Mum-of-two Toni Walters is the 16th member of her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ms Walters, 44, from Wales, was diagnosed in early 2010 and had two operations to remove the tumour she nicknamed “Elvis”, Wales Online reports.
She lost two aunts to breast cancer and watched her older sister Alison, as well as most of their cousins and second cousins go through treatment.
“I knew what it was straight away,” she recalled.
“I rang my sister and said ‘I think it’s my turn to have cancer’.”
However, cancer wasn’t going to stop her from living her life.
Ms Walters took just two weeks off work and seven months after undergoing surgery, she ran the Cardiff Half Marathon but admitted it was “a bit soon.”
“I was looking around at people wearing T-shirts of loved ones they’d lost to cancer – people who weren’t as lucky as me.”
“Someone asked who I was running for and I realised I was running for myself. It was very emotional.”
However, she now plans to run a half marathon once a month with her daughters.
“I want to show people there is life after cancer,” she said.
“For me the after-effects of cancer have been more difficult than the diagnosis itself. I’m a single parent and the thought of having a relationship is out of the question.
“I come across as confident but the thought of having to explain everything to someone new, of undressing in front of someone – I’m just not ready.”
She’s also set to model in a fashion show to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care, which she hopes will improve her confidence.
