In summer 2023, Stevie Wise was given a devastating diagnosis — a suspected cyst in her breast, was actually cancer.

But when she called her mum, Belinda, there was yet more shocking news.

The 63-year-old had also gone to the hospital that day, and she had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

The pair had received their diagnoses on the same day, within just hours of each other.

Stevie, 40, said: ‘It all happened in one day back in summer 2023.

‘I was told that what I thought was a cyst was actually cancer. Then I called my mum and her tests had revealed the full extent of her diagnosis.

‘I didn’t cry. I just thought, right, what’s the plan?’

Education consultant Stevie almost skipped her own hospital appointment to be with her mum.

Stevie said: ‘Mum had been in pain for a long time and kept falling over. But she’d hidden it from everyone.’

Still, Stevie’s gut instinct told her to go to her own appointment — a decision that would ultimately save her life.

Scans revealed two tumours and visible swelling under Stevie’s arm.

Doctors confirmed she had grade three breast cancer, which had already spread to her lymph nodes.

Rather than share the news with her mum, Steve kept it a secret, initially telling Belinda that everything was okay.

While Stevie says she immediately focused on treatment, her mum struggled to even talk about what was happening.

‘By the time she was diagnosed, it was too advanced,’ says Stevie.

‘When she didn’t respond to treatment, we all knew she was dying, but she wouldn’t talk about it. She was terrified.’

The family underwent a brutal year.

Stevie endured a mastectomy, reconstruction, chemotherapy and radiotherapy while Belinda’s condition continued to worsen.

Stevie said: ‘It was a really awful and stressful time. My surgery wounds kept opening, and my mum was really poorly.’

While the pair wanted to be there for each other, and help with each others’ care, they were sadly kept apart as they received treatment at different hospitals.

Belinda had chemotherapy in Blackpool, while Stevie underwent surgery in Manchester, before swapping with Belinda having surgery while her daughter had chemotherapy.

Tragically, just as Stevie had cause to celebrate, her mum continued to deteriorate. She kept vigil by her mum’s beside until she took her last breath. Belinda passed away in August 2024, aged just 63.

‘My friends carried me through it,’ Stevie said.

‘They took it in turns to stay with me, look after me and help me recover.’

It was shortly after her mum’s death when, still grieving, Stevie was given more life-changing news.

She said: ‘I was told there was no trace of my cancer left.

‘But I didn’t ring the bell. It just didn’t feel like the right time.’

Instead, Stevie waited, and celebrated by throwing a party for her 40th birthday earlier this month.

She added: ‘It felt like I was owed a celebration. Aging is a privilege. I’m so happy to be alive.’

Stevie is still undergoing treatment, taking targeted therapy drug abemaciclib as well as hormone therapy drug tamoxifen.

Now, she is urging people to sign up for Cancer Research’s Race for Life, and help fund future breakthroughs.

Now, although treatment has left her with lasting fatigue and mobility issues, Stevie says she enjoys swimming and walking her dog at her own pace.

Race for Life events are taking place across the UK this year, with 3k, 5k and 10k events as well as the muddy obstacle course Pretty Muddy.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to take part.

‘That’s what this is about, all of us, together, all in against cancer,’ says Stevie.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson Jemma Humphreys adds: ‘Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can support the research that will beat it.

#Race for Life powers progress and it relies on a whole community of people coming together, united by a common purpose to beat cancer.

To sign up, visit the Race For Life website.

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