A GRANDMOTHER would not have discovered she was suffering from an aggressive form of breast cancer had it not been for her roll-on deodorant.
Anne McCafferty, from Stock, only discovered the cancerous lump under her arm after noticing tenderness while she used the roll-on anti-perspirant and was quickly diagnosed with HER2 breast cancer.
And now almost a year to the day after her diagnosis, and after months of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the 61-year-old will be one of thousands of women taking part in the Race for Life in Chelmsford today (July 6).
Anne, who had taken part in Race for Life once before in memory of her parents who both died from cancer, said: "My mum had ovarian cancer and so I was looking for the signs of that and missed the breast cancer signs.
"I wouldn't have known unless I had been using a stick deodorant and realised that I felt tender under the arm which I put down to exercising at first – I thought I had strained a muscle.
"The doctor told me in no uncertain terms that I would need chemotherapy, a mastectomy and that I would lose my hair – It was quite brutal in a way."
As part of her aggressive treatment at Spire Hartswood Hospital in Brentwood, Anne underwent a lumpectomy, the removal of her lymph nodes, sessions of chemotherapy every three weeks and then radiotherapy every day for five weeks.
Anne has also overhauled her diet and switched to chemical free make-up to ensure if the worst strikes again she can say she did everything she could.
She added: "The kids have been wonderful; they came to every chemotherapy session with me, as well as my husband.
"My daughter gave birth to her first baby towards the end of my radiotherapy, which was so wonderful to focus on something else.
"It takes time at first to get your head around the diagnosis but then you have to get on with things."
Anne will be joined at the event in Hylands Park on Sunday by her daughter Nicola, sister Julia and her niece Hannah, who are fundraising collectively with a target of £1,000, which they have already surpassed.
"I've been told the cancer may come back but I like to think that means it might not too.
"My surgeon said to me go out and live your life and we'll worry about the illness, and so that's what I've done," Anne added.
"I'm really looking forward to the race as it means a great deal for the whole family."
To sponsor the girls go to https://www.justgiving.com/Familypoos/
