Cancer battle mum says: Check breasts
AMBULANCE service manager Judith Bryce was just one week into a new job when she discovered a worrying lump on her breast.
Eight years on, having endured a gruelling battle with cancer, the mum of four is urging others to check for signs and symptoms of the disease.
The Welsh Ambulance service worker’s call coincides with TV presenter Lorraine Kelly’s #ChangeAnd Check campaign.
The 51-year-old, who’s based in Cwmbran, said: “It was a week after starting my new job as a head of operations that I found a lump.
“I was devastated and I just knew that it was going to be bad news.”
Following her diagnosis in 2012, Judith, originally from Cheshire but who now lives in Blackwood, underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancer and determine if it had spread.
She said: “I thought all would be well, but my consultant told me in a follow-up appointment that the margins for the cancer were wider than initially thought and I would need a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
“That was a very low point, but I duly went in for the mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery. Unfortunately, my recovery was hampered and I became very poorly.
“I had to have more surgery to reverse the reconstructive surgery.”
Undeterred, Judith underwent six months of chemotherapy, which meant losing her hair.
“After three months of chemotherapy, though, I came back to work whilst I underwent the final three months of treatment.
“My oncologist thought
I was mad, and looking back I think he was probably right, but at the time it felt like I was taking a bit of control back.”
Two years later, Judith underwent further reconstructive surgery. Now cancer-free, the mum-of-four wants to share her experience to help others.
Judith said: “I’m a few years on now, and whilst my energy levels have never really recovered, I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to check your breasts.
“I might not be standing here today without having done so myself.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get through my journey without the help of family and friends, and not forgetting the fabulous support from all my colleagues in the ambulance service.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service is supporting Lorraine Kelly’s #ChangeAndCheck campaign, which sees reminder stickers placed in bathrooms and changing facilities across the UK encouraging women to check their breasts.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime but more than 50% of women say they don’t know the early signs of the disease.
While rare, about 390 men in the UK are also diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Search #ChangeAndCheck on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the conversation and support the campaign.