Ruth on rebuilding her confidence after cancer

When I was told my cancer was treatable, I definitely went into fight mode, and decided to have a positive mindset to help me and those around me accept the news.

A whirlwind of appointments and procedures

It all then seemed to happen so quickly. I was offered a mastectomy or a lumpectomy - my first difficult decision. I went for the lumpectomy, which was carried out in June.

What was initially thought to be two small lumps turned out to be one 5cm lump quite deep in my breast. I was left with a much smaller breast due to that. I was also prescribed Letrozole for 5 years as my cancer was ER Positive.

Fortunately, after receiving my oncotype test results, I was told that chemotherapy would not be required. But I did go to St James's in Leeds for a course of radiotherapy in the October. Due to the now much smaller size of my right breast, I was offered reduction surgery for my left breast, which I had in the December.

Looking back, I was definitely caught up in the whirlwind of hospital appointments and procedures, and it wasn't until the new year that the enormity of it all hit me.

Look Good, Feel Better at Maggie's

My friend had told me about the Look Good, Feel Better course that she had attended, and towards the end of 2024, I decided to sign up for it.

Luckily for me it was held at the Maggie's centre next to the hospital. The moment I stepped into the building, I was amazed by the look and feel of the place.

I knew I was really struggling to adjust to life after cancer. I didn't feel that I was me anymore, neither physically nor mentally. I had lost so much confidence too, but was managing to hide all this from most of my friends and family.

By February, I'd managed to pluck up the courage to visit Maggie's in Leeds again on my own.

That decision was one of the best I have ever made.

I spent most of my first visit in tears, but after speaking to one of the lovely ladies there, I knew that Maggie's would become my 'safe space' where I could be with people who totally understood how I felt and what I was going through.

At that visit, I was introduced to the courses and activities run there, and particularly the Where Now? course.

I started the six-week course in April, and when it came to the final session, I found that I really didn't want it to end. The information we were given each week on a variety of topics was so useful, and the session leader each week was definitely an expert in their field.

I have absolutely applied the information given to me into my day-to-day life. I also loved the Pilates session at the end of each
week, and this has motivated me to join a class in my local area.

Invaluable friendships

What I found most valuable from Maggie's were the friends I gained from completing the course.

I am blessed to have amazing, supportive family and friends, but the ladies I met on the course have also become an important part
of my support network.

During the course, we laughed and cried together, and completely understood each other. It definitely made me feel that I was not alone in how I was feeling.

I still worry about many things, especially my cancer reoccurring, and I have my good days and bad days. But the Where Now? course at Maggie's provided me with the tools to learn how to begin to live with the 'new me.'

We’re here with you

Our cancer support specialists, psychologists and benefits advisors are here for everyone with cancer, and all the people who love them. 

• Come and see us at your nearest Maggie’s
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at enquiries@maggies.org