LOUISE McGroarty was 33-years-old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She tells health reporter Kate Liptrot how she is in recovery and taking part in the Race for Life just a year on from her diagnosis.

A HUG from her boyfriend ended up saving Louise McGroarty's life.

It was after feeling a pain as she hugged her partner Kevin that 33-year-old Louise found a lump in her breast.

"I just thought, it's just a lump I'm sure it's nothing," she said, "I didn't go to worst case scenarios, I'm always positive about things."

She contacted her doctor who quickly referred her on to the Magnolia Centre at York Hospital After biopsies and ultrasound experts confirmed that there was a lump and a large area of ductal carcinoma in situ - an early form of breast cancer.

"It's shocking for anybody, no matter what age you are," Louise, an events manager at York St John University said about her diagnosis, "I never thought it would happen this young.

"It was a huge shock as I'd never felt unwell and was just getting on with my job and life, I never thought I'd have to go through the year I have and how quickly things change really surprises me".

But while the news was devastating, the fact Louise detected the cancer at an early stage was life saving.

Louise was advised to have a left side mastectomy and reconstruction as well as having her lymph nodes removed. Following a six hour operation by her consultant Jenny Piper, who Louise said was outstandingly helpful and supportive, she was given a month to recover before chemotherapy.

In the meantime she underwent fertility treatment to harvest her eggs in case the chemotherapy affected her ability to conceive in the future.

"Chemotherapy was tough going," she said, "I'm a very upbeat person and I went in thinking, it's okay I will do this. But I had a bed reaction to the chemo, as a lot of people do. My immune system was so low I had to go into isolation for a number of days and I'm very sociable so I really struggled with that.

"But the guys at the hospital make it so much better for you."

She was also given a huge amount of support from Kevin, who proposed to her just before she started chemotherapy and shaved his head at the same time as she did after beginning to lose her hair.

After months of gruelling chemotherapy ended in December and Louise has recently returned to work and has begun planning for her wedding next year.

"I feel I have been extremely lucky and received the most amazing treatment and support," she said, "After a challenging eight months of treatment I am lucky enough to now be able to start moving on and planning for my future."

To mark the end of a challenging year, Louise, now 34, is taking part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy event to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

“Pretty Muddy in York will be one year and one month since I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she said, "I've been so lucky and after surgeries and chemo I am now on the road to recovery but I am very aware not everyone has the same outcome.

"If I can raise awareness of this illness I would love to help in anyway. Before this year I really did not think that it effected people of my age. The support that I received was incredible and if I can help others in the same situation I would be happy to help.

"I have always been a positive person and at times even I struggled to cope and I do want people to know they are not alone.

"It has not been easy but I am very aware that there are many people that did not have the same outcome as me and others that still and will need help and support In the future. So, if I can help in anyway, whether that be raising awareness or being able to contribute through donations I am going to try and do what I can.

"Sponsor me now, and help me show cancer that hell hath no fury like a woman in pink."

To sponsor Louise, go to https://www.justgiving.com/louisemcgroarty/


• Pretty Muddy, which is taking place for the first time at The Knavesmire on Saturday, July 4, is a women-only, non-competitive 5k obstacle course – with added mud.

Philippa Sharpe, Cancer Research UK’s York Events Manager, said: “We’re so excited about staging Race for Life Pretty Muddy in York and we’re calling on local ladies to sign up now.

“Pretty Muddy promises all the fun and camaraderie of our much loved 5k and 10k events – just with an extra serving of mud and obstacles.

“Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast. Women can complete the Pretty Muddy course at their own pace, climbing, jumping, walking and laughing their way around. It’s about an army of women coming together in the fight against cancer.”

To sign up, go to http://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/