Erica assumed there had been a ‘technical error’ when asked back after a routine mammogram in 2022. Instead, she was told she had breast cancer.
“When I found out I thought, ‘I was alright yesterday but now I’ve got cancer’. But of course, I had cancer yesterday, I just didn’t know about it.”
Now, following over two years of treatment, her life and outlook on life has completely changed.
Erica Gough, aged 67 at the time, attended her routine mammogram appointment in 2022.
When she was asked to come back in for a follow up appointment, she assumed the test hadn’t been taken properly or there had been a technical error. Instead, she was told she had breast cancer.
“I thought that it must be a mistake. It couldn’t be me. It was a big shock, and I can’t explain how I felt. The doctor said I’d have never found it if I hadn’t had the mammogram as it was lobular cancer which can be harder to detect as it doesn’t form a distinct lump. I just wouldn’t have known at all. It’s a good job I went to the appointment as otherwise I wouldn’t have known.”
Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Erica was transferred to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for treatment.
“I was given daily radiotherapy for a month and then told I’d have two years of chemotherapy tablets.”
Before starting her radiotherapy treatment, Erica was measured up for a bespoke radiotherapy mask – used to keep the patient’s head in place so the treatment reaches the right place.
“I found the radiotherapy quite hard. The hardest bit was breathing because I had to take deep breaths and slowly release them. When I could release my breath I thought, ‘thank goodness’. Thankfully, the more you do it, the more you got into it.”
Erica looks forward to finishing her treatment in July 2025.
When her radiotherapy treatment started, Erica began to experience some side effects.
One of the side effects she experienced was very stiff muscles, but she was unsure whether it was caused by something else altogether.
“I couldn’t bend to put my socks on. My body was so stiff.”
She also felt extremely nauseous after starting her chemotherapy tablets and was often sick.
“The tablets made me feel really bad, so they put me on the lowest level available. Thankfully I was okay with that one.”
After explaining her symptoms to her GP, she learned that they were side effects of the radiotherapy treatment.
“The thing is, I’m overthinking other pains I feel and wondering what it could be.”
When preparing for treatment, Erica was concerned about how she would travel to and from her appointments. Thankfully, she has a strong support network of people happy to take her.
“Up to 50 people told me to ring them and they’d take me. They’d then wait for me during my appointment so they could drive me home.
“I was literally worn out, so I couldn’t drive. It was a fair journey and if I had an afternoon appointment I’d get home and go straight to bed, then get up again in the morning and do it all again.
“At first, I felt guilty when people were waiting for me, but I soon appreciated it. Some people even brought me some shopping and a few meals. I’ve had so much support.”
Erica recently celebrated her 70th birthday with a celebratory Sunday lunch at Audlem Town Hall. In lieu of presents, she asked for donations to Lingen Davies Cancer Fund as she wanted to give something back.
Together with her friends and family, Erica raised a wonderful £2,200.
“I wanted to raise money for something linked to me personally. I’d always wanted to do something to say thank you for the care I received at Lingen Davies Cancer Centre and to support others going through it.”
One of the people on the guest list was a close friend who has been a particular support for Erica as she also has a cancer diagnosis. Both women have had the opportunity to talk about experiences and feelings they know the other understands.
As Erica nears the end of her treatment, she’s been thinking about how life has changed following her diagnosis.
“My diagnosis completely changed my outlook on life – how I look and think about things. The awful bits are getting less. It was a lot worse at the beginning. Before, I was so reactive. I used to be so careful with all my possessions and if I dropped a plate I’d be so upset, but now it’s not the same. Now I think, ‘It’s only a plate’.
“There are things I can’t do now which I wish I’d done more of. I’d played rounders and tennis for 27 years but I had to stop that. I also used to walk every night. I could get up to 15,000 steps every day but now I’m really struggling to do anything like that. You really don’t know what tomorrow brings. Now I think, ‘I’ll do that today. I won’t leave it’.”