Relapse, Recovery & Radical Honesty: Tabbin’s Story of Alcohol and Breast Cancer

In this powerful and honest episode of the Tell Her podcast, Sharni sits down with Tabbin Almond to talk about grey area drinking, the silent struggles many women face, and the life-altering health consequences most of us were never told about—especially the link between alcohol and breast cancer.Tabbin opens up about her years working in the high-drinking world of advertising, her gradual descent into private drinking, her path to sobriety, and how a devastating breast cancer diagnosis changed everything. But the turning point? Discovering—after treatment—that alcohol is a known cause of breast cancer, and that this information had never been disclosed by her doctors.Together, Sharni and Tabin explore why this information has been withheld, the shame that silences so many women, and how coaching, honesty, and rewriting generational stories can lead to real healing. This episode is both a wake-up call and a compassionate invitation to rethink how we view alcohol, resilience, and women’s health.🧭 Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome & IntrosSharni sets the tone: relaxed, raw, and real.00:50 – Tabin’s Story BeginsAdvertising, heavy drinking culture, and how it became a hidden problem.03:24 – What Is Grey Area Drinking?You don’t need to hit rock bottom to know alcohol is a problem.06:04 – Why Coping Isn’t Always a CrisisFunctional on the outside, struggling on the inside.08:13 – Secrets, Shame & Family HealingHow Tabin’s story and Sharni’s generational trauma work helped heal family dynamics.13:28 – Alcohol as a Coping Tool for TraumaWhy so many drink to numb—and how that leads to isolation.19:36 – The Social Normalisation of DrinkingWhy we feel we have to explain not drinking—and how culture pressures us to keep going.28:59 – The Trap of WillpowerHow rewiring the brain (not relying on willpower) leads to true freedom from alcohol.34:17 – Tabin’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis & RelapseFear, trauma, and the return to drinking in the face of terrifying news.**42:20 – The Truth About Alcohol & Breast Cancer 🔥🔹 Tabin discovers alcohol is a known cause of breast cancer🔹 This fact has been known since 1988🔹 Doctors didn’t mention it, even when asked what lifestyle changes to make🔹 Women aren’t being told the risks—often until it’s too late🔹 Even drinking within government guidelines increases breast cancer risk by 15–17%50:02 – Why Aren’t We Told the Truth?Medical professionals don’t want to “shame” patients—but silence causes harm.54:20 – Alcohol in the WorkplaceHow some industries fuel addiction and what businesses can do better.58:38 – Tabin’s Work: Coaching, Book & PodcastHow Tabin helps others now through coaching, her book (Bottling Up Trouble), and her podcast (The Alcohol Debate).1:00:06 – Tell Her MomentTabin shares what she’d tell her younger self: “Alcohol brings more sadness than happiness.”Connect with Tabbin https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/The Alcohol Debate Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/76sRVYuhJiUc8r1XwBgrPK?si=45fc8bc6d9574bf1Book https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/bottling-up-troubleConnect with Sharni [email protected] with Sharni Knightonhttps://www.sharniknightonacademy.com/Sharni Hairloss clinic www.sharniknighton.co.uk ABOUT YOUR HOST — SHARNI KNIGHTON I’m Sharni Knighton, the creator and host of Tell Her. I was inspired to start this podcast after meeting so many extraordinary ordinary women through my hair loss and wig clinic. I wanted to give these women a space to share their stories and help them realize that what they see as “ordinary” is truly extraordinary.As an educator, I also train stylists in the hair loss industry around the world — and I’m passionate about showing them who these incredible women are. I believe you should only step into this work if you’re ready to truly help and connect with the women you serve.✨ Connect with my work:Hair Loss & Wig Clinic → www.sharniknighton.co.ukTraining Academy → www.sharniknightonacademy.comIntelliMESH Product Line → www.intellimesh.co.uk✨ Follow on social:TikTok → @sharniknightonPodcast TikTok → @tell.her.podcast