Christine Lydon is an associate content director at FleishmanHillard Fishburn and is also co-chair of Omnicom’s Open DisAbility steering group. 

‘There is, of course, no ideal time to be diagnosed with cancer. After all, in a typical year, there are weddings to attend, birthdays to celebrate and careers to forge. Who would welcome the upheaval of a cancer diagnosis?

It was no different for me. At the time of my diagnosis in September 2015, I had a career in healthcare communications that I loved, with a wonderful team around me, and was in the middle of an interesting and busy project.

I had been referred to the breast clinic for assessment. I’d found a lump some months earlier. I hadn’t been unduly concerned – I’d read the stats, the likelihood of cancer seemed minimal – but knew it was smart to have it checked. I left the hospital later that day bruised and bandaged after a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies. Poor timing or not, I was to be diagnosed with an aggressive Grade 3 tumour a week later.

To read about Christine’s return to work and what helped her make it work read more here