Deborah’s Story

“I’m 44, a mum of 4 and have secondary cancer in my brain. I was successfully treated for cervical cancer in 2020 (radio/chemo/brachytherapy, all on my own through COVID) then I fell ill with a migraine 8 months later on holiday and was told in A&E, also on my own, that I had numerous brain tumours.

So far, I’ve had an awake craniotomy and stereotactic radiotherapy. I’ve just had my 3rd round of the stereotactic radio for tumours 5 and 6. Good news is the others have completely vanished! I can’t keep being blasted forever like that but for now I’m grateful to have been treated and wait for the next scan.

I’ve shielded my eldest two (13 and 10) from most of it and my youngest two (4 and 3) are too young to understand. Panting a brave face on and thinking as positively as I can is my go to! This photo was on 31st Dec two months after surgery.

I was a commercial property lawyer before all of this but haven’t been able to work for the last couple of years, so I volunteer at a local school while my two youngest are at nursery to help little ones with reading and numeracy. The side effects from all the treatment I’ve endured are pretty hefty but it’s great to feel part of a team and to be useful.

No-one has ever mentioned support to me - although I’ve sought that out myself via Maggies - but I think for immediate family and friends it’s really vital for them to have an outlet. As well as improvements in the treatment available, patients and their loved one need more support, it’s so important.”