Guernsey Cancer Survivor Calls For Investment In Research

Vikki Hammond was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in August 2021, but is now clear of the disease.

The mum-of-two is now appealing to the Channel Islands to support Cancer Research UK's new campaign, 'More Research, Less Cancer'.

The charity is aiming to raise £400-million to help accelerate progress in the fight against cancer - the largest fundraising drive by a UK charity.

Vikki says most people here have had cancer or knows someone who has.

"In Guernsey, 370 people are diagnosed with cancer each year and around 160 pass from cancer each year - this number is increasing every year.

We are all affected by cancer one way or another, and I have agreed to share my story as the important research that has been carried out to date in connection with genes and cancer has ultimately saved my life."

Cancer runs through generations of her family who carry the gene BRCA. This increases the chance of developing breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer.

After several MRI scans both in Guernsey and the UK, Vikki was diagnosed.

Between September and December 2021, she had six rounds of chemotherapy, including the drug carboplatin which was helped to develop by Cancer Research UK.

Vikki is now two years cancer free thanks to new treatments and medications being developed.

She explains there are a number of ways to get behind the fundraising drive in Guernsey.

"Not everyone has a spare £400-million lying around, but locally we can donate and raise funds. This can be in a number of ways, but the biggest fundraising event locally is our Race for Life.

You can run it, walk it, crawl it, and there's accessible routes for everyone - wheelchair users and buggies.

All funds raised go to Cancer Research UK and particularly the Southampton branch which is where most people from Guernsey will travel as part of their treatment.

While we may never be able to completely eliminate cancer from this world, we can help develop treatments to help people live longer and also detect it earlier to help increase life expectancy and quality of life for all."