A Shropshire woman who beat cancer three times is calling for the next UK Government to help save more lives from cancer.
Val Sinclair, from Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury who describes herself as “one of the lucky ones”, says she is living proof of the power of research after being diagnosed with breast cancer three times.
Underlining unacceptable cancer waiting times and an alarming £1bn gap in funding for life-saving research, Val believes she owes her life to Cancer Research UK after she was told she had a type of breast cancer that could be controlled by a targeted treatment the charity helped to develop called Letrozole.
She said: “Research is essential if cancer is ever going to be 'eradicated' or if cures are to be found. In the meantime, research is helping to find new ways of treatment and diagnosis, but much more is needed.”
Now, as polling day fast-approaches, Val - who is a popular blues and jazz singer - is backing Cancer Research UK’s Turning Point for Cancer campaign and says tackling the disease must be a top election priority for all political parties.
Val Sinclair, from Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury who describes herself as “one of the lucky ones”, says she is living proof of the power of research after being diagnosed with breast cancer three times.
Underlining unacceptable cancer waiting times and an alarming £1bn gap in funding for life-saving research, Val believes she owes her life to Cancer Research UK after she was told she had a type of breast cancer that could be controlled by a targeted treatment the charity helped to develop called Letrozole.
She said: “Research is essential if cancer is ever going to be 'eradicated' or if cures are to be found. In the meantime, research is helping to find new ways of treatment and diagnosis, but much more is needed.”
Now, as polling day fast-approaches, Val - who is a popular blues and jazz singer - is backing Cancer Research UK’s Turning Point for Cancer campaign and says tackling the disease must be a top election priority for all political parties.
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NewsTranscript
00:00So, in 2013, I had my 18-month mammogram.
00:17I was always having an 18-month mammogram rather than a 3-year because my mother died
00:22of ovary cancer and it was suggested that I was screened earlier than normal.
00:28And I was diagnosed with a grade 1 breast cancer.
00:32I was clear then for 5 years and I went back onto the normal 18 months rather than the
00:373-year screening.
00:39And lo and behold, after the first 18 months of being clear, I was then diagnosed with
00:44a grade 2 breast cancer on the other side.
00:48And it was followed by just a normal lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
00:56And then 2 years after that, I was diagnosed again on the previous side with a grade 2
01:01breast cancer and I decided that, and was advised obviously, to have a mastectomy.
01:08But I can honestly say if it hadn't been for the skill of my breast surgeon doing a physical
01:13examination and the fact that I attended every 18 months, I wouldn't be here speaking to
01:20you now.
01:21It would be a totally different story.
01:23But you know, there's so much to look forward to at every stage of your life.
01:29I hope to carry on performing for a few more years if the voice holds out.
01:34I want to be at my niece's wedding.
01:37I want to see cancer eradicated, but more importantly, I'd like to see women not having
01:45to face the huge trauma of being diagnosed too late with breast cancer.
01:50Let it be diagnosed when it's at a really early stage and that's so easy to do.