From one world to another: the untold side of adoption – resilience, strength, beauty and life Ionica Adriana is an actress, presenter, broadcaster and speaker. Born in Romania in the late 1980s, she spent the first two and a half years of her life in a Romanian orphanage before being adopted by a British family and moving to Yorkshire. She has since built a successful career in television, radio and theatre, appearing in productions including The Syndicate, Coronation Street and Smoggie Queens. She has also presented for BBC Radio York, BBC Politics North and Countryfile Live. In recent years, Ionica has spoken openly about her adoption journey, including searching for and finding her birth mother, and has explored the legacy of Romania's orphanage system through documentary work such as Ceausescu's Children. Instagram: @ionica_offical_ For this special Adoption Week episode, Ionica talks about her adoption journey, from spending her early childhood in a Romanian orphanage to being adopted by a loving family in Yorkshire. Ionica describes the emotional experience of reconnecting with her birth mother and sisters as an adult, reflecting on identity, belonging and the importance of honesty in adoption. She also discusses the realities of Romania’s orphanage system, challenges common misconceptions about adoption, and highlights the life-changing difference adoption can make for children in need. Throughout the conversation, she celebrates the families who adopt, encourages openness around adoption stories, and shares her belief that compassion, connection and love can help shape a brighter future for everyone involved.

Date of episode recording: 2026-10-01
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guest: Ionica Adriana
Producer: Joyce Harper

Dr Stacey Bryan (BSc MBBS MRCOG MD) is a consultant gynaecologist and gynaecological cancer surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where she completed her subspecialty training in gynaecological cancers. She obtained her undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Science and Medicine, at St George’s University of London in 2008, and membership to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2015. She has undertaken research into HPV and early detection of cervical cancers and was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Institute of Women’s Health at University College London (UCL) in 2022.

Her work has led to publications and presentations at both national and international conferences. Staceys practice focuses on the diagnosis and management of gynaecological issues including cancer and non-cancer. She specialises in complex benign and cancer surgery, colposcopy and acute diagnostic services, vulval/vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, rapid diagnostics, pre-invasive cervical and vulval disease. As such she is able to offer a one stop service including gynaecological ultrasound scanning. She is the lead for Vulval Cancers at Imperial College London. https://eveappeal.org.uk/

In this episode Joyce speaks with consultant gynaecological cancer surgeon Dr Stacey Bryan about two of the least talked about gynaecological cancers: vulval and vaginal cancer. Together they discuss the symptoms to look out for, including persistent itching, soreness, skin changes, bleeding and unusual discharge, as well as who is most at risk and the treatment options available. One of the most important messages from this conversation is the need to know what is normal for your body.

Stacey encourages women to check their vulva every month, be aware of any changes, and seek medical advice if they notice anything unusual. Although vulval and vaginal cancers are rare, early diagnosis can make a significant difference to outcomes. The episode also explores the links with HPV, the impact of treatment on quality of life and intimacy, and why partners can play an important role in recognising changes. This is the final episode in the gynaecological cancer mini-series and is packed with practical, potentially life-saving information that every woman should hear.

Date of episode recording: 2026-09-17
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Stacey Bryan
Producer: Joyce Harper

Prof. Adam Rosenthal qualified from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School (now Imperial College), London, in 1992 and undertook general Obstetrics and Gynaecology training, working at various hospitals, including St. Mary's, Queen Charlotte's, the Hammersmith, and Chelsea and Westminster. He is now a Consultant Gynaecologist at UCLH, where he leads the Colposcopy and Familial Gynaecological Cancer services.

He is also Professor of Gynaecological Cancer Prevention at University College London (UCL). His clinical interests are laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, colposcopy, gynaecological cancer screening, HPV-related pre-cancers of the cervix, vagina and vulval and inherited gynaecological cancers. He has published extensively on gynaecological cancer screening and prevention in journals including the Lancet and the British Medical Journal. He has sat on the UK Cancer Genetics Group Steering Committee, and the NICE Familial Ovarian Cancer Guideline Committee.

He is a Trustee and medical advisor to the Eve Appeal; the UK's foremost gynaecological Cancer charity. He features regularly in media stories about inherited gynaecological cancer and has appeared on Sky News, Chanel 4 News, Channel 5 News, BBC London, ITV London, and Radio 4 Today amongst others. https://eveappeal.org.uk/

In this episode Professor Adam Rosenthal explains why ovarian cancer can be so difficult to detect, how our understanding of the disease has changed over recent decades, and why many ovarian cancers are now thought to start in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries. We discuss the key symptoms, including persistent bloating, feeling full quickly, pelvic pain and changes in bowel or bladder habits, and why it is so important for women to know what is normal for their own bodies and seek medical advice when something feels different.

We also explore risk factors, including age, family history and inherited genes, as well as the challenges researchers face in developing an effective screening test. Adam talks us through current diagnostic tests and treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies, while highlighting the importance of personalised cancer care. He also tackles common myths, including the misconception that only your mother’s side of the family matters when assessing inherited cancer risk, and explains why a normal cervical screening result does not rule out ovarian cancer.

This episode is full of practical, evidence-based information about ovarian cancer awareness, prevention and early detection, along with an important reminder that persistent symptoms should never be ignored.

Date of episode recording: 2026-09-15
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Adam Rosenthal
Producer: Joyce Harper