Welcome to my fundraising page for CoppaFeel!

A bit about me…

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. I found a lump at the top of my breast while showering. I called my husband straight away and he pushed me to call my GP who said they “weren’t concerned but would refer me anyway” to the Mermaid Centre in Truro, Cornwall. I sat surrounded by men and women feeling like I was wasting everyone’s time. It was nothing. Maybe just a cyst or a random harmless lump? I felt well. A tired working mum but fine! I shouldn’t be sat here.

A mammogram and two biopsies later I was told I had breast cancer. It felt like I was underwater as they said those words. I felt like I had let everyone down.

A lumpectomy to remove the tumour and 25 radiotherapy sessions later I was given the all clear. Work were simply amazing and gave me as much time away as I needed to recover and get stronger physically and mentally. So with a young (very) head strong daughter, incredible husband, and unbelievably supportive network of friends, work and family, we thought we had overcome the biggest challenge imaginable and moved forward to a bright future. Coming out of lockdown with a whole new appreciation for every single day.

Fast forward two years and after many sleepless nights in A&E in unbearable pain I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.

The original cancer hadn’t gone. It had grown and continued to spread - reaching my lungs, bones, liver and stomach. I went back to the same oncologist I had before and we assessed what my first line of treatment would be. Palliative radiotherapy and pain management, bone strengthening drugs and I’m quite literally back on my feet. I have three monthly scans and I’m incredibly grateful to say that I am stable. Stable Mable. Long may that continue.

Nothing has changed for me in that I know my own body and I know what is ‘normal’. I just have a new normal now.

As I sit here writing this I can’t believe how far removed I am mentally and physically from those darkest moments. So much so last year I decided in a moment of pure madness to sign up for this challenge! Never thinking for one second I would be chosen. Well here I am. I know what it is to dig deep and this trek will most certainly ask that of me.

This June, I will set out on a challenging, extraordinary and life-changing trek, all in the name of checking chests! Along with Gi Fletcher and some other famous faces, I will be trekking approximately 100km across 5 days in the Brecon Beacons, in a bid to raise funds towards CoppaFeel!'s life-saving mission.

Your donations will not only support my fundraising target, but most importantly CoppaFeel!. They are on a mission to stamp out the late diagnosis of breast cancer by making sure that young people are regularly checking their boobs, pecs and chests and getting to know their bodies in order to have the confidence to see their GP if something just doesn't feel normal.

Thanks so much for your donation & support. To find out more about CoppaFeel! head to www.coppafeel.org.

If you are a business and would like to sponsor me (I will add your social tag to every post I do!) then email me directly at lianlocke07@gmail.com