Do you know anyone who has suffered from Breast Cancer? It is the most common cancer in the UK with a lifetime one in eight risk of being diagnosed with it. It is likely, therefore, that someone close to you will have suffered from this devastating illness. Free from the illness for a year, Maz Scudamore from Bromsash, was, by her own admission: "not one for routine breast inspection." However, on discovering 'a ridge one morning', decided to visit her doctor. Within two weeks she was with her Consultant at Hereford hospital and given the words we all dread. It was a huge shock and Maz was on an emotional rollercoaster from then on. From discovery to diagnosis and then treatment, there was hardly a chance to even catch her breath. "Everything happened so quickly."

Maz began a gruelling round of treatments of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, causing her hair to fall out and weight gain through steroids.

"I felt guilty about caring about my physical appearance when I was fighting – and it is a fight – to keep alive. But this illness gets all mixed up with one's notion of femininity. Like many women I juggled so many things then, when I was diagnosed, control was taken away and was replaced by fear."

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.