Oxford breast cancer survivor raises awareness of the struggles of life after treatment
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month
A breast cancer survivor from Oxford says there should be more support for people after their treatment has ended, as she struggles with anxiety that the cancer will come back.
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year’s theme is highlighting that every story is unique and every journey matters, according to the World Health Organization.
Shelley Syme from Oxford was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago at the age of 29 years old.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, she said: “Life after cancer has just been tricky regardless - there's a lot that goes with it.
“I've had body image issues. I have low self-esteem. I suffer with anxiety and depression - anxiety that the cancer is going to come back. Every kind of pain or weird feeling that I get in my body now, your mind instantly jumps to like worst case scenario.
Ms Syme also says, “it's never really going to be over and if anything, the stuff that comes after the cancer diagnosis is much harder than the treatment itself.
“You have a plan, you have your oncologists and everyone's support, then as soon as that finishes, all of that support disappears.
“People kind of just assume that you're better and then you're just left in this world where it’s totally different and you don't know what to do.
“You're just isolated in a way.”
Shelley is also urging people to check themselves for any signs of breast cancer after she spotted a lump.
She said: “Everyone needs to be checking, it's not just about women, it's also about men, non-binary and trans people. Everybody has breast tissue. So even me, I'm flat on my left-hand side now and I still need to check because there still will be residual breast tissue there.
“There's a lot of signs to be aware of rather than just a lump, but it's so easy to just, check once a month. Make it part of your regular routine and the earlier we catch breast cancer, the better chances you have of survival.”