My Story

I am running the 2024 TCS London Marathon in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

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In April 2022 I was diagnosed with a grade 2 69mm lobular breast cancer at the age of just 39 years old.

Following my breast cancer treatment throughout 2022, I became a patient at The Royal Marsden hospital when I joined a clinical research trial called TRAK-ER.

When I joined the clinical trial I was classified as NED (no evidence of disease) and thought I would benefit from the routine blood tests I'd receive for the next three years through the trial. I was positive the extra surveillence would keep my mind at ease that I was cancer free.

My liquid biopsy ctDNA test is unique, it was custom designed from my original tumor, and was created to detect my tumor DNA fragments in my blood. This test can detect tiny fragments of cancer DNA that indicates early cancer recurrance.

It came as a shock to receive a positive result from my very first test, it felt like I had been rediagnosed with cancer. 

My experience of The Royal Marsden has been absolutely amazing. Everyone is so lovely, kind, caring and professional. I know that I can always pick up the phone and be supported.  If I have questions or conerns theres always someone to help me.

My scans are still NED, so no disease is visible. I'm now going to receive two years of a targetted therapy. Hopefully having this early detection and treatment, will stop my cancer from returning in the future. I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity that I have, of regular surveilence and treatment with The Royal Marsden. I hope so much that the outcome of the TRAK-ER trial is a positive one and it can help many others in the future just like me.

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The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. They ensure nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world.

From funding state-of-the-art equipment and groundbreaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, they will never stop looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.