Supermarket bond helped cancer battle

A DUNDEE woman who found support at her local supermarket after being diagnosed with breast cancer plans to use her experience to help others, with a little help from her new friend Sam.

Former nurse Pam Woodfield was diagnosed with breast cancer last October after noticing a change in her left breast.

As a regular shopper at Asda Kirkton, Pam was in store nearly every day – finding it easier to just carry a few things at a time as she was going through treatment.

“The scale of breast cancer is enormous, every family knows someone who’s been affected by it,” Pam says.

“The staff are so friendly at Asda Kirkton, always asking how I am.”

And a chance conversation with Asda’s Community Champion Sam Will has led to friendship, support – and a great new project for both women.

Sam, also from Dundee, explains: “We knew each other in the passing, we’d wave and say hi. Then I was doing taste-testing in store and Pam came over.

“She told me about her diagnosis. I run the Tickled Pink events and other community events in store.

“People come up to me when I’m in the store and tell me their stories. Having someone to talk to who is not directly involved can help people. It’s a great job, the best move I’ve ever made.”

Pam says: “I wasn’t unwell but I had noticed some changes.

“Then I started on HRT and within that month and a half I noticed discharge from my nipple. My GP said to leave it a couple of weeks as it may be hormonal or may settle.

“Then over those two weeks everything changed. My breast changed, I experienced numbness and itching.

“Itchiness is something I didn’t realise was a symptom and looking back to summer I was always itchy. But I thought it was just the heat.”

Pam, 45, was quick to go to her GP about the changes. She underwent a mastectomy at Perth Royal Infirmary in January and is now making an excellent recovery.

Since her surgery, Pam and Sam have become good friends.

Sam and Pam now plan to take the story of how they met – and the breast cancer awareness message – to the community.

Sam says: “I was drawn to Pam because of her positivity.

“Honesty was so important between us. I didn’t want Pam to just say she was fine and that was it, I wanted to help. Also having a laugh and sharing a sense of humour, to try to smile through it, helps.

“Pam explained about her background in nursing and said she’d love to help by coming in to Dundee schools and to Tickled Pink events with me to tell people first-hand about her experience.

“If telling my story can help even one person I’ll be happy.”