Karen's all for breast cancer awareness

Karen Case (47), a fitness instructor from Belfast, is married to Mark and they have two daughters, Laura (22) and Kathryn (18). Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2012. She says:

" I love to keep busy and think nothing of working 12 hour days but after a stressful few months I was forced to close my gym because of the recession a few weeks before my diagnosis, so it’s been a tough time.

 "I’d arranged to meet a friend the same day I was due to attended a clinic for tests on my left breast – I was a bit concerned as I thought it felt lumpy. I’d already missed one appointment – I had my head in the sand a bit. I remember saying perhaps I’d postpone it again, but my friend said to stop faffing around and deal with it.

" Three hours later, after a mammogram, scan and biopsy, I was met by a consultant and a breast cancer nurse. They told me I was going to need a mastectomy. From then on life became very surreal.

"I’d always been afraid I was at more risk as my mother had breast cancer, and was successfully treated, when she was 38 and again at 43. She said the breast wasn’t such a bad place to get cancer because it could be removed. I was determined to be as positive as she had been.

"I wouldn’t let Mark come with me to the clinic but I called him as soon as I left. He was fantastic. His first words were ‘It’s a good job I’m a leg man!’ My daughters, Laura and Kathryn, have coped brilliantly too.

"The surgery involved removing my breast and reconstruction followed by chemotherapy. I lost my shoulder-length hair and put on about two-stones in weight because of the steroids I was on. There were days when I felt like a freak.

"When I went to hospital I always put on my make-up and wore high heels – being able to walk tall made me feel good and kept the nurses amused!

"In January 2013, I had radiotherapy and then had 12 months of Herceptin treatment. I’ve made up my mind to have a second mastectomy to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back again.

 "No woman would ever want to be diagnosed with breast cancer but when you think about what really matters, the answer is relationships. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by those I love.

"Although family and friends are so supportive, you might worry about over-relying on them, or perhaps you are dealing with your illness on your own. If you have cancer, Cancer Focus NI is there for you too – there’s a warm welcome and a listening ear waiting to hear from you."

 If you’d like to organise a Girls’ Night In, get your pink party pack at  www.cancerfocusni.org, call the fundraising team on 028 9066 3281or email [email protected]. The website also has more information Cancer Focus NI funded research, signs and symptoms of breast cancer and care services on offer.

  Ifyou're worried about cancer call the free Cancer Focus NI helpline on 0800 783 3339 or email [email protected].