Samantha Pryke, 47, from Matlock, Derbys, was told for nearly two years that her symptoms were likely linked to perimenopause, chronic fatigue, or simply the pressures of midlife. A successful civil servant and single mother of two teenagers, Sam found herself increasingly exhausted. Every day tasks felt overwhelming. She no longer felt like herself. Yet she had none of the breast cancer symptoms women are routinely encouraged to look for: no breast lump, no visible changes, no warning signs that would have prompted her to seek urgent cancer investigations.
What neither Sam nor her doctors realised was that a tumour was growing hidden behind her sternum, making it impossible to detect through self-examination. By the time the cancer was finally identified, she was diagnosed with de novo secondary breast cancer – incurable breast cancer that had already spread.
“There’s no point expending precious energy on ‘why me’, it’s more about asking: how can I make myself live as well as I can?” she says. “I want people to understand that secondary breast cancer doesn’t look the same for everyone. Many of us don’t fit the stereotypes people expect. The disease can be invisible, but the impact on everyday life is huge.”
Airbnb owner, Jodi Jess, 49, from Dorchester, Dorset, was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2018 following the discovery of a small lump in her armpit. After treatment including a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and ongoing hormone therapy, she initially believed her cancer journey was complete.
However last year, Jodi went to her doctor complaining of a shoulder strain and pain in her ribs when breathing. Wanting to rule out a blood clot or muscle strain, the doctor sent her to A&E where a CT scan showed the cancer had spread to her liver, spine, pelvis and ribs. She was told the disease was incurable, with treatment focused on extending and maintaining quality of life.
Despite her diagnosis, she has continued to take on endurance events, including half marathons, full marathons in Paris and Rome, and major hiking challenges in the Lake District and beyond. She says: “By setting ambitious goals it helps me to focus beyond my illness and has redefined my approach to living, focusing on making the most of each three-month period between scans.
“It’s about finding my new normal and never giving up hope. People need to hear there can still be a life to live. I am still in the gym four to five times a week at 6am keeping fit. Yes I have to listen to my body more and that may mean the odd nap in the afternoon but aside from this nothing has changed. I don’t wait for the good times… I want to make them happen.”
When Sally Laverick, 56, who lives in the New Forest, Hants, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer last year, her world changed overnight. After she had major surgery to rebuild her arm and hip with titanium implants following cancer spreading to her bones, Sally faced months of recovery and uncertainty. Having spent much of her life focused on work and caring for others, she suddenly found herself having to slow down. One unexpected source of strength has been her horse.
Sally describes her horse as “therapy” – a constant presence that helps her focus on the moment, find calm and reconnect with joy. While she can no longer do everything she once could physically, spending time with her horse has become an important part of managing the emotional impact of living with incurable cancer.
“I genuinely thought it was a death sentence when I was told the cancer had come back, but my oncologist explained that while they couldn’t cure it, they could treat and manage it,” she explains. “That conversation gave me hope at a time when I desperately needed it. I’d always been career-focused and worked hard, but after my secondary diagnosis, I realised there was more to life.
“My priority became recovering, making memories and finding joy wherever I could, which for me meant spending time with my horse, Dexter, and working at my small equine reiki practice. Dexter has been my therapy throughout all of this. Being around horses gets me outside, keeps me focused on the present, and gives me something positive to look forward to. Even on difficult days, being with him lifts my spirits.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
