When were you diagnosed and what with?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma, ER and PR positive) in May 2025. Although it was grade 1 slow growing, I was diagnosed stage 3 as the tumour was 70mm. I was utterly terrified at this staging, but it was simply due to the size. I couldn’t believe this may have been growing for years without me knowing. I was 44 when I was diagnosed, and I’m 45 now.
How did you find out you had cancer?
I was always good at self examinations – I was fairly vigilant and didn’t ever find anything. I found a lump last May and booked in with my GP. I was seen in the breast clinic shortly after. I underwent biopsies, mammograms, examinations and all sorts. I found out accidentally… the doctor performing the biopsy spoke about a treatment plan and I knew from that. Nobody had yet said ‘you have cancer’ so it was a strange experience. At the time I was just getting on with life, working part time, running a house, managing a teenager and all that that involves! When I was officially told, I burst into tears and felt inconsolable.
What did you think and feel when you were diagnosed?
My first thought was: ‘am I going to see my daughter grow up?’ I was utterly devastated and my mind raced with all the things I could miss out on and people I loved – it was heartbreaking. I don’t think I took all the information in, it was almost like it wasn’t me sitting in the chair. I then worried about how to tell people, managing their feelings and how this would work out for me in terms of treatment. I was terrified of losing my hair, honestly. I felt I could deal with anything else but not that. It was such a big part of my identity. I think was just so many questions and no answers immediately. A very scary time for sure.
How did the people around you react?
My partner was just new in my life then and has been utterly amazing and trying to understand. At times it has been really tough for us. My parents… that was really hard. My dad cried and I’ve never seen that. My 16yo was the hardest. She was sick and rushed out of the house as it was too much to take in. Work were very supportive but people didn’t know what to say, or they talked about someone they know with a similar experience. It isn’t the same and although it comes from a good place, it can be meaningless.
What treatment did you have?
I underwent a single mastectomy and implant reconstruction in July 2025. The implant is still settling but looks decent, honestly, and I’m pleased with it. I didn’t have enough body fat for another type of reconstruction. I had lymph node removal in September 2025 followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy which ended in November 2025. I now take Tamoxifen and will continue to do so for 5-10 years. 
How were you feeling through treatment?
Radiotherapy didn’t bother me, it was just a lot of travel and lying in uncomfortable positions holding my breath. I had a slight skin rash afterwards but it didn’t last long. The fatigue is still with me now though, 5 months on. I stayed really positive as that’s my normal state but I was worried, it’s major surgery and a big change in my body. I believe the positive vibes really helped and would encourage anyone to try and think that way where possible. After surgery I was a bit more down as I was in pain and couldn’t do some things for myself, but that didn’t last too long.
What happened after treatment finished?
I went back to work in January 2026 after 5 months away. I only work part time but am struggling with fatigue. I think people are of the impression that everything is fine because you’re back at work. The reality is that cancer is in my head a lot of the time and I have pain, emotional angst and worries about recurrence. Emotionally I can be a bit all over the place at times, but I put this down to hormones, meds and fatigue. I don’t like it one bit, but it’s my new normal and I’m trying to accept that.
How did you get involved with Shine?
I recall seeing an article about Shine in a leaflet or online and thought it sounded right for me. The opportunity to get together with people in a similar position who understood was just what I was looking for.
What difference has Shine made to you?
Honestly, connecting with my little group of people through the Break Out programme has been amazing and I recommend it to anyone. Even now that the program has ended, we are still in touch, helping each other through situations and just dealing with life! It’s wonderful to have people who get it and really understand. It’s been so valuable to me as I work through these emotions and my onward recovery. You can talk to anyone about your cancer but these people just know, have lived it and we even use the same terminology sometimes. I fitted in and it felt so natural and great.
How do you feel now about your experiences? What‘s been the biggest change you’ve faced?
I’ve been adjusting to new normals, mostly the fatigue and not being as active as I would like. I now have to plan my days/weeks around shifts, knowing how tired I might get and won’t be able to do some activities. I need more rest and feel my quality of life has diminished, which makes me miserable, but I’m trying to find ways around this to stay positive. I look back and it seems surreal that all this happened, but we move on and find ways to adapt.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself before your diagnosis, what would it be?
Make the most of any opportunities that come your way because you honestly never know what life can throw at you.
