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Jennifer's story
‘I got my life back’: From breast cancer recovery to running the London Marathon
When Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 years old, her focus was simple: get through treatment and be there for her young family.
While the cancer had been treated successfully, ongoing complications from breast reconstruction, left her living with pain and uncertainty about the future. Seeking answers and a way forward, she transferred her care to the expert team at HCA Healthcare UK’s London Bridge Hospital.
Following complex revision and reconstructive surgery, Jennifer is now pain-free, spending time with her family, and back to running. One of her proudest achievements came earlier this year, when she crossed the finish line of the London Marathon and achieved a Guinness World Record.
Looking for a way forward
Jennifer was diagnosed with stage 3 HER2-positive breast cancer in October 2022. At a local private hospital, she underwent six months of intensive chemotherapy before having a single mastectomy and lymph node surgery.
While her treatment successfully treated the cancer itself, Jennifer was left with ongoing complications following her breast reconstruction. Persistent pain and discomfort were affecting her day-to-day life, while concerns about the overall outcome made it difficult to move on from treatment and feel like herself again.
Everything changed after she attended a Breast Cancer Now conference and met a woman who’d been cared for by HCA Healthcare UK.
"She talked about how listened to and supported she'd felt throughout her treatment," Jennifer recalls. "Everything she described really aligned with what I was looking for."
Encouraged by the recommendation, Jennifer arranged a consultation with Mr Abdul Kasem, an Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at London Bridge Hospital.
"I remember feeling nervous walking into that first appointment," she says. "I was wondering if I was going to face the same hurdles I'd experienced before. But that changed very quickly.
“Mr Kasem was calm, very clear, and he listened properly. He didn’t rush me or dismiss what I’d been experiencing. He took a sensible, balanced approach – it’s exactly what I’d wanted.”
Expert care and support at London Bridge Hospital
After reviewing Jennifer's case, Mr Kasem recommended a personalised plan of revision and reconstructive surgery designed to address the ongoing pain and discomfort that had been affecting her daily life, while helping her move forward with confidence. The treatment was carried out in stages, with each procedure forming part of a clear plan towards a long-term solution.
"When I was presented with a treatment plan, I just felt relieved. Up to that point, it felt like I had to do what I was told without having any real input. Having a plan - with clear steps, timings, and what success would look like - made everything feel real and manageable."
Mr Abdul Kasem, an Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at London Bridge Hospital explains:
"Following her cancer treatment, Jennifer was experiencing significant pain and discomfort related to her reconstruction. The tissue expander that had been placed as part of the reconstructive process had become problematic following radiotherapy, and this was impacting her day-to-day life.
The treatment was carried out in carefully planned stages, beginning with revision surgery on the right side before moving on to a preventative mastectomy and reconstruction of the left breast. Along with additional refinement procedures, we could achieve the best possible outcome."
Throughout the process, a particular source of support was Jennifer’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nahar.
"She knew me, knew my history and always made time for any questions or concerns,” says Jennifer.
One particular moment that has stayed with her is when Nahar asked Jennifer’s husband a simple question: 'And how are you?'.
"Nobody had asked him that before. When you're going through something like cancer, your family goes through it too. Having someone acknowledge how he was coping meant so much to both of us."
Rebuilding confidence and getting back to normal
One of the biggest changes for Jennifer was finally being free from the pain she had been living with for so long.
"When I first met Mr Kasem, he could barely touch the area because it was so painful," she says. "Now it’s not like that at all."
But the impact of Mr Kasem’s care went far beyond the physical – she could finally feel like herself again.
Today, Jennifer is back enjoying the activities that matter most to her.
"Movement is medicine for me, being able to get back on my bike, get back to running. But it also means I can now go on holiday, spend time with my family, do all the things I enjoy without constantly thinking about what I've been through."
Crossing the London Marathon finish line
Running has always been a huge part of Jennifer's life, and throughout her cancer treatment she held on to one ambition: completing the London Marathon. "I never thought that I would be in a position to run a marathon again," she says. "But I kept telling myself that one day I'd get there." And she achieved exactly that.
Running for Breast Cancer Now, Jennifer completed the London Marathon, raising an incredible £10,000 for the charity and achieving a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon runner with a double mastectomy.
"It was one of the proudest days of my life," she says. "I wasn't worried about my time - just crossing that finish line meant everything.
"My CNS Nahar even came to watch, and Mr Kasem called me afterwards, because he was in surgery. He was just so proud and happy."
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.