Thanks for visiting my JustGiving page. This January I’m taking on Dryathlon® and raising money for Cancer Research UK. I’ll be ditching the drink for one month to help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Please dig deep and donate now.

My story by Bianca.

It all began for me back in 2007, pregnant with my third child and newly wed, life was going pretty swimmingly if only that cough would budge. Countless trips to the GP surgery resulted in three lots of antibiotics for a recurrent chest infection (if only).  By the February, I was struggling to breathe, had lost 2 stone, constant fever, night sweats and was a deathly shade of grey. On the 16th February ( a Friday night) I made the decision to attend A & E at Ipswich Hospital.  Upon one look at me, I was bypassed the triage and immediately underwent tests including a chest X-ray. I was transferred to the Intensive care ward where I remained with a round the clock care midwife until the Monday morning. Medical staff had indicated that I may have pneumonia, the reality was far worse.....

A team of consultants and nurses surrounded the area around my bed and proceeded to explain the enormity of the situation I was in. I had Lymphoma and my baby would need to be delivered by Caesarean section that same morning so that they could determine the type of cancer and treatment I should under go ( I later discovered that had I not visited the hospital that Friday night that it was probable I would have been suffocated by the huge 15 cm tumour growing behind my sternum).

I was diagnosed with High Grade B Cell Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, the cancer was at an advanced stage. From there it was a whirlwind, I almost lost my life on the operating table. In amongst all this worry and heartache a new baby boy 'Izaac' was born and was fighting his own brave battle in the special care baby Unit.

Thankfully I recovered well against the odds and could enjoy being a Mum whilst enduring gruelling Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy sessions.  

Life was good for two years except for a nasty lump that appeared in my neck, a 6 hour op and investigation revealed the cancer was back both in my chest and neck. Fear swept over me again......

Myself and my children moved back in with my Mum and Dad for 10 months while I battled myself well again, two sets of chemo (the first didn't work ) and then a Stem Cell transplant.

I'm pleased to report that was 4 years ago now and I am on yearly check ups with Addenbrookes oncology department.

If it wasn't for the research that goes into finding a cure for Cancer, I wouldnt be here, my children would be without a mother.

I'm taking part in this years Dryathlon to raise money and in the hope that one day Cancer will be a distant memory. 

In 2012. I met the love of my life, Tim Flack. We instantly had lots in common, including our link with the world of Cancer. Tim lost his dear Mum almost 20 years ago to the disease, despite being a nurse and caring for others her entire working life, the disease took her life and Tim's Mum prematurely. 

The purpose of this page and for sharing our stories is not to instill guilt or pull on anyone's heart strings but just to make people aware that it could happen to anyone, me, you, family and friends. The sooner we find a cure, the better. 

 

Together we hope to raise lots for this incredible charity. (We are also going to donate the money that we would have spent on wine ourselves)

Thankyou in advance to all those that sponsor us. Happy New Year xxx