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Lyn's Story

Lyn is a well-known Shropshire artist, running a busy studio, and caring for her family and two daughters. When she turned 50 she missed her routine mammogram as she was busy with work, moving house and just didn’t have time. A year later she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer- picked up during the mammogram she did attend following another invitation.

Lyn underwent a lumpectomy, a biopsy of lymph nodes, and six weeks afterwards an intensive week of radiotherapy, then her cancer was downgraded to stage one. Now the Shrewsbury-based artist will have a mammogram every five years along with a daily tablet and wants to encourage others to have a screening whenever they are invited… not to ignore it like she did.

Lynn has created two designs for Lingen Davies to support our fundraising efforts. Learn more about Tits below and how to bid on it in our silent auction. Lynn’s second piece, Celtic Cross, symbolising Faith, Hope, Strength, and Love, is now available as a Christmas card in our online shop.

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Worried about the mammogram

Lyn wasn’t thinking about cancer, she had no symptoms and was a busy person so just kept putting her mammogram off. Her main concern wasn’t embarrassment but more anxiety about the plates of the machine pushing on her boobs very hard and hurting. However, when the NHS contacted her again a year later with a second invitation – this time they had made the appointment already – Lyn attended.

“Looking back at the actual mammogram it was nothing really, nothing at all to worry about. It was just the same pressure as having your blood pressure taken and it was over really quickly,” she said.

“Everyone in there were so lovely to me. At the time I had a stiff shoulder, the smallest of things like a nurse rubbing my arm to say well done meant so much to me.”

Detecting the signs

Lyn had no signs or symptoms but was then invited back in for a second mammogram, ultrasound, and a biopsy shortly after a ‘hardening’ had been detected.

“That was between Christmas and New Year, I was absolutely terrified as I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what we were dealing with,” she said.

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Diagnosed

“I hadn’t felt the lump at all, but I started noticing it when it was pointed out to me when I was lying down. Compared to the other side there was a definite hardening.

“It was ten days before my results came back and I just fell apart, I was an absolute mess. I felt I wasn’t going to be one of those big brave people who fight it, I was just feeling so scared, I cried every day which was hard for my friends and family to see me in that way. I’m usually a happy-go-lucky person.

“Looking back now I really needn’t have been so concerned. I got my results back and I had stage two cancer – the consultant set a date for the operation and I got ready for the lumpectomy.

“I was a day surgery patient, in and out of surgery within two hours, and then back home the same evening.

“They removed the lump which was quite big, two inches in diameter. I got over the procedure but was still worrying about whether it had spread.”

Two weeks later the surgeon confirmed to Lyn that her cancer had thankfully not spread and downgraded her cancer to stage one.

Fantastic care and support

Lyn had radiotherapy at the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Being a self-employed artist, she was worried about how much time she would need to take off work and how it would impact her. She had to stop shows and cancel exhibitions but once the treatment got underway Lyn said the care she had was great.

“I had radiotherapy six weeks after the operation in the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre and it was just fantastic, everyone was amazing,” she said.

“I couldn’t get over how busy the place was. It was all so well run and organised, everything happened like clockwork.

“Everyone involved in my treatment were so helpful, understanding, friendly, and very professional. I sailed through five days of radiotherapy and six weeks later, my energy was back and I was very positive – I have the safety net now knowing I will be checked and that makes me feel safer.”

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“I couldn’t get over how busy the place was. It was all so well run and organised, everything happened like clockwork.”

Raise awareness and encourage others

Lyn now wants to encourage other people to take up the invite of routine mammograms, even if they have no symptoms.

While awaiting treatment, she used her artistic skills to create a piece called ‘Tits’ because she felt she ‘had something to give back’ after ‘such great care at the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre’.

Her work – unique hand torn paper collage art – is sold from her shop No.61 on Mardol, Shrewsbury, alongside handmade art by other artists. They established the shop five years ago and has made over 100 pieces of work herself, including commissions and a view of the Sabrina Bridge on the Severn which was used as the front cover of My Shrewsbury magazine Spring 2024.

“I listen to what people would like – townscapes, animals, themes, and then use that to inform my work – I’m always inspired to go with what my customers want,” Lyn said.

“People seem to like what I do and I don’t take that for granted, I work really hard and it’s doubtful I will retire through choice. I will always make my collages and have a real passion for it. I feel so lucky I found my talent and I’m grateful that people appreciate it. I find my work gets really intricate on occasions when I’m feeling anxious because I can only control my art at those times, I can’t always control anything else going around me.”

‘Tits’ is being sold at auction to raise money for Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and Lyn is continuing to tell her story both to customers in conversation and through her art. See the link above.

Find a Local Cancer Information

We’ve pulled together a wide range of information and advice from different sources to help you find what you need easily. Find out more about our LiveLife Cancer Awareness Service.

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