The easing of lockdown brings a rush of visitors which finds Pen collapsed in a heap only days before the inevitable return to work but the transition from recovery to the real world isn't smooth... 

"Work. But not the work I was used to 6 months earlier before my operation.  My return to work means I sit in the spare room and stare at an endless series of other people’s spare rooms in an endless sequence of zoom meetings, none of which seem to mean much to me.  I feel utterly disconnected.  Strategy meetings centring around pandemic health and safety regulations replace creativity. 

I feel slight panic at how little any of it means.  I hadn’t expected to feel so removed.  Floating between the spare room and the kettle then back to the spare room I wonder how I’ll ever feel enough energy to start making programmes again let alone managing my team members and supporting them through all this crap.  It’s like constantly wading through treacle."

Searingly honest, heart-breaking, often sweary and laugh out loud funny, LUMP is one woman’s rollercoaster ride through the mind meltdown which comes with learning you have breast cancer. 

Utterly human and compelling, it’s a unique story which will resonate with anyone and everyone who’s ever had a battle with a life changing event in their lives.

Read more here

Written and narrated by Pennie Latin-Stuart

Lump is produced by Adventurous Audio and sponsored by The Head Gardener

It was recorded by the legends who are Dave and Johnny at The Music Shed Recording Studios

Special thanks to Incredible Feet for their inspiration and belief in the importance of LUMP and for constantly reminding us that while every cancer journey is unique, we never need to run it alone.

You'll find the written version of this episode here.