Biology and Biography: Shared Decision-Making in Your Healthcare

03/03/25 • 52 min

How do you make healthcare decisions that balance the biology of a diagnosis—the research-based facts and figures—with the biography of what matters to you and how you want to live your life?

Today, I talk with Dr. Susannah Graham, a leading breast surgeon who champions patient-centred care. She shares her insights on empowering patients to communicate their wants and needs effectively, fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare that respects your autonomy, values, and life priorities.

Join us as we unpack how shared decision-making improves patient satisfaction and well-being, empowering you to shape your healthcare—not just as a patient, but as a person.

Together, we discuss:

· What shared decision-making is and why it matters, particularly for women.

· How to actively participate in healthcare decisions to feel more informed, confident, and in control.

· Your role as a patient and the role of the healthcare professional in shared decision-making.

· Strategies to communicate openly and feel confident in your choices, even when discussing complex topics.

· Real-life examples of shared decision-making in breast cancer care, including navigating reconstruction options after a mastectomy.

· Balancing medical recommendations with your personal values, lifestyle, and preferences.

Self-health advocacy is about knowing what’s important to you and confidently communicating it with your healthcare team, so together, you can make an informed shared decision that honours your values, needs, and the life you want to live.

Want to learn more about decision-making? Listen to Marilyn Barefoot's episode 'How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help you Make Health Decisions'.

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

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

How do you make healthcare decisions that balance the biology of a diagnosis—the research-based facts and figures—with the biography of what matters to you and how you want to live your life?

Join us as we unpack how shared decision-making improves patient satisfaction and well-being, empowering you to shape your healthcare—not just as a patient, but as a person.

Together, we discuss:

· What shared decision-making is and why it matters, particularly for women.

· How to actively participate in healthcare decisions to feel more informed, confident, and in control.

· Your role as a patient and the role of the healthcare professional in shared decision-making.

· Strategies to communicate openly and feel confident in your choices, even when discussing complex topics.

· Real-life examples of shared decision-making in breast cancer care, including navigating reconstruction options after a mastectomy.

· Balancing medical recommendations with your personal values, lifestyle, and preferences.

Want to learn more about decision-making? Listen to Marilyn Barefoot's episode 'How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help you Make Health Decisions'.

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

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

Previous Episode

How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help You Make Health Decisions

Feeling stuck in your healthcare decisions? Need to figure out what’s right for you but feeling overwhelmed? This episode of Regarding Me is here to help!

Today, I’m joined by Marilyn Barefoot, an award-winning creative strategist and expert in problem-solving. Marilyn shares how the principles she’s used with global brands can help you get unstuck so you can make confident decisions that align with what matters most to you—even when things get complicated.

Whether it's navigating medical appointments, making tough treatment decisions, or simply regaining a sense of control, Marilyn’s insights will empower you to approach your healthcare with clarity, confidence – and creativity!

In This Episode:

How creativity can unlock solutions when you feel stuck in your health decisions
The power of a binder to help you stay organised and confidently advocate for yourself!
Why writing by hand improves information retention and understanding
How tactile tools (like Play-Doh or a rubber chicken!) activate more of your brain for better decision-making
Why self-advocacy doesn’t have to be big and bold—sometimes it’s as simple as asking for help or requesting your favourite music during treatment

Self-advocacy isn’t just about standing up for yourself—it’s about creatively shaping your healthcare experience so it truly reflects who you are. And this episodes helps you do just that!

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

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

Next Episode

Saying No in Social Situations—Without Guilt or Pressure

Advocating for yourself can feel uncomfortable—especially when your choices go against social norms. If you’ve ever felt pressured to justify a lifestyle change or struggled to hold your boundaries with family, friends, or colleagues, this episode is for you.

Today, I chat with Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach who reassessed her relationship with alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis. Kath shares simple, practical strategies to help you confidently communicate your choices, set boundaries without guilt, and handle social pressure with ease.

This conversation goes beyond alcohol—these self-advocacy skills apply to any situation where you need to stand firm in your choices. Whether you’re setting new boundaries or facing difficult conversations, Kath’s insights will help you advocate for yourself with confidence, certainty, and self-belief.

Because self-advocacy isn’t just about healthcare decisions—it’s about standing up for what’s right for you in every part of life.

In this episode:

How to confidently communicate your choices—without over-explaining
The power of owning your decision to shut down pushback
Simple phrases for responding to social pressure with ease
How to hold boundaries with kindness—even when others push back
Why self-advocacy in everyday life builds confidence for bigger health decisions

Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!

Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods

For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.

Connect with Luan:

Follow Luan on Instagram

Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy

Check out Luan's website

Disclaimer

CREDITS:

Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate

Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)

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