Breast cancer survivor Karen Littlewood celebrates her 40th birthday

Nov 20 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Her worst fears were confirmed when she was told the lump was cancer and at grade three was too large to remove with surgery alone. Cancer is graded between grade 1, the lowest, and grade five, the worst form.

Her consultant, Jo Dent, decided she would be the first patient in Huddersfield to trial Herceptin with chemotherapy.

The lump eventually shrunk and Karen took the brave decision to have a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed.

“I just wanted it gone,’’ she said. “I knew I had a future with Gordon and the children and I didn’t want any chance of it recurring especially because of my family history.”

She has since gone on to have difficult reconstructive surgery and is taking hormone tablets to prevent the cancer returning.

“I stayed positive throughout, even when I was in and out of hospital,’’ she added. “I knew I wanted to beat it and get on with my life. I never wanted to wallow in my illness or talk about it that much to people.

“I do the Race For Life every year and raise money for Breast Cancer Care. That is my way of carrying on. I have so much to live for.

“Life really does begin at 40 for me!’’