I applied last summer to participate in Breast Cancer Now’s Gallery of Hope campaign. Recording a video about what I’d do with extra time and future moments I’d like to be around to see was a really gruelling experience especially as I was on holiday at the time!

However, fast forward six months and I was chosen to take part. A few video calls later, a documentary crew turned up one cold winter day to film me discussing my experiences. For some reason I found it much easier than expected to do this despite initial awkwardness.

The day of the photoshoot loomed large. I need not have worried. My children were enthralled and I felt like a film star having my hair styled and my eyelashes curled. There was a precarious moment when I fell over leaning on a chair being filmed pretending to dance. But we were sorry to leave and return to reality. I appreciated the nurse’s counsel to take some time over the next days to ‘fill up my tank’.

The next stage was seeing the exhibition featuring my images and background recording. It was a hectic day coordinating childcare and transport in order to participate. My oldest daughter had a tummy bug and the youngest a school trip in the rain!

I was blessed to be joined by my brother, aunt and uncle while my husband looked after the girls, and it was the first late night for many months.

Champagne and canapés are a world away from the gruelling reality of cancer treatment. Back home, I think I’ve got a UTI. The next day I have an injection in my stomach, a blood test and an oncologist appointment. This is life with cancer. But what a privilege to share this with the wider world.

https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/gallery-of-hope/gallery-of-hope/rebecca-brown/