Please help us back tonight's TV campaign (From Worcester News)

Please help us back tonight's TV campaign

3:27pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News By James Connell

A WORCESTER cancer survivor is urging people to back a fundraising campaign called ‘Stand Up to Cancer’ which will help save lives.

Diane Hurdiss, 41, from St Peter’s, Worcester owes her life is to breakthroughs in treatment and is joining forces with Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 to launch the campaign.

Stand Up To Cancer is a fundraising telethon being brought to the UK tonight for the first time by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Throughout the month Channel 4’s on-air season has been building up, culminating in the live fundraising entertainment extravaganza.

Stars from television, music and film are already supporting it, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Alan Carr, Davina McCall and Embarrassing Bodies’ Dr Christian Jessen.

Mrs Hurdiss, a finance assistant at the Foster Care Cooperative in Malvern and mother-of-two, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2010 after noticing puckering around her nipple.

She did not believe it was anything to worry about and delayed going to the GP for a couple of months before mentioning it in passing at an appointment for something else.

She was referred to the breast clinic in Worcester where an ultrasound scan showed a mass in her breast. A mammogram and biopsy confirmed it was a type of ‘contained’ tumour called Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS).

In September 2010 Mrs Hurdiss had a mastectomy and reconstruction, but when she came round from the operation she was told the tumour was aggressive, had spread to the blood vessels in her breast, and she would need chemotherapy after all.

Chemotherapy finished in February 2011, followed by a year on the drug herceptin and ongoing treatment with tamoxifen. She now has yearly mammograms to monitor her progress but is otherwise back to full health.

She said: “It was horrific to have to tell my children, Natasha and Tom that I had cancer. My mum died after an operation to remove bowel cancer, and my grandmother died of breast cancer, so it was a frightening thing for them.

“It was also particularly hard on my husband, Nigel, who had to look after me while also continuing to run our air-conditioning business, Bon Air, in Worcester. But, thanks to research, I am still here.”

Stand Up To Cancer will unite scientists, celebrities and communities across the country to generate funds, raise awareness and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

People can also show their allegiance by purchasing a Stand Up To Cancer wristband in four different colours, for just £1 each. They are available now at Cancer Research UK shops and will be on sale at Tesco and TK Maxx stores from October.