I can’t stress enough how important it is to approach someone tactfully when asking how they discovered they had breast cancer. The stories behind these discoveries can be surprising. Take the case of Lauren Mahon, for example. She made her discovery while engaging in a private act. “I was masturbating,” she shares. “I grabbed my breast and went, ‘Oh my God – what’s that?'”
At the time of her discovery, Mahon was a healthy 31-year-old with no family history of breast cancer. Like many young women, she hadn’t considered the need to check her breasts regularly. But when she went to the emergency room to get it checked out – the only way she could see a doctor before registering with a general practitioner – she was assured she was fine and brushed it aside. It was only when her mother asked if she had received a referral to see a specialist that Mahon decided to take further action. She made an appointment at the breast clinic.
To her surprise, Mahon was diagnosed with stage three cancer. Her life took a sudden turn from the excitement of moving out and starting a new job to facing chaos and uncertainty. In her own words, “My world as I knew it fell out of my arse.” This raw honesty and directness are what resonates with her millions of podcast listeners. After going through a grueling 18 months of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, Mahon co-created a podcast called “You, Me and the Big C,” where she, Rachael Bland, and Dame Deborah James discussed their firsthand experiences with cancer.
The podcast distinguished itself by avoiding the conventional language often used to discuss cancer. There were no clichés of “fighting” or “battling” the disease. Instead, Mahon, Bland, and James shared the brutal realities, from losing their hair to informing their children about their diagnoses. They tackled the difficult topics, such as where they wanted to die and their fears of worsening conditions. They also discussed their relationships with doctors, partners, and friends, and the importance of maintaining a sense of self amidst treatments.
Despite its success and critical acclaim, the podcast experienced heartbreaking losses. Bland passed away in September 2018, merely months after the podcast’s launch, and James died in June 2022, shortly after being honored as a Dame for her cancer awareness efforts. Mahon and Bland’s widower, Steve, continued the podcast briefly after Bland’s death, but they decided to end it after James’s passing. While Mahon expressed a desire for the podcast to continue as a public service, she did not feel it was her place to carry it on.
Being the sole survivor of the original trio has been incredibly challenging for Mahon. She not only grieved the loss of two dear friends but also battles with the fear that cancer may return for her as well. Nevertheless, she persists in her work. She recently launched the campaign “Cancer Won’t Be the Last Thing That F\*cks Me” in partnership with the charity Girl vs Cancer, which she founded. The campaign focuses on addressing sexual dysfunction in individuals who have or had cancer. Shockingly, nine out of ten people with cancer experience sexual dysfunction, while only three or four out of ten in the non-cancer population do. Moreover, around a third of women receive no information about the potential sexual side effects of cancer treatments.
Mahon feels strongly about combating the idea that people with cancer are no longer seen as sexual beings. It frustrates her that the focus becomes solely on survival, and sexuality takes a backseat. She passionately argues that having a fulfilling sex life is just as important as other aspects of life, such as having a loving relationship or a satisfying career. For cancer survivors reentering the dating world, discussing their diagnosis can become a delicate subject. Mahon herself addresses it early on during a date, but she finds that it often leads to others seeing her as an inspiration rather than a potential partner. She desires normalcy in her romantic life and resents the idea that her cancer experience defines her entirely.
At the heart of this story lies the issue of “othering” individuals with cancer. The notion that they are somehow different or unlucky is far from the truth. Mahon was diagnosed in her thirties, and many others, regardless of age, will face cancer at some point in their lives. Cancer rates have been on the rise, with a 40% increase since 2002 and a 19% increase in the last decade alone. While it is more prevalent in older individuals, it is becoming more common in younger people, particularly women under 50. However, survival rates have improved significantly over the years. More people are living cancer-free years after diagnosis, and many others are managing their condition and living full lives alongside it.
Despite the advancements in cancer treatments and survival rates, public perceptions often lag behind. While society has come a long way from the days when cancer was taboo, there is still a disconnect between common perceptions and the reality of living with the disease. Mahon and others share the experience of feeling different or isolated due to their diagnosis, and this needs to change. The more we educate ourselves and work toward understanding and supporting individuals with cancer, the closer we come to breaking down these barriers and ensuring that no one feels alone in their journey.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
