Managing difficult conversations: Family, intimacy and sense of self
Tuesday 17th March 2026, 9.00am – 11.00am, Zoom Webinar
Join us for part two of our free webinar series on managing difficult conversations. This session will bring together a panel of experts to explore navigating difficult conversations around a range of areas impacted by a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Using a case-led approach, the panel will discuss guidance and practical tips for communicating about:
- Spirituality and sense of self
- Sex, intimacy, and relationships
- Talking to children about cancer
- Anxiety, depression, and emotional wellbeing
The session will build on the themes discussed in our first event on 10th March, which introduces principles around breaking bad news and talking about end-of-life care and dying.
By attending this session live, you will receive a CPD certificate.

Agenda
- 09.00 – 09.25: Introduction and overview – Lynne McCallum Specialist Pancreatic Cancer Nurse, Pancreatic Cancer UK
- 09.25 – 09.30 Lived experience
- 09.30 – 10.30: Case study exploration and panel discussion*
- Dr Isabel White, Psychosexual Therapist & Director of Clinical Service Improvement, Perci Health Ltd
- The Revd Susan van Beveren, Head of Pastoral & Spiritual Support, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Sam Petrie, Psychotherapist, Maggie’s Edinburgh
- Caroline McKinnell, Cancer Support Specialist and Centre Head, Maggie’s Edinburgh
- 10.30 – 10.55: Panel Q&A
- 10.50 – 11.00: Close
*To feature a short break
What will I gain from attending?
- Increase your understanding of the different areas of a person’s life a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can impact, and how to offer support
- Get practical tips to improve your communication and the support you offer
- Grow your confidence in approaching sensitive and personal conversations
Who is this session for?
These sessions are suitable for all health professionals who support and care for people with pancreatic cancer and are based in hospitals, hospices or in the community, as well as students.
You might be (though not limited to): a community nurse, A&E staff, acute oncology staff, ward nurse, CNS, dietitian, GP, practice nurse, oncologist or surgeon.
Our speakers
Chair
- Lynne McCallum, Specialist Pancreatic Cancer Nurse, Pancreatic Cancer UK
Panellists:
- Dr Isabel White, Psychosexual Therapist & Director of Clinical Service Improvement, Perci Health Ltd
- The Revd Susan van Beveren, Head of Pastoral & Spiritual Support, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Sam Petrie, Psychotherapist, Maggie’s Edinburgh
- Caroline McKinnell, Cancer Support Specialist and Centre Head, Maggie’s Edinburgh
Which ACCEND Capabilities in Practice does this course support?
Our events are mapped to the ACCEND framework. Find out more about ACCEND.
This event supports the following ACCEND Capabilities in Practice:
- 3. 2 Use advanced skills in listening and information-processing, alongside empathetic skills to assess, explore and respond to individuals’ complex needs and concerns
- 3. 3 Select appropriate language and media (including remote consultation such as telephone, skype, sign language, written etc) to facilitate effective communication and interactions with people affected by cancer
- 3. 4 Respond sensitively to individual preferences and needs, and uphold and safeguard individuals’ interests
- 4. 1 Actively listen to and communicate effectively with others, recognising that both are an active, two-way process
- 4. 5 Communicate effectively, respectfully and professionally with service users and carers at times of conflicting priorities and opinions
- 4. 6 Convey information and address issues in ways that avoid jargon and assumptions; respond appropriately to questions and concerns to promote understanding, including use of verbal, written and digital information
- 4. 8 Autonomously adapt verbal and non-verbal communication styles in ways that are empathetic and responsive to people’s communication and language needs, preferences and abilities (including levels of spoken English and health literacy)
- 4.10 Evaluate and remedy situations, circumstances or places which make it difficult to communicate effectively (e.g. noisy, distressing environments which may occur during home visits, care home visits or in emergency situations), and have strategies in place to overcome these barriers
- 4.11 Consult in a highly organised and structured way, with professional curiosity as required, whilst understanding the constraints of the time limited nature of consultations and ensure communication is safe and effective.
- 4.12 Adapt communication approaches to non-face to face situational environments e.g. phone, video, email or remote consultation
- 6. 1 Provide information and advice appropriate to the needs, priorities and concerns of individuals
- 7. 4 Access information from a range of resources, and use them to meet the individual needs of service users, translating clinically related topics into language which is understandable both for individuals to self-manage effectively and for the development of patient information
- 10.12 Deliver diagnosis and test/investigation results, (including bad news) sensitively and appropriately in line with local or national guidance, using a range of mediums including spoken word and diagrams for example to ensure the person has understanding about what has been communicated
- 24. 2 Engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting on practice to maximise advanced clinical skills and knowledge, as well as own potential to lead and develop both care and services locally and regionally.
FAQs
What platform will this event be hosted on?
This event will be held on Zoom Webinar. After you book, you will receive an email via Zoom with the joining details. You can join on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone – any device with an internet connection.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can also dial in from a standard telephone.
If you have any additional access needs or special requirements for attending this event, please get in touch with us by emailing hpnetwork@pancreaticcancer.org.uk so we can discuss these with you.
Will I receive a certificate of attendance?
Everyone who joins the event live on the day will get access to their certificate of attendance upon filling in the feedback form. Certificates are only available to live attendees.
Will the event be recorded?
Yes – where the speakers are happy to be recorded. After the event, we will email all registrants with a link to the recordings and presentation slides. So if you’re unable to join the live session, you will be able to catch up at a later date. For the best experience, we recommend joining live.
How do I register?
All you need to do is click the link below and fill in the Zoom registration form. You’ll then receive an automatic email via Zoom with the joining details.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at hpnetwork@pancreaticcancer.org.uk
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