“My mum won't see my little girl grow up, but I'm hopeful advances in cancer research will mean more children get to grow up with their grandparents." – Janea’s experience content
Christmas at Janea Maitland’s home in Doncaster is all about keeping her mum’s memory alive.
In 2023, Janea’s mum, Janet, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Since then, Janea has been committed to creating joyful Christmas moments for her five-year-old daughter, Amelie, just as her mum did for her.
This Christmas, Janea is also sharing her experience to support the vital work of Yorkshire Cancer Research and encouraging others to help fund research that can keep more families and friends together.
Born in London, Janea’s mum moved to Doncaster as a child and later raised Janea and her sister, Cara. She went on to meet Janea’s stepdad, Chris, who remains a close part of Janea’s life today.
Quote from Janea Maitland
Mum was a real force of nature. She always said exactly what she thought, but she was also incredibly caring and would do anything for the people she loved. Whether it was Christmas, a birthday or a holiday, she and Chris made every occasion fun and memorable.”
A nurse who spent many years working in mental health services, Janet was dedicated to helping others and was admired by her colleagues.
Janea continued: “When she died, there were so many people from the NHS at her funeral and so many cards and messages through the door. It showed just how many lives she had touched.”
One of Janet’s greatest joys was becoming grandmother to Janea's daughter, Amelie.
Janea said: "My mum raised me and my sister on her own, so she was so excited to become a grandma to a little girl.”
However, amidst the excitement of preparing to welcome Amelie into the world, Janea soon found herself facing challenges with her health. In December 2020, while six months pregnant, she noticed a bleeding sore on her leg and visited the GP to get it checked.
Shortly after her appointment, she received unexpected news that she had malignant melanoma, a fast-growing type of skin cancer.
As she was pregnant, Janea had to wait until after Amelie was born to undergo further tests. Following her daughter’s birth, tests revealed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her groin, and she was diagnosed with stage three melanoma.
Janea said: "I'd just had my first baby via emergency caesarean section, so life already felt very overwhelming. I had the cancer on my leg removed and I thought the next test would just be a belt-and-braces check. Then I found out it had spread and I needed more surgery and a year of immunotherapy."
Quote from Janea Maitland
"I rang my mum from the hospital and when I got home, she was waiting for me on the drive. I gave her the biggest hug. I remember finding it so hard to hold Amelie, questioning whether I would be around to watch my daughter grow up.”
Having to juggle her cancer treatment alongside being a new mother, Janea was grateful her mum was there to support her.
She said: "Mum made me lunch, sat with me while I recovered in bed, drove me to appointments and helped look after Amelie. We’d watch films together and she’d bring me little activities to do, like crocheting and colouring books.”
In January 2023, while Janea was still undergoing immunotherapy, she received more difficult news – Janet had been diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer.
Quote from Janea Maitland
Mum had been in hospital a month earlier, but she'd told us it was pneumonia. Hearing she had cancer, and that it had been diagnosed at a late stage, didn't feel real. She hadn't shown any symptoms at all and was still her usual outgoing self. It just didn't make sense she could be so ill."
Janet quickly began a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, meaning both she and Janea were receiving cancer treatment at the same time.
Janea said: “It was a massive juggling act. I was working part-time, caring for Amelie, attending my own cancer appointments and looking after Mum as she became more unwell. I'd take Amelie out in the morning, then we'd go to Mum's house. I'd make her lunch and we'd spend time together before heading home for tea, bath and bed."
Unfortunately, Janet's health deteriorated and she became very unwell after chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
Janea said: “I went to appointments with her, sat with her during chemotherapy and was there every time she was admitted to hospital. Cara was travelling back and forth from Manchester to help whenever she could. It was such a difficult time, trying to take in everything the medical team was saying, keep Mum strong and continue caring for Amelie. In the final days, Cara and I slept on a mattress beside her hospital bed.”
In August 2023, just two and a half weeks before Janea finished her own cancer treatment, Janet sadly died, aged 56.
Janea said: "I was looking forward to finishing treatment but then the worst happened. It still feels like a nightmare.”
Quote from Janea Maitland
Cancer disrupts the natural path of family life. I’ll never get to care for my mum in her later years, and she’ll never get to see Amelie grow up. When I gave birth, she was so excited to become a grandma, and now cancer means she’ll miss most of Amelie’s life.”
Having experienced such profound loss, Janea is determined to recreate the magic her mum brought to her life, including carrying on the warmth and family traditions that made Christmas so special.
She said: "Mum absolutely loved Christmas. She made such a big deal out of it every year. We'd spend the whole day decorating the tree with music playing, dancing around the house, laughing and making waffles in the morning. She still gave us advent calendars and stockings when we were in our thirties. There was always laughter and silliness when Mum was around.”
Janea continued: “If it wasn't for Amelie, I'm not sure I'd have the strength to celebrate Christmas, but through her, I get to continue Mum's traditions. We leave carrots out for the reindeer, bake cookies, decorate gingerbread houses and fill the house with lights, just as Mum used to do for us.”
Supporting the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research has also become an important part of Janet’s legacy. Before she died, Janet learned about the vital research supported by the charity and funds raised at her funeral were donated to help continue its pioneering work.
Janea said: "Mum reaching out to Yorkshire Cancer Research showed just how important she felt the charity’s work was. Sadly, she died too soon to build a deeper relationship, but that's why I'm now doing what I can to support the work and help raise awareness.”
Last year, Janea became a Yorkshire Cancer Research Influencer, using her experience as someone affected by cancer to help shape and guide the charity's work. She has also taken part in various fundraising initiatives, including recently completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks with her partner.
She said: "We felt such a huge sense of achievement, and it was amazing to give back to a charity that does so much to improve the lives of people affected by cancer."
Given her mum's experience, Janea is particularly passionate about the charity's mission to improve early diagnosis across Yorkshire.
Quote from Janea Maitland
If Mum had been diagnosed earlier, she would have had more treatment options, and she might still be here today. By the time she was diagnosed, her chances of survival were very low. Lung cancer is a huge issue, especially in Yorkshire, so it's incredibly inspiring to hear about the role Yorkshire Cancer Research has played in helping establish the national lung cancer screening programme.”
Yorkshire Cancer Research funded 'The Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial', a ground-breaking study that brought free chest scans into the centre of communities across Leeds through a mobile screening unit, helping to detect lung cancer earlier and save lives. The success of the trial helped pave the way for the national lung screening programme, which is now being rolled out across the UK.
As part of her support for cancer research in Yorkshire, Janea will take to the catwalk at the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show in York. One of 15 models wearing clothing from the charity's shops, she is helping to raise awareness of the importance of cancer research in Yorkshire, and the impact shop purchases and donations can have on people with cancer across the region.
She said: "The fashion show has pushed me outside my comfort zone, but that's exactly why I wanted to do it. Mum and I used to love shopping together, so it felt like a lovely way to honour her memory."
Having experienced cancer both personally and as someone who has lost a parent to the disease, Janea believes research into cancer treatments and early diagnosis has never been more important. She hopes supporters will help Yorkshire Cancer Research fund more life-saving research to keep more families together for longer.
She said: "Fundraising and sharing my experience can bring back difficult memories, but it also gives me hope and makes me feel like I can help other people. When I see the work being done to prevent cancer, improve treatment and help people get diagnosed earlier, it makes me feel good about the future.”
Quote from Janea Maitland
Over the past five years, I've lost a bit of myself. Getting involved with Yorkshire Cancer Research has helped me find something positive from my experience, meet people who understand what it's like to be affected by cancer and support research that can help families in the future. My mum won't see my little girl grow up, but I'm hopeful advances in cancer research will mean more children get to grow up with their grandparents."
