Cancer made me realise how much my colleagues cared for me

When Isola Blair’s male colleagues found out she had cancer, she was left shocked at their reaction.

In January 2010, she experienced a sharp pain in her left breast that refused to go away. A trip to her GP led to a referral to a breast clinic, who set up an appointment for an ultrasound and mammogram.

Just two weeks later, Isola was told the devastating news that she had breast cancer. The social worker then ‘cried like she had never cried before.’

Speaking on this week’s episode of podcast Mammograms and Me – hosted by Labour MP Dawn Butler – Isola recalls how her colleagues responded when they found out about her diagnosis.

‘It was a bit of a male-dominated environment at my work,’ she explains. ‘‘My boss had told them that I had breast cancer and might not be coming back to the job. I went in to see my colleagues and some of the men were crying.

‘And I said, “what are you crying for? Don’t cry, I’ll be alright. It’s not like I’ve lost a leg, I’ve got too many shoes to wear!”

‘I’m not a comedian by any means but that seemed to lighten the mood a bit. But still, some of them just had to walk away as they were so upset.

‘It shows how sometimes you don’t know how much people really do think and care about you. You don’t realise until something life-threatening happens to you.’

In the podcast, Isola, also discusses sharing her cancer diagnosis with her two children. Her 10-year-old son was left incredulous that his mum would be ‘walking around with only one booby’ after her treatment.

While her cancer diagnosis may have put an end to Isola’s social work career due to her treatment, it did inspire a new chapter.

Today, she is a co-founder of Beyond Cancer, a charity that provides support and a listening ear to people during their stages of a cancer diagnosis, appointments and treatment.

In her interview with Dawn, Isola also explores how Beyond Cancer works to reach all corners of society, including ethnic minority groups.

With Black and Asian women often being diagnosed with cancer at a later stage than their white counterparts, research shows that the mortality rate can be far higher within certain races.

Isola continues: ‘In the Black community, cancer isn’t something that’s talked about. It never came up between my friends or family.

‘I went through my cancer journey knowing very little. So I thought, how many other women are out there who have no idea what to expect?

‘A lady called Pat Case is a fellow founder of Beyond Cancer. She got diagnosed through having a mammogram – a routine one. So we got together and had a conversation on what we could do.’

Isola is determined to do everything within her power at Beyond Cancer to make a difference.

They’ve hosted events and fundraisers which have seen hundreds of women attend and learn about the tell-tale signs of cancer.

At Isola’s local church in Leeds, she’s engaged in hushed conversations with women to dispel misconceptions about smear tests. She’s told church-goers how – even if you aren’t sexually active – they are still vital.

She also tries to raise awareness of prostate cancer and how support can be provided to Black and Asian men with the diagnosis.

‘I think even if we plant a tiny seed, it can grow,’ Isola tells Dawn. ‘But if there’s no seed planted – change won’t happen.’

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Kirsten.Robertson@metro.co.uk 

Share your views in the comments below.

MORE : Dawn Butler launches new breast cancer myth-busting podcast with Metro

MORE : I told ten women a day they had breast cancer, then I got it

MORE : ‘No, they don’t make your boobs sag’ – why one doctor is on a mission to make every woman mammogram savvy