In the 10 years since Beverly Angus found out she had breast cancer the only time she broke down and cried was when she was told she carries the BRCA 1 gene, which could be passed on to her daughter.
“It wasn’t just about me anymore,” said Beverly, “The tears weren’t for me, but for my daughter.”
The 50-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 - the day before her 40th birthday. She had a four-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter at the time and said while it was difficult, her children helped to keep her going.
Facing up to treatment
Beverley's treatment was extensive and included a lumpectomy, a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She is, however, quick to point out that she had “a dream run and flew through the treatment".
Beverly admits there is a stigma around chemotherapy and the terrible affects it can have for some people, but she would advise other cancer sufferers not to be too afraid as sometimes the side effects are minimal.
“Before the first round of chemotherapy I was terrified,” she said “but it didn’t make me tired at all and I didn’t lose any of my hair.”
A discovery and difficult decisions
Although free of cancer, that was not the end of the story. In 2003 she was told she carries the BRCA 1 gene. This was difficult news for Beverly to grasp as it meant the disease was no longer hers to battle alone, but would likely have to be fought by her daughter.
Following this news, Beverly decided to take preventative measures against the disease, having her other breast and her ovaries removed.
Despite all this, Beverly considers herself have been left relatively ‘untouched’ by breast cancer. She said throughout the diagnosis and treatment she always tried to put her best foot forward, to stay positive and to hope for the best and she said she couldn’t have wished for better treatment than she received at The Royal Marsden.
She is glowing in her description of the hospital.
“I had the most amazing treatment and care, it was just fantastic and I don’t use those words lightly” she said.
She says the ongoing support has also been incredible. She made the decision to keep her children informed as the treatment progressed and staff at the hospital gave her guidance on how best to explain what was happening. She said the staff did more than just treat her illness, they also helped her cope with the wider impact of it.
Ongoing care
Beverly returns to the hospital yearly to be seen by the genetic clinic and has recently had both breast implants replaced, as they had reached their shelf-life.
“I decided to go up a size.” she laughed “I feel very, very lucky that I ended up at The Royal Marsden, the treatment is extraordinarily wonderful.”