“I was given a second chance thanks to The Royal Marsden”

Receiving her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

After attending her regular mammogram screening, Marilyn was called to her local hospital, where she was told there was an abnormality on her scan. She underwent a biopsy and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer after two tumours were discovered in her left breast. Marilyn was told she would need surgery, which is when she asked to be referred to The Royal Marsden.  

She began treatment at the hospital in 2009, undergoing a mastectomy on her left breast, followed by chemotherapy. She was offered a breast reconstruction, however she declined. The decision was difficult, and Marilyn credits the support of her late husband, Don, for getting her through.  

“I’d been married for 43 years to my husband Ted, who I lost to lung cancer. Then I was married to Don, who had also been widowed before, so I can’t imagine what he must have been thinking when I was diagnosed. Bless him, even though we’d only been married a year, when I spoke to him about the possibility of reconstruction he said ‘I don’t care if you’ve got two, one or none – it’s you I love, not your bits and bobs’. So, if it didn’t matter to him, why should it matter to me? I didn’t go ahead. 

“I have been blessed with the two most wonderful husbands that you could possibly wish for. Absolutely wonderful, both of them.” 

Marilyn’s treatment was successful, and she has now been cancer free for 15 years. 

Going all out on the Wing Walk!

Marilyn decided to take on a challenge to give back to The Royal Marsden. Although she was not afraid of heights, she chose a wing walk to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, knowing it would push her out of her comfort zone.   

“It was terrifying, but I wanted to say thank you to The Royal Marsden, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. So, I decided, I’m going to do a wing walk and raise some money for you. I just knew it had to be something I was frightened of doing because I wanted people to realise that it was a real effort for me to do it.” 

Marilyn ended up completing the stunt just five days before her 80th birthday and raised over £2,000. 

“Before we left, the pilot asked if I wanted the gentle version, or ‘the full monty’. I had a load of friends there who had all travelled to support me – they had banners, balloons, bunting and they had the Charity t-shirts on. They had all come to cheer me on, so I knew I had to give them a good show, and we had the full works. 

“We went up to 500 feet, and then plummeted down to earth at 120mph and did a big loop up in the air. Then he turned the plane on its side so that the wings are pointing to the earth and we did all of it again. So, it is quite scary, but there was no way I was going to give in – I just stuck with it! I must admit, though, I was very relieved when I got down to earth, it was quite the experience.” 

Marilyn credits her inner youth to her positive attitude and encourages everyone to live to their fullest: “I think, in all honesty, when you have a diagnosis of cancer, wherever it might be, you have to enter the whole thing with the most positive mindset that you can. Positivity helps tremendously in getting you through the whole experience. 

“I love life! I was given a second chance by The Royal Marsden, and we all know we should make the most out of every day, but things get in the way. Work, family, one thing or another. It’s something like cancer which brings it home to you. You’re not here long, it’s not a rehearsal. You have to make the most of every day – and I just feel so lucky that I have been given the chance to do that.” 

Inspired?

You don't have to do a wing dive, but there are loads of ways you can support us, including taking part in any of our fundraising events.