Why We Do What We Do

In February 2023, Emma was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer which resulted in a mastectomy, lymph node removal and an immediate breast reconstruction in April 2023.

Emma told us that the surgery was nine hours and recovery was tough, but manageable.

Unfortunately, the cancer remained, her margins were positive and her sentinel lymph node was cancerous. These microscopic cells needed to be removed via chemotherapy, radiotherapy and medication.

Further surgery was required in June 2023 to take the reconstruction back down, to remove some skin and to remove the lymph nodes under her arm, which would help prevent the cancer spreading around her body.

Emma said, “this has left me flat on one side and I’m now in the process of getting expander implants.”

Emma is currently on the following drugs as treatment continues: Abemaciclib, Anastrozole, Leuprorelin injections and Zolendronic acid infusions.

When asked about how she felt, Emma told us, “When I was initially diagnosed my immediate thoughts went to my children. How would I tell them? How would they cope?

“During chemotherapy I took it one day at a time and allowed my body and mind to rest when they needed.

“Walking helped me massively with both my energy levels and holding onto a positive mindset. 

“Nevertheless, there were moments throughout my chemotherapy that I found really difficult.

“Before chemotherapy I decided I wanted to donate my hair to the Little Princess Trust to hopefully help a young person with their hair loss, so I cut my usually long hair short.

“I had three rounds of EC chemotherapy and three rounds of Docetaxel chemotherapy. The treatment was brutal and despite the cold cap (a treatment designed to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy) my hair started to fall out almost immediately.

“I kept holding on to the hope that I wouldn’t lose it all, that it would just thin. I couldn’t bear to shave my head as it was just too upsetting, but, by my fifth treatment, I braved the shave. By this point I was literally holding onto just a few strands of hair.

“Watching my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out was a visual reminder that I was poorly and seeing more and more fall out each day was extremely traumatic. 

“Wearing hats and wigs helped me feel more like myself. 

“I also sometimes needed to allow myself the time and space to digest everything I was going through

“Talking to people in the breast cancer community really helps but I also find people reaching out to me. To feel like I am helping and supporting them gives me an additional sense of purpose and the feeling that I am doing good.

“It is the biggest emotional rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. 

“The pain I feel most is the pain that all this has caused for my husband and children.

“As a mother and a wife all I want to do is protect my family and take care of them.

“Sadly, this was taken out of my control when I was diagnosed. As much as I tried to remain positive and hopeful, I still couldn’t protect them from the heartbreak I felt I caused them.

“They are the only people that see me at my absolute worst - when I was sick, fatigued and crying because my hair was falling out or because I was scared. 

“My husband and children are my absolute world and if I could take all the worry and upset away from them I would.

“There is only so much hiding tears from your children you can do, but I’ve also found being open and honest with them is good.

“Sharing our feelings and emotions as a family has only made us stronger.”



Hope Against Cancer is extremely grateful to Emma for speaking to us about her experience with cancer. Such stories really bring home the importance of working towards improved treatments and helping more people to overcome cancer.