“Exercise has been the magic pill in my recovery from cancer treatment, and for that, I have Yorkshire Cancer Research to thank.” – Jackie’s experience

From fear of the future to hope for a happy, healthier life, Jackie Best shares how the Yorkshire Cancer Research pioneering cancer exercise treatment service, Active Together, helped her face the world again after her cancer diagnosis. 

For 30 years, Jackie Best enjoyed a quiet life in her village of Green Hammerton in North Yorkshire. After her children left home, Jackie devoted herself to helping young people re-enter education and employment during the week, and spent her weekends outdoors with her loving dog, Mac.

But at the start of 2024, Jackie’s weekly routine took an unexpected turn when she began waking each morning with a strange twinge in her right breast.

Jackie said: “I was going through menopause and receiving hormone replacement treatment, so my body already felt a bit weird and was sore in some places. However, I couldn’t understand why the pain was consistently in one area.”

Jackie had long experienced fibrocystic breast changes, a common condition that causes lumps, swelling and tenderness. This meant regular breast screening was already a part of her life. 

Following tests, Jackie was told she had early-stage breast cancer but was reassured the tumour was small and could be removed. Shortly after diagnosis, she was scheduled for surgery.

Two weeks after her operation, Jackie received news she wasn’t expecting. Doctors feared she may have cancer in her other breast, meaning she would need another operation followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  

Jackie said: “The news completely threw me into a tailspin. I could cope with a little lump, but not a major, life-threatening development that would require very intense treatment.”

It was in September 2024 when Jackie first took part in Active Together at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre in Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, to help her recover from treatment. The research-backed cancer exercise treatment service is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and designed by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre to help people prepare for and recover from cancer treatment.  

The service is underpinned by well-established scientific evidence that shows exercise can increase survival, improve recovery from treatment and reduce the risk of cancer coming back.

From her first visit, Jackie felt she had found a safe space between her medical appointments.

Jackie loved the variety of exercises that a structured exercise treatment plan gave her, from taking part in small group fitness classes to receiving personalised sessions tailored around her individual needs.  

She said: “The instructors were so knowledgeable and non-judgemental; I could talk to them about anything. I knew every time I walked into the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre, I’d walk out feeling better.” 

Jackie now takes a pioneering drug called Tamoxifen to reduce the risk of her breast cancer returning. The drug was developed in the 1970s with the help of funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research and is now used by millions of people around the world to prevent and treat breast cancer.  

Jackie explained: “I am so grateful to be able to take a drug that helps prevent cancer cells in my body from growing, and it’s amazing to know Yorkshire Cancer Research played a role in its development. The side effects can be difficult though, as the drug blocks oestrogen, which affects your sleep and your metabolism. Thankfully, the impact of exercise, especially strength training, has made those side effects easier to manage.”

Taking part in Active Together helped Jackie cope with other challenging moments during her treatment. At one stage, doctors feared she may have cancer in her other breast, though further tests thankfully ruled this out. A urinary infection that spread to her womb led to her being admitted to hospital. The unpredictability of her health, combined with the challenges of her previous cancer treatments, took a toll on her mental wellbeing.  

Jackie said: “At first, I became obsessed with researching everything about cancer and started exercising all the time, thinking it would stop the cancer from coming back. I even ran a 10k the day after finishing radiotherapy!"

One of the most meaningful lessons Jackie learned from her time with Active Together was how to open up to her loved ones. 

“Telling my children I had cancer was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m a very independent person, and I didn’t want to show them how much I was hurting. Active Together taught me there is strength in vulnerability and gave me reassurance I could be ok and live a happy, healthier life. I will never be fearless of cancer, but Yorkshire Cancer Research helped me understand and cope with that fear.”

From her first cancer diagnosis, Jackie also found comfort in Mac, her loyal furry companion of nearly 12 years. Sadly, Mac passed away in April 2025, but she carries a memento of him in a necklace she wears every day as a reminder of how he helped her cope during the tough times of her cancer treatment.

She said: “Mac was my little buddy; my soulmate since he was eight weeks old and I had rescued him from a kennel. After my cancer surgery, I couldn’t lift anything heavy, but I could always walk with Mac and that would instantly make me feel a little better. He was instrumental in my recovery.”

To mark the anniversary of her cancer diagnosis, Jackie challenged herself to walk 37 miles in one day, raising over £1,400 for life-saving cancer research in Yorkshire.

Jackie reflected:

When asked what she recommends to others having cancer treatment, Jackie said: “Doing a bit of physical activity, even just a little walk, makes all the difference; I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Exercise has been the magic pill in my recovery from cancer treatment, and for that, I have Yorkshire Cancer Research to thank. That’s why it’s so important to keep funding this vital work.”  

Jackie now shares her experience whenever she can and is encouraging people to join her in getting their walking boots on this May for the Yorkshire Cancer Research ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’ 2026 fundraising challenge. This year, she’ll be walking with her daughter Melissa, who was by her side every step of her cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

Jackie said: "Two years on after my own cancer diagnosis and treatment, I’m taking part in the charity’s We Walk for Yorkshire challenge. Thanks to what Active Together taught me about exercise, nutrition and wellbeing, walking has become part of who I am. It helps me stay present, appreciate what my body can do, and find comfort in nature. Walking with people I love reminds me to feel grateful for the support surrounding me.”

Jackie continued: “Signing up to this year’s We Walk for Yorkshire challenge is an act of solidarity for people affected by cancer in Yorkshire. With Yorkshire facing some of the toughest challenges around cancer, every step we walk together helps push for better treatments, better survival and a better future for our region. So please, join us!”