'We asked how long I had left to live' – Brave Dudley mother shares battle with incurable skin cancer

The 46-year-old spotted a blood blister on her arm in March 2021 and after a hospital visit was diagnosed with melanoma - a type of skin cancer.

After bouts of surgery she was told the disease had been beaten but, less than a year later, was back in the doctor's office receiving the world-collapsing news that the cancer had spread to her abdomen and lungs and was at stage four - giving her only 'a couple of years' left to live.

The mother-of-one, who ran cleaning enterprise ‘Mom’s Magic Clean’, says the moment she heard the diagnosis was the first time she broke down in tears since her journey began, less than a year earlier.

Then months later she was told that some of her cancer had shrunk, was 'stable' and would no longer be offered medical aid.

But after battling with doctors for more treatment - and winning - she is now campaigning for greater efforts on making sure sufferers of the disease are not left 'fighting' to live.

She said: "I was only 45 when I was diagnosed, so to be told I might only have a couple of years left to live was devastating.

“When I was told the cancer had spread, the nurse took me and my partner Glen into a room, that’s the first time I cried. My son was just 23 and I thought ‘I can’t die yet'."

Helen had another scan in January 2022, but had to wait until February for results - which showed another mass in her stomach.

“At first, they said they were going to remove it, but a few weeks later - at the end of February - they said it was too difficult and I would need targeted radiotherapy instead," she said.

“At that point we asked how long I had left to live and was told two to six years, depending on how effective the treatment was. That was pretty shocking and hard to deal with.”

Her situation took a turn for the worst when further scans showed the cancer had spread to her lungs.

She said: “I was referred from Russells Hall Hospital to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton where they found the cancer in both my lungs, which meant I needed immunotherapy instead of the planned radiotherapy.

“I’d been given the news my cancer had spread in November, but it was April before I started any treatment, so there was a very long gap where they were doing more tests and deciding what to do.

"I was very angry and upset because I was originally told treatment would start in February. It was worrying to think that my cancer was growing as the weeks passed.

"I now know other people in my situation whose treatment started straight away while they were discussing what route to go down.”

Three months after treatment started, tests showed the largest tumour in Helen’s stomach had shrunk by a quarter.

However, by December 2022, Helen was told the treatment would stop.

“My oncologist had left so I saw a junior specialist who told me that my tumour had not moved for eight months, so my treatment would stop because I was classed as stable," she said.

“I cried all the way home, but the decision was reversed when my previous consultant got involved. If I hadn’t argued I feel like my treatment would have stopped.”

Cancer Research UK said Helen's case is said to show an 'underlining unacceptable cancer waiting times' and an 'alarming £1 billion gap in funding for life-saving research'.

As a result of her experience she is backing the charity's Turning Point for Cancer campaign insisting that tackling the disease must be a top election priority for all political parties.

Helen said: “So many people’s lives are touched by this devastating disease and the numbers are only growing. We must make sure cancer is at the forefront of the minds of all future MPs. We already go through enough being diagnosed with cancer. Most of us will survive but we should all have the option to survive.

“It’s distressing to think how many more friends, family and colleagues could be affected by the fall-out if we don’t speed up progress in the fight against cancer.

“With so many challenges and funding issues surrounding cancer research and care, it’s vital that saving lives comes before politics. When you hear those terrible words 'It’s cancer' all you want to know is you – or your loved one – have the best possible chance of surviving. Whoever wins the general election, the next UK Government must help make this a reality for cancer patients everywhere.”

Around 190,000 people in the West Midlands region are projected to be diagnosed with cancer in the next five years.

Cancer Research UK’s West Midlands spokesperson Paula Young, said: “Nearly one in two people will get cancer in their lifetime. It affects every family, in every constituency. So, as political parties reach out to the country, there’s never been a better opportunity to come together and demand the action people affected by the disease so desperately need and deserve. This general election must be a turning point for cancer.

“We’re grateful to Helen for joining the groundswell of supporters, scientists and stars who are backing our campaign and hope her story will inspire people across the West Midlands to have their say by emailing their local candidates.

“The entire cancer community is calling for the next UK Government to introduce a bold and long-term plan to prevent future cancers and improve survival.

"Urgent action to tackle the disease will mean more life-saving research, more people diagnosed and treated earlier, and ultimately, more people in the West Midlands living longer, better lives.”

Both hospital trusts were approached for comment.