Solihull mum beats cancer after discovering lump following sledge accident

A brave mum and grandmother discovered she had life-threatening breast cancer after she was knocked over by her daughter on a sledge during a ski trip.

Mum-of-three Yvonne Pickford, 55, of Olton, Solihull, had been on the annual family holiday in Valmorel, France, when the life-saving accident happened.

Daughter Jenii Quigley, who was six at the time, had sped down a hill in the sledge but crashed into her mum who had been waiting to catch her.

That night as Yvonne felt her face throbbing she decided to check herself over and found a lump on her breast.

The theatre nurse, who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, explained: “Thank God Jenii hit me with the sledge – she saved my life.

“If she hadn’t have done that I wouldn’t have checked myself over that night and discovered the lump.

“I do normally check for lumps, but hadn’t done for a while and decided that while I was making sure I was ok I would feel around for anything on my breasts.

“When I got back I went to see my GP about my nose and casually mentioned the growth. After tests they discovered two lumps on my right breast and one on the left side.

“One of the lumps on the right breast was malignant and the cancer was spreading fast.

“They told me it was a good job I had found it when I did.”

Yvonne, who was treated in 2003, underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a bid to beat the disease and has since raised more than £15,000 for Cancer Research UK.

She will now front the charity’s newest campaign – Stand Up For Cancer, which has been organised with Channel 4.

Yvonne added: “I believe wholeheartedly in research and have run marathons and even cycled across India to raise funds.

“I’m so grateful for the treatment that saved my life but not everyone survives. That’s why I want to do all I can to get people standing up to cancer right now.

“We need to fight back against this disease by raising money so that brilliant research can be translated into treatments for patients faster.”

A host of celebrities have joined the Stand Up to Cancer campaign, which will culminate in a live TV fundraiser on 17th October.

As part of the drive, Birmingham has been chosen as one of only 15 cities to host a unique March on Cancer event which will take place simultaneously around the UK on 11th October.

Starting at 7.30pm at Centenary Square, participants will come together and march for 45 minutes through the streets accompanied by live music, entertainment and stories from people who’ve beaten cancer.

For further information and to get involved: www.standuptocancer.org.uk

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/health/solihull-mum-beats-cancer-after-7725125