June depended on our minibus
At 73, June Rhodes (pictured above) no longer went for routine breast screening.
But when she was invited for a mammogram by hospital trial researchers, she decided to go along – and discovered she had breast cancer.
“It was such a fluke,” said June. “I didn’t know that anything was wrong and if not for that invitation, I don’t know when I would have found out.”
The researchers were studying whether the age limit for screening should be lifted. Thankfully, they caught June’s cancer when it was small, but after initial surgery she needed a further procedure to remove more of the area around the tumour, and to take out her lymph nodes.
This was followed by a course of radiotherapy that brought June into contact with York Against Cancer, as she used our minibus to ferry her to and from Leeds for treatment.
“It’s not just a lift to hospital,” she said. “There is such a lot of comradeship and I think that really helps. There was one lady on the bus who had had chemotherapy. She would take her hat off and we would say, ‘Let’s see how many hairs have grown back this week!’ I call it the fun bus.
“People can feel very isolated and on the bus everybody is helping everybody along. We call keep in touch and everyone knows how you feel, if you’re a bit down you can call them. And the drivers are full of fun; they are very caring men and they realise what you are going through.”
The minibus was the first in a series of our services that June says made all the difference to her recovery.
She found lots of support at York Hospital’s Cancer Care Centre, a one-stop shop created through our fundraising appeal in 1997.
“When you walk in there, it’s like a warm blanket that has been wrapped around you,” she said. “There are these lovely people in this caring atmosphere – they can’t do more for you.
“I had six Reiki sessions with Michelle (one of the Cancer Care Centre staff whose posts York Against Cancer supports).
“She was fantastic, and I found the treatment very relaxing, but it wasn’t just the treatment, I think I cried with her more than I did with anybody else.
“The Look Good, Feel Better sessions were lovely – there was a lady next to me who had no eyebrows and at the end of the session she looked fabulous.
“You feel special because of the way you have been treated. The surgical care I received was great, but this was something different. I don’t think I would have recovered as quickly as I did if not for those people.”
June also enjoyed a trip to our Whitby respite apartment, taking husband Jim along with her together with their children and grandchildren.
“It is a beautiful place, absolutely stunning and so relaxing,” she said. “It was quality time with all my family, and it was a way to thank them for all their support. You’re away from home having a little holiday and it was fabulous.”
As she started to recover June held a coffee morning to raise cash for us and for Macmillan Cancer Support as a way of saying thank you to us.
She is gradually getting stronger and stronger, and has been taking part in gym and Nordic walking sessions to assist with her return to fitness.
We’re delighted to report that when she had her first follow-up mammogram, all was well.