I won’t give into my cancer

Mar 27 2008 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

‘A positive attitude to life that she believes helped her to survive cancer’

Breast cancer survivor Lynne O’Brien was nominated for our Mother’s Day make-over by her husband Patrick and is one of our runners-up. We treated her to a new look and a new outfit. HILARIE STELFOX reports

THERE can be no doubt that 42-year-old Lynne O’Brien lives life to the full.

But then she’s got more reason than most to cherish every day she spends with her family and friends.

Five years ago Lynne developed breast cancer and endured seven months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. And despite being given the all-clear her battle against the disease has yet to end.

Because Lynne, who lost both her mother and grandmother to breast cancer, has recently made the brave decision to opt for a double mastectomy to reduce the chances of the disease returning from 80% to less than 4%.

Her husband, Patrick, a long-distance lorry driver, is understandably proud of his wife and the way she fought back after the devastating diagnosis. “Even though the treatment made her poorly she kept smiling and was positive that it would not beat her,’’ he said.

“Lynne is a great mum to her children Gavin and Hannah,’’ he wrote. “She is a caring, thoughtful and loving person, and loved very much.” .

Lynne, who is a cover supervisor at Royds Hall High School, Paddock, where she has worked for the past 10 years, has a positive attitude to life that she believes helped her to survive cancer.

“I did have a big support network of family and friends and you won’t get through without that. But I kept going as much as I could because if you stop and give up then the cancer beats you,’’ she explained.

Lynne, a former nursery nurse, has always enjoyed working with children. Her current job involves taking pre-planned lessons as a stand-in for teachers.

She is also the manager of the school’s internal exclusion unit.

Her own children are clearly the focus of her life. Hannah, 15, has a horse and competes in showjumping events as a member of Pole Moor Riding Club while Gavin, 17, is an enthusiastic rugby union player for the Huddersfield YMCA Under-19 Colts.

Lynne divides her time between the two, travelling to horse shows and organising rugby tours.

“I support Gavin in the winter with his rugby and then support Hannah in the show season, which begins just as the rugby season ends,’’ said Lynne, who also raises money for the rugby team.

Because her mother had breast cancer four times Lynne has had annual check ups for many years. When she developed the disease she was given a lumpectomy.

Following genetic counselling she has opted for the double mastectomy and reconstruction because it offers her the best chance of long-term survival.

“I won’t get the results of genetic testing for a year, but I’ve made the right decision. It’s always been in the back of my mind because of what happened to my mum. Patrick and the kids are behind me all the way,’’ said Lynne.

Thrilled to have been nominated for a make-over by her husband, Lynne enjoyed a special day of pampering at the Vanilla salon in Aspley and then modelled a selection of clothes for this page at Dress for Less in Lindley.