The name of a Pontllanfraith woman who was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer forms part of a large scale art installation in one of London’s busiest squares.
Kate Giles, 50, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2010, and is one of 104 people with blood cancer to have told their story as part of the installation in Paternoster Square, near St Paul’s Cathedral.
Kate, a patient ambassador for the charity Bloodwise, has small lymphocytic lymphoma, a slowly developing but incurable type of blood cancer. She was diagnosed in September 2010 after finding a lump in her groin and experiencing sudden weight loss.
Despite her cancer being classed as advanced, Kate is on a ‘watch and wait’ programme, and will only start chemotherapy treatment when her symptoms – such as fatigue and night sweats – become more severe.
She said: “I have six-monthly checks while everything remains comparatively stable. The challenge is predominantly mental because it’s very hard to accept that I have cancer, but that it isn’t being treated.
“At first I was scared that I was going to die and leave my son without his mum. As time goes on, I endeavour to live as normal a life as possible and to relish the opportunities that each day brings. Cancer has affected every single part of my life and I see a cancer psychologist every six weeks.”
The installation marks the launch of the ‘Make Blood Cancer Visible’ campaign supported by Bloodwise and eight other blood cancer charities and patient support groups.
Kate’s name, constructed to her exact height with a summary of her blood cancer experience, features alongside other patients’ names and stories and plinths highlighting facts about blood cancer. The installation is available for the public to visit until Saturday, September 30.
“I’m very lucky that I’m healthy at present but wish that I had a pound for every time someone says to me that I can’t possibly have cancer because I look too healthy,” Kate added.
“There is a stereotypical view of cancer patients that is often completely inaccurate and I would love to tackle that preconception. I was thrilled to be asked to be part of this campaign as I feel that the demands of ‘watch and wait’ are not widely understood at the moment and this will put the needs of patients like myself on the ‘map’.”
“As part of my role as a Bloodwise ambassador, I see details of ground-breaking new treatments all the time and I live in hope that one day my cancer will become curable rather than just treatable, but it’s very difficult living in the shadow of cancer without a focussed treatment program whilst I remain on watch and wait.
“I’ve spoken to many other patients in the same position as me and I hear time and time again that they feel like ‘fake’ patients and this campaign will really help in raising awareness of this hidden cost of cancer.”