Survivor becomes a true inspiration

Ann Purdy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and underwent a mastectomy to remove the cancerous tissue, followed by breast-reconstruction surgery.

Throughout her terrifying and exhausting ordeal, she withheld the seriousness of her illness from her children who were then aged nine and 12, so that they wouldn’t be frightened or upset.

“I just felt that they were too young to know the seriousness of my operation,” says Ann.

It was three years later when they were finally told of the nature of their mother’s illness, and they then realised how lucky they were that she was alive and in good health.

Ann returned to her busy senior management job in the NHS just four weeks after the procedure.

“I feel I was lucky. I didn’t have to have chemotherapy. Emotionally it is tough losing that part of your body, but physically I was fine.”

Ever since that life-altering event, she has been tireless in her efforts to support any of her friends and colleagues who have suffered from breast cancer, characterised by her positive, kind and caring attitude.

Working on the committee of the Yorkshire Scan Appeal’ (www.yorkshirescanappeal.co.uk) for the past four years, her devotion has helped the charity to raise over £700,000. Some £350,000 went towards the purchase of a state-of-the-art machine

The Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasonic System (MrgFUS) is a revolutionary non-surgical cancer treatment; it is now being used to treat patients in the Hull Royal Infirmary MRI department.

Now the committee is well on its way to buying a second scanner, this time for prostate cancer.

“I became involved in this local charity, as I wanted to give something back for being allowed to live. I am also particularly interested in the non-invasive treatment as coping with the disfigurement of a mastectomy, despite modern surgical techniques, and nipple prosthesis is not easy,” says Ann, who is now a health visitor and is striving to raise awareness of breast cancer.

She constantly encourages female patients to examine their breasts so that if they were to develop breast cancer, it could be diagnosed at 
an early stage, increasing 
their chances of a full recovery.

Ann’s advice is :“If you find a lump, no matter how small, you must have it investigated immediately. Even though the majority of lumps are benign, the experts must make that informed decision.”

Now Ann has received the Raising Hope Award from the Breast Cancer Campaign in recognition of her work in raising awareness of breast cancer.

She was nominated by her two children, Connie, now 22 and Julian, 19.

Their touching nomination read: “We are so grateful to our mother for everything that she’s done for us. We are so thankful that she wasn’t taken away from us before her time.

“We’re also exceedingly proud of her for all that she’s done to raise awareness of breast cancer and to support those who suffer from it.

“She does this out of the kindness of her heart, and not for any recognition, but we believe she deserves to be acknowledged for her dedication to this very important cause.”

Ann was thrilled with her win.

“I felt deeply moved on two accounts. Firstly, that my children, Connie and Julian, wrote such beautiful and heartrending words in their nomination of me for this award some ten years after my diagnosis of breast cancer.

“Secondly, I believe that being a breast cancer survivor myself, I can give hope through my understanding of the highs and lows, particularly the emotional aspect of the illness, to other cancer victims.”

Christina Partakides, Corporate Account Manager at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “Ann’s story is so inspiring. She is such a deserving winner of this award. Women like Ann are at the heart of everything Breast Cancer Campaign does. We carry out vital life-saving research, so that women like Ann will one day no longer have to face breast cancer. We hope that by 2050, all women will outlive and overcome breast cancer.”

Twitter@ypcscott

Fighting back against killer

Every year 50,000 women are diagnosed, 12,000 die, and millions of us live with its long-term impact. And it’s on the increase – by 2025 an estimated 57,000 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer.The Breast Cancer Campaign was established in 1988 with the aim of researching a cure. The charity aims to be the leading specialist in breast cancer research across the UK and Ireland, making a significant impact on the disease. It currently support 95 research projects, worth £15,630,534 in 33 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland.

For more information visit www.breastcancercampaign.org

£2 from each ESPECIALLY ESCADA sleeved bottle sold will go directly to Breast Cancer Campaign and its research into patient wellbeing. The fragrances are available from Debenhams and Boots stores nationwide.