Tabby's Race for Life

In November 2020 at aged only 26, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Needless to say, it came as a complete shock to everyone. Prior to my diagnosis, I didn’t even think cancer was possible at such a young age. Unfortunately, although it is rarer, it does still happen - and I’m on a mission to raise awareness and ensure that young people are checking themselves regularly. Thankfully, despite the COVID pandemic, I was fortunate to have had no delays in any hospital appointments or treatments and I completed chemotherapy in April 2021. I’ll be undergoing surgery in May 2021 followed by anti-HER2 and hormone therapy for several years to come. I was lucky that I was taken seriously and seen quickly, but this hasn’t been the case for everyone. As a result of the pandemic, far fewer people have been getting checked for cancer symptoms. According to the Macmillan website, there are 50,000 people now missing a cancer diagnosis who are at risk of becoming the forgotten ‘C’ of the coronavirus crisis. This is truly frightening. Throughout my cancer journey, I’ve been raising awareness of the impact it has on young people through blogging, Instagram, and TikTok. It is so crucial that you get checked as soon as you notice anything unusual - early detection really is key. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and cancer doesn’t stop for anything - nor does it discriminate. I will be taking part in a Race for Life 5k with one of my best friends (Melissa) in October 2021 to help raise money for Cancer Research UK and the groundbreaking work they do for those of us facing cancer. Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read my story and appeal for support. Any donation, whether big or small, makes a huge difference and would be massively appreciated! ❤️