A Stockport mum-of-three who saw her GP after it looked as though her right breast had slightly deflated, faced a devastating cancer diagnosis. Nik Statham is now urging support for Cancer Research UK’s Shine Manchester night-time walking 10k event which returns to the city on Friday October 11.

The 55-year-old medical secretary was sitting without a top half on after feeling hot following a shower last November when she spotted a subtle change to her right breast. Nik couldn’t find a lump, but felt worried enough to see her GP.

Her GP also couldn’t find a lump or see anything worrying, but sent Nik to the breast clinic where the nurses were also unable to see anything to be concerned about.

However, following a mammogram and ultrasound, the radiologist spotted something amiss immediately and Nik was sent for a biopsy.

placeholder image — Nik Statham with her three children

Following an agonising 10 day wait, Nik was told she had a malignant tumour in her right breast.

In January of this year Nik, who lives in Great Moor and is divorced, had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

After initially being told she may need radiotherapy which would mean missing her daughter’s wedding in Las Vegas, Nik was told the cancer had been caught early and not spread to the lymph nodes, so radiotherapy wasn’t needed.

Nik, who is mum to Ryan, 29, Ellie, 27, and Maddie 23, has made a great recovery following the surgery and felt well enough to run the 5k Race for Life event at Heaton Park in July.

She credits her recovery with having kept fit all her life.

With around 44, 700 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the North West*, and cases on the rise, Nik is determined to do everything she can to help more people like her survive.

Nik said: “My experience shows that it’s important to know your own body and what looks normal for you. The change to my breast was so subtle that nobody else apart from me was able to see it.

“It might have been a different story if I hadn’t gone to the GP as I wasn’t due a mammogram for some time.

“I have always enjoyed going to the gym, walking and running to keep fit, so that definitely helped me to recover. Being told I had cancer was shocking, but I am looking forward to a happy and healthy future.

“Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can support the research that will beat it.”** My experience means I understand the importance of this all too clearly.

“I’m so grateful to have more precious time with my loved ones. I owe everything to the work of Cancer Research UK and research into better treatments, so I hope that sharing my story will inspire people to grab their glowsticks and sign up for the Shine Night Walk. “

The event starts at Castlefield in Manchester at 7.15pm, when participants will take to the city’s streets in a fun and inspirational parade of light.

Passing some of the city’s famous landmarks the route takes in the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Cathedral, Spinningfields and the Chinatown Arch..***

Shine Night Walk participants can choose to raise money for the cancer type closest to their hearts, including prostate cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, brain tumours, children’s cancers, leukaemia or breast cancer.

Or they can give their backing to research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Greater Manchester, Jane Bullock, said: “Eight in 10 people who receive cancer drugs on the NHS receive a drug developed by us, or with us.**** Our scientists have led the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, paved the way for targeted treatments and improved the way we use surgery to tackle the disease.

“Together, we are beating cancer. Advances like this are all down to supporters like Nik, who have helped us to double cancer survival in the UK in the last 50 years. But we can’t stop there. Whether people walk for loved ones, future generations or with friends old and new, by taking part in Shine Night Walk, step by step, they’ll be bringing us closer to a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Last year, Cancer Research UK was able to spend more than £25million in Manchester.

Research happening right now in Manchester includes finding new ways to detect lung cancer earlier, transforming radiotherapy research and understanding how ovarian cancer spreads.

People in Greater Manchester can also help support research like this by volunteering at Shine Night Walk. From helping to set up the course to guiding participants around the city, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, meet new people and learn new skills.

To enter or volunteer visit shinewalk.org