A mum-of-two battling stage four cancer said "I don't want someone putting a date on my life".
Pippa Miln was told in September she had between six and nine months to live but has now defied the odds by being signed off from palliative care. Pippa, who is living with stage four cancer which has spread to her lungs and brain, said she doesn't want anyone putting a date on her life as she prepares to undergo further tailored treatment.
Pippa's son was successfully treated for cancer of the kidney when he was four, and her sister Becky died three years ago from Non Hodgkin's B-cell Lymphoma aged 45. The 50-year-old said living with stage four cancer has made her more determined to enjoy life with her loved ones.
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She was first diagnosed with the more aggressive form of breast cancer known as triple negative breast cancer in September 2020. She had been to see her doctor on a number of occasions before further investigations discovered a lump.
Pippa underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she was given the all clear. But in June last year medics identified the cancer had spread to her lungs and brain. It was at this stage a consultant told her she had six to nine months to live and advised her to bring her daughter Amy, 18, home from university.
Pippa, who also has a 16-year-old son called Sam, told CheshireLive: "My daughter had gone to university and I was told I needed to get her home. I didn't do this as and this made me more determined. I don't want someone putting a date on my life."
Pippa, from Chester, approached a new oncology consultant in Liverpool who "gave her hope". Pippa underwent radiotherapy which she used to "dread". But she added: "I'm not anymore. When someone tells you you're going to die your fears of anything else go."
Pippa is now preparing to undergo two lung ablation operations to tackle the tumours in her lungs. Her 10 brain tumours are also now dormant and being monitored. The mum-of-two added: "I am ever hopeful and I'm determined that if anyone is going to beat it then I am. I try to keep positive. There are new treatments out all the time.
"Every morning I am really grateful to wake up. You don't get rid of it but you elongate your life and I think that there are drugs coming out all the time. I think that possibly due to everything I have been through with my son and my sister I feel that I'm lucky to be alive and for that I am very thankful. I've also already had five years extra in effect.
"There's no point in wallowing in stuff. I think people like me would be considered more like Dame Deborah James in terms of our stance. We are determined to keep going and to make every day special. I want to be around for my kids.
"I'm sure there will come a time when I am feeling poorly and I will feel very differently but where there is hope there is joy. Don't get me wrong, I do have my moments but I don't tend to have them in front of people. A memory of my sister might come into my head and I think I find that the hardest - not having her around to help me through it."
Pippa has praised advances in treatment for cancer while also advising anyone with concerns to push to be seen by medics. She added she is proud to have defied the odds and is determined to enjoy every day.
She has looked ahead to spending the summer holiday with her family and hopes to holiday in Italy giving her a chance to forget about the treatment. She praised her family and friends' support including her mum Liz, partner Rufus and children Sam and Amy. She is also grateful to the team at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester for providing her with much-needed reflexology sessions.
Pippa said: "I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone. I am very grateful to all of my friends and family. Sam and Amy are very resilient and they are very close. They really support each other. It's sad that for them cancer is an every day thing."
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