Why we need to talk about cancer ft. Stephen Fry
Radical with Amol Rajan
BBC
4.5 • 919 Ratings
🗓️ 8 February 2024
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In a week in which King Charles III shared his cancer diagnosis, Amol and Nick ask why it’s important to talk about cancer.
Stephen Fry talks about his own diagnosis of an aggressive prostate cancer and we also hear from Paralympian Erin Kennedy, the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen, broadcaster Edward Stourton and from Steve Bland whose partner, the ‘You, Me and the Big C’ host Rachael Bland, died of cancer in 2018.
Nick also talks to Amol about his own experience of cancer and they speak to Professor Pat Price, one of the country’s leading oncologists, about why survival rates in the UK are lower than other countries.
Episodes of The Today Podcast land every Thursday and watch out for bonus episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme.
If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk
The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producer is Hazel Morgan. The editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Jack Graysmark and digital production from Elliot Ryder.
Details of help and support with cancer are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:04.8 | I learnt from the Today program this week that one in two people in this country will get cancer at some point in their lifetime. |
| 0:13.4 | I had no idea it was that start. |
| 0:15.3 | It is a big club. |
| 0:16.7 | It is a club nobody wants to be a member of and it now has royal approval. |
| 0:21.2 | We welcome the king to the club that nobody wants to be in and not just the king. |
| 0:26.5 | Our guest this week on the Today podcast is a member too. |
| 0:30.3 | I am indeed by royal appointment, providers of tumours, carcinomas and neoplasms to the public. |
| 0:37.3 | Why, Stephen, is it important to talk about cancer? |
| 0:40.6 | It's sort of mushroom-like, in the dark it grows. |
| 0:43.9 | It's more dangerous when not exposed to the light. |
| 0:46.8 | I had a great aunt, or a friend of a great aunt, if I'm honest, |
| 0:50.0 | who couldn't say certain words like death and cancer, |
| 0:53.5 | and could be heard saying, oh, she am, of ah, literally couldn't bring the words out. And it's a bit like the Voldemort principle in the Harry Potter books. If you're afraid to say the name, then the name has more power over you. So you have to get it out of your system and say cancer. And we mustn't be afraid of them. We must grasp them like a nettle. Well, we've got to talk about it. And the happy thing, Stephen, is that you're here to talk about it with us. And I remember seeing the first video that you put up online in which you were understandably very, very morose and very, very downbeat, because you didn't know how things were going to turn out. So the fact that you're here is wonderful, glorious, happy news. And I should say for people listening, it can be, obviously, a desperately downbeat and depressing subject. But we've assembled some wonderful voices, some BBC stars, some real experts, Stephen Frye, no less. And hopefully you'll learn this podcast in better shape to deal with cancer than when we started. |
| 1:44.8 | And I wonder, Stephen, if you might kick us off. |
| 1:47.4 | Let's do it. |
| 1:48.6 | It's a wonderful Col Porter song, and it is, of course, the sign that you're in good hands for a happy podcast. |
| 1:55.9 | Let's do it indeed. |
| 1:57.1 | Oh! indeed. |
| 2:12.8 | It's Nick and it's a mole. |
| 2:14.5 | And it's me, Stephen Fry. |
| 2:20.0 | Now, Stephen, let's go back, if we could, to your diagnosis. |
... |
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