You can get through this, says Deborah

PICTURE: Deborah in her inspiring running vest!

Eight years ago, Deborah Cooper was taking a shower when she felt a lump. Within a week she knew she had breast cancer and within a month, she’d had a full mastectomy.

Her cancer was caught early, so she did not need further treatment, but tests showed she had the BRCA2 gene variation, predisposing her to both breast and ovarian cancer.

As a triathlete who had just completed an Ironman 2.5 mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon, it was a huge shock. As a mother of two and as a woman with a relatively new partner, it was life-changing.

“It was hard,” said Deborah. “I hadn’t been with my husband Jon for very long, but he was amazing, so understanding.

“One of the worst days was when I had to tell my children. Looking my daughter in the eye and saying, ‘I have breast cancer’ was harder than being told I had it myself.”

Because of her genetic diagnosis, Deborah had a second mastectomy and a hysterectomy – operations to reduce her risk of developing cancer again.

Family and friends rallied round her through five major surgeries as she fought her way back to health, maintaining her fitness during her treatment and recovery.

Six years later, Deborah, who is from Easingwold, stood on the starting line of the ASDA Foundation Yorkshire Marathon, fundraising for us by running the tough 26-mile course in October 2018.

She made it through atrocious weather conditions, smashing her £500 target to raise £1,600 as her supporters cheered her on.

Deborah had customised her York Against Cancer running vest to carry the words ‘Cancer Survivor’ proudly on her chest and found that the crowd and her fellow runners gave her extra encouragement as she ran.

As we mark Cancer Survivors Day on June 7 2020, Deborah is looking forward to running this autumn’s Yorkshire Marathon once more. She will be doing it primarily for herself but will be asking anyone who feels like supporting her to give to us.

She is still well and cancer-free with support from her GP and a practice nurse who has recently given her an intensive health ‘MOT’.

“I have been doing some triathlons, just minor ones, nothing too long-distance,” said Deborah. “I find it helps not just for my physical but for my mental strength. I don’t make any record times, but for a 52-year-old woman I have a good level of fitness.”

For anyone newly diagnosed, Deborah has offered some words of encouragement and advice.

“You can get through this!” she said. “People do survive cancer nowadays. My first question was, ‘Am I going to die?’ because that is initially what you think, but cancer isn’t always the death sentence that you first think it is.

“Surround yourself with support and get a little bit from everybody. Someone said to me, ‘Use everybody’s tissues and don’t necessarily rely on one person,’ and that was good advice. I definitely had fantastic support from my friends and family.

“Exercise was the thing for me to keep my head clear as much as my body healthy – just going for a walk with your hand in the hand of someone you love can make all the difference.”