I cried tears of relief when I heard news
STELLA Green found out three weeks ago that she does not need to have chemotherapy.
Hearing the news made her cry tears of sheer relief. Mrs Green, 71, had been dreading chemotherapy ever since being diagnosed with breast cancer in July.
After having surgery to remove the tumour in August, Mrs Green, from Harrow, north west London, was referred to the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood where doctors told her about the trial.
‘I just wanted to do it because I feel in the future it’s going to help other people. I want to help other women,’ she said.
After a sample of her tumour was examined, Mrs Green, a widow with two granddaughters, was told that her breast cancer was ‘oestrogen induced’ and slow growing, so chemotherapy would be of limited benefit.
She said: ‘That’s the first time I’ve cried throughout the whole thing. Tears of relief.’
Instead, she will start a daily course of oestrogen-reducing pills called letrozole and take them for next five years, as well as a two-week course of radiotherapy.
Mrs Green said it has allowed her to carry on with her ‘fairly active’ lifestyle and social life.
‘Not having to have the chemo has been a marvellous thing, as far as I’m concerned,’ she added.
‘If what I’m doing helps other people avoid that, then I’m really happy.’