Cancer is one of the world’s most common illnesses, and yet, it’s often a topic we struggle to discuss.  Between November 2021 and October 2022, over 320,000 people received treatment for cancer – the highest year on record, and up by more than 8,000 on the same period pre-pandemic, according to NHS England.

Each year there are a number of event days that help to raise awareness of cancers and the symptoms to watch out for.

February 4th, brings us World Cancer Day; March is both Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and in October, we have Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

We are fortunate to work with some of the most inspirational keynote speakers on the subject, many of whom have either experienced Cancer first-hand, witnessed someone they love, fight the disease, or are an expert in the medical field. Their personal stories can be hard-hitting, but they’re also inspirational tales of determination and pure strength.

Available for informative medical keynotes or motivational talks, below are just a few of our top Cancer Awareness Speakers for healthcare events in 2023!

Male Cancer Expert Speakers.

Clive Branson’s own diagnosis of prostate cancer makes him one of our most motivational speakers on the topic. In 2017, Clive was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and subsequently lost his career, income, and confidence and was starting to lose his identity.  But more recently, Clive was given the devastating diagnosis of stage two prostate cancer. Unfortunately, his Motor Neurone disease means that doctors cannot operate. Today, Clive’s mission now is to actively demonstrate that we do have the ability to overcome adversity.  Resilience, Hope and Positivity are crucial words in his vocabulary. He is a truly inspirational speaker who can connect emotionally with any audience also struggling with a diagnosis.

Iain Dale is an award-winning radio presenter, political commentator, author, inspirational speaker and prominent NHS campaigner. Whilst he believes the NHS is an intuition ‘close to the hearts of most Britons’, there is a worry that it is no longer fit for purpose. In one of his most important keynote speeches, he explores 50 things which could make the NHS better for everyone.

Dr Ranj Singh is a TV personality with a difference: an NHS clinician, specialising in the health and well-being of young people, who can turn his on-screen talent to cover any medical subject, including cancer. Working alongside the NHS and cancer charities, Dr Ranj has featured in nationwide campaigns to encourage the importance of visiting your GP or another medical practitioner for potentially life-saving health checks.

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Female Cancer Expert Speakers

Yomi Adegoke is an ambassador for the gynaecological cancer charity The Eve Appeal and often speaks at their events. As a multi-award-winning journalist, presenter and social commentator, Yomi is a popular speaker for festivals and prestigious panels events such as Guardian Fresh Voices, The British Library and Intelligence Squared.

Dr Nighat Arif is a family GP specialising in women’s health.  Dr Nighat is confident in front of an audience and has hosted women’s health workshops and keynote speeches across the country.  A popular TV doctor, her natural ability to connect with an audience has not gone unnoticed, seeing her get regularly booked for talks on more sensitive subjects.

Dr Brooke Vandermolen – otherwise known as The OBGYN Mum – is an Obstetrics and Gynaecological doctor, with expertise in pregnancy, parenthood, menopause, and female cancers, such as Ovarian. An expert in her field, she has worked alongside the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, the wider NHS, and the Department of Health. She is a key advocate for the importance of women’s health, and the importance of getting help when it’s needed.

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Other Cancer Awareness Speakers Include:

Simon Thomas

Blood Cancer

Sporting TV presenter Simon Thomas has presented for the BBC and Sky Sports. In 2017, his wife Gemma died just three days after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. After this, he chose to leave his job at Sky Sports to devote his time to looking after his son Ethan. Since then, he has become President of Blood Cancer UK and has written a number of books and articles about dealing with cancer, grief, and child bereavement.

Bridgid Nzekwu

Breast Cancer Awareness Speaker

After battling cancer twice,  reporter Bridgid Nzekwu is an advocate for physical and mental health and well-being. Soon after leaving school, Bridgid was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and went through a gruelling round of radiotherapy before being given a clean bill of health. Then in 2012, she was told that a lump in her left breast, which had previously been benign, had developed into a malignant tumour. Poignantly, it seems the cause of the cancer was the high dose of radiation she had when younger. And because of this high dose of radiation, she was unable to have any more, and so opted to have her breast removed. But once the doctors told her she had a 25% chance of cancer returning in the other breast, she opted for a double mastectomy.  Through her own experiences, Bridgid is a speaker who can truly sympathise with any audience on the topic of breast cancer.

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Lauren Mahon

Cancer Awareness Campaigner

Lauren Mahon is a self-made female boss who used a devastating breast cancer diagnosis to improve awareness. Alongside the late Rachael Bland and the late ‘BowelBabe’ herself, Dame Deborah James, she presented the award-winning podcast ‘You, Me and the Big C’, which raised significant cancer awareness and funds to help cancer patients directly. Whilst still promoting cancer awareness, Lauren also talks about the importance of other female health problems, such as endometriosis and menopause, and also runs a successful merchandise company.

Jonnie Irwin

Lung Cancer

Having co-presented on the BBC with our own founder Jane, the news of Jonnie’s cancer diagnosis hit us hard.

Jonnie Irwin is best known as a TV presenter, specialising in national and global property programmes Escape to the Country and A Place in the Sun, and has since worked for the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky. In November 2022, Jonnie announced that he had lung cancer which had since spread to his brain, leaving him with a terminal diagnosis. Determined to be positive about his prognosis, Jonnie says, “my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it’.

Health permitting, Jonnie is available to take on paid cancer awareness-related assignments, including advising people on diagnosis, resilience and the diverse associated challenges.

Hire a Health Speaker for Cancer Awareness Events

If you’re holding an event for Cancer Awareness and would like to hire a motivational keynote speaker to share their story or an expert medical professional to hold a keynote talk on the signs and symptoms or how to cope with a diagnosis, then do get in touch with us at Great British Speakers by emailing Jane Farnham and Steve Denison at bookings@greatbritishtalent.com or call +44 1753 439 289

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