Brave Caroline gives self-inspection her ringing endorsement

A mum-of-three who was denied the chance to sound the bell at The Christie because of Covid, has shared her remarkable recovery from cancer in a bid to make women 'breast aware'.

Caroline Yates, who is now back at work running a payroll bureau, is the perfect example of acting fast to prevent the spread of the disease.

Finding a lump in her breast, she contacted her GP immediately and was diagnosed within a fortnight.

This was followed by surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy - beginning on the day of her wedding anniversary (coincidentally also her mother’s birthday).

“My doctor thought it might be a cyst and so fast-tracked me," said Caroline, who visited her GP in late September, 2019.

"When I heard the C word it was like being hit by the cancer bus.

"By the end of the following May, I should have been ringing the bell at Christie’s – but the rope had been removed to stop the spread of Covid.”

Caroline was speaking during Breast Cancer Awareness Month which culminates in the famous Wear it Pink day on October 21.

One of the key messages of the drive is for women – and the much smaller cohort of men who develop the disease – to self-check regularly.

Dr Anita Sharma is a national women’s health expert based in Oldham.

She said: “One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lives and so it is important to check for lumps, change of breast shape, fluid leaking etc. even between mammograms.

"Survival for breast cancer is generally good, particularly if you are diagnosed early.

"This is probably because of screening, early diagnosis and improved treatment.”

Dr Sharma continued: “Self-checking rates are lowest among South Asian women, women under 40 and black women.

"To paraphrase Women’s Health Ambassador Dame Lesley Regan: “The health of women is critical to the well-being of the society as a whole. When we get it right for women, everyone in our society benefits””.

Another facet in Caroline’s favourable outcome was the support of her family who organised a rota of care even BEFORE she had her diagnosis.

She was also full of praise for the professionalism of NHS staff and MacMillan Nurses.

Not even attending appointments on her own because of the Coronavirus midway through her treatment, could prevent Caroline from completing her course of radiotherapy, which meant hair loss and a brand-new mindset.

Caroline concluded: “My attitude on life has changed dramatically, I live for today; my family are my priority; and I also make time for ME.

"I still can’t shake the feeling that the cancer will return somewhere in my body, but it will NOT define me.

"My hair has grown back, and I am now a lovely shade of blonde/grey; and my wig is still in the box in the wardrobe!”

Dr Sharma is a campaigner on women’s health issues, in particular focusing on inequalities in areas such as endometriosis diagnosis.

Visit her charity’s website here

For NHS details on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment, go to: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/

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