“Driving a bus that raises awareness of cancer research in Yorkshire means a lot to me” – Sarah’s experience

For 43-year-old bus driver Sarah Stevenson, getting behind the wheel of one bus in particular holds extra meaning. This is the Yorkshire Cancer Research branded bus, which travels across key routes in and around Harrogate, helping to raise awareness of the charity’s life-saving work.

The bus was unveiled in May, thanks to its collaboration with Yorkshire bus company Transdev, where Sarah – and now also her 20-year-old son Will - both work as bus drivers.

In June 2021, Sarah was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 39, after noticing some changes in her breast. 

Following a biopsy and mammogram, Sarah was told the cancer was fast-growing and had spread to her lymph nodes. She recalls one of the hardest parts of her diagnosis was telling her family.

“Telling my son Will was difficult, especially as he was in the middle of his A-levels. He was also looking after his grandparents at the time due to the pandemic, so he had a lot on his shoulders. However, he really stepped up to support our whole family and I’m so proud of how he dealt with everything.”

Just two weeks after her diagnosis, Sarah was referred for surgery at Harrogate Hospital and underwent a mastectomy to remove her left breast. On the day of her procedure, Sarah’s sister and niece handed her a special gift.

She said: “My niece was just three at the time; too little to understand the details of what being diagnosed with cancer meant. However, we explained that I was poorly and was going to get better by having my ‘bad boobie’ cut off.

“On the day of my surgery, they gifted me a special ‘bye bye boobie box’ with pink balloons and a collection of goodies to keep me entertained whilst I recovered from the surgery in hospital. I’ve still got the box as a reminder that I can get through even the most challenging of times.”

Following surgery, Sarah underwent a six-month course of chemotherapy followed by a month of radiotherapy.

“Looking back, it’s all a bit of a blur and I was living appointment to appointment. The chemotherapy treatment was a gruelling ordeal, made worse by being unable to see my family due to the pandemic. Near the end of my treatment, I ended up catching Covid-19 meaning I had to stop my treatment and extend it into January. It was not the Christmas present I was hoping for!”

Sarah completed her hospital treatment in February 2022. She is now on a five-year course of hormone treatment, with annual mammograms and clinic appointments to monitor her health. 

Having previously worked as a cleaner at a care home, Sarah knew she needed to find a new job that was less physically demanding to help her recover from her cancer treatment. 

Having now worked as a bus driver for two and a half years, Sarah reflects on how much this role has given her a new sense of purpose and supported her wellbeing following her cancer treatment. 

She said: “The mentoring I received throughout my training was brilliant and since then, I’ve loved every minute of working at Transdev. I also really enjoy meeting people in the local community and seeing familiar faces. There’s one passenger who shouts that I’m his favourite bus driver every time he gets on – now that’s something you can’t get bored of!” 

Now, Sarah’s 20-year-old son Will has followed in her footsteps, having passed his test in February to also become a driver.

Sarah concluded: “Driving a bus that raises awareness of cancer research in Yorkshire means a lot to me, especially now I have personally benefitted from cancer treatment that wouldn’t have been possible without the research. With continued funding, treatments can only improve. Progress is being made all the time, so it’s important we continue to raise awareness and support the work of charities like Yorkshire Cancer Research.”