Life is great 'Right Now' for Telford cancer survivor Hannah

Diagnosed with breast cancer at only 28, the university administrator spent last festive season having radiotherapy treatment and hiding her bald head under scarves.

This year she is looking forward to a normal family Christmas and kissing future husband Harry under the mistletoe.

The couple are getting married in 2020 and hope one day to have children – thanks to advances in research which meant Hannah’s fertility could be preserved by freezing her eggs before her cancer treatment.

Hannah wants to share her story to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign.

The campaign is designed to show the impact that research and improved treatments have on the men, women and children diagnosed with cancer across the UK each year.

The charity’s ‘Right Now’ TV ads show real patients who have had cancer treatment within the last few years, followed up by current home video showing how research has helped them get back to enjoying life with their loved ones.

Cancer

Hannah was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2017 at the age of 28 after noticing a lump in her breast.

After being referred by her GP to a breast clinic, just over two weeks later she was given the devastating news that she had breast cancer.

She said: "I felt as though I wasn’t really in my own body. It was as if it was happening to someone else. I felt quite calm until the day I had to go in and get the results of my biopsy. I took my mum, dad and Harry with me. We had all prepared ourselves.

"They said it was cancer and that I would need chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. It was a lot to take in and it was a bit surreal.

"It was my mum who asked about fertility – I was in a bit of a daze and couldn’t think that far ahead. But mum knew it has always been in my life plan to have children, and I’m so glad she was there. They got me an appointment at the fertility clinic the very next day."

Hannah had immediate fertility treatment and her eggs were frozen for future use.

She then began a course of chemotherapy lasting from May to September.

Her blonde ringlets fell out and she felt tired and sick, but the treatment shrank the tumour so much it was no longer visible.

"It made me feel good to see that lump go down – I really felt like the treatment was working. By the time I had surgery it had shrunk from 2.5 cm to 0.5 cm,” she said.

In October Hannah had a lumpectomy and some lymph nodes removed, but a check-up three weeks later revealed some cancer cells in the surrounding tissue, so she had to have a further operation in November.

It was the week before Christmas when Hannah started radiotherapy – 21 sessions until mid-January, every day apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

She said: "It was a shame to feel so tired and worn out at Christmas, but I always try to look on the bright side. I was going in for radiotherapy every day and I had no hair because of my chemotherapy, but at least I got Christmas Day off and was able to spend more time with my little niece and nephew.”

After nearly nine months off work, Hannah was desperate in January to get back to her job at Harper Adams University.

She is now working full time, her hair is growing back, and she has got engaged to Harry. The couple will be married in April 2020.

She added: "Having cancer seems like it was a lifetime ago now. I’m in remission and apart from taking tamoxifen I need no further treatment.

"It’s thanks to research and the advanced treatments that I survived and have the chance of married life and the possibility of children. It’s been a tough year, but right now I’m looking forward to a Christmas without any wigs or scarves.

"My experience means I understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important. The ‘Right Now’ campaign captures the experience of so many families like mine. Cancer affects us all – not just the person diagnosed, but also their loved ones. Now I want to do everything I can to raise awareness of the power of research in beating the disease. I hope people are motivated to show their support and help even more people survive.”

Cancer Research UK was a key player in the development of radiotherapy, which now benefits more than 130,000 patients every year in the UK.

The charity’s researchers also helped prove the benefits of taking tamoxifen after surgery for women with the most common type of breast cancer.

Around 8 in 10 women now survive for at least 10 years, thanks in part to this life-saving treatment.

Grateful

Jane Redman Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Shropshire, said: “We’re so grateful to Hannah for sharing her story and we hope she has a magical Christmas this year.

"Every hour, around four people are diagnosed with cancer in the West Midlands region alone. That’s why we’re working every day to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. But we can’t do it alone. We hope our new campaign will inspire people to act, right now, and play their part in beating cancer sooner.

"One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease than ever before. Survival has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress."

Jane added: “There are so many ways to show your support here in Shropshire. From joining a Race for Life event, donating items to one of our shops or giving time to volunteer. Every action makes a difference and money raised helps to support Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.”