Sharron, pictured here before her cancer diagnosis, hugs her dog Rudy
Sharron’s cancer journey began with the discovery of a lump in her breast…
Having discovered a lump in her right breast in December 2023, Sharron Moffatt (49) was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer in January 2024.
Sharron, a vibrant mental health trainer from Buckinghamshire, who loves to adopt senior dogs, has always regularly checked her breasts.
Describing the emotions she felt on receiving her diagnosis, Sharron recalls:
“I honestly didn’t feel much at first. There was no anxiety, no tears, or any of the expected reactions. I felt quite calm.
“I chose to attend all my appointments alone, as I didn’t want to worry anyone. It also gave me a chance to gather my strength and prepare myself for any outcome.”
Sharron after two rounds of chemotherapy
Not just one lump – results show three tumours in Sharron’s breast
January was filled with appointments. Mammograms, a biopsy and finally an MRI scan revealed not just one, but three “rebellious tumours”.
Currently, Sharron has just finished her third round of chemo and has four more to go. Next on the agenda is surgery, followed by radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
As no tumours are showing up in her lymph nodes, Sharron is hopeful that the cancer has been caught early enough. “It’s currently grade 2, I won’t know the stage until after my surgery.”
Remaining working is key to Sharron’s recovery
Sharron uses humour when talking about her cancer diagnosis and treatment, which can feel challenging both physically and emotionally.
“I’ve even had my eyebrows tattooed! I’ve also developed a newfound love for wigs.”
The support of friends and family has helped her remain grounded and reminds her that she is still the same person.
“I set personal boundaries early on and chose not to share everything about side effects. Despite this I couldn’t go through this without my family and my friends. They are my reminders of my normal life and help me feel like myself despite my changing appearance.
“Treatment feels like running a marathon. The side effects can be tough, but they eventually pass. I’ve learned to manage my expectations, accepting that for about a week after chemo, I can’t do as much as I’d like.”
Sharron puts the Workplace Cancer Support Ambassador training into practice all the time and use her own experiences to educate others
Sharron was delighted when a chemo kit from Cancer Support UK arrived in the post, to provide her with some practical support while going through treatment, as well as a reminder that others were thinking of her at this difficult time.
“The cancer kits from Cancer Support UK are absolute game-changers. They’re packed with stuff you actually need. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Work continues to play a big part in Sharron’s emotional focus while receiving treatment.
“One myth I hear all the time is that people like me can’t work. But we can if we want and feel able to. For me, having a focus and continuing to work is a key part of my recovery.
“Since I’m a social butterfly, what keeps me going is having something social planned to look forward to once I start feeling better.”
Sharron uses the Workplace Cancer Support Ambassador training to educate others
Ironically, it was prior to her cancer diagnosis that Sharron was inspired to become a Workplace Cancer Support Ambassador, because of her mum’s breast cancer. She has found the training extremely useful in many areas of her life.
“It’s common to assume that you know how someone feels when they are going through treatment. Every person’s cancer experience is unique. Even on the same treatment, people can react differently.
“I’ve experienced first-hand avoidance, unhelpful comments, lack of understanding and myths. I put the Workplace Cancer Support Ambassador training into practice all the time and use my own experiences to educate others.
“Because I have personal experience of the impact that mental illness can have on an individual, their colleagues and their work, I’m passionate about equipping leaders and employees with the skills they need to support each other. It’s vital that we prioritise mental health in the workplace.
“It’s not just about preventing crises; it’s about creating a culture of understanding, compassion, and well-being for everyone.
“Cancer’s scary, no doubt, but with support from charities like Cancer Support UK, it’s a little less daunting knowing you’re not alone.”
About Cancer Support UK’s workplace cancer support training
Around 890,000 people of working age are currently living with cancer in the UK, and some 700,000 people are juggling work and caring for someone with it. Employers play a vital role in helping those who are directly or indirectly affected by cancer. Research by Macmillan Cancer Support suggests line managers are not receiving the training they need: 87% say they haven’t been given any training on how to support people with long-term conditions, including cancer. Cancer Support UK is helping to bridge the gap by offering training to employees who want to be able to have supportive conversations with colleagues. We offer a range of programmes, including the Workplace Cancer Support Ambassador training, which is designed to give employees strategies and confidence when it comes to having discussions about cancer. To arrange an appointment to discuss your needs, please email: training@cancersupportuk.org or visit our workplace cancer support training page to see our full range of workplace cancer support training programmes.
