Life was good last September. We had holidays booked for Southern India and Central America. I was looking forward to fully retiring after 40 years as a registered Pharmacist.

Then my life changed. The small lump deep in the muscle at the top of my left thigh was diagnosed as a Mixoid Liposarcoma. I was exceptionally lucky that my GP took no notice of my helpful suggestion that it was a hernia and referred me for an ultrasound. The report indicated it was not sinister but my GP fortunately referred me to the Bone and Soft Tissue Centre at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Sarcomas are cancers that develop in the body's connective tissues, muscle, bone, fat, nerves and tendons. My lump was quickly diagnosed as a Mixoid Liposarcoma. Approximately 72 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. Oddly a good friend who lived less than a mile away also had had the same diagnosis last year and provided constant support

100 subtypes of sarcomas exist , each with varying behaviour, prognosis and treatment. Early diagnosis improves outcome significantly and I was extremely fortunate my GP acted quickly. For every 1 cm in size at diagnosis there is a 3 to 5 % decrease in chance of a cure. 5300 cases of sarcoma are diagnosed in the UK each year. That's approximately one case per GP practice per decade!

The surgeons advised us to cancel all our holidays, which was tough.

I started 25 treatments of radiotherapy and then had ' limb saving ' surgery which removed all traces of the cancer as well as my satorius muscle in my thigh.

I've chosen to run the 2025 Great North Run for Sarcoma UK, a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatments.

They run a nurse led support line which I found invaluable. The nurses knew and understood what I was going through and offered practical support.

Your donations go so far in helping the sarcoma community.

£8.80 Could cover the cost of 10 21 minute calls to Sarcoma UK's Support Line

£25 Could fund a Research Associate to work on a Sarcoma.

Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.