Anyone who has navigated a cancer diagnosis and treatment knows a fundamental truth, the need for support doesn’t end when the medical team gives the all-clear.
A diagnosis of cancer can change a life in an instant. For some, it can lead to a sense of reflection, uncertainty and worry about the future.
Throughout 2026, we’re sharing the stories of our clients, volunteers and staff who make the Wessex Cancer Support community what it is. Through our community’s lived experience of cancer, we can provide our clients with the tailored support they need.
For our first 45 Year story and to support Breast Cancer Awareness, Amanda, Regional Fundraiser for Dorset, shares her experience from client to colleague at Wessex Cancer Support.
If you told me just a few years ago that I would one day, be the Regional Fundraiser for Dorset for Wessex Cancer Support, I would never have believed you. My journey with this amazing charity is personal, and it started not as an employee in May 2025, but as a patient looking for help.
In 2017, life unfurled in a beautiful tapestry of joy. In May, I married my best friend, my partner in crime, my rock.
Our family, too, felt the deep relief when my mother completed her final radiotherapy, marking the end of an arduous 18-month fight with breast cancer. Life felt perfect, the future bright and wide open.
Then came November, and the simple act of self-examination brought my world to a jarring halt. I found a lump.
December brought those devastating words no one ever wants to hear: “It’s cancer.” The world stopped turning.
It was my turn to face breast cancer.
Plans for a delayed honeymoon were instantly replaced with the cold coordination of scheduling a mastectomy. Four days before my 46th birthday, instead of looking forward to a special dinner, I was undergoing surgery.
Thankfully, due to early detection and the incredible skill of the medical professionals, February brought the news I prayed for – no further treatment was needed.
I was cured and placed on preventative medication for the next five to ten years. Everyone around me was thrilled.
I was supposed to be too. I was better.
But inside, I was still struggling.
The emotional reality of what had happened was overwhelming. The breast nurse at Poole Hospital gently suggested I contact Wessex Cancer Support for support. Stubborn and usually resilient, I hesitated. I was cured, after all. My job was done. Yet, the pervasive feelings of fear, anxiety, and isolation didn’t go away.
Anyone who has navigated a cancer diagnosis and treatment knows a fundamental truth, the need for support doesn’t end when the medical team gives the all-clear.
Sometimes, that’s when the need is greatest. Treatment is a whirlwind of appointments and recovery, focusing entirely on the body. But when the medical staff have done their job and the physical scars begin to heal, the mind and soul demand their own healing.
My husband finally encouraged me to visit Wessex Cancer Support. It was the best decision I could have made.
Walking into the Bournemouth Cancer Support Centre , I felt an immediate, profound sense of safety.
I poured my heart out to the amazing Support Volunteer on duty, who listened without judgment and offered a range of services, starting with counselling. I never thought I’d need a counsellor, yet there I was, sharing my darkest fears with a stranger. My soul felt perceptibly lighter.
I tried Reiki, which was incredible. I spoke with other clients and volunteers, realising that my turbulent, confused emotions were common, I wasn’t alone. There was a community ready to help me find my way back.
The support I received was nothing short of amazing, and I was compelled to give back. I started volunteering, using my own experience to help others in their time of need. I initiated an evening support group specifically for those returning to work after treatment, addressing a silent but significant challenge for survivors.
Then, at the beginning of 2025, my journey came full circle. I was offered a formal role with Wessex Cancer Support.
And here I am today, sharing my story with you.
My experience was not just about survival, but a profound lesson in the power of shared vulnerability. I learned that true resilience isn’t about being perfectly strong; it’s about knowing when and where to seek shelter and, ultimately, reaching back to light the way for someone else.
I walked into Wessex Cancer Support as a struggling patient, and I now serve as a passionate professional, committed to ensuring no one has to face the difficult journey after the ‘all-clear’, alone.
If you, or someone you know has been affected by cancer, your local cancer support centre is there for you. We offer a range of free, personalised support services from complementary therapies, to counselling and peer support groups. We tailor our services around your needs.
You can call or email your local centre today, or drop in to speak to our friendly team.
