A COURAGEOUS cancer survivor who has battled the disease three times is planning a special night in to help raise money for further research.
Isobel Bradley, from Henwick Road, wrote a book about her experiences called Smiling in the Darkness which tells the story of how she fought cancer while undergoing a series of major operations to remove her womb, ovaries and bowel.
The 44-year-old is now urging local women to take part in a girls’ night in as part of a new fundraising idea from Cancer Research UK.
The IN Thing is calling on women throughout the region to rally their girl friends for a fun night at home in November and donate the money they would have spent on a night out to the charity.
Isobel, who published her moving account in March last year, was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1997 at the age of 28.
She underwent a radical hysterectomy, but recovered sufficiently to take part in the 2000 London Marathon.
But during training for the event, Isobel felt twinges of pain which were subsequently found to be caused by a tumour inside her appendix.
The tumour was removed, and all was well again, but then towards the end of 2009 Isobel started to suffer severe pain and was referred to a gynaecologist who insisted on a biopsy.
“I was sure everything would be fine, so my husband Mike continued with the three-month holiday we had been planning,” she said.
“In the end I persuaded the surgeon to phone me on the mobile and give me the results while I was abroad.”
Barely a fortnight into their holiday in Thailand, Isobel was called with the news that she had cancer for a third time, after being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the vaginal tissue.
On her return home she was told that her only option was to have surgery to remove some vital organs, but she continues to live with cancer.
“I am just carrying on,” she added.
“I have been given a 50/50 chance of surviving for five years, but it doesn’t stop me doing anything I want. I just want to live my life to the full, however long it turns out to be.”
Hosts are being invited to register now for free party packs and organise gatherings in November, after nights have drawn in and before the Christmas party season starts.
The IN Thing party packs provide everything needed to plan the perfect night in, including party planning guides, top tips, and exclusive offers.
Friends could spend their night in watching a movie marathon, having a clothes swap, singing outrageous karaoke, dancing the night away in a onesie or just catching up on the girlie gossip.
For more information, log onto www.theinthing.org
