Emma With husband Jonny and dog Scout
Emma’s story:-
“I’m now 55 and have been diagnosed with breast cancer three times – I was first diagnosed at the age of just 41. It has been difficult and my treatment is still ongoing, but I’m managing to be positive about the way I’m able to live with (or hopefully not with!) the disease. I’ll be taking part in The MoonWalk London for the fifth time in May 2026 to help spread awareness about the importance of catching breast cancer early.
We had no history of breast cancer in our family at all.
I discovered what felt like a tiny cyst in my breast in 2012, I was only 41 at the time and was referred to the hospital and had various tests – I even remember the radiologist saying that he would be really disappointed if it was cancer, but it was. They found mainly ductal carcinoma in situ, with a tiny bit of invasive cancer. I was told the cancer had been caught very early and I had surgery and radiotherapy and tried to get back to normal life, which was difficult.
Then in 2017, on the last of my follow up scans, they found cancer again and this time I had a mastectomy, with reconstruction.
I remember leaving my last appointment with the breast care nurse and asking whether in the future, the breast implant could potentially hide cancer behind it. The nurse told me that it wouldn’t, as if it did come back, it was most likely to be in the scar.
Then in 2023 I noticed something strange on my scar, quite small and innocent looking but it had not been there before. An initial scan didn’t show anything, but it changed over time and after a long, involved process, two years later, I did eventually have a biopsy, which found cancer – for the third time.
The cancer had always been grade 2, but by the time I had surgery to remove this new recurrence (and my implant), it was grade 3. I was disappointed, but it made me eligible for a new drug, Ribociclib, which I’m now taking. If I’d been diagnosed earlier, it may have still been grade 2 and I wouldn’t have been eligible. The drug was only licensed for use in July 2025 and offers a significant reduction in risk for my type of breast cancer from coming back.
The likelihood was that the cancer might just have come back again anyway, as just chopping out the cancer hasn’t been enough to solve the problem, so I try to be philosophical and am grateful for the opportunity to take this new drug. It was my husband who persuaded me to keep getting checked, which I am very grateful for and I would encourage every cancer patient to advocate for themselves as much as they can. I could be in a much worse position and am very grateful that so much research has been done into breast cancer over recent years.
Having had my implant removed, I’ve decided to stay flat on my left-hand side, rather than having another reconstruction.
The implant had become very uncomfortable for me anyway. On top of that, I just wanted as much of the tissue taken away as possible – for me personally, I now find it so much easier to track any changes. I thought I’d hate being flat, but weirdly I kind of love it and using a prosthetic is easy – it literally just stays in your bra when you take it on and off.
I’m less angry than I used to be. My husband and I take one appointment at a time and try to see the positives. I feel very lucky that the cancer hasn’t spread and each diagnosis has turned out to be a local recurrence and nothing worse. I have a lot to be thankful for, but it’s really difficult to be aware of any changes and to try and get on with life, difficult to get the balance right, when you’re living with it every day.
I’ll be taking on the Full Moon (26.2 miles) at The MoonWalk London in 2026 to hopefully help give others hope and as a personal challenge. It’ll be my fifth MoonWalk and I love the event. It’s a fantastic atmosphere and I find it very moving hearing the stories of why people are taking part.
Emma (far right) at The MoonWalk London 2024, next to her friend Diana, with whom she is taking on The MoonWalk London again in 2026, as well as friends Becky and Nikky
I’ve walked with my husband, sister, brother-in-law and many friends over the years, but this year it’ll just be me and my friend Diana. We’ve done The MoonWalk together previously – we train and walk a lot together, talking all the time! I’ve loved taking part in The MoonWalk with so many people from different parts of my life.
Coming out of treatment for breast cancer for the third time, it’s great to have The MoonWalk as a personal goal.
It’s something to focus on and work towards. If the cancer does come back again, I want to be as healthy and fit as I can, to help me handle any further treatment I might need.
I want other people who have been diagnosed to know that there are positive stories. Nowadays, if breast cancer is caught early enough, it can be treated. With research moving on so quickly, if one treatment stops working, there will potentially be another option available. It is possible to live with and beyond cancer”.
Thank you for sharing your story Emma and we look forward to seeing you and Diana at The MoonWalk London 2026.