GETTING her natural shape and cleavage back was the ‘cherry on top of the cake’ for breast cancer survivor Jacky Robertson.
Now the 58-year-old mum is asking everyone to get their mixing bowls out and bake up a storm to help women who have survived breast cancer and are now facing the emotional decision of reconstruction.
Jacky, who lives in Stonehouse, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 – just a few months after her 50th birthday.
She had a mastectomy three weeks after the diagnosis and went on to have a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, however it wasn’t until two years after her final treatment that she decided to have reconstruction surgery.
“I had gone through all the treatments and all the side effects and was beginning to feel normal again and thought of more surgery was slightly overwhelming,” said Jacky, who served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as a medic between 2000 and 2005.
“However I was getting fed up of my prosthesis and even though I looked normal to the outside world I knew there was something missing so made the decision to have the reconstruction surgery.
“It was incredible how many people in my life tried to talk me out of it. They would ask me why I wanted to mess with my body when I was healthy but in the end you just have to leave everyone else’s emotions out of it and do what’s best for you.”
During this decision process Jacky realised that of all the people trying to tell her what to do with her body, none of them had gone through it themselves.
“There are plenty of cancer support groups out there but there’s nothing to help you once you the cancer is gone but you’re still dealing with the aftermath of the treatment,” said Jacky, who started a support group for breast cancer survivors to discuss what comes next - uplifted.
This group has since been amalgamated with national charity Keeping Abreast and Jacky is now the chairman for its South West branch which has meetings in Bristol and Gloucester.
Now Jacky is launching her first national event to raise money for the charity - Booby Cupcake Week which takes place between Monday, March 24 and Friday, March 30.
“We are inviting everyone across the nation who has been affected or knows someone who has been effected by breast cancer to get their mixing bowls out and raise some money for your local Keeping Abreast group,” said Jacky.
For more information and ideas on how to organise an event go to www.keepingabreast.org.uk//booby-cupcake-week.
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