Story
I am a Cancer Specialist Nurse and every day I care for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Even now, in the 21st century, a cancer diagnosis strikes fear into people’s hearts, most think it is a death sentence. For some reason, I never thought I would get cancer so it was a massive shock when I found myself having scans and biopsies after a routine mammogram had identified a breast lump. I check my breasts regularly but the lump was so small - 6mm - that I would never have felt it myself for at least a few more months. Thank goodness for breast screening. So I had surgery to remove the lump and am now waiting to start radiotherapy. It was a difficult time for me, being told I have cancer, especially when I am the one normally telling others they have cancer, and I didn’t know if I would be able to go back to the job I love. But I did go back to work, quite quickly in fact and, ironically, despite my diagnosis, I consider myself one of the lucky ones, my cancer was picked up early so treatment should be curative. And that’s all thanks to research. One in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and it is through research that we will beat cancer. That is why I'm taking part in the Race for Life again, only this time it’s more personal. My son Sam had the idea of us doing it together, and he will be joining me to raise money and save lives. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work. So thank you x