10 hours Ago
When Lorna Daymond woke in the middle of the night, she knew something was wrong. Convinced she was having a stroke, the 81-year-old from Wymondham remembered it was critical that she received medical help as soon as possible. She immediately called the emergency services, fearing the worst.
“I assumed I would die,” she said. “As my mother and grandmother did, and I thought I would have the same fate. "It was something I had been waiting for.
“I dialled 999 because I genuinely thought I was having a stroke. I knew it wasn't a heart attack.” But what she revealed next led to a different diagnosis altogether.
After paramedics arrived, she informed them that she had also discovered a lump in her breast. She added: “The idea of cancer didn't even occur to me. “I thought the lump might be related to having a stroke, but the paramedics said they didn't think it was - and they were right.
” It turned out to be stage two malignant breast cancer. Soon the grandmother and mother-of-three found herself undergoing a lumpectomy - a surgical procedure to remove a breast tumour and some of the surrounding tissue. Now she says she owes her life to medical research after making a complete recovery and is sharing her story to raise awareness of the charity Cancer Research UK.
Before her own journey with cancer, she was already aware of its devastating impact having lost her husband Danny to prostate cancer in 2009. READ MORE: Cancer death rates "almost 60pc higher in deprived areas" READ MORE: Coppersmith who died at home had been exposed to asbestos, court told She is also grateful for the treatment her grandson received when he was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 14, and her nephew who had testicular cancer as a teenager. Both have gone on to make a full recovery.
Sadly, her best friend of 60 years was recently diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. Mrs Daymond added: "Without research then how do we know what drugs are going to work or if anything is going to work? “It's not only our future, but it's also our grandchildren and our great grandchildren. It's about prevention, better treatments and awareness.
” Lorna now receives regular check-ups, adding: “Research into improved treatments has given me the greatest gift – more time with my family.”.
