I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

I didn’t even find a lump, it was a spot that would give me a piercing pain every once in a while.

I decided to get it checked out and was told I had breast cancer.

READ MORE: Mum with cancer was told lump in breast was 'nothing to worry about'

In 2019 I was stretching to take down a curtain when I felt a tightness in my chest and then a pain in my rib. It went on for a few days and the pain got stronger. When I went to see my consultant, he sent me for an X-ray which showed I had a broken rib and water on my left lung.

I was admitted to hospital for treatment and it turned out that the cancer had spread to my lungs and bones.

I had major operation in my lung and two months later the cancer spread to my spine.   

I was referred to Saint Francis Hospice for the first time in 2020 because I could not tolerate the pain in my lung.  

Dr Corinna Midgley, the medical director at the hospice, came to see me and said, “Let’s take you to the hospice so we can take a look and see what’s going on.”

As soon as I came to the ward, I felt at peace.

I knew I was in a safe environment and there was so much positivity.

It was an amazing feeling, like going back home and being cared for by your mum.

Within four days, I had my energy back. I was able to spend time in the garden and pray for everyone.

Most people believe the hospice is a place where you go to die - they don’t realise that it is a place where people go to get their symptoms under control.

For me to take these blinkers off people’s eyes is very important.

I was there for almost a month before going back home.

My faith is very important to me and I pray to Allah to help make it easier for my family as it has been really difficult for them too.

One of my sons was so afraid when I first came to the hospice as he thought he’d never see me again.

When I came back to the ward for three weeks in June and for a few days in July I wasn’t afraid.

I knew I was in the best place and I would get the care I needed to help control my pain.

  • To find out more about how the care and support available to patients and families at Saint Francis Hospice, please visit sfh.org.uk

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