Our sister company, Berkeley Home Health, has a carer Rae who has been brave and spoken out about her life before and after her breast cancer diagnosis.
Rae has a husband and three children.
Before joining the Berkeley Northwood team back in January 2017, she has been an unpaid carer for family members and friends for most of her adult life.
Rae experienced very limited symptoms but one thing that did change was her dog’s attitude towards her. Rae couldn’t work out what had changed, she would no longer recall or let Rae pet her. Rae found this out of character and wondered if her dog could sense something wasn’t right. So, out of concern, Rae bravely visited her GP.
Before her cancer diagnosis, Rae was anxious that she may get cancer. Both her Grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and her mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In 2020, Rae received the news that she had breast cancer.
In Rae’s own words…
“Diagnosis rams’ home that you could die, your own mortality is so fragile, and nothing is promised. My husband was scared but knew I was stubborn and a fighter and was not going to let cancer get the better of me if I could help it.”
All this happened during the first lockdown and meant that Rae, from the first GP appointment, diagnosis and treatment, had to faced alone, while her husband was at home with their children.
Rae’s life since the surgeries and treatment is very different to what it was previously. Whilst Rae can’t do everything like she did prior to her diagnosis, it hasn’t stopped her from making the most of life.
The support Rae has received from the Northwood team was amazing. They continue to understand the limitations she has and work with her, so she can continue as a carer and supporting her clients.
After six rounds of chemotherapy, fifteen rounds of radiotherapy, surgery and a year and a half out of work, Rae has returned and is back to doing what she loves the most – caring for others. What an inspirational woman!
