Woman who's survived cancer five times celebrates with new challenge

A woman who has had cancer five times is celebrating with tough exercise challenges after being told she is free of the disease.

Natalie Yates-Bolton, a grandmother of two, has suffered two bouts of Hodgkin's lymphoma and has also had breast cancer three separate times.

In total, the 57-year-old has endured 11 operations, 30 sessions of chemotherapy and 55 rounds of radiotherapy.

Now, the senior lecturer in nursing at the University of Salford has been told she is cancer-free after spending the last six years on a type of targeted cancer drug called palbociclib (Ibrance).

Doctors at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester are thrilled with her progress on the drug, with all scans showing the cancer has gone.

Mrs Yates-Bolton, who has always been determined to live life to the full, is now setting herself new exercise challenges.

To date, she has completed six marathons, three ultra-marathons and three triathlons.

Last year, she completed the Isle of Wight ultra-marathon and ran around half the island.

She also walked the third leg of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail through France with her mother, Myra, 80.

Over time, Mrs Yates-Bolton has also gained a PhD, trained as an executive coach, and learned to become a milliner.

She said: "I'm really mindful that although it looks like I've got great strength to get through, actually I have great strength because I've got amazing people around me, amazing family, amazing friends and of course my amazing team at the Christie.

"I always feel like it's their expertise but me thinking about how do their expertise fit with my life and how I want to live."

"I like to set myself challenges, so I've done six marathons, three ultra-marathons, three triathlons. During my last few courses of cancer treatments, my last few diagnosis, and really enjoyed those challenges where I stretched myself a bit.

"Cancer is a really difficult situation and I'm always mindful that I've got family and friends that haven't made it through so that always makes me appreciate everyday.

"From like opening the curtains in the morning and closing them at night... How lucky I am to have that day, I just try and make the most out of the opportunities that come my way."

Mrs Yates-Bolton was 22 and a student in her third year at the University of Surrey when she was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, where white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control.

Refusing to take a break from her degree in nursing, she worked on a demanding neurological ward while having radiotherapy treatment.

Then, 20 years ago, when she was 37 and married with two young daughters, she started to suffer back pain and itchy skin.

A scan revealed a tumour attached to her heart pressing on her oesophagus. The lymphoma had returned.

With the support of her family, she fought her second battle with cancer and successfully completed her treatment in 2004.

But in 2009, cancer struck a third time when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43.

She underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was given the all-clear.

Less than a year later, she noticed a lump in her side which proved to be cancerous and was removed with surgery.

Then, in 2017, the cancer returned for a fifth time and needed treatment.

Now, Mrs Yates-Bolton, who lives in Chadderton, near Oldham in Greater Manchester, is determined to enjoy spending time with husband, Gary, 66, and daughters Lucy, 33, and India, 29.

She also has two young grandchildren - Finley and Olympia.

She takes the drug Ibrance in tablet form once a day for three weeks, then has a week off, before starting the next cycle.

Dr Sacha Howell, consultant oncologist at The Christie, who has been Mrs Yates-Bolton's doctor since 2009, said: "Natalie has now had 75 cycles of palbociclib.

"It was a relatively new therapy when she started on it six years ago, but now it's become a commonly used treatment for some patients with metastatic breast cancer.

"The success of treatments like this, that control the cancer and thus maintain the quality of life, make a real difference to patients like Natalie.

"She is an exceptional and inspirational lady who is leading a full and active life despite the cancer."

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: "It is genuinely inspiring to hear about Natalie's personal journey with cancer, which can be a source of hope for others whose lives are affected by the disease.

"New treatments for cancer are becoming available all the time and the NHS is always striving to use the most up to date, including this relatively new treatment which is now being given to patients with secondary breast cancer, and has helped hundreds of other people like Natalie."

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