We're excited that the wonderful Chris Rankin will join The House of Hope very soon as our Wellbeing Practitioner. In this blog, Chris looks back to the day, one year ago, when her life was changed forever. She's sharing her message of hope and some advice to anyone who has recently received a cancer diagnosis.
It's hard to believe it's been a year. A year since my life took a detour I never saw coming. I was 52, and I'd just taken a leap of faith. After 13 years in a secure job and 25 in the same career, I'd resigned, ready to try something new - what that was I wasn’t quite sure. I was working my notice when I was called back after my second routine Mammogram - turned out that it was far from routine.
The shock of the diagnosis was pretty shattering. I remember the blur of those days: the walk back from the screening centre, the call to my husband, the waiting for results, the sudden reality of biopsies and scans, the confusing new cancer chat, the telling my children. Suddenly, I was a patient, and I felt powerless; life had become unpredictable and uncertain.
The love and support of my family and friends was clear from the get go and has continued to be amazing. I couldn’t help feeling a sense of guilt though, the feeling that I'd somehow brought this unwelcome visitor into everyone’s lives. Was it my fault, how did I miss it, I should have known - the questioning of myself was pretty exhausting.
As a treatment plan emerged, things began to feel more manageable; one day at a time became an important coping strategy. Looking back now I’m proud of how I coped. Was I scared, yes, emotional yes, exhausted and frustrated yes - but I also laughed, did lots of normal everyday things and even managed a wee holiday pre surgery, keeping busy became a bit of an obsession but I did get loads done! I received brilliant care from the NHS team.
In those early weeks and months though, I was missing connection with women who truly understood. I wanted to hear their experiences and share my fears. I wanted to know what lay ahead for me and all the practicalities within that. There is definitely a loneliness in diagnosis even when surrounded by support. I still feel this at times.
I was searching for ways to connect other than online and stumbled upon The House of Hope on social media. I messaged Lisa. We met for a coffee—someone was speaking my language! I felt a bit lighter. As my active treatment was coming to an end, I got involved in doing some volunteering with House of Hope as I could see just how much this resource would have meant to me in those really difficult early days.
This past year has taught me the importance of being gentle with myself, of accepting help, of slowing down and listening to my body. I've accepted that vulnerability is not a weakness, and that healing takes time (and maybe longer than we think) both physically and emotionally. Looking back, I recognize that I've been through something profoundly traumatic, a before-and-after moment that has changed me. There are scars, both visible and invisible and I’m learning to live with them.
But here's the thing I never expected: this detour, this unwelcome visitor, has also led me to my "something new." In April 2025, a year after surgery and nine months after active treatment ended, I will begin a new job within the House of Hope. I'm so excited to get on board and help create a space where those affected by Breast Cancer can take care of their wellbeing, connect and just be. It's exactly what I was trying to find for myself in those scary early weeks and months, and even now, as I navigate life after cancer.
I look forward to welcoming you through the doors!
Chris
Read Chris's tips on what helped her through her diagnosis below:
Being in nature, a walk with a podcast to take my mind of things. Sometimes even listening to some of the great podcasts about breast cancer helped me, I felt I was learning but also felt less alone when listening to others experience.
Being open with friends and family, but also letting them know that advice wasn’t what I was looking for. It helped when we did things to take my mind off what was going on.
Mindfulness, in the beginning, this was pretty impossible, but as time went on I did find that things which I could get absorbed in like drawing and gardening, did help. I couldn’t focus on reading but did binge feel-good TV and didn’t feel guilty about it.
Rest, I often couldn’t sleep at night - when I was off work, I didn’t feel guilty about taking a nap or going to bed at 8 o'clock.
Was it my fault? How did I miss it? I should have known—the questioning of myself was pretty exhausting.
