A BOLTON teacher is backing a national health campaign after spending nine months battling breast cancer.

Katy Sharkey is reflecting on her personal experience over the past year in support of Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign.

The 37-year-old, who is head of art at Harper Green School, found a lump on her left breast in the shower in March – the same day her baby boy Rowan celebrated his first birthday.

After being diagnosed with grade three breast cancer, she under went months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, losing 70 per cent of her hair in the process.

Ms Sharkey, who is married to Matt and is also step-mum to Hayden aged 12 and eight-year-old Morgan, kept a diary of her experiences and took as many photos as possible during her cancer journey.

She said: “The last nine months have been incredibly difficult, but I’m now focusing on the future and looking forward to what the New Year holds. It has been a really moving experience to look back over the photos and see just how far I’ve come. My experience means I understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important.

“That’s why I’m backing the Right Now campaign and I’m urging people across the North West to get involved in whatever way they can, to help fund Cancer Research UK’s crucial work.”

After discovering the lump, Ms Sharkey booked an appointment with her GP and was referred to hospital where it was initially dismissed as nothing serious, but when she returned for a scan and in April was told she had grade three breast cancer with a 2cm wide tumour. She had a lumpectomy – a surgical procedure to remove the lump – five days later at Leigh Infirmary and fortunately the cancer had not spread into the lymph nodes.

However, a Oncotype DX test showed there was a one in five probability of the cancer returning. As a result, Ms Shakey began a course of chemotherapy from June 1 to September 14. She wore a cold cap throughout the treatment and lost 70 per cent of her hair and had a five week break before starting radiotherapy at The Christie on November 1.

Her radiotherapy involved a special technique called deep inspiration breath hold.

Designed to inflate a patient’s lungs and push their heart away from their chest wall and from the area being treated, it minimises potential radiation damage to the heart.

Ms Sharkey added: “I was completely shocked when I heard the words ‘you have cancer’. My first thought was for my husband and children, and whether I would see baby Rowan grow up. It was so difficult to be diagnosed at such a young age but my loved ones have been with me every step of the way and I couldn’t have done it without them. Now, I can’t wait to look ahead to the future and 2017 is set to be a special year. I am hoping to return to work in the spring and I feel very lucky to still be here and enjoying precious moments with my loved ones.”

For more information on how to help beat cancer sooner, visit www.cruk.org.