Here’s to the inspirational women who are quietly battling on

Ihave a dear aunt and a best friend who have recently come through breast cancer treatment. They are at different stages in their lives, my aunt an empty nester looking forward to retirement and my friend in her 40s, juggling a career and teenage daughters. Both dealt with their diagnosis with dignity and courage, though I’m sure they felt scared and alone.

We often talk of “battling breast cancer”. And it is a battle, but it’s often undertaken without fuss or drama. A cartoon I once saw on Facebook springs to mind. It showed a man in bed with “man flu” alongside another image of a woman with breast cancer, rushing home with her grocery shopping, her head scarf blowing in the wind. Maybe it’s a stereotype but it’s true that women have a tendency to “just get on with things”. They are the superglue that holds a family together and they refuse to come unstuck, cancer or no cancer.

This week’s cover star Daniela Nardini is a prime example. She was grieving for her father and going through a divorce when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a triple whammy that would leave anyone floored but the mum-of-one channelled those dark days into her passion for art. Her inspiring interview is on page 6&7.

And on pages 34&35, Barbara Campbell shares her cancer diary, from diagnosis during lockdown to the revolutionary new treatment that has aided her speedy recovery.

All of these women deserve our admiration. And I hope by telling their stories we can give strength to the countless others who are still fighting.