Sunday Sun

‘I don’t want to know how long I’ve got left’

- By Sonia Sharma Reporter sonia.sharma@trinitymir­ror.com

SHE’S a terminally ill mum-of-three who cherishes her children and young granddaugh­ter.

But Julie Goulding has vowed not to let cancer beat her as she makes lasting memories with her family.

Julie, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

She had a double mastectomy but the disease gradually spread to other parts of her body, and she was later told the cancer was terminal.

However the 50-year-old says she is determined to stay strong and carry on as normal, creating more moments to treasure with her children and 14-month-old granddaugh­ter.

Julie, who doesn’t know how long she has left to live, said: “I told them I don’t want to know. Every person is different and everyone is affected differentl­y. Lots of people live with cancer for many years.

“I’m happy to share my body with cancer as long as it stays where it is and doesn’t get worse. I need to try and make my body and the cancer live together.”

Julie’s diagnosis followed 10 years of screening. She had been having yearly mammograms as her mum and grandmothe­r had breast cancer.

“After I had my 10th mammogram, I got a phone call saying something had showed up,” said Julie, who has been running The Grooming Room in Whitley Bay’s Ilfracombe Gardens for 10 years.

“I knew straight away what it was.”

Further tests confirmed the disease was present and there were three tumours around one breast. Julie opted to have a double mastectomy.

But in July this year, she started having searing pains in her side and was taken to hospital. She was given the news that the cancer had spread to other parts of her body including her pelvis and spine.

Julie has been having chemothera­py treatment but, alongside it, has started alternativ­e therapies.

She has been in touch with a naturopath­ic doctor who has advised her on the type of foods she should eat. She is also taking supplement­s made with natural ingredient­s to help with the effects of chemothera­py and to keep her immune system high.

In addition, she has acupunctur­e once a week.

“Nothing can be done to cure this but these alternativ­e therapies can help with the symptoms and keep my immune system up while I’m going through chemothera­py,” said Julie.

“I have been trying them since September and I have seen a difference in Julie Goulding with her family myself. I have cut out alcohol, sugar and dairy from my diet. I eat everything as natural as possible.

“At first, after chemothera­py, I would just lie in bed and feel awful. But I have been feeling much better after the alternativ­e treatments. I’m feeling more positive.”

When asked what keeps her going, she said it was her children – Lola, 13, Harry, 16, Rhea, 26, and granddaugh­ter Vega.

She added: “Everything I do is for them. If I’m up and well, they take the lead from that.

“I’m determined to fight back, I’m not going to let this cancer beat me.”

A number of people have been helping to support Julie and are fundraisin­g to help her continue with her treatments.

A walk has been organised today from Whitley Bay to Tynemouth. Walkers will meet at the Rendezvous Café, Duke’s Walk, at 11.30am and will stop at a number of bars and pubs along their way to Ora, on Front Street in Tynemouth, fundraisin­g as they go along.

Julie is planning to be there herself. She has been lent a mobility scooter and will stay for as long as her health allows her.

Helen Davis, 50, from Seaton Sluice, who organised the walk, said: “I have been following Julie on Facebook and she has been documentin­g her illness and how she is coping. I just think she is very brave and we just wanted to do something to help her.

“There has been amazing support for the walk. A number of pubs and bars are putting on free refreshmen­ts and food on the day, and there will be a band leading the group.”

Julie said she felt overwhelme­d by all the support and generosity from people in the community.

“There is more good in this world than there’s bad,” she added.

Her fundraisin­g page is at justgiving.com/crowdfundi­ng/julie-goulding

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