Hi, my name is Maria. I am 57.

In 2020 I was lucky enough to have a routine breast screen during the brief gap between lock-downs. This was my first routine breast screen so was shocked that it identified a suspicious calcification which after biopsy was found to be malignant cancer.

My first year after diagnosis included mastectomy, chemotherapy and axillary node clearance. As no cancer was found in my nodes my treatment tapered off and I gradually returned to work as a deputy head in a secondary school.

Unfortunately, in 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer: inoperable, incurable. This has turned my world upside down or rather shrunk my world: retiring from work; surrendering my driving licence, reducing my mobility.

Since I retired my cancer has spread to my brain and a post operative infection required a section of my skull to be removed.

Wear-it-Pink

I now have to wear a helmet to protect my brain until I have a plate implanted. I have decorated it so I can pretend to be cool. Last year I put the ‘wear-it-pink’ collection box at my parents' house and got an infection in my brain. That raised over £80 but this year I plan to stay well and actually wear pink. I have crocheted a cover for my helmet and a scarf, which I will wear on 24th October.

Breast Cancer Now's wear it pink day is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK. Taking place in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thousands of amazing people will wear it pink in their workplaces, communities or schools to help make life-changing breast cancer research and support happen.

Before my diagnosis I had thought the survival rates for Breast Cancer meant ‘cure’ rates. As I come up to 5 years living with cancer I realise how lucky I am to be alive and to have a supportive group of people around me. I owe my life to amazing breast cancer research. However, I hope, that by raising money, research can progress so that other women can live without breast cancer.