STYLIST ADVERTORIAL
was 31 when
I contracted breast
cancer. I remember
I when I realised
something was amiss
– it’s not something you forget easily.
It was a Wednesday evening in
February 2006 and I was enjoying
my evening shower. I’m not the sort
of person to regularly check for any
unusual lumps so it came as
a surprise while washing to discover
a hard mass under my right breast.
I mentioned it to my boyfriend, who
checked for me. I remember an odd
look of concern on his face and he
demanded that I book a doctor’s
appointment for the next day.
My role in recruitment at the time
was demanding, so I didn’t get to the
doctor’s until the Friday. After a very
quick assessment they referred me
to hospital – this was when reality
set in. My mother, her mother and
some of my aunties have had breast
cancer, so it’s something I feared
would affect me at some stage in my
life, just not when I was 31, still
young, fit and healthy.
Further testing didn’t really clarify
what was wrong. The first ultrasound
showed nothing. A biopsy also came
back negative. It wasn’t until a final
surgical biopsy that what I’d dreaded
was confirmed – stage one breast
cancer. I told my boyfriend first.
There were no tears. I remember
discussing trivial things such as
whether I could carry on kickboxing.
Inside I was thinking the worst,
panicking about what doctors might
have to cut off.
My first operation was on the 26
June 2006. I chose to have a double
mastectomy because the medical
staff agreed that there could be a
risk of the cancer spreading. The
many meetings with doctors had
prepared me for it and the decision
wasn’t easy but softened slightly by
the fact I could have immediate
reconstructive surgery afterwards.
I’m happy with the results now and
my boyfriend has always been so
supportive, assuring me he would
still love me, no matter what.
I hadn’t shed a tear throughout
the ordeal; I wanted to stay strong
����WWW�STYLIST�CO�UK
“IF I CAN BEAT CANCER
I CAN DEAL WITH ANYTHING”
Nicola Duffy was just 31 when she contracted breast cancer
but she has been determined not to let it get in the way of her life
for those around me. But when the
surgeon told me I couldn’t continue
my skydiving lessons I broke down.
It was the first time the disease had
got in the way of my dreams. I knew
I had to pick myself up and, while
recovering in hospital from my final
reconstructive operation, I decided
to do something I’d never done
before – run the London Marathon.
My boyfriend laughed when I told
him, but four months after my final
operation, I was running the streets,
raising money for Breakthrough
Breast Cancer and achieving
something I never thought possible.
Beating cancer gives you
a different perspective on life. I try
new things rather than dismiss them.
NICOLA DUFFY SAYS
BEATING CANCER HAS
GIVEN HER A MORE
POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
I think that if I can beat cancer, I can
deal with anything. That meant
getting back into work and carrying
on with the things I enjoy most; I’m
now playing squash and enjoying a
round of golf again at the weekends.
I also want to help raise awareness
of Breakthrough Breast Cancer,
a charity dedicated to fighting the
disease and removing the fear
“Four months after my final operation
I was running the London Marathon”
of breast cancer for good. Visit
Breakthrough’s website for more
information about the work they do
and how you can support them too.
To find out more or make a donation
to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, visit
breakthrough.org.uk; adidas Women's
5K Challenge at womenschallenge.co.uk
TEAM�STYLIST�
Stylist’s fashion intern
Morag Paterson is raring to
get training again
“Taking on the adidas
Women’s 5K
Challenge is the
motivation I needed
to get back into
fitness. I used to be
a full-time dancer,
studying a variety of
dance at school and training for
up to seven hours a day. Since
coming to London everything
has been put on hold and I find
it hard to claw back some time
for the gym. Recently I’ve been
jogging with a friend when the
evenings are nice. We call it our
‘gossip jog’ because we spend
most of the time chatting but a
full lap of the park provides a
decent workout. The 5K run
isn’t scaring me as much as
some of the other girls, I’m
hoping it turns out to be a fun
day and plenty of money is
raised for a worthy cause.”
RUNNING�
MATES
As preferred charity for the
adidas Women’s 5K Challenge
fun run, Breakthrough Breast
Cancer has teamed up with
adidas to develop the Pink
Ribbon Running Range. Nicola
is seen wearing the new range,
which will be available in
selected stores from mid-July.
adidas will donate 10% of the
RRP of each item sold to
Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Team Stylist are running for
this worthy cause and will be
wearing the
Pink Ribbon
Range
(0870-240
4204).
Week 4
PHOTOGRAPHY��CAROLINE�MOLLOY
To view a Ceros magazine you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser and have the flash player 8 or higher installed. To install the latest flash player, click the icon above, install the flash plugin and then click here to refresh this page.