In September 2016, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was 39. At the time, I thought Breast Cancer was something that older women got? Sure, I checked my boobs now and then, but with no real idea what I was ‘checking’ for. And anyway, I was too busy living a crazy awesome life to be struck down with cancer...

Well, I was wrong. Turns out people my age (and younger) do get cancer. Turns out, ‘checking’ can find anything (or nothing) but can save your life. And my crazy awesome lifestyle just had to go on hold for a bit, while I took on a whole different fight.

Over the next 10 months, I had ultrasounds, biopsies, DNA tests, MRI scans, CT scans, PET scans, 21 weeks of chemotherapy, lumpectomy surgery and 21 doses of radiotherapy. My hair fell out, I lost my fertility, went through the menopause, and am now on medication for the next five years… 

People tell me I’ve been through a lot - my body would probably agree! But in my mind, I never questioned it - I trusted the doctors to prescribe me the treatment they believed gave me the best chance of survival. 

Their diagnosis, treatment and administration is all based on what they understand about this horrible disease. And that understanding is built around research - research funded through donations from people like you. 

By sponsoring people like me, doing things like this run, you are helping scientists, doctors and nurses to understand cancer, provide the right treatment and help people live. 

So thank you, thank you, thank you, for whatever you can give; it really does save lives.

Boxy xx

For those who want to know more; I wrote a blog to share every step of the journey, in hope that if people understand cancer better, they’d be less frightened of it and more determined to fight back if it ever happens to them, or to someone they know. The blog is here:

www.boxysboobjob.com