Single mum-of-two battles cancer for third time

Jackie Palmer, from Worthing, underwent a double mastectomy ten years ago, when her youngest son was just nine years old.

She was only 46 when she was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer and secondary bone cancer in 2012 and feared she would not see her sons grow up.

Now, despite successive treatments, the cancer has returned once again and Jackie faces yet another course of chemotherapy.

Jackie said: “People can and do live with cancer. 

“I accept that it will never go away but that I have to give it a go to try and prolong my life so the boys have their mum as long as possible, and I can live my life to the full."

Jackie Palmer with her sons Lewis, left, and Harrison (Image: Jackie Palmer)

She says her sons Harrison and Lewis, aged 19 and 23 respectively, have given her “the strength to carry on.”

Harrison even took a gap year before university to help care for Jackie. He has just started a Masters' Degree in Aeronautical and Aerodynamic Engineering at the University of Leeds.

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Despite the difficult times, Lewis has successfully completed a First-Class Masters' Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham.

“It’s been incredibly tough,” said Jackie. “I cannot thank my family and friends enough for their love and loyalty during these incredibly dark and difficult times.”

Jackie was just 46 when she was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2012.

At the time, she had six cycles of chemotherapy and three weeks of intensive radiotherapy which caused her to lose all her hair.

Last year, in another cruel blow, an MRI scan after an accidental fall at home revealed that the breast cancer had spread to her cervix.  This is extremely rare.

She said, “I had six more cycles of chemotherapy at the Montefiore Hospital in Hove last winter and I was looked after by Harrison and friends at home.  I was really poorly after each session of chemotherapy.

“Scans showed earlier this year that we had reduced the size of the tumour and things were looking stable, so I was looking forward to getting back to work and some sort of normality.

“I have to keep going for my boys and family.”

To help raise awareness during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jackie told her story for the first time at an afternoon tea event at her Worthing home on Saturday.

Over 50 people attended Jackie's afternoon tea (Image: Jackie Palmer)

The event, which was supposed to be low-key, snowballed into a celebration with more than 50 guests.

It raised over £1,000 for Breast Cancer Now.

The fundraising page is still open and those who wish to donate can do so here https://justgiving.com/fundraising/girls-pink-fizz.