WENDY

Hi I’m Wendy

My story starts in January 2015. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer which was ER+ (hormonal fed). I had the full ‘cancer experience’, mastectomy, full node clearance,chemo, radiotherapy, oral medication and lots of unexpected admissions, including a radical hysterectomy. I was 45, my children at that time were 8 and 19 yrs old. It’s important to mention that 7/15 nodes were affected by cancer.
For the next four years life seemed to return to a new normal.
I continued to have regular follow up appointments with the breast care team. I completed a 6 week information course on Life after Cancer Treatment. No specific information was given in regards to Secondary Breast Cancer, but I was aware that I needed to be vigilant about any lump, bump, pain or strain.
All was going well, apart from a niggling pain in my collarbone which had been reviewed but was put down to nerve pain from radiotherapy.
In 2019 I saw that Prevent Breast Cancer, headed by Margo Cornish, were looking for 100 woman in Manchester who had/ have breast cancer, to become involved in an event called Breastfest.
I became a Boobee. I loved it. I met fabulous women, made lifelong friends and increased awareness of breast cancer. I strutted my stuff on the Figleaves catwalk. One boob, lots of scars and some excess weight, but wow, so liberating.
I travelled to rehearsals with a fellow Boobee, Sam. During one trip, I mentioned to her the discomfort I’d been having for sometime in my collarbone. She encouraged me to contact my breast team again to have it checked out.
So, four years and eleven months after my Primary diagnosis, I had a bone scan. The good news, my collarbone was fine, the bad news, I had Secondary Breast Cancer in my bones, affecting my skull, shoulder, hip and throughout my spine. I was now Stage Four and I knew I had to remain positive for my family and friends.
In Feb 2023 I developed blood clots within my lungs. A common risk for those with cancer and on chemotherapy, as our blood thickens and becomes sticky.
I was advised to stop treatment to give my body a rest. My next scan in the summer shown that the cancer had spread to my left lung and liver. I commenced back on the chemotherapy but by the October I was unwell with fluid on my lung and severe anaemia. I then had to change to another treatment.
SBC patients do not have endless treatment plans, so when the cancer is no longer being effectively managed by a treatment, this is stopped and another sourced.
Research is occurring all the time but there are many types of breast cancer and not all new drugs are broad spectrum. Unfortunately at some point we run out of options.I am now four years on from my secondary diagnosis. I am treatable but not curable.

Currently a new medication has been identified as appropriate for those who are HER2-low. However, due to funding this is not available to all throughout the UK. Treatment cannot be a postcode lottery nor can it be withheld, as this may be the only option left for some.
Living with cancer can be a rollercoaster at the best of times but knowing that there are treatments identified but not available to all is unfair.

Going forward, I will never be Cancer free but I am determined to live life to the full, I want see my family achieve milestones and continue to live by the mantra that All will be well.

I am looking forward to raising the profile of Secondary Breast Cancer and the wonderful charity Make 2nds Count.
Along the way they’ll be fun, laughter, myth busting, awareness and definitely a lot of love.