In this deeply honest episode of Cups & Courage, Saskia shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2025, navigating surgery, radiation, and the often-conflicting world of medical advice.

A professional working in oncology herself, Saskia offers a rare dual perspective — as both patient and insider — on how information, bias, and communication shape our choices. She opens up about wanting agency in her treatment, the emotional gap left by rushed consultations, and the quiet courage it takes to simply live each day after diagnosis.

Together, Saskia and host Samantha Vale explore what bravery really means, how cultural attitudes shape our responses to illness, and the importance of listening — to ourselves, to each other, and to the space between being “well” and “not well.”

Cups & Courage is a podcast that shares real, raw, and hopeful conversations around breast cancer — the messy middle, not just the milestones.

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When Alice Nicholson discovered she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, she made the life-changing decision to undergo preventative double mastectomies — not because she had cancer, but because she didn’t want to wait for it.

In this open and emotional conversation, Alice shares how she navigated the medical system, grief after losing both parents and her sister, and the reality of reconstructive surgery — from the practical to the deeply personal. She and host Samantha Vale talk candidly about body image, identity, and the moments of courage that come when taking control of your own story.

With honesty, humour and heart, this episode explores what it really means to choose prevention — and how to rebuild life, body, and confidence afterwards.

🎧 Cups & Courage shares lived experiences of breast cancer, preventative surgery, and recovery — with warmth, honesty, and a little bit of tea.

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When Tashmia first raised her symptoms, she was told she was too young and that “women like you don’t get cancer.” For three years, her concerns were dismissed — until her cancer was finally found.

In this raw and vital conversation, Tashmia shares the reality of being a British South Asian woman navigating breast cancer: the racial bias and cultural blind spots in healthcare, the taboos that keep women silent, and the painful invisibility that comes when systems aren’t built with you in mind.

From being denied a double mastectomy because she was “too young and might meet someone,” to being handed a prosthetic nipple that didn’t match her skin, her story exposes the systemic inequalities that too many women face — and the exhausting burden of constant self-advocacy.

But Tashmia also shares courage, resilience, and a shift in perspective that’s both empowering and inspiring. She speaks openly about parenting through treatment, reshaping her relationship with her body, and the quiet power of putting one foot in front of the other.

This is not just one woman’s story — it’s a call to see, listen, and do better.

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