Mary’s story
Age: 68 years
Diagnosis: malignant melanoma.
I was diagnosed in 2008 with malignant melanoma. This started as a mole on my arm which was removed. It had spread to the lymph nodes in my left armpit and my left adrenal gland. This cancer is only treated surgically.
Then in 2016 a routine mammogram picked up a lump in my left breast which I thought was melanoma spread. It wasn’t – it was breast cancer which was treated surgically and then a course of radiotherapy. Because the two cancers were quite close together, I have some long-term damage to my left arm. I had to find out for myself that I had lymphoedema in my arm and asked my gp to refer me to a clinic. That was the first time I had heard about the Cancer Support Centre.
At the time, I felt very frightened and alone, even though I found it difficult to talk to anybody. I was also aware that I was lucky and that it could have been so much worse.
My first visits to the Centre were to see the Lymphoedema Clinic. I also saw someone (I think it was you Jackie!) for what I think was an assessment. I wished then that there were more people to talk to, but I was quite depressed at the time.
Now I have become more familiar with the Centre, I am very much looking forward to getting involved with the groups when they start again. I have been seeing Roy roughly fortnightly for a while – he’s doing my nerves a load of good!
Even though I found it difficult to engage with all the activities at the Centre initially, I was very reassured that it was there with all that was offered. Being diagnosed with cancer is such a complete shock, I think many clients, like me, may well have some mental health struggles while they learn to cope with it. For that reason, I am waiting for the time that the drop-in social sessions can come back, so people could just come along, get used to the Centre and some of the staff and clients.