Two Suffolk women who have battled cancer share their stories on World Cancer Day 2022
For most cancer patients, hearing their diagnosis for the first time is one of the hardest things they will ever face.
Treatments, although advancing constantly, can be gruelling and force the human body to change in ways that aren’t always easy to cope with.
Today is World Cancer Day, an international awareness campaign led by the Union for International Cancer Control which promotes the worldwide effort to fight cancer, improve treatments and find cures.
For those who have fought their own battles with the disease, today marks a celebration of their journey as well as a chance to promote the life-saving work of the organisations that helped them.
These are two Suffolk survivors' stories...
Sally
Sally Spicer, who lives in Hessett, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 and had a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Facing the hugely difficult prospect of losing her hair, Sally began her fund-raising journey raising money for Breast Cancer Now with a head shave.
“Fund-raising was great because it kept me going and kept me busy while I was waiting for the treatment,” she said.
“When I finished my treatment I felt quite abandoned. I had my treatment at home so I didn’t get to meet anyone else having chemotherapy while I was.”
To overcome these feelings, Sally turned to cancer care charity Macmillan and asked if they were running any support groups or courses in the area.
In February 2020, having been given the all-clear, she joined a Macmillan Hope Course where she met several other women who had either overcome or were fighting cancer, making lifelong friends.
Sadly, the start of the pandemic meant Sally only had three full sessions with the group before they were called off.
In August 2020 and July 2021, two of the women Sally met through the group, Lily Daly, 37, from Horringer, and Louise MacLean, 41, from Haughley died.
“Lily was the first person that we lost,” Sally recalled.
“I always remember it being said that she would be lucky to live to 40 but I don't think any of us really believed it because she was such a vibrant and beautiful girl. It was just awful.
“Unfortunately Louise had the same cancer as Lily and it is one that gets very young girls and the following year she passed away too.
“Louise’s GP had kind of dismissed her symptoms, I think this happens quite a lot, and thought she was being anxious about her cancer coming back, but of course it did.”
Healthcare professionals dismissing signs and symptoms of cancer is something Sally is especially vocal about. Having been through treatment herself and having lost two of her friends to cancer, she knows first hand how important early diagnosis is for survival.
“You are anxious after treatment which obviously you can’t help, but I don't think that is addressed nearly enough and I don’t think the aftercare is thorough enough,” she said.
“Every part of your body is affected by chemo so it feels like the treatment doesn’t stop really so it is hard to work out what is anxiety and what is a returning symptom."
In order to raise awareness of this and in memory of the friends she lost, as well as to raise money for Macmillan who she says provided her with so much important support during her journey, Sally arranged multiple fund-raisers including an Ickworth Park walk in October last year.
Sally said: “I think it is very important to keep fund-raising. Macmillan is a wonderful organisation and for us it was so helpful.
“The walk was in memory of Lily and Louise and it felt very cathartic, especially as Louise’s father came with us which was really lovely and touching."
For Sally, World Cancer Day is a chance to appreciate her journey as well as remember those she has lost to the disease.
Katy
For Bury St Edmunds resident Katy Stephenson, who fought cancer in 2021, World Cancer Day is a chance to share important messages and advice she feels are all too often overlooked.
Her journey began in December 2020 when a suspected case of appendicitis sent her to West Suffolk Hospital A&E.
After a four-hour wait with agonising right-side pain, Katy was admitted into hospital where she remained for several days.
During her stay, she had blood tests and scans, and following a CT scan they mentioned suspected cell changes in her left ovary and fallopian tubes.
Katy underwent two operations, the removal of her fallopian tubes and her appendix, and when she was discharged she thought that would be the end of her health issues, as she didn’t hear anything from the hospital for a month.
“Obviously it was still there in the back of your mind, but they said I would probably just need a check-up,” she said.
“I kept thinking if there was a major issue someone would have been in touch already.
“I was finally called back on January 6. I went to the appointment alone because of the restrictions and no one forewarned me that I should take someone with me.”
What followed next in that consultant's office will stick with Katy for the rest of her life.
“They told me I had ovarian cancer and I was in complete shock. The consultant said 'is this not what you were expecting?' and all I could say was ‘no not at all’.
“I then had to have a full body scan to see if my cancer had spread anywhere. The 10 days waiting for the result were the most stressful. I had no idea what stage it was at or anything.”
Katy, who was 46 years old when she was diagnosed, was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she was told she needed a hysterectomy and chemotherapy.
Terrified and aware of how important stopping the disease in its tracks before it spreads is, Katy hoped she would be able to start treatment quickly.
However, due to Covid-19 delays and the strain on NHS services, she was told they didn’t know when her operation would be able to go ahead.
Katy was faced with a major decision: to wait for NHS treatment or to bite the bullet and go private, which she was luckily able to do. She had her operation and chemotherapy at Nuffield Health and, while Covid meant her husband was never able to stay with her during this time, she was grateful to be seen quickly.
Now 47, Katy was given the all-clear in July 2021, and now has three-monthly CA125 tests which check if she has any abnormalities.
Having experienced first-hand the unusual symptoms of ovarian cancer, which she put down to appendicitis, Katy is keen to share her story and spread awareness of the disease which affects 7,000 women a year.
“Ovarian cancer is very, very hard to diagnose and many do not get a diagnosis until stage three,” she said.
“It is sometimes ignored and put down to menopause or other conditions.
“I feel that I benefitted from having had an early diagnosis. If you can diagnose it early you can recover.
“If I hadn't had appendicitis I could’ve been stage three or four and I wouldn’t have reached 50,” she added.
Katy has dedicated many hours of her time to the cause since her diagnosis, arranging pop-up stalls in the arc shopping centre sharing information on signs and symptoms of cancer, as well as hosting fund-raisers including a charity dinner party in October that generated £11,000.
She also hopes to arrange a sponsored walk this year in support of the charity Target Ovarian Cancer.
“My symptoms included needing to go to the toilet multiple times in the night, bloating of the stomach, feeling full when eating and feeling tired all the time,” she said.
“The charity Target Ovarian Cancer helps GPs to spot signs and symptoms by raising funds so they can train them and avoid missed opportunities.”
Grateful for her recovery and inspired to spur on other women who may be in the same situation she was, Katy is using this World Cancer Day to urge all women to get to know their bodies and to push to be seen by doctors when they feel something is wrong.
“Go to your doctor and tell them that you think you may have ovarian cancer. Explain your symptoms and ask for a CA125 blood test to rule it out,” she said.
“Be that direct. If they say ‘no’, say ‘fine but I’d still like the test’ because it is cheap and very effective. Don't be put off.
"My massive message to everyone is that you know your body better than anyone else and you know what feels right and what doesn't."
Cancer Research UK is also taking the opportunity to raise money and awareness today, as this World Cancer Day also marks the charity’s 20th year of fund-raising.
According to the charity, every year, around 37,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the East of England alone. Cancer Research UK spent over £55 million in the East of England last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
This year, Suffolk residents are being urged to show their support by buying and wearing one of the charity’s Unity Bands. These can be worn in memory of a loved one, to celebrate people who have overcome cancer or to show support to those currently going through treatment.
Michael Jarvis, spokesperson for the East of England, said: “This past year proves, more than any other, the value of investing in science and medical research. Thanks to our supporters, we’ve achieved so much.
"Every day we see the benefits of research we’ve previously funded being realised, helping people live longer and healthier lives.
“One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, so we’ll never stop striving to create better treatments for tomorrow.
"That’s why, as we mark our anniversary this World Cancer Day, we hope people across Suffolk will wear a Unity Band with pride – knowing they’re helping to save and improve lives for generations to come. We've come so far and we’ll go much further. Together, we will beat cancer.
Unity Bands are available in Cancer Research UK shops and online at cruk.org/worldcancerday for a suggested donation of £2.
This World Cancer Day, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is shining a light on the healthcare professionals across the region who work hard to provide care for cancer patients.
At West Suffolk hospital the number of patients being seen for breast cancer services is increasing and staff are offering Saturday appointments as one of the ways to increase the number of patients who can be seen.
Dr Andrew Yager, a Botesdale GP and cancer lead for the NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group said: “This World Cancer Day we want to highlight what we’re doing to extend the hours we are offering appointments in GP surgeries for routine cervical screening.
"We want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for women to come forward to have these tests.
"We know it’s not something any woman looks forward to, but these are vitally important and by extending the hours women can come and see us, we hope more will attend.”
