Please come along to my afternoon tea on Sunday 31st August, 25 we will have lots of cakes and treats and doggy treats and tea and coffee and games…. Did I mention cake!!!!! It will be in Toptowie Drive, Denny…. You won’t miss us, please help us raise vital funds for the continued research into breast cancer 🫶

After her breast cancer treatment, Wendie decided to hold an Afternoon Tea, and was blown away by the generous support she received….

I’m Wendie, but everyone calls me Woo. I’m a 50 something, fun-loving, dance-crazy wife and mumma of a sassy 15 year-old, a golden retriever and a rescue cat.

I’ve worked within the fire industry for over 35 years. My hobbies are dancing with a group of amazing ladies at our local dance studio, walking our dog, doing what I can for charity and I love to read a good thriller that keeps me awake at night!

I had a routine mammogram in September 2023, Afterwards, I received a letter from Scottish Breast Screening telling me my scan was unclear, and that I’d need to have another one. The second scan showed that I had calcifications, and would need a biopsy.I was going on holiday 2 days later, so they advised me to go and enjoy my holiday and have the biopsy when I got back.

So I booked an appointment for my return and put it to the back of my mind.

I went to the clinic for the biopsy and had my results shortly after

Unfortunately, my hubby was working away so couldn’t come with me. My little sister came with me – she was more anxious than me! I’m the oldest of 3, and we’ve lost both our mum and dad to cancer.

The consultant explained that they had found a mass just under my nipple, and it was HER2 +3 ER4, PR5 positive breast cancer. It was early stages and treatable.

I wasn’t shocked or upset

I just heard ‘early’ and ‘treatable’ and decided to focus on that. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my sister. She was in bits.

The consultant told me I’d need an operation to remove the tumour. Depending on the size, it would either be a lumpectomy or a mastectomy with possible radiotherapy. I then had to have an MRI.

The tumour was just under 20mm

This meant I could have a lumpectomy. I had two incisions – one across my right breast around my nipple, and the other under my arm so they could check my lymph nodes.

After the operation, my surgeon explained that I had a grade 3 invasive tumour that had spread to my lymph nodes. I would now need chemotherapy, radiotherapy and herceptin injections.

I went to see Rick Astley in concert and started chemotherapy the very next day

I had 6 cycles of chemotherapy. I was really poorly and only got about 5 relatively good days in every 3-week cycle. I lost all my hair, but I wasn’t worried about that as I’ve always wanted to try wigs.

I then had 21 days of radiotherapy, and I now have 5 years of taking tamoxifen. My last mammogram was in December 2024, and everything came back normal. The day I’m writing this I had my last ever Phesgo injection.

You get told a lot of things when you’re diagnosed

You have a lot of questions and want to hear from people going through a similar experience. So I found the Breast Cancer Now website very helpful – it helps you feel less alone.

I still have the aftereffects, which I can manage. Some will go, but others will be the new normal. But I’m here and I’m still dancing.

Afternoon Tea

I couldn’t refuse getting involved with Afternoon Tea

When the email came through to host an Afternoon Tea in 2024, I couldn’t refuse. A cup of tea is one of my favourite things!

I’m not a bad baker – I love making a Victoria sponge. My mum made a good tablet, but I’ve not quite mastered that yet. My daughter also loves baking. I’ve never done anything like an Afternoon Tea before, but it was an amazing experience.

I hosted it in my garden and everyone baked

Family, friends and neighbours all put their whisks to the test. My dance teacher even lent us a tea urn!

As I was setting up, I was worried I might have too much food. Then my sister told me to look outside, and a line had already formed! The day was so busy and so many people turned up. I didn’t need to worry about having too much food as we got through most of it.

People were also talking about their experience of cancer

It was good to hear their stories, learn about their journeys and raise important awareness.

Everyone was so generous, and we raised just under £2,500! I was blown away by the support.

Afternoon Tea

We’re hoping to beat that total this year so please come along on the day or donate if you can’t manage….

Drink tea, raise money and change lives

1 in 7 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. But this August we can help make a difference. Sign up to hold an Afternoon Tea and be a life changer.