I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago. When you receive news like that, you have no idea how you are going to deal with it, and what follows. At the time, I was a keen amateur actress so I immersed myself in rehearsing and performing. Sometimes I would go straight from a chemotherapy session to a rehearsal. I was determined that the cancer was the enemy, and I would fight it. It had to fit around my routine, NOT the other way around.
Soon after my fifth chemo session, I performed as the Witch in "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". Luckily, I had to wear a long black wig, so my grey, thinning hair did not show!
After 6 sessions of chemo and 33 sessions of radiotherapy, things were looking up and now, 6 years later, I am just on tablets.
However, the biggest change in my life is that I have now become a professional actress, something I would not have had the nerve to do before the cancer.
I have been in 3 feature films, several TV programmes, commercials, voiceovers and much more!
There is no doubt that, without having had the cancer, I would still be an amateur actress, playing to village hall audiences!!
I Survived!!
Biggin Hill, Kent, United Kingdom
