced, including complications with feeding, feeling unheard by healthcare professionals, and navigating the emotional and physical impact of losing her tongue.

But this is also a story of resilience, humour and rediscovering what's possible. Despite initially being told her teaching career might be over, Kylie has gone on to become a General Manager, demonstrating that a speech impairment doesn't have to stand in the way of leadership.

Together, Barbara and Kylie explore the importance of individualised care, supportive employers, finding your voice after cancer, and learning to embrace life with its new challenges.

An honest, uplifting and thought-provoking conversation about being heard, challenging expectations and refusing to let cancer define your future.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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

Tara Hanley was used to being the nurse — not the patient.

In this episode, Tara joins Barbara to share her journey from a persistent tongue ulcer and repeated biopsies to eventually hearing the words: “It’s cancer.”

As a public health nurse and mum of two young children, Tara talks candidly about trying to stay positive for everyone around her while privately confronting her own fears. She shares how she prepared her children for surgery, why she recorded herself reading their favourite stories before treatment, and what it was like returning to work and everyday life afterwards.

They also explore the parts of recovery that others don’t always see: scanxiety, lymphoedema, changes to eating and speech, survivor guilt, and the strange experience of everyone else moving on while you’re only beginning to process what happened.

Warm, funny and deeply relatable, this is a conversation about becoming the patient, finding your new normal and recognising that you don’t have to have had the “worst” cancer experience for it to have changed your life.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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