Kris Hallenga to me is an incredible person , when given life changing news she faces it head on . I may not know her personally but I am so proud of her and I am so grateful I got the chance to read this book and to feel part of this. Kris was living a totally normal life as a twenty-three-year-old: travelling the world, falling in love, making plans. However, when she found a lump in her boob and was told that it was not only cancer, but also incurable, life took on a completely new meaning. She was diagnosed at an age when life wasn’t something to be grateful for, but a goddamn right. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/GAT today to get 10% off your first month.

Just a little, but still exciting, update to say we've now launched the final enamel cup design that you can bag as one of the pledge rewards - either book and mug OR the Extract coffee book bundle. I have, over the years, integrated other treatments alongside my conventional regimen. I’ve tried all the below - and have marked the ones I am currently still benefitting from. From being a twin obviously there was a lot of emotions to be read during this. I was so angry at the GP and felt every bit of anger and hurt the family was going through. For me the quotes within this read were inspirational. I loved the notes from the mums baby book about when the twins were young and I loved the mini journal entries and dates. My third and final thank you to Kris is just for existing. Although a complete stranger I am so proud of you and everything you have done and have yet to do. I hope the next time I’m in Cornwall I can visit Beyoncé and meet you there. Lots of this book has sat with me and will sit with me the rest of my life, I have already shared quotes with all of my friends and I’ll continue to buy copies and gift them as it’s truly something everyone should read. I hope you continue to live and be happy for many years to come and when the time comes, as it will for us all I hope you know that your presence on this earth will be forever - in the work you’ve done and the minds of people like me and everyone else who has followed your journey and passed it on. Best selling author, CoppaFeel! cancer charity founder, and now podcaster, Kris knows how to roll the turds life gives you in glitter.This episode is supported by BetterHelp. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/GAT

I’ve been in love with Kris Hallenga for a few years now after first hearing her on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place. “I believe in hope, I believe in happiness, I believe in cups of tea” has circled my head since my first listen and now since reading this book I have plenty more of her quotes to guide me. The struggle is real enough without anything , or anyone, added to it. In needing to add that this person is someone's mother, someone's daughter, someone's sister, we are conditioned to think we are not enough to simply be someone.

But in my community (myositis), it seems like being a woman, and being a woman of colour, already makes you start with a disadvantage.

Oh, and I haven’t even touched on the problems associated with priming and memetic infection (see here, here, and here). But Darren’s journey hasn’t always been smooth. His father died by suicide while in prison when Darren was just 11 years old. As he and Kris sit down for a chat, he explains what a profound impact this had on his life, how it became a catalyst for him exploring the world of comedy, his experiences with therapy and the difficult years that fell in between. There is just so much I could say about this book but I won't. You need to read it yourself to really absorb the joy you get from it (yes, a weird word to choose about a book written by a wonderful human with Stage 4 cancer but you'll get it when you read it). Rage at the egotistical, dismissive, offhand, "I know better because I'm a professional type" doctors who won't f**king listen to their patients who know their own bodies best!!!! This book just brings home how disparaging some doctors, particularly GP's can be, towards women with clear symptoms of cancer. For some reason there seems to be a "can't be arsed" attitude to even refer people for scans, biopsies, mammograms, ultrasound scans, MRI's. Everything is dismissed as "your hormones, your age, your lifestyle", with a definite leaning towards the "watch and wait" scenario. It's not good enough, nor has it ever been.There can’t be a better title than this one. Glittering a Turd is the story of Kris Hallenga, CEO of Coppafeel the charity which encourages people to examine their breasts and pecs, twin sister to Maren, and a force of nature who by the way has cancer..Kris explains the choice of title much better than I could, but suffice to say being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 23 is pretty much * Came home Dec 23rd 2008 and went straight to GP. Saw different GP, didn’t examine me. Wasn’t concerned. Suggested I changed the pill. But instead I came off the pill.

Kris's story should make you feel grateful for every second you're alive. It's a testament to her positivity, empathy, bravery and her unfailing sense of humour'Dermot O'Leary Kris doesn’t like to be called inspirational or brave just because she has this disease, and I know so many people who agree with her. And yet I still feel anyone who lives with a chronic or terminal condition, and really LIVES with it, is inspirational. I know how hard chronic illnesses can be, and whilst my chronic pain is nowhere near a terminal cancer diagnosis, my belief still stands. Hallenga founded Coppafeel!, which educates young people about the signs and symptoms of cancer, after she was diagnosed with Stage 4, secondary, incurable breast cancer aged 23. She was told she stood a one in10 chance of surviving beyond five years and Unbound said the launch marks 11 years since her diagnosis. New tiny brain lesion followed by stereotactic radiotherapy. Two new liver lesions. Oophorectomy to ensure little to no oestrogen in my body. Stopped letrozole, switched to exemestane and affinitor. Later switched from Affinitor to Palbociclib targeted treatment. Monthly denusomab injections.

Kris tells her story of how its changed the way she lives her life, from how she's surviving, despite many medical treatments, to information on the charity "Coppafeel" which she set up and raises money every year to support breast cancer sufferers.