Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Research. Support. Education.
Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
I was first diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 3 breast cancer in July 2009, had a recurrence in 2012, and by March 2016, it was Stage 4. By January 2020, I had more or less run out of treatment options and was offered a Phase 1 clinical trial. But I wasn’t ready to accept that as my only choice.
I took a second opinion in Harley Street and asked about CyberKnife. At the time, it wasn’t available to me on the NHS, so I made the decision to self-fund treatment. During the first lockdown in March 2020, I underwent CyberKnife in Harley Street, and since then, my cancer has been “sleeping.”
At that time, my cancer had spread to mediastinal mammary chain lymph nodes in the middle of my chest, attached to my main arterial vein. On top of that, I could barely walk due to neuropathy, relying on a stick and falling over often. Now? I’m at the gym five days a week.
I believe I’m still here because I refused to take no for an answer. I’ve always advocated for myself, asked about every treatment I’d ever heard of, and pushed for options when it seemed like there were none.
I also had incredible support from my family, who helped fund my treatment, and from the charity Team Verrico, who arranged a second opinion when I needed it most. My kids even set up a GoFundMe, raising £12,500 in a week to help cover costs.
Looking back, I’m just grateful—for every single day I’m here, for the people who supported me, and for the strength to keep going.
Donate