Why We Do What We Do - Part V

This story has been told to us by Jane, it is her very personal experience of cancer and highlights the importance of why we do what we do and why it is vital that we continue to fund and support the cancer research and clinical trials that can change lives.

Jane was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive carcinoma in 2024.

A friend had posted a breast cancer awareness post on social media, reminding people to check their breasts – Jane did so, and found a lump.

She contacted her doctor, hoping for a cyst and was referred to a consultant for an immediate mammogram and needle biopsy.

Jane went with her father and the swiftness of the tests made her concerned and emotional.

An abnormality was found in the tests and Jane was advised to ensure she brought someone along with her for the results. This made everything very real.

Jane’s world was turned upside down by the diagnosis. She was bombarded with information and needed to record it on her phone as she couldn’t take it all in in the moment.

Jane’s two daughters live away from home, with one just starting university. Jane is self employed as a photographer and without wider organisational support she began to try and calculate the potential financial costs.

She wanted to work, to retain that sense of self and normalcy, but had concerns about telling clients or not being well enough to attend events.

Jane managed to carry on working nevertheless, with other freelance members of the profession ready to step in and support her when necessary.

Jane’s lump was found on the 8^th October and she had a lumpectomy on the 29^th October. She described the NHS as amazing.

Unfortunately, a national shortage of radioactive dye at the time of her surgery meant that the surgeon needed to remove more lymph nodes than expected, which led to a long and painful recovery.

It was very hard telling her family. Her mother and father knew but her brother was away and, not wanting to spoil his holiday, she had to wait until his return. Jane’s daughters were shocked and didn’t quite know how to react.

While Jane was fortunate to catch the cancer early, she told us that the waiting to see doctors, for test results, for surgery, was the hardest part – the not knowing, the hope and the anxiety.

She said that the car journey to find her results felt like waiting for sentencing after a trial. The heavy wondering that questioned what life would be like after today.

With relief she heard that the surgery had been successful and the next steps were radiotherapy and hormone therapy, but not chemotherapy.

However, with relief came something unexpected, guilt.

Jane said that it was a terrible feeling that she had “got off lightly while others had experienced much worse.”

It was also guilt about all the attention, flowers and help she had received from her family, friends and wider community and she said that she felt almost fraudulent.

Jane told us that she had no idea how much support was there and was surprised when friends of friends would pop by to ensure she had everything she needed.

The support from both professional colleagues and her wider community ran very deep.

Late one Sunday evening after the lumpectomy, Jane’s armpit became swollen, painful and purple. She didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to go to hospital to wait in A&E. She reached out to a friend who had experienced her own cancer journey. Her friend was able to tell her, that while it was unpleasant, it was nothing to worry about and instead of a journey to the hospital it would be okay to go to the doctor the next day instead.

Jane said, “you simply don’t know what is ‘normal’ anymore. Everything went so wildly beyond any previous experience.”  

She has now had ten sessions of radiotherapy and will continue with five years of hormone tablets. She is taking each day as it comes, is thankful for everything she has and trying to enjoy each moment.

Hope Against Cancer is extremely grateful to Jane 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.

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