Dr Liz O’Riordan on Self-Advocacy and Spotting BS Cancer Info Online
03/24/25 • 54 min
What does it really mean to advocate for your healthcare—especially when you’re the expert?
In this powerful episode, Luan speaks with Dr. Liz O’Riordan—former breast cancer surgeon, patient, author, and award-winning advocate. Diagnosed with the very disease she once treated, Liz quickly realised that clinical knowledge doesn’t prepare you for the lived experience of being a cancer patient—or how hard it can be to find the right information and support.
When she turned to the internet for answers, she was shocked by the sheer volume of misinformation—that don’t just fuel confusion and anxiety, but can have devastating consequences when patients are swayed to abandon evidence-based treatments in favour of unproven alternatives.
Since retiring as a surgeon, Liz has made it her mission to counter online BS with research-based, accessible education—so patients can make informed, confident decisions as part of their self-health advocacy. In this episode, she shares her tips so that you can make decisions that are right for you!
This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and honest reflections that every woman facing a cancer diagnosis—or any health challenge—deserves to hear.
For all the resources in this show - including where to find Liz's books - visit the episode blog page.
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
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.
What does it really mean to advocate for your healthcare—especially when you’re the expert?
In this powerful episode, Luan speaks with Dr. Liz O’Riordan—former breast cancer surgeon, patient, author, and award-winning advocate. Diagnosed with the very disease she once treated, Liz quickly realised that clinical knowledge doesn’t prepare you for the lived experience of being a cancer patient—or how hard it can be to find the right information and support.
When she turned to the internet for answers, she was shocked by the sheer volume of misinformation—that don’t just fuel confusion and anxiety, but can have devastating consequences when patients are swayed to abandon evidence-based treatments in favour of unproven alternatives.
Since retiring as a surgeon, Liz has made it her mission to counter online BS with research-based, accessible education—so patients can make informed, confident decisions as part of their self-health advocacy. In this episode, she shares her tips so that you can make decisions that are right for you!
This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and honest reflections that every woman facing a cancer diagnosis—or any health challenge—deserves to hear.
For all the resources in this show - including where to find Liz's books - visit the episode blog page.
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
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
Pausing Life-Saving Treatment to Regain Femininity—How Do You Decide?
Self-advocacy isn’t necessarily about standing up to your medical team—it’s about speaking up so they understand what matters to you and working with them to make informed, shared decisions about your treatment and care.
That’s exactly what Kate Hardman did.
Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer while pregnant, Kate faced unimaginable challenges, complex decisions, and a treatment path filled with uncertainty.
Now, she’s facing another major decision: Should she have DIEP flap breast reconstruction, even though it means pausing life-saving medication?
In this episode, Kate shares:
- How she worked with her team to explore her options, not against them
- Why self-advocacy isn’t about fighting—it’s about finding the right people who listen
- The emotional and physical factors she considered when choosing reconstruction
- The role of trust, communication, and collaboration in making complex health decisions
Self-advocacy isn’t about going it alone—it’s about having the right support behind you. Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of a metastatic diagnosis, your choices still matter.
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 SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
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
This Isn’t Just Me: The Power of Community, Connection and Speaking Up
In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Luan speaks with Rena Patel, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 40—just after her daughter turned four.
Rena felt isolated, unsure where to turn, as she didn’t know anyone in her community who’d been through something similar. On top of that, she often felt unseen and unheard within a healthcare system that doesn’t always account for the diverse needs of women from ethnic minority backgrounds, or understand the different cultural perspectives of their communities. From not being shown how to identify radiotherapy burns on non-white skin to struggling to find wigs that matched her hair, these gaps added to the emotional weight of her treatment.
Connections can help change our experiences. Rena shares how finding Black Women Rising—a UK-based cancer support project for women of colour—opened the door to community, confidence, and self-advocacy. It helped her feel less alone and more empowered to ask for the care that truly met her needs.
In this episode:
• Why self-trust and speaking up are essential in healthcare
• The importance of culturally inclusive supportive care
• How shared stories and visibility reduce isolation
• The role of connection and community in building self-advocacy skills
• How openness can turn silence into strength—for you and those around you
As an Ambassador of Black Women Rising Rena is helping to build a future where all women—regardless of background—feel seen, heard, and supported. For herself, for her community, and for her beautiful daughter.
For links to the resources in this show - visit the episode blog page.
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
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.
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