Fiona hits the road to recovery

Fiona Ford was shocked when she found a lump in her breast by chance last July. Mother of two Fiona, 46, of Woore, had never smoked, drank in moderation and exercised regularly. But tests by doctors at University Hospital of North Staffordshire's Cancer Centre revealed aggressive form of breast cancer which had already spread to the lymph nodes under her arm.

Fiona just couldn't understand how she could have cancer, she was a healthy woman who looked after herself and didn't even feel unwell. She said: "I was devastated. I've always tried to eat healthily, I played tennis, golf and ran regularly, how could I have cancer? The hospital wasted no time and admitted me for surgery at the start of August for a lumpectomy and removed all my lymph nodes under my arm. Then at the beginning of September I had four months of gruelling chemotherapy."

It was this chemotherapy which changed Fiona's appearance radically as she lost all her hair, even her eyelashes and eyebrows. She said: "I wore headscarves to cover my baldness but I found wearing a wig made me feel normal. However, this was hot and uncomfortable at times but I did prefer wearing a wig as no-one could tell I was ill. I also learned how to draw my eyebrows in and how to use make-up to emphasise my eyes, I tried false eyelashes but gave up as they were so fiddly."

Fiona finished chemotherapy at the end of January and started five weeks of radiotherapy in February. She said: "Thankfully the side effects have been minimal and my hair is now growing back as well as the eyebrows and eyelashes. The medical facilities and staff at the new purpose built Cancer Centre are second to none. But staff and patients know there is a need for a wig salon so that women who lose their hair through illness can go and choose a wig, have it professionally styled and leave feeling so much better about their appearance."

Fiona found that University Hospital's Charitable Fund is trying to raise funds for a wig salon and decided she needed to help drive this forward. Fiona said: "Creating a wig salon is vital, getting better is not just about the treatment, keeping your self-esteem is so important to the recovery process. Me, my daughter Becky, Tula Lowe who had the idea, and a group of 15 other ladies are cycling 120 miles from Woore to Abersoch in North Wales to raise money for the wig salon. By sponsoring us you will be helping local ladies to cope with the devastating effect cancer has on their appearance and gives them their self confidence back." 

Fiona will now be using the cancer drug Herceptin, championed by the late Dot Griffiths, for the next year. During all this time Fiona has managed to keep her spirits high. She said: "Since my diagnosis I have met so many women who are on the same journey as me. We have all experienced the life-changing impact that cancer has not just on us but on our families and friends. Having cancer has made me realise how precious life is, how much my family and friends love me and how important my Christian faith is to me. I have met some wonderful people on my journey and have made new friends for life."

Fiona's younger daughter Gaby and husband Andy will be travelling alongside the group trying to raise funds on the way. The group will start off from The Falcon Pub on 19 August 2010 and aims to finish in Abersoch the next day. Anyone who wants to support Fiona and the team can visit www.justgiving.com/Fiona-Fordcycl