After Aimee’s diagnosis, her mother and friends took on the Pink Ribbon Walk in her honour. Because she was in active treatment, Aimee couldn’t take on the walk herself, but she did the next best thing and signed up to volunteer. Aimee told us about her story and how it felt to volunteer.
Can you tell us about your diagnosis?
I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in November 2023 at the age of 41. This was after 2 previous visits to the breast clinic. I went in 2007 when I felt a lump in my breast, and again in 2018 when I thought it had grown. Both times I was told I had fibroadenomas and that my breasts were ‘lumpy,’ so I didn’t pay much attention to it.
But in September 2023, I noticed I had dimples across my left breast. I thought it looked like the classic ‘orange peel’ appearance, and knowing the signs, I immediately thought, ‘Could this be breast cancer?’ I also paid more attention to my old friend, the lump, and I thought it was larger, so I booked an appointment to see a GP.
The GP didn’t seem that concerned but they made the referral back to the clinic. At this point, I’d started to see a difference in size between my left and right breast. On my left breast, the skin was also red, and the dimpling was getting worse. So, I was pretty confident I was going to get bad news.
What happened next?
When I went to the clinic, I had a mammogram, and they asked to do a biopsy of my left breast and armpit. I was told I’d get the results in 2 weeks, and that was the longest wait of my life.
I was scheduled to go back on a Friday, but I received a call on Wednesday asking me to come in the following morning. At that point, I was certain I had breast cancer, and that was the news they gave me. I also found out I had another area of DCIS (an early-stage cancer), so I had multi-focal cancer. At least 10 of my lymph nodes had cancer too.
The clinic team kept asking me, ‘Did you not feel the lump?’ and I kept just saying that it had been there for as long as I could remember.
Can you tell us about your treatment?
My treatment plan was going to be aggressive and long. They told me to expect 12 to 18 months of cancer treatment, and this scared me the most. I had a job and a life, and I was only 41.
I had 5 months of chemotherapy, as well as a mastectomy, DIEP reconstruction and lymph node clearance, followed by more chemotherapy and radiation.
I had a rough ride those first few months. I lost my hair and had untold stomach issues, and I had acne all over my face and scalp. But I was determined to get through it.
How are you feeling now?
After completing 3 weeks of proton beam treatment at University College London Hospital, I went back to chemotherapy in November 2024. I’m now due to finish active treatment at the end of March 2025, so I’m nearly there!
Last year, I took part in one of Breast Cancer Now’s Younger Women Together events, and that was an amazing thing to be part of. Everyone was so generous in sharing their stories and experiences, and it gave me the strength to continue the long road.
Last summer, I also volunteered at Breast Cancer Now's Pink Ribbon Walk which was fantastic, and I made a friend for life.
How did you get involved in volunteering at the Pink Ribbon Walks?
Shortly after my diagnosis, my mum and her best friends decided to take part in the Pink Ribbon Walk at Blenheim Palace. It was a way to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now, in my honour.
I wasn’t in a position to take part myself, but I’d been given a 6-week gap to recuperate before my mastectomy and reconstruction. So, I decided to volunteer on the day instead.
I signed up to volunteer, explaining my health situation, and I received a call from a lovely staff member. They assured me that I need only do what I could and told me to take things at my own pace. This really gave me the confidence to take part, even though I was still going through active treatment.
What happened on the day?
When I got to the volunteer tent, I was greeted by the super friendly team and given my orange t-shirt and all the information I could need.
I’d been assigned as a marshal to direct cars arriving to the event. I was paired up with an incredible lady called Jane, who has had her own experience of breast cancer. She was just the most wonderful and friendly person. We spent the next couple of hours chatting, laughing, and sharing our many stories, all while waving, cheering, and directing the cars coming onto the site.
When we spotted the walking groups, we were given tambourines and an armful of medals to give people at the finish line. The atmosphere was electric, with the music pumping and the crowd all cheering and celebrating.
I was following my family’s progress on the phone, so I was getting more and more excited. As they walked towards the finish line, I was emotional, and I was encouraged to walk the last few metres with them. It all meant so much to me, especially since they’d raised so much money (over £1,500!).
Would you like to volunteer with us again?
Definitely. Jane and I promised each other we’d meet again at the 2025 event, and I didn’t hesitate to sign up when the time came. Jane and I stayed in contact all year, and even though we live far apart, we’ve been supporting each other with our own journeys. I’m really looking forward to welcoming the next class of Pink Ribbon walkers, when we volunteer in 2025.
Volunteer with us
If you’ve been inspired to volunteer at the Pink Ribbon Walks, we’d love you to join us.
Join our community of Pink Ribbon Walk Volunteers at Crieff Hydro or Chatsworth House.