Horsham woman's fight to raise breast cancer awareness

Becca Williams will be ditching her normal clothes in order to don pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research and to inspire others to do the same this Friday.

Back for the 17th year, wear it pink day takes place during October’s breast cancer awareness month.

Anyone can take part in wear it pink, whether at work, school or in your community.

All you need to do is wear something pink, or hold a pink themed event, and donate to Breast Cancer Now’s cutting-edge research.

Becca, aged 39, knows from personal experience the importance of research into this devastating disease.

In April 2017, Becca noticed a red patch on her breast which was hot to touch. When she felt the patch, she noticed a lump.

It was Easter weekend, so having shown her mother-in-law, Becca got an emergency doctor’s appointment and was referred to a breast clinic.

Two weeks later, Becca had a mammogram and a biopsy, and was warned it wasn’t good news.

A week later, in May, she was diagnosed with grade 3, triple negative, inflammatory breast cancer.

Becca said: “I’m taking part in wear it pink because I want to show others you can get through breast cancer.

“Dealing with it in a positive way has really helped my recovery, and I’ve got too much to live for!”

Becca underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy, and then a double mastectomy and lymph node removal in September 2017, followed by radiotherapy.

She didn’t have reconstruction at the time, but may do in the future.

In January 2018, Becca began three months of chemotherapy tablets, which she finished in March.

Treatment may have put her into early menopause which is hard for Becca as she does want to have her own children one day.

She is already step mum to Sean’s three children, aged 17, 22 and 26.

Becca added: “My husband Sean was there to support me, and even shaved my hair off for me when I began to lose it.

“I’m supporting Breast Cancer Now because of the scientific research they do.

“Fifteen years ago I might have died, but these days there are so many treatment options to keep women like me alive.

“Cancer doesn’t necessarily mean a death sentence anymore, and chemotherapy is much better now than it used to be.

“There’s lots of research going into inflammatory and triple negative breast cancer, which hopefully I’d benefit from one day, if it ever were to come back.”

Lottie Barnden, senior fundraising products manager at Breast Cancer Now, said: “We are so grateful for Becca’s wonderful support.

“Right now breast cancer is at a tipping point. Every year in the UK around 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and sadly around 11,500 women and 80 men will lose their lives to the disease.

“This is why we are urging everyone to get involved in wear it pink on Friday October 19 to raise funds for vital breast cancer research, to stop breast cancer taking the lives of those we love.”

To take part in wear it pink, you could wear a bright pink hat, style a fuchsia feather boa, or don an understated pastel pink tie. With every penny raised, fundraisers across the UK will be helping the charity achieve its aim that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live, and live well.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer, and each month almost 1,000 women will die from the disease.

To take part in wear it pink this October, please visit wearitpink.org for further details, fundraising ideas and how to register for your free fundraising pack.