Guernsey cancer patient: 'I just want to see my kids grow up'

'I just want to see my kids grow up' - cancer patient A woman living with cancer has spoken about her desire to live to see her children become adults.

Elia Shaw, 47, from Guernsey, was given the all clear from breast cancer in 2020, but the disease came back two years ago.

Mrs Shaw, who has three children, was diagnosed with an incurable but treatable secondary cancer in her spine, rib and sternum.

She said: "I'm grateful that I get up everyday. I just want to see my children grow up, get married, see my daughter go to prom. All those things that every parent wants."

'It's technically sleeping' Mrs Shaw has an 11-year-old daughter, a 17-year-old son and a 27-year-old daughter.

She said: "My youngest one she knows that I've got cancer but she doesn't know the extent of the other two because it's quite a lot for her, especially because she's just started secondary school."

"She has cried a lot, I mean she still cries now and they've done my scans, everything's all good. But she keeps asking, 'Has it gone away?'.

"And I can't answer that because it hasn't gone away it's just technically sleeping or in remission."

Mrs Shaw has to take tablets three weeks on and one week off.

'Just live everyday' Elia Shaw was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2015 after going to the doctors because she found a lump in her breast whilst breastfeeding.

After going through treatment she was given the five-year all clear.

However, in July 2022 she was diagnosed with a permanent but treatable bony metastatic breast cancer.

When cancer that started in the breast has spread to the bones, it becomes secondary or metastatic breast cancer in the bone.

Mrs Shaw said: "Some people are told they have six months or five years but that means you'd be counting down and for me I don't want that and I don't want that for my children.

"So, I'd rather not know and just live everyday."

The States of Guernsey is backing Breast Cancer Awareness month and urging people to check their bodies for any changes.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Guernsey (excluding skin).

Sharon Treacy, Breast Nurse Consultant, said: "We'd encourage everyone to be breast aware, whatever your age or gender, it's really important to know what's normal for your body and to be aware of the signs of breast cancer."