Claire Pedersen
Talent Development Manager, Ford Middle East & Africa | 54
Both my grandmother and mother had breast cancer, so I was strict about keeping to the dates of my yearly checkups. Life and work got busy and I missed my checkup date by a few months in 2016 – and felt a lump on my left breast - I knew something was wrong immediately.
I went for my check and yes the mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy confirmed breast cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma), and the medical team suggested I start chemotherapy immediately before conducting surgery and radiotherapy due to its aggressive nature.
2017 was a ‘big blur’ for me - the year’s treatment consisted of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation. But I’m feeling amazing now. I’ve been through the worst and I’m in my first year of actual recovery, – it’s been about 10 months now. I’m feeling very, very good!
Last November upon receiving my first clearance check, I celebrated; bought chocolate coated strawberries for the office and came home and celebrated with my husband. It was a lovely, lovely, feeling. I feel, I’ve been given some more time to be with the people I love, and time to appreciate everything we’ve worked for.
I find I’m more purposeful in what I do and how I go about planning things. Holidays don’t just happen, we are focused, and my recent 12-day trip with my husband and another couple to Italy; Venice and Amalfi Coast was on the bucket list. It’s an amazing area; and the hike along The Path of the Gods was breath taking.
The trip was quite hard for me as I didn’t expect that level of difficulty, I’m not sure I would do it again. For others like my husband who enjoys hiking and has climbed many mountains, including Everest Base Camp it was less of a challenge. Even though it was a huge challenge it felt great to have ticked something off my bucket list – and I can’t wait for the next adventure.
I find I’m more purposeful in what I do and how I go about planning things. Holidays don’t just happen, we are focused, and my recent 12-day trip with my husband and another couple to Italy; Venice and Amalfi Coast was on the bucket list. It’s an amazing area; and the hike along The Path of the Gods was breath taking.
The trip was quite hard for me as I didn’t expect that level of difficulty, I’m not sure I would do it again. For others like my husband who enjoys hiking and has climbed many mountains, including Everest Base Camp it was less of a challenge. Even though it was a huge challenge it felt great to have ticked something off my bucket list – and I can’t wait for the next adventure.
The hikes were beautiful as they meandered through the lemon and olive orchid farms. This was complemented by the amazing food, organic and straight from the farmers in the area. The quaint little towns are stunning and old. Farming in Italy is all about the family – all working on the family farm. Little children serving the guests cold drinks upon arrival, and the 89 year old grandfather milking the cow. It’s all about family and closeness, and natural organic produce.
I also felt very passionate about giving something back, and I helped raise £10,000 for The Royal Marsden Hospital research into breast cancer through a cycling challenge in the French Alps. They pitched it to me as a group of unfit blokes on old bikes cycling up hills to raise money for charity. I thought, yes, I can ride a bike, sure. What I didn’t realise was that it was three stages of the Tour de France. I thought it would just be up and down hills, quite relaxed. I had no idea that it would be solidly up mountains for 10 hours plus a day. On the last day we cycled up a mountain in the morning, and then we did the L’Alpe d’Huez with its 21switchbacks in the afternoon. To this day I don’t know how I did it. I got to the end and threw the bike at my now husband and said I never want to see the bike again. I still don’t know how I did it – it was just sheer grit and determination because honestly, it was pretty hideous from start to finish. But I had all this money behind me so there was no way that I was going to stop.
Cancer really changed my outlook on life. I’m much more able to cope with whatever life throws at me. I used to find that things would stress me out, and now it doesn’t so much. Especially with work, there’s always a solution to things, even when the going gets tough, we get through it.
For me, cancer has been an extremely positive thing. I got married, we move to Dubai three years ago, and we’re now expecting our first baby in November. I still go to London twice a year for checkups, but I feel very fortunate to have lived through cancer and feel it has given me an entirely new outlook on life.
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