“Breast cancer changed my life, but with Yorkshire Cancer Research funding, I hope my research will help change the lives of others” – Emily’s experience

When Emily Lunn started university in 2016, it wasn’t long until her research became personal. After a career in project management and raising two children, the then 39-year-old decided to enrol in a degree course in Sociology & Social Policy at the University of Sheffield. But near the end of her first semester, Emily received life-changing news: she had stage 3 breast cancer.

In April 2016, Emily booked an appointment with her GP after noticing discharge from her nipple. She was advised to return if it persisted, but the symptom disappeared. A few months later, she discovered a new lumpy area in her breast and went back to the doctor and referred for a scan.

“It was October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month – and I kept seeing information about breast cancer, so I thought I’d better get it checked. They did an ultrasound, then a mammogram and three biopsies. Even with so many people coming in and out of the room, I didn’t think much of it and went straight back to my university lectures that day.”

The following week, Emily was called back to the hospital where she was told she had stage 3 breast cancer.

“It was like a train had hit me. So many questions raced through my mind. Am I going to lose my hair? Will there be lots of needles? Am I going to lose my identity? The shock of it all lasted throughout my treatment. All I could think was I needed to get through it for my two boys. My eldest was just nine at the time.”

Emily’s treatment began quickly. She had six rounds of chemotherapy followed by surgery, 30 sessions of radiotherapy and targeted cancer drugs to complete a full year of active treatment.

Throughout her treatment and university studies, Emily stayed focused on one clear goal.

“Every time on my way to radiotherapy at Weston Park Hospital, I passed the steps of the university’s watching people in their graduation caps and gowns. I made it my mission to finish treatment and stand on those steps.”

Emily achieved that mission, completing her treatment in 2018 and graduating in 2020, but due to delays from COVID-19, finally standing on those steps in 2022. She was set on continuing her academic career in cancer research, using her experience to help make a difference for others.

“Doing well in my degree alongside treatment confirmed that cancer research was where I belonged. After treatment, I struggled with my mental health and fears of recurrence. I used coping strategies, like journaling my symptoms and reading breast cancer information. But I knew many people don’t have access to the same resources and support I did. That’s when I decided my next work should focus on addressing that.”

In 2020, Emily spotted an opportunity to do a PhD in cancer health inequalities in Yorkshire, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research at the Hull York Medical School. The PhD formed part of TRANSFORM, a £5.2 million programme of research projects, established by Professor Una Macleod and now led by Dr Charlotte Kelly, which aim to understand and address inequalities in cancer diagnosis and survival in Yorkshire and beyond.

After successful interviews, Emily chose to focus her research on breast cancer screening and the reasons why women in Yorkshire from different socioeconomic backgrounds do, or do not, attend their breast screening appointments supervised by Dr Jo Cairns. She spoke to women in socioeconomic-disadvantaged areas in Yorkshire with particularly low screening rates.

Language and communication barriers were another major factor. 

“Women aged over 50 from Roma and some South Asian communities are less likely to have attended formal education, meaning they may not understand why breast screening is important. Even when leaflets are available, they’re often inaccessible. NHS breast screening leaflets are available in 30 languages, but in my area alone, there are around 100 different languages spoken!” 

Emily found that personal beliefs and cultural attitudes also played a role in a woman’s decision to attend their screening appointment. 

“Women often put their family’s needs first and delay their own healthcare. Concerns around modesty, fears that breast screening might be painful, or anxiety about what might be found are also very common.” 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Yorkshire, with one in every 50 women diagnosed at some point in their lives. Yorkshire Cancer Research is committed to funding research like Emily’s to help address barriers to screening and ensure more people are diagnosed early. Detecting breast cancer early gives people more treatment options and increases the chances of successful treatment. 

As part of her PHD, Emily developed an educational ‘Snakes and Ladders’ game, highlighting the barriers and facilitators to attending a breast screening appointment. She tours a life-size version across Yorkshire, including to a recent breast cancer awareness workshop at Thackray Medical Museum in Harehills, Leeds. 

“I get the greatest satisfaction when speaking directly with communities across Yorkshire. By creating safe spaces and having open conversations about breast cancer, we can show why attending appointments matters – helping more women attend, increasing early diagnosis and ultimately saving lives.”

Earlier this month, Emily submitted her PhD thesis and has presented her findings across the country. She was recently awarded the Postgraduate Researcher of the Year Award at the Hull York Medical School.

Emily hopes the findings from her research, alongside other TRANSFORM research projects, will spark important conversations and lead to changes in the way breast cancer screening is offered to women in Yorkshire. 

“Breast cancer changed my life, but with Yorkshire Cancer Research funding, I hope my research will help change the lives of others. Currently, there is a one-size-fits-all approach and the system doesn’t cater for the needs of different Yorkshire communities. I hope to see a more inclusive and flexible system, for example cultural awareness training, options to protect modesty, and accessible breast cancer resources. Throughout my breast cancer experience, I knew where to access information and had a strong support network around me. Many people in Yorkshire don’t. If I can help change that and reduce inequalities, then my job is done.” 

Now, Emily is joining forces with cancer experts at the University of York to help develop new ways to prevent cancer and improve early diagnosis among Gypsy, Traveller and Roma (GTR) communities in Yorkshire. Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, this study is part of the charity’s wider mission to reduce health inequalities across the region. 

Two years ago, Emily received another cancer diagnosis and was told she had a type of endometrial cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, and she underwent a hysterectomy to reduce the risk of it coming back.

Emily said: “It certainly was a shock to be told I had another type of cancer. Life is filled with unexpected hurdles, but I’m living proof that advancements in research mean cancer doesn’t have to take everything from you. I just want to do what I can to help other people live better lives – and I thank Yorkshire Cancer Research for helping me do that.”