Pole Attack will be hosting a charity event on the 16th December. Last year one of our pupils was diagnosed with breast cancer and it sent shock waves through our pole and aerial family. We would like to invite our pupils to this event, not only to raise awareness of breast cancer but to celebrate Sally's recovery.

Sallys Story:
My name is Sally and I have been poling with Helen for the past few years. I wanted to share my story of breast cancer and ongoing recovery with you.

I had been run down for a month or so last summer and in October I got out of the shower and had a feel of my breasts, something I did very rarely. I noticed that my left breast was very hard (a bit like mastitis when you are breastfeeding). I had no pain, no redness and no puckering but thought I’d get it checked.

The doctor wasn’t happy so sent me for a mammogram. The mammogram showed a dumbbell-shaped lump so straight away biopsies were taken. I was told not to worry but there was a chance it was cancer.

A week later I got the results and it was confirmed as Her+ grade 3 aggressive cancer which is oestrogen dependent. Things moved very quickly from this point.

At the beginning of November, I had a lymphectomy to see if the cancer had spread which thankfully it hadn’t.

It was decided that we would try chemotherapy before surgery in the hope that it might shrink the tumour and so at the end of November my 6 treatments of chemotherapy began. It truly is a hideous experience but thankfully the side effects last about a week and then you have 2 weeks feeling ok until the next round.

My hairdresser had cut my hair short in preparation for the hair loss but it still didn’t quite prepare me and hubby for the moment he shaved it off as I was fed up with handfuls of hair coming out every time I touched my head!

Other side effects included peeling nails, bruising, exhaustion and muscle pain often so intense I was brought to tears.

March arrived with my last treatment and although the tumour had broken down into two obvious areas, there was no sign of shrinkage as was hoped. This would mean an entire removal of the breast by mastectomy rather than just a section (lumpectomy). I never lost hope and knew that it was for the best so bravely went for it.

Thankfully the surgery was successful and they managed to get it all which meant I had no need for radiotherapy.

I am now on hormone therapy with 3 weekly injections of herceptin and daily tamoxifen tablets. These block the oestrogen so that there is nothing for the cancer to lock into. These have meant that I am going through the menopause like a sledgehammer! Hot flushes, muscle aches, memory loss and tiredness. I am awaiting the joys of reconstruction which will take a while to recover from but at least after that my life will begin again.

I have had fantastic care from the NHS, especially the Sunrise clinic in high Wycombe hospital. Macmillan nurses have been wonderful, as have my consultants and surgeons.

I am a success story so ladies, make sure you check yourselves regularly and get anything unusual checked. The earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome! My cancer was not hereditary but I think it was caused by trauma to the area as a few years earlier I had bashed myself in the same place on a door handle.

Thank you for your support and hopefully, we’ll be able to raise some money to give back to the wonderful people who have helped me.