Cancer case study - Katherine's story
Discover how our Cancer Support service helped Katherine during her cancer journey and supported her recovery when it mattered most.
Katherine’s story
Katherine is a working professional, a mum of two, and has been married to her husband for 25 years.
After being diagnosed with aggressive triple negative breast cancer, Katherine underwent surgery followed by a pathway of treatment. While her medical care was coming to an end, the emotional impact and uncertainty were only just beginning. She found the physical and emotional effects of treatment hard to manage, particularly the changes to how she felt and looked. As Katherine explains:
“When your treatment comes to an end, it’s like falling off a cliff. I really struggled not feeling like myself, not looking like myself. That’s when I realised I needed some help.”
Hear Katherine’s story in her own words
I was told you have breast cancer called triple negative and it's aggressive. It's changed my life and I now have to adapt to a new normal, but it's changed my life in positive ways as well.
Hi, my name's Katherine. I am a mum of two boys. I have been married to my husband for 25 years and we met when we were 18. I have worked in the financial industry for 30 years. I love my career. I have a very happy life.
I regularly had breast checks. I went for my annual appointment and I had the cyst. It wouldn't drain, so biopsies were taken.
About a week later, I went back to see my consultant and on this instance, I was told you have breast cancer and it's aggressive.
Had I walked out of that room that day and not had that cyst drained, I would have been facing a very different diagnosis.
A few months later. Immediately everything kicks off. I was able to have surgery within 4 weeks and then you embark on a real pathway of treatment that you have no idea how it's going to impact you.
I really struggled not feeling like myself, not looking like myself. That's where I really struggled. I couldn't look in the mirror. So, when your treatment comes to an end, it's like falling off a cliff. That's when I realised I needed the Zurich Cancer Support service.
So, when Katherine came to me, she'd actually received her diagnosis about 10 months before.
My role was predominantly to support her with managing the effects that the treatment had had on her body and on her emotionally.
For lots of people, and for Katherine as well, one of the main worries when their treatment finishes is the loss of that security blanket of that regular contact with their clinical team.
Meeting Amanda today, I'm, I'm excited. It's going to be very emotional. I've only spoken to Amanda on the phone, but she's done so much to help me and get me through.
You need somebody who has a level of understanding, has that time to spend talking, really getting to know people because they are about so much more than their cancer diagnosis.
Knowing that Amanda was there if I needed to talk to her was the support that I didn't know I needed.
She's been a significant part of my recovery. As somebody who is happy to speak, that using my voice is really important to raise awareness for triple negative breast cancer.
Without Zurich and meeting Amanda, I would have had no idea the impact that my voice could have.
How Zurich was able to help
Through the Zurich Cancer Support service, available to Katherine through her employer’s Group Income Protection cover, Katherine was introduced to Amanda, a dedicated cancer support nurse.
Amanda supported Katherine with both the physical effects of cancer treatment and the emotional challenges that followed. The focus was on Katherine as a person, not just her diagnosis. Amanda explains:
“You need somebody who has a level of understanding, has the time to spend talking, really getting to know people because they are about so much more than their cancer diagnosis.”
Through regular conversations, understanding, and specialist guidance, Katherine felt listened to, reassured and supported at a time when she needed it most.
Returning to work and thinking about the future
For Katherine, simply knowing that support was there made a lasting difference.
Having someone she could speak to openly helped Katherine rebuild her confidence, manage life after treatment, and begin to move forward. It also gave her the confidence to use her voice to raise awareness of triple negative breast cancer.
Knowing that Amanda was there if I needed to talk was the support I didn’t know I needed. She’s been a significant part of my recovery.