A WIRRAL woman who was "living her best life" before receiving a devastating cancer diagnosis decided to make it her mission to help others going through the same.
Lauren Upshall from Heswall was diagnosed with Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36 in November 2021, just four months after getting married to husband, Matt.
After finding a lump in her left breast Lauren visited the breast clinic to be scanned and have a mammogram, as well as a biopsy on the same day.
Speaking about receiving her breast cancer diagnosis, Lauren said: "It felt like the walls of the room were closing in on me when I was told. The next three weeks were very hectic, I went to four hospitals to have scans, an ECG, fertility preservation, more scans, and blood tests.
"There was one or more appointments each day so life was very crazy. In a way, it was a good distraction and we didn't have time to think about what was happening really.
"It came as a massive shock as I had just got married in July and was 'living my best life'. I was the fittest and healthiest I’d ever been, so it really took me and my family by surprise. It just goes to show cancer has no specific targets.
"My family were devastated and in a lot of shock. It came totally out of the blue. However, because I had such a brave and positive attitude, I think it helped them all.
“When you get a cancer diagnosis you feel like you’re the only one. I found it hard being so young, I'd only ever known older people having it so I struggled a bit with that however once I started my treatment I met so many others my age or older and younger so you soon realise you’re not the only one."
Lauren's treatment started on December 17 2021. She had 20 weeks of chemotherapy at Delamere Ward at Clatterbridge, followed by breast surgery to remove the lumpectomy at Broadgreen Hospital. She then had 15 rounds of radiotherapy back at Clatterbridge.
After starting treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Lauren made it her goal to help fund the purchase of new Scalp Coolers for patients undergoing chemotherapy at Clatterbridge.
The 37-year-old added: "While I was going through my chemotherapy and after the way I was treated by the staff and nurses there, I decided I needed to give something back to them and others going through the sane as me. Something to make the nurses’ jobs easier and to make the struggle of being poorly and on treatment better.
"I was lucky to be offered the use of a Scalp Cooling machine – a 'cold cap' to help prevent the loss of my hair while I was on chemotherapy. I went on to find out that these machines cost around £10,000 - £12,000, so I was astonished. Then I found out that Clatterbridge Cancer Charity raises the funds for them, they don't all come through the NHS.
"I decided I needed and wanted to raise some money so they could have more machines for others to use.
"I thought and hoped that over the six months I was going to be on chemo for, I would hopefully raise £5000. Within four weeks, the GoFundMe page I set up had reached £10,000 – I was blown away. It then continued to go up and up and up."
Lauren’s family and friends all got involved. They did several charity raffles at work, sponsored walks, sponsored haircuts, cake sales, coffee mornings, and a half marathon up Moel Famau.
Lauren’s husband, Matt, and some friends did the three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours, and Lauren’s old workplace, Tesco in Heswall, got involved too.
She added: "By November 2022 the GoFundMe page reached an amazing £40,000. I still to this day can't believe how kind and generous people were.
"I'm now currently all clear of cancer, and I'm now rebuilding and enjoying my next chapter of life. I will have mammograms every year to check and make sure the green eyed monster keeps away. I've got a whole new lease of life and a totally different outlook on life now."
Elspeth Wilson from Clatterbridge Cancer Charity said: "We can’t thank Lauren enough for her amazing support. To set up a fundraising page and raise such a phenomenal amount over 12 months really is astonishing – we are so grateful for everything Lauren, and her friends and family have done to support local people who are currently having treatment at Clatterbridge."
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