Breast cancer survivor Sarah Brightmore is supporting a campaign to encourage people to spot the early signs of cancer. Kate Liptrot reports.

A NORTH Yorkshire mum-of-two who has survived cancer is supporting a national campaign to encourage people to be aware of changes in their body.

Sarah Brightmore, 50, from Boroughbridge, is backing Cancer Research UK’s new awareness campaign, ‘Spot Cancer Sooner’, which includes a television advert urging people not to ignore changes.

Sarah, who works as a leisure assistant at Nidd Hall Hotel, near Knaresborough, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 after spotting a pea-shaped lump under her left breast.

She said: “I had started to feel a little bit tired and then noticed I had a small pea-shaped lump under my left breast. Although I felt well and didn’t think too much about it at first, I went to see my GP to get it checked out.”

Sarah, who is married to Keith and has a daughter Keeley, 27, and son Jack, 24, was immediately referred to York Hospital for tests.

“The hospital has a fabulous breast cancer unit and they wanted me in as quickly as possible, so I realised it was serious," she said, "But it was still a shock when they confirmed that I had cancer.”

She had an operation to remove the lump but, at the same time, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent surgery to remove around a dozen nodes, with eight found to be cancerous.

Following her operation she started six months of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

Sarah added: “All in all, it was a year out of my life but worth it, because I was given the all-clear after five years.

“People should definitely be aware of any change in their body and get themselves checked out.

“I think people worry too much about whether it might be cancer, but the knowing is the first step in the healing process. The earlier you can get it diagnosed the better.”

Designed to show how easy it is for people to ignore changes in their body while they get on with their busy lives, Cancer Research UK's television advert shows a lump in a road gradually getting bigger while office workers, mums, cyclists and road cleaners seem oblivious to the change and the disruption it causes.

Eventually the bump becomes so big that people have to walk around it but, despite this, still ignore it.

Finally one person acknowledges its presence and the voiceover states: “It’s easy to ignore something, especially when we’re busy. But spotting cancer sooner could save your life.”

Striking outdoor poster adverts will also feature in prominent locations throughout Yorkshire, including train stations, bus stops and shopping centres.

Early diagnosis of cancer in Yorkshire and the Humber is lower than the average for England, with only 52 per cent diagnosed early, compared with 54 per cent for the rest of the country.

Every year, around 28,100 people in Yorkshire and the Humber are given the devastating news that they have the disease.

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the region, said: “Sarah is a fantastic ambassador for our Spot Cancer Sooner campaign. She knows how important early diagnosis is from her personal experience of the disease.

“Cancer Research UK’s Spot Cancer Sooner” campaign encourages people to reflect on their own behaviour and empowers them to be more in touch with what’s normal for their bodies. This means that they will be more likely to notice changes and take action."