Southall Woman Features in National Campaign for Macmillan
Pam Judge joins celebrities to highlight forthcoming Coffee Morning
Pam in the photo for the campaign taken by Rankin. Picture: Macmillan
September 17, 2024
A Southall woman who survived cancer is appearing in a national campaign to raise awareness of the charity Macmillan and its annual flagship Coffee Morning event later this month.
44-year-old Pam Judge was supported by Macmillan when receiving treatment.
She recently took part in a photoshoot by celebrity photographer Rankin along with others who have had their lives changed by cancer including Loose Women and ITV news host Charlene White, singer and actress Brenda Edwards, TV personality Jake Quickenden and BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury. The photographs aim to bring to life the importance of coming together to share experiences. Pam's photo shows her holding up a sign which says, "Macmillan was always at the end of the phone."
After receiving emergency surgery for a collapsed lung, Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022. While receiving treatment, she also had to cope with the loss of her father.
She said: “I was checking my breast and I felt a lump. I initially went for what was supposed to be just an ultrasound, but the radiologist had seen that I had more than just one lesion and told me I could have a biopsy there and then rather than waiting.
“I wasn’t in a great place at the time as I was just getting over failed IVF treatment and miscarriages, so we were still getting our heads around that and putting that chapter behind us when I was diagnosed with cancer.”
“When I was told it was cancer, I just remember my heart beating really fast all of a sudden. But then, once I knew what was going to happen I thought ‘right, let’s get through this’. There were hard days. I remember I came to my second to last chemo round and I said ‘I can’t do it’. I just wanted to give up. I thought I can’t go through this again. “
Pam had chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy but just days after her breast surgery she lost her father.
She says of this time, “I was feeling good, I thought the chemo’s done, the operation’s done, I was looking forward to getting back to some kind of normality, but then unfortunately I lost my dad just days after my operation. That was really difficult on top of everything else I was dealing with, that felt like one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to get through.”
Pam was supported by three Macmillan nurses during her treatment.
She said of them, “My treatment without Macmillan cancer support would have been very different. Any time I needed anything they were at the end of the phone, whenever I went to pick up meds or needed blood tests done, they would make the time for me and I always knew they were there.
“Had they not been there I think it would’ve been more stressful as I would’ve had to find things out for myself and not had someone there to rely on.”
After her diagnosis, Pam hosted a Coffee Morning and raised over £4000.
She said, “People should host a Coffee Morning because it’s so much fun. It’s an opportunity to raise funds for such an amazing charity. If anything else is just an excuse to get everyone together, have a cup of coffee and just enjoy yourself.”
Photographer Rankin says, “This project is very close to my heart. I lost my mum to lung cancer so know first-hand how cancer can turn someone’s world upside down, including their loved ones. These photos highlight the resilience of people living with cancer and the incredible work Macmillan do in supporting people after their diagnosis.”
Charlene White lost her mother to bowel cancer when she was just 21 years old. She said, "I am passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer after losing my mother to the disease when she was 47 years old. I’ve seen firsthand the support Macmillan nurses have given to my mum in her last days. They were there when we needed them the most, staying overnight with mum so my dad could get some much-needed rest.
“Bowel cancer is highly treatable and there are treatments available now that weren’t accessible 20 years ago, but someone still dies every 30 minutes of this disease. People can be embarrassed about going to the doctor with bowel-related concerns but if you see changes and you don't go to the GP, your family could lose a mum, could lose a dad. You know your body and if you spot any changes or signs then please go to your doctor.
“Macmillan Coffee Morning raises much needed funds so the charity can continue to support everyone affected by cancer and I would urge you to sign up and host a Coffee Morning – in whatever way you choose.”
BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. She underwent a mastectomy and had lymph glands removed to stop the cancer from spreading. Now cancer free, the presenter, author and nature advocate is keen to encourage others to get their symptoms checked early.
Julia, 54, said: “I found a lump in my breast which was originally diagnosed as a cluster of benign micro-cysts, and I had to have another mammogram as a follow up.
“The scan, which included an ultrasound and a physical examination, hadn't returned anything alarming, so I almost didn't go to my follow up appointment. However, the follow up a year later was lifesaving as my doctor discovered a small shadow on my breast, which turned out to be cancerous.
“When you hear the words ‘you have cancer’ your world stops. They’re words no one wants to hear - it’s a club that no one wants to be part of and yet so many are. Any cancer diagnosis is a journey, and that journey is different for everyone. It’s a startling statistic that 1 in 7 women in their lifetime will get breast cancer.
“Macmillan is committed to supporting everyone who is unfortunate enough to be part of this club and will do whatever it takes to support them. I would urge people to host a coffee morning, in whatever way they choose, to help Macmillan continue this vital work. And remember – it doesn’t have to be cake - there are loads of healthy options to serve up!”
Brenda Edwards was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2016. She is now symptom-free. She said, “My cancer treatment involved intense chemotherapy, a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. I would encourage anyone who notices changes to their breasts or has concerns to contact their GP or if you’ve received a cancer diagnosis, use the support Macmillan Cancer Support can offer. For information, support or just someone to talk to visit macmillan.org.uk.
“And people up and down the country are coming together to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning, and you can too. Whether you raise pennies or pounds, you’ll be a part of something incredible, helping people with cancer live life as fully as they can.
This year’s Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is on Friday 27 September and the charity is urging the public to sign-up to host a Coffee Morning and bring people together to make a difference for people living with cancer. In 2023, over £18 million was raised by people holding events with £1.5million of this coming from Coffee Mornings across the capital. The money raised was enough to fund more than 260 Macmillan nurses for a year.
Claire Spencer, Marketing Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “The countdown to Coffee Morning is officially on, and it’s always so fantastic to see so many people get involved. Whether it’s a chai afternoon, a ‘barks and bakes’ dog walk or a kitchen disco in the office, people can host their Coffee Morning anyway and anywhere they want.
“Cancer can disrupt every part of peoples’ lives. Every Coffee Morning held around the UK will raise vital funds to help Macmillan to support everyone with a cancer diagnosis to get the care that they need, whoever and wherever they are.”
2023 was one of the worst years on record for cancer treatment delays in the NHS across the UK and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the physical health of people with cancer has increased to its highest level since Macmillan first started tracking it.
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