The head of a baby loss charity has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Abigail’s Footsteps co-founder Jo Ward received “every person’s worst nightmare” after discovering a large lump on her chest in April.
Jo Ward with her husband David
The 45-year-old had hoped it would be “nothing to worry about”, but after getting it checked, was told the devastating news.
She said: “You hear someone else has got cancer and you’re really sorry for them, but you never imagine that it’s going to happen to you.
“It’s life-changing – It really has made me change my outlook on life.”
Fortunately, Jo was able to catch the disease early, before it had spread to her lymph nodes.
She said: “There is still a long way to go in the journey.
David and Jo with the Duchess of Edinburgh
“I’m waiting for some results to come back to determine whether I’ll be needing chemo, as well as radiotherapy, so life has been tough the past few weeks.
“If I’d left it, you know, it could have been years and it would have grown and continued to spread, so you have to take the positives from that.”
Jo set up Medway-based charity Abigail’s Footsteps with her husband David in memory of their daughter Abigail Rose, who was stillborn at 41 weeks.
They have all provided her with a “fantastic” support network as she navigated the diagnosis, she says.
She added: “My husband is there for me every step of the way, my children, my sister and also my work family, because I do spend a lot of time at work – I couldn’t have got through this sort of journey without them.”
Now Jo, is is sharing her own story in hopes people will look at “cancer in a different light”.
On Sunday (June 22), she will be taking part in the 5k Race for Life in Herne Bay, just four weeks post-operation, with her friends and sister.
She said: “It’s going to be challenging in this heat, but we’ve already raised a significant amount of money.
“Every step on Sunday will be for everyone else who is going through cancer of some form.
“I just want to thank everybody who has supported me so far, but also with the fundraising for this.
“I’m very humbled and overwhelmed by the sort of love and support that everybody has shown me.”
To other men and women who could also be affected by breast cancer, she added: “Just be mindful, check regularly and don’t think it won’t happen to me because it can and it does too often.”