World Cancer Day: Lee-on-the-Solent woman diagnosed with breast cancer at start of first Covid-19 wave urges people to get help if they need it

Mary Purdy, from Lee-on-the-Solent, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in March last year after attending a routine mammogram appointment at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

Today marks World Cancer Day and the 60-year-old, who had to undergo two operations as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy during the height of the first wave, is urging people to attend their hospital appointments.

Mary said: ‘I was in total shock, and I cried, a lot. I hoped to never hear that dreaded word, it totally knocked me back.

‘Although I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, luckily we caught it before it was too late. That is why I am using my story in the hope that other women will continue to attend their routine appointments and seek help when needed.

‘I had no fear coming into the hospital even though it was at the peak of the pandemic. I knew I was in safe hands and the care I received was second to none.’

Due to disruption to healthcare services from the pandemic, 40,000 fewer people started cancer treatment across the UK last year.

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Jon Shelton, a senior cancer intelligence manager at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Health services across the UK worked hard to try to get services functioning normally throughout the pandemic, and especially when the number of Covid-19 cases fell – a monumental task that could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of the staff.

‘How do health services, which were struggling to cope before the pandemic, now cope with this influx of people? Because most of those 40,000 still need to come through on top of the people who would normally be diagnosed in 2021.’

Mary, who completed her radiotherapy treatment at the end of last year and is now at home recovering with her husband John, added: ‘I am waiting for my energy levels to pick up, but I am feeling fine. This is all thanks to the wonderful people at the hospital, they really are smashing.

‘We may be in the middle of a pandemic but healthcare services are open and there to see you.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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