As a doctor, Mei-Ling Lancashire was always the one listening attentively and giving advice to worried patients.

But that changed abruptly two years ago when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.  

"It can be difficult for a doctor to be a patient. It's a surreal experience to be on the other side of treatment", said Mei-Ling, who lives in south-west London, and is senior partner at a GP surgery in Surrey Heath. 

"On one hand I was processing things as a doctor - almost a default setting so I was asking about things like markers and staging. 

"But partly that was self-protection. Taking a clinical approach meant I could go into 'doctor mode' and not have to connect with what was happening to me personally. 

"I felt like I was looking death in the face, my girls were two and four at the time, I couldn't leave them, I couldn't die."

However, knowing your way around the medical world has its benefits too.

"One week after the tests, I had an appointment with a surgeon and I had done my research – I wanted my chemotherapy in the Royal Marsden and then Charing Cross for the surgery", she said.

 Mei-Ling also found the Personalised Breast Cancer Programme(PBCP), which is funded by Cancer Research UK. Through the PBCP, researchers at the CRUK Cambridge Institute are able to analyse the genes of breast cancer patients quickly enough to use the information to guide treatment decisions. 

"I got in touch to ask if I was eligible - and I was," Mei-Ling added.

Now Mei-Ling, 43, a single mother of two to Jasmine, seven and Sophia, five, is at the heart of a new national advertising and fundraising drive from Cancer Research UK.   

She is one of the stars of the charity's 'Together We Are Beating Cancer' campaign and features on a TV advert as well as billboards and posters on display in London, and across the UK, during September. 

Carrying the message, "We found ways to stop cancer in its tracks so she can make more milestones", they feature Mei-Ling playing with her daughters.

The campaign launch coincides with new data released by Cancer Research UK today (1 September) revealing around 1.2 million deaths have been avoided in the UK since the mid-1980s, due to progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Developments into cancer research included improvements in radiotherapy, screening programmes. smoking prevention schemes, drug developments and gene research.

Over the last four decades, UK cancer mortality rates have fallen by around a quarter, after peaking in 1985 for men and 1989 for women. Had rates stayed the same, it's estimated around 115,000 more lives would have been lost in London.

Mei-Ling runs the London Marathon. (Photo: Cancer Research UK)

Mei-Ling's cancer experience began in July 2021 after a regular online fitness session before work. She jumped in the shower and found a lump in her breast.

"I felt a lump and I knew straightaway it was cancer. As a doctor, I've felt enough of them to know.

"I have always checked every month or so when I'm in the shower. I thought 'How could it be there - it wasn't there a month ago?

"At the time, I don't think I'd ever been fitter. I was doing quite a bit of upper body strength work so I think that's what made it more prominent. 

"I got an appointment with a GP the next day who agreed it needed to be checked and I had a hospital appointment in Kingston on 20 July. 

"They did further tests and after the ultrasound, the radiologist had to go and get the biopsy equipment, I was sat in a dark room by myself waiting, I hadn't told anyone and I felt terrified and alone.  

"Until that point, a small part of me hoped I might have been wrong about it being cancer, but at that moment I knew it was real.

"It was a real gut-punch. I thought 'Oh **it. I'm a single parent, I have two children – what am I going to do? How am I going to make this OK? Am I going to see them grow up?"

When she was a medical student, Mei-Ling had holiday jobs working in a cancer research lab and studied whether fine needle aspirates gave enough information to look at specific genetic markers, rather than needing to do a core biopsy. 

"We proved that it could and this research was published. Research has moved on so fast since then, and I was very happy to be on the PBCP – both as it helped identify the best treatment for me but also because it is helping more people in the future too. "

Mei-Ling had chemotherapy from September to January 2022 including the drugs epirubicin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide before undergoing a bilateral mastectomy in February.

Researchers funded by the Cancer Research Campaign (which preceded Cancer Research UK) supported early work on nitrogen mustard-based chemotherapy in the 1940s, which paved the way for drugs such as cyclophosphamide.

They also played a significant role in understanding the metabolism and mechanism of activity and toxicity of cyclophosphamide, helping to accelerate its adoption into the clinic. 

"The chemo period was tough but my brother came to help and I had amazing support from other family and friends," she said. "People helped with food and parcels arrived from people I'd never met who'd connected via SoMe. I was overwhelmed by the love and support."

When it came to telling her daughters, Mei-Ling decided honesty was the best policy.

"I'm a very honest parent and my gut instinct was to be realistic at an age-appropriate level. A friend and I sat down with them with a wonderful book called 'Is it still OK to have cuddles?' by Elke Thompson, a breast cancer survivor. It really helped me explain to them what was happening.

"Jasmine asked if I was going to die. I didn't want to lie to them as I didn't know at that point. I said 'I'm going to do everything I can not to'. 

"It was a heart-breaking conversation to have but the girls were amazing through it all.

"I involved them in things and made it fun, like choosing a wig and trying on glasses.

"I started chemo a couple of weeks before Jasmine's 5th birthday and I was praying my hair would stay in long enough for her party – I just made it!" 

Mei-Ling worked during treatment when she was able but concentrated on management rather than clinical work at first. 

"When I did go back to clinical, it was really tough - physically and mentally exhausting. 

"My brain used to actually hurt after work, I had to work reduced hours. Juggling work, trying to be 'normal' for the kids and I was dealing with divorce proceedings at the time. There was so much going on and I felt that I wasn't on top of things.

"One of the side effects of chemo is cognitive impairment and that combined with chemo induced menopause made everything so much more of an effort, it was distressing and unsettling."

Fitness has always been important to Mei-Ling and it remained so throughout her cancer journey.

"I did prehab strengthening before my operation as I wanted to be as fit as possible, and it gave me a sense of normality. I kept doing the online fitness sessions and my amazing PT Kate Smart helped me adapt what I needed to if I couldn't do it all. 

"I also got an indoor training bike and was determined to do some form of exercise every day. On the way to chemo in the November I signed up for the London Ride 100 to give myself a goal to get better for and to help me focus on what I could do, not what I couldn't.

"My bike club the Waldy Wheelers were amazing too. They took me out on easy rides when I could and did a curry and quiz night fundraiser for CRUK".

Thirteen weeks after her operations, Mei-Ling completed Ride London 100 and five months later ran the London marathon. Her fundraising for Cancer Research UK has now topped £25,000. She is also swimming the Serpentine in September to raise further funds: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/mei-ling-swim-serpentine-23

She said: "In my work, I encourage fitness with my patients. I think lifestyle medicine is so important, diet and exercise can have such benefits. It has to be appropriate for each person, but I am passionate about promoting this. 

Mei-Ling has also been documenting her cancer experience on Instagram @thethrivologist to raise awareness.

Showcasing the heartwarming moments being made possible for people affected by cancer right now, the Cancer Research UK campaign aims to shine a light on the invaluable impact that cancer breakthroughs have on the lives of people like Mei-Ling to inspire more support.  

Reflecting on her experience, she said: "The number of lives that have been saved in the London shows the immense power of research and I know this better than most. Research into better treatments has given me the greatest gift - more time with my girls and other opportunities.

"Not only have I run the London marathon and done Ride 100 but I've done a coaching diploma and I'm doing one in lifestyle medicine. Those kind of things were hard to imagine when I heard those devastating words 'it's cancer.'

"That's why I'm starring in this vitally important fundraising campaign to help ensure that the life-saving progress in research can continue and more families like mine can make more moments that matter." 

"Sadly, not everyone diagnosed with cancer will reach key milestones – and that's why the charity's work is so vital. I wouldn't be here without the scientists who strive to find new ways to outsmart cancer and the incredible fundraisers who make it all possible. So, now I'm happy to do what I can to show my support. I hope I can inspire people across London to do the same. They could help bring hope and joy to more families like mine." 

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for London, Lynn Daly, said: "Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our supporters, together, we are beating cancer. 

"Our research breakthroughs mean every day, people are being diagnosed earlier, have access to kinder and more effective treatments, and some cancers are prevented completely. This all adds up to more moments with the people we love – as our new campaign featuring Mei-Ling shows.   

"But around 36,500 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in London. We're working towards a world where everyone can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer and that's why we're calling on people across the capital to help us go further and faster in the fight against the disease.  

"By donating, fundraising, taking part in one of our Shine Night Walks, or volunteering at our shops, they could fund new discoveries that will help more people reach the life-changing moment when their doctor says: 'It's gone.'" 

As part of the campaign, people are also being invited to share their personal moments, either of their own cancer journey or that of a loved one, through a dedicated photo-wall and on social media by using #MoreMoments.  

BOX-OUT: 40 YEARS OF HOPE AND PROGRESS 

In this game-changing era for cancer research, it's estimated  around 115,000 lives have been saved in London since the mid-1980s. Cancer types where there have been large improvements during this time, include: 

Table showing Cancer types with large improvements. (Photo: Cancer Research UK)

 Despite these gains, cancer remains the number one cause of death in the UK and not all cancer types have seen improvements. For several forms of the disease, such as liver, head and neck, and womb cancer, there have been increases in mortality rates in recent years.   

That's why Cancer Research UK is urging Londoners to get behind the 'Together We Are Beating Cancer' campaign by helping to fund more life-saving research. 

They can show their support by:   

• Donating or fundraising  
•  Joining a Shine Night Walk including the London 10k, full and half marathon events on 23 September 
• Volunteering at a Cancer Research UK shop