Gateshead woman who faced breast cancer in her 20s says 'people don't realise how difficult life after cancer can be'

A Gateshead woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s said returning to "normal life" after being ill is incredibly difficult.

Catherine Walker, 28, found out she had cancer in October 2022. She went through chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery - and while she is well now, said the recovery period and side-effects of her care had taken a toll. Catherine is now being helped by charity Future Dreams, which runs in-person and virtual breast cancer support services around the UK.

Catherine said: "When receiving treatment, there is so much support out there and you are constantly monitored by your oncologists, surgeons and breast care nurses. For me, as the treatment went on, this became a comfort blanket and helped reassure me that the treatment was shrinking the tumour.

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"However, I don’t think many people realise, until they’ve gone through it themselves, how difficult life after cancer can be. For me, the months after finishing treatment were the hardest months of my whole cancer journey as this was when I actually processed what had happened to me and the lasting impact of my diagnosis."

Catherine said that since finishing active treatment, she had struggled with getting back to her day-to-day life. She is looking forward to attending a wellness day led by Future Dreams.

She said: "Since finishing my active treatment, I have found it difficult to return to ‘normal’ life and have struggled with the long term side effects of my cancer treatment, including fatigue, breast pain, menopausal symptoms linked to Tamoxifen, my body image, and restarting my physical activity.

"I’m hoping that the Wellness Day will provide me with strategies to help cope with and ease these side effects." Catherine's mum Tina has also recently been through breast cancer treatment.

Gateshead is set this week to host Future Dreams first outreach event in the region - at the Baltic. Caroline Tweedie, a Macmillan lead practitioner supporting those living with cancer is based at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust. She invited Future Dreams to our region.

Caroline said: "“This type of event is building a local community of people with lived experience of cancer, creating an opportunity to develop a sense of mutual support and empowerment. This joint initiative allows both patients and professionals to collaborate – improving awareness, education and advocacy surrounding breast cancer care.

"London is a long way to travel for a patient who needs help but the regular online meet-ups provided by Future Dreams are available to everyone and can help with a wide range of side effects that many of those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer community struggle to deal with."

Future Dreams’ clinical breast care nurse specialist Jackie Wright said: "We are aware the NHS is under immense pressure currently. Future Dreams provides online support and meet-ups accessible wherever you are in the UK. We also run the only dedicated breast cancer support centre in the UK in London where patients can just drop-in.

"For some people it is helpful simply meeting someone in a similar situation, whether it be in person or online, and knowing that you aren't the only one facing problems of loneliness and isolation as well as dealing with the disease itself."

The charity helps people to feel less alone during their cancer journeys, and runs exercise sessions, advice when it comes to work or dealing with the health impact of cancer, whether it be early menopause or by offering counselling or help with bra- or wig-fitting.

Jackie added: “In our recent impact report, 48% of our service users told us they came to Future Dreams due to loneliness and isolation. By co-hosting the Wellbeing Day in Gateshead, we want to connect those affected by breast cancer in a lovely environment outside a hospital setting, as well as provide an insight into some of the workshops we host online and that they can go on to use."