A WOMAN from Ellesmere Port who was treated for cervical cancer during lockdown is appealing for donations to help Cancer Research UK tackle a devastating loss of funding caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alice Eaton, 31, was first diagnosed with an advanced form of the cancer two years ago after waking up one night with an unusually heavy bleed.

The former Upton-by-Chester High School student was successfully treated with radiotherapy and hysterectomy surgery, but unfortunately relapsed last year when doctors discovered a seven centimetre tumour growing into her bladder.

As a result, Alice underwent further treatment during the first coronavirus lockdown. This has included chemotherapy, radiotherapy and major surgery to remove most of the organs in her pelvis.

Thankfully, the procedures have successfully reduced the cancer in her body and she is now sharing her story to complement Cancer Research UK’s latest TV appeal, which features a direct plea for donations from leading scientist, Professor Richard Gilbertson.

The message in the film is clear – to save lives tomorrow, the charity needs the public’s support today.

With fundraising down and lockdowns across the UK continuing to affect its shops, Cancer Research UK is expecting a staggering £160 million drop in income this year, which is putting future breakthroughs at risk for people with cancer.

Chester and District Standard:

Recalling the events that led to her first diagnosis in December 2018, fashion merchandiser Alice said: "One night I woke up with a massive bleed that wouldn’t stop. I told my parents and we decided I should go straight to A&E the next morning.

"I was sent for various tests and in my head I knew it wasn’t going to be good news. But nothing really prepares you for the moment the doctors tells you it's cancer – when you hear those words you go into flight or fight mode."

Alice, who was 29 at the time, immediately took time off from her job in fashion retail and was referred for a hysterectomy surgery at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital in February 2019.

This was followed by five weeks of internal radiotherapy treatment called brachytherapy, where radioactive material is placed inside the body to destroy the cancer cells.

She said: "My life quickly became a whirlwind of medical appointments, procedures and hospital visits but I was determined to stay as positive as possible and focus on my treatment options.

"Despite what was happening, I still felt grateful that there was treatment on the table for me."

Thankfully, Alice responded well to the treatments and spent the summer celebrating with a dream holiday to Malaysia alongside her twin brother.

But unfortunately there was more bad news round the corner after Alice felt a pain in her upper leg and bum-cheek area in October 2019. Scans revealed a 7cm tumour growing into her bladder.

She said: "I was shocked and very scared that the cancer had come back so quickly after treatment. It was a huge blow to me, especially as the tumour was so large this time."

Chester and District Standard:

Alice had a five month course of chemotherapy at Liverpool’s Clatterbridge Hospital to shrink the tumour, before undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London in April this year – a major surgical procedure to remove the bladder and most of the other organs in her pelvis.

She said: “It was tough and emotional having treatment during lockdown, especially when none of my friends or family were able to visit me at the hospital in London – so I kept befriending all the northern nurses because their accents made me feel more at home.

"I was relieved that I could have the surgery as it was my best chance at a complete cure but I needed the chemotherapy first to shrink the tumour as much as possible.

"It made me exhausted and I lost my hair, but it did a powerful job of reducing the growth down to 2cm, which meant that surgery was possible.

"Now that I’m home recovering and looking ahead to Christmas, I’ve decided to put my time to good use and have even started making jewellery to sell online, which is such a great way to stay focused."

Alice has experienced some painful side effects following her surgery, including nerve damage to her leg, but is determined to stay positive and enjoy the festive season with her mum Margaret, dad Paul and brother Tom.

She said: "I have some uncomfortable side effects and also now use a urostomy bag, but it’s a small price to pay to be alive. Going from thinking I’d be lucky to make it to Christmas to being told I’ll potentially be cured is a total rollercoaster, but I’m just so happy to have my chance at a future back.

"My experience means I understand the importance of charities like Cancer Research UK’s work all too clearly. It’s thanks to research that I’ve been given more precious time with my loved ones.

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"If I had been diagnosed with cancer ten years ago, the outcome might not have been the same for me – and that’s down to research. It’s distressing to think that progress that could help more people like me survive cancer in the future is being delayed because of the effects of the pandemic.

"Nobody wants to see scientists have to start hanging up their lab coats, so I hope that people across Cheshire will be inspired by the charity’s determination to carry on beating cancer and give what they can.

"They could give hope to people like me and that’s what Christmas is all about."

The charity has already had to make the difficult decision to cut £44 million in research, but this is likely to be just the beginning.

That’s why Alice is urging people across Cheshire to help protect people with cancer from the heart-breaking fall-out of the pandemic.

Anna Taylor, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Alice for helping to underline the power of research in saving lives.

“Cancer Research UK has played a role in developing 8 of the world’s top 10 cancer drugs and we’re working every day to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

“The truth is, Covid-19 has slowed us down. But we will never stop. One in two people will get cancer in their lifetime*, which is why we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.

“Every step our scientists take towards beating cancer relies on our supporters. So, whether they donate this festive season, fundraise or shop at our stores as they re-open – with the help of people in the North West we believe that together we will still beat cancer.”

Before the pandemic, Cancer Research UK was able to spend over £30 million in the North West last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.