In this episode of Sober Sparkle I sit down with award-winning patient advocate and podcast host Luan Lawrenson-Woods. After her diagnosis with invasive lobular breast cancer, Luan discovered just how overwhelming the health system can feel - the jargon, the choices, the pressure - and turned that experience into a mission to help women advocate for themselves with calm, clarity and confidence.
We talk about why self-advocacy matters, what informed consent really means in practice, and how to prepare for appointments so I’m not walking out thinking, “I wish I’d asked that.” Luan shares her practical Six Steps of Self-Advocacy (her “SAS”) and shows how small changes - a written question list, a supportive “wing person”, and better filters for online information - can transform decision-making and reduce regret. https://www.luanlawriewoods.com.au/self-advocacy-resources
Luan also explains her shift from private patient to public advocate, why community and lived experience are so powerful, and how respectful, values-led communication can sit comfortably alongside medical expertise. This conversation is a reminder that my healthcare is about me, and my voice belongs in the room.
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