'Fighting cancer isn't just about clinical treatment - one's outlook can be helpful'

Pause for Hope takes place at the Metropolitan Cathedral later this month. The annual service aims to bring hope and consolation to all affected by cancer and will include prayers, hymns, music and reflections.

Ahead of the event on Sunday September 22, the chair of North West Cancer Research, who has fought the disease herself, says that "fighting cancer isn't just about clinical treatment" and that "one's outlook can be helpful". Catherine Jones became a trustee of North West Cancer Research when she retired from her job at the University of Liverpool.

She told the ECHO: "When I retired, someone pointed out that the charity was looking for new trustees. I knew the charity from working at the university and I’d also had cancer myself; there’s also been a lot of cancer in my family, which I’m going to talk about at the cathedral, so I had very strong personal reasons for joining the charity."

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Catherine was 52 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said: "I’d been to my first ever mammogram (breast cancer screening) and I got called back and told that I had breast cancer. They then did tests and biopsies and found that it had spread to my lymph nodes. I had surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. It’s only been a couple of years now that I’ve been signed off completely by the doctors."

North West Cancer Research encourages people to take tests and screenings for cancer, in order to potentially catch the disease early. Catherine continued: "We raise roughly £3m per year. We use money from donors to find research into the causes of cancer and how we can help and support people with cancer. More recently we’ve started to do more educational things like encouraging people to have tests when they're invited to do so, and we've also been going into schools and universities."

Pause for Hope is a charity founded 25 years ago in Liverpool which has since branched out to other parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. There have been services in London, Chester, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham and South Wales. It fulfils a need that many people have to turn to prayer as a means of finding hope and meaning in their situation.

Speaking about the importance of Pause for Hope, Catherine said: "Fighting cancer isn’t just about the clinical treatment which patients receive but the spiritual and emotional support they receive. Pause for Hope is an opportunity for them to get together with other people who are affected by cancer to reflect and pray for a future when cancer will be cured - or at least managed on a long-term basis and not be the terrible scourge it is now. I think that one’s outlook can be helpful."

Ahead of the Pause for Hope service, ECHO readers have been sending in their stories. Carol said: "My husband was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2020 during lockdown.

"It was the scariest of times. He stayed positive through two operations, intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment - and we got through it. People are still surprised that as a man he was diagnosed with breast cancer. He still remains positive and leads an active life."

Another shared their story of "hope, strength and perseverance", saying: "Eight years ago, on September 22, my life changed forever. What began as a routine baby scan at 30 weeks revealed something I could never have imagined - a 4cm tumour hidden in my groin, masked by my baby bump. In just a week, my baby boy was delivered via C-section, and six days later, I was transferred to Whiston Hospital to have the tumour removed.

"Traumatised beyond belief, I faced a battle I wasn’t prepared for, but I knew that giving up was not an option. I found myself leaning on the strength of the incredible NHS, the power of prayer, and the simple yet profound act of lighting candles. In those moments of fear, I chose to believe in hope, in the future, and in myself.

"Cancer changed my life, but it also shaped me into a more positive person. I made a conscious decision not to allow myself to dwell on the worst possibilities. When darkness tried to creep into my mind, I pushed it back. I reminded myself that I was not ready to leave my children, my loved ones. Even when my body felt broken, I challenged myself every day to stay mentally strong, to keep going, and to always believe in my ability to fight this horrible disease.

"To those of you who are struggling right now, I want you to hear this: never stop believing in yourself. Your mind is stronger than you think. There will be moments when fear and doubt try to take hold, but remind yourself that you are not alone in this fight. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Each day you keep going, you are winning.

"I won’t lie - there were days when I felt angry, days when I was in denial. That anger and denial gave me the fuel I needed to push forward, to face cancer head-on, and to prove that it would not prevent me from living the life I wanted with my children. Today, I stand here, eight years on, as one of the lucky ones who survived. And while I know that the fear never truly goes away, I also know that I am stronger for it.

"If you are suffering, I urge you not to suffer in silence. Reach out, talk to someone, and believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Mike said: "[It's] 11 years since my diagnosis of stage three head and neck cancer. It's been tough and we’ve all had to adapt but I’ve been given the all clear and I’m loving life. Even when things are at their worst, never give up. Everything’s going to be okay."

Nicola was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2022. She said: "I started chemotherapy almost immediately and completed 16 rounds and endured 16 cold caps. Straight into a mastectomy with full lymph removal and recon implant and decker button to inflate if damaged by radiotherapy. Then 15 rounds of radiotherapy.

"I was then told I would need a further two years of chemotherapy and 10 years of letrozole. I have nine months of treatment left and one more surgery. I would like to give hope to anyone starting their journey. All we can do is take one day at a time and just know it takes time to recover, but our bodies are amazing and don’t underestimate the power of faith and prayer, stay focused on the treatment plan and take care of yourself! Be kind to yourself and just be patient."