A woman from Caldicot will be running the half marathon at the ABP Newport Marathon Festival as part of her breast cancer recovery.
Vicky Silcox was diagnosed with the disease in August 2023 after having a 360-health check, despite not having any symptoms.
The 53-year-old mum-of-two said: “I wasn’t sure about getting the scan at first but decided to go for it. Part of the health check was having a mammogram, and I was called back as they’d found some anomalies and I needed to have a biopsy.
“When they tell you that, you think it might be cancer, but I didn’t want to start worrying until I knew what was going on.”
That September, Vicky was at the Royal Gwent Hospital having six biopsies taken and then needed to wait for the results.
That’s when they discovered she had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in her right breast and would need to have a wide local excision (WLE) to remove the cancerous cells.
Vick said: “Finding out was incredibly scary. When you first get told you have breast cancer you see it everywhere you look. I remember watching Stand Up to Cancer on the telly at the time and crying. But I just wanted it sorted and tried to be as strong as I could for my family – my husband Jason, son Cai and daughter Brooke. I didn’t want to think too much about what was happening.”
On 5 December 2023 Vicky had her first surgery to remove the cancerous tissue. However, unfortunately when she had her results back the following month, the markers weren’t clear. Her surgeon needed to go back in and remove more tissue.
Vicky said: “After my first operation my breast was left a bit square and after the second you could really notice the size difference.
“I remember that I couldn’t get my wound wet for 14 days so I’d have to be wrapped up in clingfilm to shower.”
Devastatingly, it was bad news again when Vicky went back to get the results of her second operation. The margins around the removal still weren’t clear and she was given three options. Either surgeons could go back in again and remove further tissue, she could have a mastectomy or have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction whereby some of her stomach tissue would be used to reconstruct her breast.
Vicky opted for the reconstructive mastectomy and after further tests and scans, her medics were happy that she was suitable for the 10-hour long procedure.
She said: “In March 2024 I was at Singleton Hospital getting ready for surgery. It was so frightening saying goodbye to my family.
“I remember the two surgeons drawing all over my stomach and breast. There was going to be two operating on me at the same time – one to remove as much of the breast tissue as possible and another cutting my stomach and parting the muscles. They then needed to find the artery and vein to tuck it into my new breast and needed to break one of my ribs to do so.
“Thankfully the surgery was a success, but I was in a lot of pain.”
Vicky needed to be checked every 30 minutes for the first 24 hours and then every hour for the second day to ensure the blood was flowing correctly.
Finally, after five long days in hospital she could go back home.
She said: “My body was so sore that I could feel every bump in the road and getting in and out of the car was a task in itself. I needed to walk up the stairs sideways with my husband and son either side of me in case I fell and needed to sleep sitting up for six weeks.
“Recovery was a long process – I didn’t comprehend how big it was going to be. After two weeks I tried to walk the dog but could only manage 30 seconds and it was a while before I could stand up straight again.
“But my surgeons were miracle workers. They’ve done an amazing job and were so kind, caring and supportive. To look at me now, other than my scars, you wouldn’t know what had happened.”
After regular checks, in June 2024 Vicky was given the all clear and she even managed to go back to work that July.
She now ensures she’s very open about what she went through in the hope it will encourage others to get themselves checked.
Vicky said: “Being given the all clear was music to my ears and that’s when I decided to sign up to the ABP Newport Half Marathon. I started the couch to 5K programme, and after a slight setback after fracturing my foot while playing football, I’m now working my way up through my mileage.”
Vicky will be taking on the challenge on Sunday 13 April with her 19-year-old son Cai to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.
She said: “I’ve been given a second go at life and want to make the most of it. If I can help anybody through sharing what I’ve been through, I want to make sure I do it. I want them to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you can beat it.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, said: “We’re always amazed by the inspiring stories of our runners and Vicky is proof that you can do hard things if you set your mind to it.
“We’re very much looking forward to seeing her and Cai at the ABP Newport Marathon Festival in April and cheering them over the finish line.”
Donate to Vicky’s fundraising page click here.
