A Tesco worker thought she had been sentenced to death after finding a pea-sized lump on her chest in the bathtub.
Debbie Layfield was in the middle of bathing at her home in Clawton, Wiral, when she answered a phone call from a family member who found a lump. The mother of three tried to reassure her family member that the lump was probably not a cause for concern, but when she entered the bathroom a few minutes later, Debbie was shocked to find that she also had a lump on her breast.
Debbie, whose youngest child was in elementary school at the time, went to see her GP after an accidental phone call and was immediately referred to Clatterbridge Cancer Center. The 44-year-old woman underwent a series of tests in the afternoon and was told she had breast cancer by 4 p.m.
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Debbie’s family member, meanwhile, was told she had a non-cancerous lump. Debbie said she was in utter disbelief after receiving her diagnosis and struggling to speak.
In an audio recording for Cancer Research UK, she said: “My first thoughts when the doctor told me were that I would not see my children grow up, get married or have children or their own.
Debbie said that she finally managed to explain to her children that she had the same disease that Kylie Minogue had been successfully treated for and assured everyone that she would be fine. She underwent a lumpectomy and her doctors were pleased that the cancer had not spread.
However, they warned her that she had a very aggressive form of the disease and planned to give her additional doses of chemotherapy. After undergoing daily radiation therapy while still on chemotherapy, Debbie faced another devastating blow when her father was diagnosed with lung cancer and died months later.
Debbie Layfield, 57, went to see her GP after an accidental phone call to a family member (Image: Debbie Layfield)
Fortunately, Debbie successfully recovered from cancer treatment in 2009 and continued to take tamoxifen for 10 years. Researchers from Cancer Research UK helped prove the benefits of taking tamoxifen after surgery for women with the most common type of breast cancer.
About 8 out of 10 women now survive at least 10 years, thanks in part to this life-saving treatment. Debbie initially struggled to talk about her cancer journey after completing her treatment, but later decided to throw herself into raising awareness and funding for Cancer Research UK.
The mother of three, now 57, is a community champion at Tesco Bidston Moss and has encouraged hundreds of clients and colleagues over the years to sign up for Race for Life and raise money. She knows exactly how vital it is to raise funds for life-saving research – so she urges people to visit raceforlife.org and log in.
Debbie was such a passionate advocate for Race for Life that she was chosen as a VIP guest at the Wirral event on Sunday, May 22nd. She will press the starting horn at Birkenhead Park before joining the participants, and will also take part in Sefton Park on Sunday, July 10.
Debbie Layfield, 57, of Claughton, Wirral, was diagnosed with breast cancer after an accidental phone call to a family member (Image: Debbie Layfield)
Debbie said: “I feel passionate about the work of Cancer Research UK, which has lost so many loved ones to the disease. But I see the progress made in research, and even if everyone donates a pound to someone who participates in Race for Life, we are one step closer to surviving for more people.
“I hope that my story will help us connect with people in the moments before they start the race for life. It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to thank the amazing people who are raising funds to support life-saving research through the audio recording of the Life Race events. ”
Debbie’s Powerful Story is one of six audio recordings of cancer survivors that will be released at the Race for Life events in the UK this year. About 44,900 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the north-west of the country, and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.
Cancer Research UK Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events that raise millions of pounds each year to help tackle cancer by funding important research. The events will follow current government guidelines for protection against COVID-19 and a hand sanitizer will be provided.
Jane Bullock, a spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in the Northwest, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Debbie for her support and we know that her story will influence the audience when she plays on stage at the beginning of Race for Life.
“Unfortunately, cancer affects us all in some way. Whether people are living with cancer, participating in honor or memory of a loved one with cancer, or registering to protect the future of their own children, everyone has a reason to compete for a living. That’s why we ask people all over the region, “Who are you going to compete for?”
“Our events in the race for life are open to all. For some people, the race for life is literally a walk in the park. Slow and steady he still wins. For others, it’s jogging. Others may choose to push harder, accepting the challenge of the 10 km distance and even insisting on a new personal best time.
“We look forward to welcoming people of all ages and abilities. The Race for Life will be a fun, emotional, colorful, inspiring and memorable event this year. ”
For more information and to take part in the race for life, click here.
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