A mum from Newport found out she had breast cancer just 16 months after her wedding - before being "devastated" by a second diagnosis five years after she was declared cancer-free. Sophie Busson was 31 when she first found a lump in her left breast.
Her GP thought it might be hormonal and Sophie wasn't too worried because she was young, but was booked in for a breast clinic appointment due to a family history of breast cancer. When she got back from a holiday, she was told that she might have cancer.
After a biopsy to confirm doctors' suspicions Sophie was told she had an 8cm tumour in her left breast. Her two children Reggie and Leo were just four and 12 years old at the time. Sophie said she "wasn't prepared for that news at all," adding: "I was terrified that I wouldn't be around to see my children grow up."
Read more: The best photos from Saturday's Race For Life Pretty Muddy event in Cardiff
Her treatment included six sessions of chemotherapy which caused her to lose her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. She said: "My youngest son Reggie didn’t understand why I’d lost my hair. He said ‘do I have to call you daddy now?’ because my husband had a shaved head as well."
In April 2018 Sophie began a ten-year treatment on preventative drug Tamoxifen. She also underwent a left side mastectomy, surgery to remove lymph nodes and 15 sessions of radiotherapy. After around two years and a failed reconstruction surgery she had a successful reconstruction in December 2019.
She celebrated five years cancer-free in July 2022 but less than a year later, Sophie was told her cancer had returned. In March 2023 she was diagnosed with secondary, inoperable stage four metastatic breast cancer and started a new course of treatment.
"I was devastated to hear that my cancer had returned, although I wasn’t overly surprised given that I was told I was at a high risk of reoccurrence," she said. "But when I hit five years cancer-free, I really thought I had a chance of it not coming back.
"It’s been really difficult taking the news of this new diagnosis, but I am slowly coming to terms with things and luckily, up to now, I have kept fairly well on my new treatment. I am hopeful that treatment will do its thing and keep me around for as long as possible."
Now 37 and celebrating 20 years with her husband Gareth, Sophie says "life's too short" not to enjoy it, adding: "You don't know what's 'round the corner. I will never take a birthday or life moment for granted because growing old is a true privilege."
The family went to the Maldives on holiday and Sophie celebrated her 37th birthday with Gareth by going to Newcastle to see their favourite artist Sam Fender perform at St James' Park. On Saturday, July 8 Sophie sounded the horn to start the Race For Life Pretty Muddy event in Cardiff, which saw thousands of people cover themselves in mud in aid of Cancer Research UK.
"My cancer won't ever go away," Sophie said, "and that is the hardest thing to have to accept. I'm not indestructible. I will have days when cancer knocks me down and I need to give myself time when it does.
"But I will always keep my fiery determination to keep pushing on, because cancer’s created its own worst enemy in me and I will keep pushing on no matter what. So, cancer, I’ll give you a day here and there, but that’s your lot because time’s ticking and this gal’s got s*** to do!"
Sophie is now determined to turn her experience into something positive and encourage people to raise money to fund essential research: "Research is key for someone like me who relies on new treatments being developed to give me more time with my loved ones. The more treatments Cancer Research UK can fund means the longer I am here and the more chance I have of seeing my children do all the things a parent should be there for."
The organisers of this year's events are sending a message of thanks to everyone involved and appealing for people to pay their sponsorship money as soon as possible. Emma Howell, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Wales, said: "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life Cardiff.
"Lifesaving research is being funded right now thanks to our supporters who fundraise. The atmosphere at Race for Life Cardiff was hugely moving - full of emotion, courage, tears, and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease."
Every year around 19,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales. The money raised for Race for Life helps research to help beat 200 types of cancer.
You can find information about Race For Life here. The Swansea events are at the end of July, with Pretty Muddy in Singleton Park on July 29 and a 5k and 10k starting from Museum Green on July 30.
