My friend Vicky

By Jo Irving
BBC Devon

Working in the gallery during her ordeal proved positive

It wasn't long after my friend Vicky Sewart's fortieth birthday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

What should have been a coming of age year turned into endless trips to Derriford hospital for operations and chemotherapy treatment.

Sixteen months later and a remarkable character has emerged.

"When I was told I had breast cancer the only way I could deal with it was to be positive in everything I did and I think it's worked for me."

Not only is Vicky relatively well, she has managed to turn bad into good and her energy has rubbed off on to everyone who knows her.

Back in June 2008 it was a completely different story. After discovering a lump in her breast, a biopsy revealed she had some cancerous cells.

Lymph nodes were removed along with breast tissue and then came the intensive invasive chemotherapy treatment which left Vicky feeling sick and tired.

Not surprisingly this wasn't the Vicky who so many people knew; the business woman who runs her own jewellery gallery, the party organiser and the hostess-with the-mostess.

Vicky isn't one in a million because across Plymouth 190 women are told each year they've got breast cancer to, that's why Vicky wanted to tell her story as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2009.

But what it did do was make her reflect on her life, what was and what wasn't important and cut down on the stress.

"My friends have been absolutely incredible.

To delegate is hard when you're so independent. Vicky Sewart

"When I thought I didn't want or need any help they came round and I learned to delegate, which is hard when you're so independent.

"I mean I'm not great at housework but to not be able to get up to do it because I was so weak, so being able to ring a friend and ask them to run the hoover round for me was great."

One of the hardest things, apart from all the treatment, was when Vicky started to lose her hair.

There's nothing like a wig party to give you hair confidence!

At first it came out in wisps and then clumps and then she decided to have it shaved really short.

But the inevitable happened and not only did she go completely bald but she lost her eyelashes and nose hair too.

So she decided to host a wig party with all her girlfriends.

It was a really good way of breaking down any barriers as well as trying out different hairstyles and colours.

Vicky never did resort to wearing a wig, instead she opted for colourful headscarves.

"I thought they looked more artistic and didn't highlight the fact that I had cancer.

"But it did get more complicated at times when I was trying to colour coordinate my headscarf with the outfit I was wearing!"

Vicky has changed her lifestyle

Now Vicky's luxurious locks are growing back and her elfin face has no need to hide behind a headscarf any more.

She's changed her lifestyle and eating habits radically, which she believes has contributed to her health and recovery.

The future is still uncertain and for the next five years at least she will have to be monitored for any further cancer developments, but for now she's fit and healthy.

There's nothing negative about this story, as some people might think, it's just the remarkable story of one person, my friend Vicky.