READ LAURA’S MOVING STORY
Like Sarah Harding, Laura Middleton-Hughes was diagnosed with breast cancer that spread. Four years on, she feels positive and is ticking off her ‘living list’…
In the last four years, Laura Middleton-Hughes’ life has been full of adventure – from swimming with sharks to marrying the love of her life, Brad.
But the reason behind her determination to make the most out of every day is a devastating one. In 2016 she was told her breast cancer had spread to her bones – and she was classed as incurable.
Laura, 32, who lives in Norfolk with taxi driver Brad, 38, says, “My whole world fell apart. I was told that it was incurable and I wouldn’t be able to have children. I could have treatment, but it might only work for about 18 months.
“I told Brad to leave me, but he refused and said he’d be with me every step of the way.
“It took me months to come to terms with it. But four years on, I’m still here and my life’s more exciting than ever before.”
DIAGNOSIS
Laura was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2014, when she was 25, after finding a peasized lump in her breast when she was showering.
She says, “My GP referred me to get it checked, but she was reassuring, so I wasn’t worried.”
After tests, Laura was given the news that it was an aggressive form of breast cancer – and she would need chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She says, “I sobbed. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.”
Laura’s treatment finished in May 2015 and she was given the all-clear. But in May 2016 she started to feel an ache in her shoulder and, sadly, a scan in October 2016 showed the cancer was back and had spread to her shoulder, spine and pelvis.
She says, “I thought I’d be dead within weeks. But when I was in hospital having surgery to remove the tumour, I realised I could sit and mope, or make the next few years amazing. I chose the latter!”
Laura wrote a ‘living list’ of 50 things she wants to do – and with the help of friends and family, she’s working her way through the list.
STABLE
She says, “I can’t pretend I don’t have down days when I panic about the future. I have scans every three months to see if the cancer has spread more, and waiting for the results is horrendous. But for the moment it’s stable and is treated with targeted therapy such as Herceptin, hormones and bone-strengthening drugs. I also have a healthy diet but don’t deny myself wine or chocolate! I try to live by my motto, “Don’t worry about what you can’t change”, and mostly it works.
“When I read about Sarah Harding’s diagnosis, my heart went out to her. But it sounds as if, like me, she’s handling it as positively as possible. And I think that’s the best way. Take each day as it comes.
“I’ve been lucky to do so many things – ice skating in Central Park, punting in Cambridge and eating lunch up the Shard in London. But there is still so much more I want to do, like visit New Zealand and fly in a helicopter. I’m determined they’ll happen.
“I try to do something every day that makes me smile and live my life to the full.”
By Mel Fallowfield
● Follow Laura’s journey on Ins tag ram@ secondary. sisters and@ bald boob less and beautiful