Diana's Race for Life

Last October, after a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was like being struck by a lightning bolt. A total shock as I felt completely well, hadn't noticed a lump, had no family history, and was living an active and healthy lifestyle. The lump was deep in the breast tissue, there's no way I could have found it myself, it was growing fast and needed immediate action. Thankfully it had been caught early and hadn't spread. By Christmas I'd had two lots of surgery, and then radiotherapy in early Spring, plus medication for the next 10 years. It's been a lot to process in a short time-frame. I'd just given up my job to make space for my counselling training, and then had to defer my counselling training to make space for recovery. The right decision! I'm so very lucky to have had such an early diagnosis and treatment; it could have been very different had I not attended my appointment. I'm recovering really well and will be resuming my counselling training in September. I've also resumed running and am thrilled to be taking part in Bristol's Race for Life 5k to raise money and save lives. If you happen to be on the Downs on Sunday 26 June around 11am, please cheer me on. There may not be much racing going on (I've only just recovered from Covid which knocked me out!) but I'm determined to participate and complete the distance! I've experienced first hand the incredible advances in cancer screening and treatment! It's extremely high-tech and the treatment plan is unique for each and every patient. I owe my life to the amazing doctors, nurses and radiographers at Bristol Breast Care Centre and Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre. They are ace people and I'm running to thank them! I also couldn't have done any of this without the amazing support of my family, friends and counsellor. So I am running to thank all of you, and in particular the members of my family who have been emotional rocks during these turbulent past 9 months: Mark, Susanna, and my sisters, Cath and Jacqui. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, so thank you for reading to the end, and for donating to such important and life-changing medical research.