Shirley takes on The MoonWalk London, after being diagnosed with breast cancer twice

Shirley (left) with her team at The MoonWalk London 2022

Shirley's story:

“I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer twice, 20 years apart and between those diagnoses, I gave birth to my miracle son, Harry. This year, I’m taking part in The MoonWalk London, to give something back.

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2002, at the age of just 34. I’d found a lump in my breast while I was in the shower and my doctor referred me to the hospital for tests. I then went away on holiday and thought nothing further about it. In fact, I almost didn’t go to that hospital appointment, because I thought my lump had disappeared. But in the end I did go, and thank goodness I did.

At the hospital, I had a mammogram, and ultrasound and a biopsy. I’d gone along to the appointment on my own, as I really wasn’t worried. As the tests progressed, the doctors at the hospital kept on asking me whether I’d come along with someone else. However, with four people in the room, I began to sense that something was up. And that’s when they told me that I had grade 3 breast cancer. It was a huge shock, as I was so young, and we had no history at all of breast cancer in the immediate family. The doctors had to ring my husband Daniel, who was just as shocked as I was, and he came to pick me up.

My treatment started - I had a lumpectomy and my lymph nodes removed, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy, which was horrible – I got very sick during that time. I then had radiotherapy, before taking the hormone therapy Zoladex for 18 months. The doctors were planning to put me on another drug, but my husband and I mentioned that we were trying for a family, so that’s why I went on Zoladex.

That first breast cancer diagnosis was very, very hard, but I had incredible support from my family. My husband Daniel was my rock and my sister-in-law Kate was amazing too. Daniel was so good at only telling me the things I really need to know during my treatment, so that I didn’t worry too much about everything.

I got the all clear and continued to have a mammogram every year. We continued trying for a baby. Unfortunately, we suffered three miscarriages, but in 2009, we finally welcomed our miracle son Harry, seven years after my breast cancer diagnosis. Harry is 13 years old now and is my absolute world!

After about eight years, my annual mammograms stopped, then I started to have the normal scheduled mammograms every three years from the age of fifty. My first post-fifty mammogram was fine, but it was during the second – at the age of 54 - that my second breast cancer was discovered.

About a week after that mammogram, I got a letter in the post, saying that I needed to go for further tests. My husband and I both sensed that the breast cancer had come back – even before we went back to the hospital.

I’d taken part in The MoonWalk London with family and friends back in 2018 and had the most amazing time, so we’d signed up again to walk in 2022, to celebrate 20 years since my original breast cancer diagnosis. I received the letter about my mammogram two days before The MoonWalk, but Daniel and I didn’t tell anyone about it on the night. We wouldn’t be 100 per cent sure that the cancer was back, until we’d had the tests done. We decided to keep the news to ourselves until we knew for definite.

Shirley (centre) with her team at The MoonWalk London 2022

It was such a relief that the mammogram caught my cancer so early, this time at grade 1. I was also relieved that I’d gone for this mammogram in the first place. I’d been due to go in 2021, forgotten to make an appointment, and was only reminded about it, when my Mum went for one. Regular mammograms are so important.

This time, I had a mastectomy with a reconstruction from my belly – an operation called a DIEP Flap. I had more chemotherapy, which finished in December, I’m on a drug for my bones, which helps repair them after chemo and I’ll also be taking the hormone therapy Herceptin every three weeks for a year as a preventative measure.

I’m really grateful that the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer had improved so much over the last 20 years, so we’re all taking part in The MoonWalk London again this year to give something back. Some of us, including Harry and I, will be taking on the 15.1 mile Half Moon. I’m so excited that my little boy is doing The MoonWalk for the first time! My husband Daniel is doing the Full Moon (this will be his third MoonWalk) and so is my wonderful brother-in-law, Ian. Other family members and close friends are joining us too.

There is always such a wonderful atmosphere on the night of The MoonWalk and I love looking at people’s costumes. I often think that I might not be here, if it wasn’t for all the brilliant work which has been funded over the years by charities like Walk the Walk.

My message to anyone thinking about signing up for The MoonWalk is to just do it! It’s so much fun and it’s also about making memories. Every MoonWalk we’ve done together, we’ve created even more wonderful memories and we’ll be doing that again this year.”

Thank you for sharing your story Shirley and we look forward to seeing you and your team at The MoonWalk London 2023!