Woman diagnosed with cancer when seven months pregnant went on to raise thousands of pounds to help fight the disease

Nicola Thomson celebrated her baby's first birthday last year on her last day of walking 310 thousand steps for Cancer Research UK’s fundraising campaign, Walk All Over Cancer, and raising more than £9,000.

Nicola, a 34-year-old medical indemnity underwriter, is now urging people to sign up now and get sponsored to walk 10,000 steps every day in March to help support the charity’s life-saving mission.

Back in 2019, Nichola had been exercising, eating well and generally looking after herself while trying for their first baby. In June that year she and her husband Greg, 36, were thrilled with the news they were expecting their first child.

Then in February 2020, with just a few more weeks till full term, Nicola noticed some changes in her right breast. She said: “One nipple had become inverted, but I wasn’t worried too much. I just assumed that my boobs would naturally change during the pregnancy. While I was chatting to a friend who’s a midwife about breastfeeding, I mentioned the change in my breast and she advised me to get it checked out, so I booked an appointment with my GP.”

Before she went, Nichola checked her breasts again and felt a small lump, but still thought it was just changes to her body because of the pregnancy. Nichola’s saw her GP on February 21 who then referred her to the breast clinic at St James Hospital in Leeds.

She said: “Being referred didn’t bother me too much as I thought the lump would turn out to be a blocked milk duct or a cyst or something like that. I genuinely didn’t think it wouldn’t be anything serious as I was only 32 and had no family history of breast cancer, so that didn’t even enter my head.”

It was only during her hospital appointment, on 5 March, just before the first Covid lockdown, that Nichola started to think that the problem might be more serious. She explained: “I had an examination, mammogram and ultrasound, it was quite thorough. Then when the doctor left the room to go and speak to the consultant, I had a feeling that this wouldn’t be good.”

The consultant told Nichola and Greg a needle biopsy was needed in order for a sample to be sent off and tested, as they were concerned it could be cancer. This news was a shock to them both. Nicola said: “I just burst into tears. I couldn’t believe it. My whole life changed in that moment.”

After going back for the results a week later, their worst fears were confirmed. The breast lump was cancerous and had already spread to one lymph node.

“The surgeon talked through the next steps and treatment options with us. I was 35 weeks pregnant. The baby was uppermost on my mind and I just wanted to do whatever it took to ensure they was safe.”

After several discussions and further appointments, and the reassurance that the cancer would not affect the baby in any way, it was decided that Nichola would be induced at 37 weeks. Her cancer treatment would then start later.

A week later, the country went into the first lockdown and the following Saturday Nichola went into hospital ready to be induced.

On the morning of Tuesday 31st March 2020, Nichola gave birth by c-section to a healthy little boy, Oscar, weighing 8lb 6oz.

“All the worries about my cancer went away in that amazing moment. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl so, just to hold this beautiful, perfect little boy in my arms I, felt so grateful.”

Nichola had four weeks recovering at home with Oscar before having day surgery, a wide excision to remove the tumour and lymph nodes from the affected side.

“Greg and Oscar took me to St James’s for surgery, but because of lockdown they couldn’t come in with me and had to drop me off at the door. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day, saying goodbye to them and walking into the hospital alone. Luckily everything went well, and I was able to go home to them later that night.”

Six weeks later Nichola started a course of chemotherapy - six cycles, three weeks apart.

She explained “Chemo was really difficult, and it left me feeling exhausted. I couldn’t taste food properly and couldn’t sleep due to the steroids. I also lost a lot of hair. It was a tough, but I had my amazing husband and family looking after me who all pitched in to look after Oscar on a rota basis. But no matter how bad I was feeling, Oscar always put a smile on my face.”

Then in November 2020, Nichola started four weeks of radiotherapy, having her sessions early each morning, and she found it much easier to manage than chemotherapy, with not too many side effects.

Nichola finished her treatment, and together they enjoyed their first Christmas a family. She also decided to extend her maternity leave until September 2021, giving her more time to recover and spend time with Oscar.

“Our time together was really special, and I really enjoyed looking after him. Although it was hard and a worry being a new mum while dealing with cancer, it was also strangely a bonus as it gave me another focus which definitely got me through it. Oscar is such an affectionate, little boy and loves his cuddles, he really helped me to recover and look to the future.”

Nicola spent a lot of time going out for walks around Horsforth, taking Oscar with her in his pram. Then she saw an advert for Cancer Research UK’s Walk All Over Cancer challenge

“It just seemed perfect for me so I and signed up straight away. I really wanted to give something back as throughout my whole journey I was amazed at how every aspect of my care and treatment was tailored to suit my situation and my type of cancer. From having Oscar early so I could have the surgery sooner, to the type of chemotherapy drugs used, to an extra week of radiotherapy and so much more.”

Starting on 1 March last year, Nichola would take Oscar out in his pram and just walk and walk at her own pace towards the 10,000 daily step target. “I’d go on different routes, along the canal and round local parks – Horsforth, Roundhay and Rawdon. Sometimes I’d stop off for a coffee or listen to a podcast, things you don’t often get chance to do. Greg works from home so was able to join me at lunchtime and we would all go together at the weekends. Even pottering around the house would add steps to the total. I’d put on weight during my treatment due to the medication and it helped me lose it. Getting outside was good for both my health and mental wellbeing and I really enjoyed the challenge.

“I’d been through such a tough year, but I always came back from doing my steps feeling so much better, like myself again, and hopeful about the future.

“Soon it was 31st of March the last day of my Walk All Over Cancer and I’d done it, all 310,000 steps, all after cancer. And it was also our beautiful baby boy Oscar’s first birthday, so an extremely special and significant day of celebration for us all.”

Thanks to support from family, friends and colleagues, Nichola also managed to raise £9,035 for Cancer Research UK.

“I feel so lucky that the pandemic didn’t affect my treatment and that I’m through the other side. That’s why I wanted to raise money for those people that aren’t as lucky and fortunate as I have been and contribute to Cancer Research UK.”

Nichola is now back at work, part time three days a week, with one day in her city centre office and the rest at working from home. She attends regular check-ups and will take the drug Tamoxifen for the next 10 years.

“I hope people in the area will follow in my footsteps and Walk All Over Cancer this themselves this March. Everyone can go at their own pace and build the steps into their day-to-day routine, whether they walk on their own or with family and friends. The important thing is every step will help Cancer Research UK to keep making great strides in the fight against the disease.”

In Yorkshire and The Humber, around 33,300 people are diagnosed with cancer a year. But, thanks to research more people than ever across the UK are surviving their cancer for 10 years or more.

This year marks 20 years since Cancer Research UK was formed and to celebrate its birthday it is paying tribute to like Nichola for the part they have played in this progress.

The charity’s history, however, goes back much further to the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in 1902 – meaning its work has been at the heart of some of the biggest developments in cancer, including some of the most used cancer drugs around the world today.

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Yorkshire said: “Every day we see the benefits of research we’ve previously funded being realised, helping people live longer and healthier lives. So, as we mark our 20th anniversary, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to Nichola – and Oscar - and people across West Yorkshire for their incredible commitment to the cause.

“1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, and so we will never stop striving to create better treatments for tomorrow. That’s why we need everyone to step up to Walk All Over Cancer. It’s a safe and simple way to show support during these challenging times and a great way for homeworkers to increase their daily step count.

Ten thousand steps is equal to about five miles, based on the average person’s strides, so by the end of March people will clocked up more than 150 miles.

Keeping check on the number of steps taken each day is a great way to create a sense of achievement and it’s easy to do with smartphone apps, pedometers and wearable activity trackers available to help. Walk All Over Cancer participants can connect their online giving page with FitBit to automatically publish their step count and share their progress with their supporters throughout the month.

Nicki Embleton added: “This past year proves, more than any other, the value of research and what can be achieved together. Just like science is our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer.

“From proving the link between smoking and cancer to laying the foundations for modern radiotherapy – our scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for 120 years. And we’re not stopping now – so we hope people in Leeds will pull on their walking shoes and help us to keep pushing forward.”

Cancer Research UK was able to spend over £5 million in Yorkshire last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. The charity’s ambition is to see 3 in 4 people survive their cancer by 2034.

To sign up and receive a free fundraising pack and t-shirt, visit cruk.org/walkallover.