Having survived breast cancer at the age of 25, Krissy Stokoe from Stanley knows first hand how vital research into the disease is. Here she tells her story and why she’s doing her bit.

ACOUNTY Durham woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 24, is urging people to support Cancer Research UK’s new breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign, Join The Fight For Women’s Survival.

Krissy Stokoe, 25, from Stanley, is backing the campaign which aims to make all women aware of their risk of breast cancer and to raise money to fund life-saving research.

Each year nearly 2,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the North-East and more than 45,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK.

Krissy was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2009 after noticing a lump on her left breast while on a weekend away with friends. She went to see her GP who referred her to the University Hospital of North Durham for further tests.

Two weeks later she was given the devastating news that she had breast cancer. Krissy underwent surgery to have the lump removed and a month later began a course of chemotherapy.

“When I was given the news, I don’t think I really took it in properly at first,” she says. “We were all just so shocked. My grandma had been successfully treated for breast cancer when she was 49, but I never for one moment expected to be diagnosed.

“Although the treatment was difficult, the hardest part was losing my hair. I found that really hard to deal with. Despite going through chemotherapy, I was determined to try and keep life as normal as possible, so I kept working throughout it all.”

Following the chemotherapy, Krissy began a course of radiotherapy treatment, which she completed in September.

“Because I was so young, most of the other people being treated for breast cancer were a lot older than me and at times it was hard to find someone to relate to,” says Krissy, who works as a major accounts manager for DHL in Gateshead.

“But I have a fantastic family and an amazing group of friends who have really helped me get through it all. Through the tears and the laughter they have been with me every step of the way.

“My experience has also made my friends a lot more breast aware and they are now checking themselves regularly, which they might not have done before I was diagnosed.”

As a result of her experience, Krissy decided to do some fundraising and in August she held a ball at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. Together with her friends and family, Krissy raised £1,300 for Join The Fight For Women’s Survival.

“After everything I had been through I wanted to try and do my bit to help raise some money,” says Krissy.

“Although things are improving all the time, there is still a long way to go and hopefully the research we help to fund now will mean more progress can be made, and future generations will have access to even better treatment.”

IN the past few years, more women have been diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before, with more than 45,000 new cases each year. Over the last 25 years incidence rates for the disease have increased by more than 50 per cent.

But there is good news too. Thanks to research into earlier diagnosis and better treatment, more women are surviving.

Cancer Research UK is calling on men, women and children across the North-East to take action by requesting its free fundraising pack and organising their own events to raise money for life-saving research.

The charity is the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK, spending nearly £44m on groundbreaking work last year. Its work has revolutionised treatments for women with breast cancer. From the pioneering use of mammography in the Sixties, which dramatically improved early detection of the disease, to vital clinical trials of drugs such as tamoxifen, their work has helped save thousands of lives.

■ To receive a free fundraising pack, visit jointhefight.