About This Season

 

In season 5 of The Waiting Room podcast we once again speak with experts and advocates from the world of healthcare. The first episode focuses on blood cancer and patient advocacy. Breast cancer, women’s health and diabetes are among the other topics of this season.

 

All Episodes

 

Episode 2 - “It’s Living Every Day to Your Fullest”: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024 with Abby Match

For this episode of Karger’s The Waiting Room Podcast, we spoke with Abby Match. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at the age of 35 in 2020. After the diagnosis she became a breast cancer advocate as well as a board member of the US-based non-profit organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer in 2023.

We spoke about her patient journey with breast cancer, her work as a patient advocate as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

 
 

Episode 1 - “Nobody Knows Your Condition Better Than You”: Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2024 with Alastair Boyle

For the first episode of season 5 of Karger’s The Waiting Room Podcast, we spoke with Alastair Boyle. He was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a type of blood cancer, in 2008 and eventually had to retire from his work as a firefighter in 2014. Ally then focused on patient and public involvement and providing input to charities, research studies and committees, for example, by serving as a Trustee for Blood Cancer UK.

We spoke about his experiences with blood cancer, his work as a patient advocate and trustee as well as Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September.

If you are looking for more detailed information on the signs and symptoms of blood cancer, follow this link to the section of the Blood Cancer UK website which discusses them and has a video talking about what to look out for.

 

About the Speakers

 
Portrait of Alastair Boyle

Alastair Boyle

Alastair Boyle was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a type of blood cancer, in 2008 and eventually had to retire from his work as a firefighter in 2014. Ally then focused on patient and public involvement and providing input to charities, research studies and committees. For example, he established a partnership between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the charity Anthony Nolan, which educates young people about stem cell, blood and organ donation. Ally is currently serving as a Trustee for Blood Cancer UK, and is a Non-Executive Director of Scotland’s third largest National Health Service (NHS) Board, NHS Lanarkshire. Furthermore, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to charity.

Portrait of Abby Match

Abby Match

Abby Match was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at the age of 35 in 2020. Being a Speech Language Pathologist in Early Intervention throughout Philadelphia County by trade, she became a breast cancer advocate after the diagnosis. Furthermore, Abby became a board member of the US-based non-profit organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer in 2023. She networks to help others get screened for genetic mutations prior to disease, engages in fundraising, and wants to be a voice for others.

 

Other Seasons

The Waiting Room Podcast Kachel

Season 1

In season 1 of The Waiting Room we speak with a wide range of experts and advocates from the world of healthcare. We cover several World health days including Rare Disease Day, World Cancer Day and World Obesity Day as well as learn more about specific conditions including progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and natural processes such as menopause.
The Waiting Room Podcast Kachel

Season 2

In season 2 of The Waiting Room we continue to speak with experts from the world of healthcare. Two episodes focus on the work of the UK enterprise Diversity and Ability (D&A), and a two-part special feature covers the rare disease Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Suicide prevention, health literacy and lung cancer are among the other topics of this season.
The Waiting Room Podcast Kachel

Season 3

Welcome to season 3 of The Waiting Room podcast! We continue to speak with experts and advocates from the world of healthcare. The first episode focuses on skin cancer and its prevention. It is followed by a two-part special feature on inflammatory bowel disease and how especially children and young adults living with IBD can be helped. Lung cancer and the 20th anniversary of the European Patients’ Forum are among the other topics of this season.
The Waiting Room Podcast Kachel

Season 4

In season 4 of The Waiting Room we continue to speak with experts and advocates from the world of healthcare. The first episode focuses on prostate cancer and screening. Mental health and the role of the thyroid gland are among the other topics of this season.