Birmingham mum will Shine at Night after surviving breast cancer

Doctors put Lisa O’Neill’s initial symptoms down to menopause before a lump the size of an orange developed in her right breast.

The mass appeared within weeks of her being referred to hospital with tenderness and a tiny lump in the opposite breast.

Side effects from 18 months of intense treatment did not stop Lisa from pressing ahead with 50th birthday celebrations which saw her meet her pop idol Simon le Bon and parasail off the coast of Cyprus with her friends.

Now the mum of two from Erdington is calling on others to join her on the 10k Shine night walk on September 7 to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

With around 33,800 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the West Midlands*, and cases on the rise, the mum-of-two hopes people will step up and raise vital funds to help power progress in the fight against the disease.

Lisa, who was diagnosed with HER2 positive invasive breast cancer in April 2022, appreciates just how important new discoveries are after benefiting from a drug that Cancer Research UK helped develop.

“The first thing I asked the doctor when I was diagnosed was, ‘am I going to die?’” said Lisa who works in the Jewellery Quarter.

“I was told if it hadn’t spread anywhere else it would be curable but otherwise it would be treatable. Then I had to wait for test results which was the worst part of it all.”

Lisa had initially visited her GP in September 2021 with tenderness in her breast. When the pain intensified four months later, the GP found a tiny lump in her right breast and referred her to specialists.

“I wasn’t too worried until about a week before my referral appointment when a massive lump appeared in my opposite breast,” said Lisa. “I was told it was an 8.5cm mass which was too big to operate on. At that point I was terrified.”

Six months of intense chemotherapy began in April 2022 and, despite experiencing side effects like sickness and hair loss, Lisa was thrilled to discover the lump had shrunk down to less than 3cm.

“I’d been really anxious so going to see my oncologist and finding out the mass had shrunk by over 5cm was a real high point,” said Lisa.

After a week of radiotherapy, Lisa had surgery to remove her breast in November 2022 before starting a nine-month course of targeted treatment called Kadcyla aimed at reducing the risk of the cancer returning. Cancer Research UK scientists contributed to the understanding of HER2 positive breast cancer which led to the development of drugs to fight it. Kadcyla has only been routinely available on the NHS since 2017.

“It was my 50th year and I’d planned so many things, so I decided I wasn’t going to let it stop me,” said Lisa. “It was hard at times, and I felt tired, but every cycle was a countdown. I think it’s really important to keep busy, to laugh and just keep positive.”

One especially positive moment was getting a hug from Simon Le Bon whose band-mate Andy Taylor has been treated for stage four prostate cancer.

“My favourite group is Duran Duran, so my friend managed to get backstage tickets via someone she knew when they played Birmingham last year,” said Lisa. “Simon Le Bon came over and hugged me and called me a warrior. I’ve never felt like a warrior, especially knowing there are people out there in a worse position than me but meeting him was a dream come true.

“I’m so grateful to my family and friends who supported me as well as the nurses and doctors who were amazing. Now I just want to give something back so I’m taking part in Shine as a thank you for my incredible treatment and to help all those diagnosed in future.

“Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime**, but all of us can support the research that will beat it.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or the fastest, it’s about being part of a community united by a common purpose: to save lives.”

Shine Night Walk starts in Centenary Square from 7:30pm on September 7, when participants will take to the city’s streets in a fun and inspirational parade of light.

Entries are open now for the 10k event, which passes some of Birmingham’s famous landmarks, including St Phillip’s Cathedral, Birmingham Hippodrome and the Jewellery Quarter.

Anyone who signs up before September 2 can claim 30 per cent off the entry fee by using the code SNWAUG24.

Participants can choose to raise money for the cancer type closest to their hearts, including prostate cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, brain tumours, children’s cancers, leukaemia or breast cancer like Lisa, amongst others.

Or they can give their backing to research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the West Midlands, Paula Young, said: “Eight in 10 people who receive cancer drugs on the NHS receive a drug developed by us, or with us. Our scientists have led the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, paved the way for targeted treatments and improved the way we use surgery to tackle the disease.

“Together, we are beating cancer. Advances like this are all down to fundraisers like Lisa, who have helped us to double cancer survival in the UK in the last 50 years.

“But we can’t stop there. Whether people walk for loved ones, future generations or with friends old and new, by taking part in Shine Night Walk, step by step, they’ll be bringing us closer to a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Last year, Cancer Research UK spent over £8 million in Birmingham which is home to an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. Co-funded by the charity and the National Institute for Health Research, it brings together scientists and cancer doctors to speed up the flow of ideas and new treatments from the lab to the clinic.

Research happening right now in the city includes investigating how bacteria could be used in cancer treatments, exploring the best treatment options for children and adults with rhabdomyosarcoma and developing new treatments for children with blood cancer.

People in Birmingham can also help support research like this by volunteering at Shine Night Walk. From helping to set up the course to guiding participants around the city, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, meet new people and learn new skills. To enter or volunteer visit shinewalk.org

GOING THE DISTANCE: A 10k is just over 6 miles. That's roughly the same as walking around a football pitch nearly 29 times. It's a challenge for many, but one that’s achievable with preparation.

Shine Night Walk isn’t about being first across the finish line. What matters most is raising money for a cause that touches the lives of so many people in the West Midlands and beyond.

Participants can go at their own pace, from a leisurely stroll to a lively stride or a full-on power walk passing the city’s well-loved landmarks along the way.

How long will it take? Power walker: Less than 1.5 hours; Strider: Less than 2 hours; Stroller: Less than 3 hours

Training tips and plans are available on the website at shinewalk.org