A little bit of my story in a nutshell:
11 years ago I walked away from a 20-year marriage not taking a penny from my divorce. At the time it was the safest thing for me to do, for the safety of mine and my two children’s lives. I'd suffered physical, mental, financial, and sexual abuse. It was hard to live with someone that was a high profile functioning alcoholic. I cannot say too much nor do I want to as the PFA have eyes and pro/ex pro footballers are protected.
Anyway, I had built myself up with speed bumps on the way, but don’t we all have them!
Let’s fast forward to February 2024, I was referred to the two-week breast cancer pathway at Stoke University Hospital for mammograms etc. only to be discharged with them saying there was nothing wrong with me. However, I felt something was wrong with me, I didn’t feel right inside and I also had this breast lump that Stoke had refused to biopsy even though you could see it protruding, it was that big. A week later I saw my GP and battled to get a second opinion and be referred to the QE in Birmingham. So then I found out in April 2024. I have two completely different breast cancers and then I found out I am a BRAC2 carrier.
The financial effects from my diagnosis has been devastating, I have lost all of my income, my ability to work and function as normal and am unable to see a future for myself where I am able to earn a living due to the intensive surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and subsequent drugs I am on for life (I also have Multiple Sclerosis). All help offered to cancer patients is little to nothing unfortunately due to cuts on charities and with the economic climate it’s made it a lot harder.
Any support is greatly appreciated along this journey I am on 🙏🏻