Helen’s story
Helen came across Big C after a nurse mentioned the charity at hospital and put a card in her new patient pack. Since then she has used many of our support services and programmes. This is Helen’s story…
I was diagnosed in 2009 with stage 2 breast cancer whilst living in Lincolnshire. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and then hormone treatment for 7 years. I was happy with the outcome despite having several complications including being blue lighted to a city hospital having a massive bleed from drains and a total of 7 operations/ procedures as my ‘pump ‘and subsequent implant was placed too high. I did have 7 positive lymph nodes removed but was optimistic for the future.
10 years later in the summer of 2019 I was working in a plant nursery in North Norfolk, having moved near to Fakennham 6 months previously, when I started getting a sharp pain in my chest. I went to my local GP who thought it was most likely an intercostal muscle injury. Over a period of 3 months I kept going back as the pain was getting worse. After reminding them of my past history they thought it prudent to send me to the breast care unit at the N&N from there I was sent for a bone X-ray where a lesion on my sternum was discovered and after further scans a lesion on my liver.
I was really shocked at the prognosis of stage 4 breast cancer, I’d thought after 10 years I was rid of cancer. It took a while to come to terms with it but started targeted treatment and tried to stay positive.I did think it had taken up valuable time reaching a diagnosis though.
I felt quite lonely having only moved to the area 6 months previously . I finished work, made arrangements to take my teachers pension early and just tried to keep busy helping out with my grandchildren, gardening etc.
I heard about the Big C from the card put in my folder and a nurse had mentioned it. I joined the Rosemary group and was able to attend several meetings before Covid put an end to any activities.
I really enjoyed the sessions as they were quite lively and many of the other patients were surviving and living a good life after several years.
I had an email from the Big C about Nourish and Nurture and thought it would be ideal for me as I am a great believer in being pro active with diet and lifestyle .
I enjoyed seeing and talking with other cancer patients even though it was on Zoom. Some had similar ideas as I did and was reinforced in most cases with the specialist nurses and nutritionists.
The resources were great, some great recipes and I loved the journal which is now full up! I also enjoyed the exercises with the physiotherapist.
I would encourage people to sign up to the programme as you will be encouraged to engage with self help which is always empowering, pick up lots of advice and support from professionals and fellow patients and gain a certain amount of camaraderie and hope with people in similar situations.
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