School mums bond over shared cancer journey

Debbie (left) and Sarah have been friends since their children started primary school

For Debbie Holland and Sarah Sykes what began as a friendship forged at the school gates has evolved into a much deeper bond as they support each other through cancer.

Debbie, 45, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in February. Four months later, Sarah, 38, found out her breast cancer had returned and spread to her lungs.

The pair, from Ossett, in West Yorkshire, first met when their eldest girls started primary school in 2016 and over the years they have shared many milestones.

But, as they navigate a more difficult journey together, the women say they would not want to do it with anyone else.

'We've hugged and cried'

Sarah was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She underwent chemotherapy and surgery and was cancer free until the fresh diagnosis earlier this year.

Then, as she was supporting Debbie through her treatment, she was told in June that the cancer had become incurable.

The pair are holding a fundraiser in aid of charity Breast Cancer Now

She said: "Debbie going through this same diagnosis that I went through originally, it was gutting, but I was determined to be there to support her and the kids because I know the impact it will have on them.

"Then when I was diagnosed again, it felt so unfair it was happening to us both but she's been a great help to me.

"We've chatted, we've hugged and cried but together we'll get through it."

Debbie, a planner for an environmental, planning and landscape consultancy, described Sarah as "her rock" who was always there "at the drop of a hat".

She said: "She's such a selfless person and has been a huge emotional support for me and my family.

"It's not great that we're both dealing with this but I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else."

Drug campaign

As well as supporting each other, the women are also backing a campaign for the life-prolonging drug Enhertu, which could benefit Sarah, to be available on the NHS in England.

Clinical trials have shown the treatment could extend the lives of patients with incurable HER2-low secondary breast cancer by as much as two years.

The drug is available on the NHS in Scotland but not in England due to cost issues.

Sarah, who works in fostering and adoption, said: "Being in this situation where you know your cancer isn't curable, to give me those extra few years to see your kids grow up, to see them get married, have their children, it would be incredible.

"You can't put a price on that."

Earlier this year, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) - the body responsible for deciding what medication should be available on the NHS - said the cost was "too high in relation to the benefits it provides for it to be recommended for routine use".

It added that without agreeing a price that represented a "cost-effective use of NHS resources" it could not recommend Enhertu, though said it was "open to further discussions".

Manufacturer AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot said it had offered a "very competitive price" and that it came down to the methodology used by NICE when assessing use of the drug to treat this type of breast cancer.

Sarah and Debbie said the wider group of school mums - known as 'the prosecco club' - have been a big support

Meanwhile, Debbie and Sarah, who are being treated by the same oncologist, said they were focusing on fundraising and increasing awareness of breast cancer.

Together with three other school mums - a group named 'The Prosecco Club' - they are holding a fundraising event later at Christ Church Parish Centre in Ossett in a bid to hit a £5,000 target for Breast Cancer Now.

Debbie said: "We're mums, we run the house, we look after the kids, we work, we look after the wider family and me and Sarah don't do things by half.

"We want something positive to come out of what we're going through so hopefully this event will be really special."

Sarah added: "It's the power of school mums. We're a formidable force and we're determined to do as much good as we can."

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