‘I was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer just days before my wedding’
A bride-to-be has revealed how she was diagnosed with incurable cancer just days before her wedding.
Sarah Bamber, 45, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, found a lump on her breast before she was due to put on her white dress and walk down the aisle.
The soon-to-be wed said she had also lost a significant amount of weight, which prompted concern for her health.
A doctor’s visit last year and later biopsies confirmed Sarah's fears and she was told she had breast cancer.
Further investigations showed the tumours had been there for some time and had spread to her liver and bones.
The mum-of-three was given the devastating news that although her cancer could be treated, it couldn’t be cured and she was given a prognosis of between five and eight years.
"I was devastated," she says of being told the news. "It was supposed to be such a happy time."
Telling her children, who were just three and four when she received her diagnosis, presented its own challenge.
“When my husband and I sat them down, it was a huge thing for us to do, and a very difficult conversation to have with a three and four-year-old.
“We never say the treatment will make me better or anything like that, as you never want to say something that’s not true.
''But there will probably come a time when we will need to have more of an in-depth conversation with them.”
Following her diagnosis, Sarah began treatment at The Christie, a leading cancer care centre in the UK.
Initially she underwent 24 cycles (24 weeks) of chemotherapy, which finished in March 2024, and she now receives treatment every three weeks in a bid to prevent the tumours from growing for as long as possible.
She described The Christie as, “an amazing place,” with incredibly supportive staff.
“I’ve met people who have been given three to six months to live, and they’re so inspiring and so positive,” she says.
“It shines a different light on my situation.”
To raise money for the hospital, Sarah’s husband Chris, along with the director of recruitment agency The City Recruiter and friend Nick Ryan are organising a charity rugby event at the Regional Arena in Manchester City.
Both are ex-players with Nick having previously played for Salford Academy.
The event will see the men’s and women’s teams going up against the GB Police teams and will take place on 29th September.
Opening up on the importance of the upcoming event in raising money for a hospital which has given so much support to its patients and their families, Sarah says: "What I see when I go for scans, etc. is a hospital doing its absolute best, but which could probably do with more resources.
"Anything that we can do to give back to The Christie, to support it in continuing its research into cancer or in looking after its patients and facilities is worthwhile."
The event has been supported by Tesco, where Sarah has worked for 22 years in various roles.
Looking to the future, Sarah hopes to see continued development of drugs to treat and cure the disease, as well as better knowledge and understanding of breast cancer.
“As with every cancer, it’s important that you catch it early," she explains.
“The reason I’ve got between five and eight years is because of the incredible amount of work that has been done on cancer care over the last 10-15 years.
“If we can play a role in preventing anyone else’s breast cancer being incurable because it has been diagnosed too late, that would be amazing.”
Nick Ryan, director of The City Recruiter, who is helping organise the event says: “The charity is instrumental in helping people in their time of need.
“The matches are just one way we can raise funds for the incredible work The Christie does, while bringing everyone together for two entertaining games of rugby.
Sarah’s husband and rugby veteran, Chris Bamber, adds: “We’re staying strong as a family.
“The event is raising money for such a fantastic cause and will allow us to reunite on the field again.
"I’ll be thinking of Sarah and the countless people affected by cancer, this is my way of trying to give something back.”
Additional reporting SWNS.
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