Following my diagnosis and treatment for lobular breast cancer, I wanted to raise some funds to support research into the diagnosis and treatment of lobular breast cancer and to also thank the incredible medical team who looked after me at the Nightingale Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital. Not being a runner, I've decided a challenge for me will be to run the Manchester 10k on Sunday 19 May 2019.

You can find out more about my story in this video that the Great Run made to promote the event and also help me to raise the profile of lobular breast cancer.

Lobular breast cancer is the second most popular form of breast cancer, but as only 10 - 15% of cases are lobular, treatment is based on research for ductal breast cancer, the most common form. However, lobular breast cancer is a distinct disease with many different characteristics from ductal that means detection and treatment need to be different. Lobular rarely forms the lump that we're all reminded to look for, as it grows in single cell lines like a spiders web. As a result it can be hard to spot on mammograms and ultrasound, with MRI being the best monitoring tool. For example, my mammogram only found one centimetre of what turned out to be two four centimetre tumours. Due to this "sneaky nature" of lobular it is frequently diagnosed at a late stage.

I was really lucky that mine was caught earlier, and following my mastectomy, I have since pushed for annual MRI monitoring on my remaining boob, something that is not standard treatment in the UK.

Additionally, monitoring for potential spread with lobular cancer needs to include the common sites of spread for breast cancer to the lungs, bones and brain but lobular can also spread to unusual sites, including the GI tract (stomach, intestines), pleura (lining of the lungs), peritoneum (lining of the abdomen), the ovaries and more rarely orbital metastasis (the soft tissues of the eye).

By running I hope to both raise the profile of lobular breast cancer so that more women become aware of its existence and distinctiveness, and also raise funds for the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance's work and for education and training for the amazing Breast Care Nurses at The Nightingale.

I've also set myself the additional challenge of running an under one hour 10k.

If you want to find out more about lobular breast cancer, please visit Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance