When Suzanne Evans acquired the devastating information, she had a competitive shape of breast most cancers she feared the worst for herself and her daughters’ destiny. But the mum-of-four obtained love and guidance from an unexpected source – her ex-husband’s new wife, Paula. Paula stepped up, held Suzanne’s hand through her weekly chemotherapy periods, and promised to be there for her ladies constantly.
The girls have been on cordial phrases with each different in advance – continually chatting at their own family birthdays or christenings. Paula married hubby Chris, fifty-five, in September 2013 once they had been dating for 18 months. Chris had previously broken up from Suzanne in 2010 after 14 years of marriage. But while Suzanne, 51, becomes identified with breast cancer in August’s ultimate year, a unique friendship blossomed among the 2 ladies.
They have now agreed to percentage their tale because of the faces of M&S and Breast Cancer Now’s fundraising marketing campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This October, M&S will donate 25% from selected sleepwear merchandise to Breast Cancer Now, helping fund groundbreaking breast cancer research. Suzanne said: “When I break up with Chris, we stayed in true phrases for the youngsters; that became the maximum important issue. Divorce is continually disturbing; it’s now not a clean choice. However, it turned into the right one. But we stayed buddies.
Suzanne has four daughters, Rebecca, 26, Lauren, 23, Megan, 22, and 13-12 months-vintage Hannah. She said: “I was diagnosed with cancer in August remaining yr, a month after my 50th birthday. Around February, I felt something changed into incorrect; I had a robust feeling something turned into not proper. After my fiftieth in July, I felt something, a lump. I’m kicking myself now. I desire I’d acted in advance. However, I simply thought, ‘it can’t appear to me.
But in August, I felt the lump, and I panicked. I became to the doctor the next morning at 8.30. Suzanne changed into stated the Mermaid breast most cancers health facility at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. I was given an appointment highly quickly. When I noticed the health practitioner, I stated, ‘it’s likely only a cyst,’ but I could tell from the appearance on his face.
They address nowadays in, day trip; they understand what they’re looking for.
It felt so surreal, horrendous. You suppose ‘I’ve were given most cancers, I’m going to die.’ It’s like a grieving technique for yourself. Suzanne had a mammogram, ultrasound remedy, and a biopsy – and 10 days later obtained the terrible affirmation it turned into cancer. She stated: “I went to see the representative, and he stated they’d found cancerous cells. It became horrific; I went bloodless from head to toe.
They stored pronouncing it become very treatable, but I became simply thinking ‘that’s it.’ Then I idea ‘am I going to lose my hair.’ There are so many feelings suddenly. It was torture; the mental aspect is so hard. How do I inform the youngsters? My youngest Hannah became most effective thirteen, and she’d see me crying at home. It changed into fear of the unknown. Suzanne commenced her chemotherapy on October four final 12 months with daughter Lauren, 23, taking her to her first couple of treatments.
But then she obtained a marvel call – from her ex-husband’s new wife, Paula.
She said: “Until then, it had been very tough, I felt on my own. I wanted reassurance that my women would be ok. When Paula heard about the chemo periods, she insisted on taking me. I’d already had a couple, and she referred to me as me and said she turned into available to pressure me there. She instructed me she and Chris have been devastated when they heard approximately the diagnosis. The first time Paula took Suzanne to her chemotherapy she sat preserving her hand and the 2 girls had an emotional coronary heart-to-heart.