Rotarians help Breast Cancer Care

The Rotary Club of Leicester DeMontfort put their best foot forward with the Womens Institute of Groby for a fundraising walk to support Breast Cancer Care.

Rotarian Judith Proctor asked her twin sister Jenny Jones, a breast cancer survivor, to join in and was keen to encourage everyone, men and women, to have a screening test to check if they might have breast cancer.  

Jenny said: "I am now 64 years old and have to thank my mammogram for saving my life. I will tell you why.

"I have always been a very busy person and juggling a full-time job as a senior receptionist, teaching yoga and relaxation, and organising a busy family life left me very little spare time. My appointment arrived for my 2005 mammogram and it was a full year later when I found the time to go. This was my life-saver as in March 2006 it revealed I had developed breast cancer.

"I never do things by halves and was devastated to learn my cancer had appeared in both breasts. They were totally different cancers which had appeared at the same time. That was tough.

"My team of medics were absolutely fantastic. The surgery to remove three tumours and lymph glands took place in April 2006 and I had radiotherapy treatment. One year later and, very reluctantly, I returned to work. I had enjoyed recovering at home in the summer.

"I felt fantastic and promised, for once in my life, to ‘do as I was told’. I continued to take the medication and have my yearly mammograms. This year it was clear for the first time. I am, needless to say, overjoyed.

"My cancer changed my life, my partner and me put our bungalow up for rent, bought a motor-home in 2009 and have toured France, Spain, Portugal and are continuing our round the coast of England trip.

"I could so very easily not have been here.

"The moral of this story is, it is never too late to have your mammogram.It changed my life for the better. It could change yours too, just do it."