A breast cancer diagnosis is shattering, and when I was diagnosed with an unusual occult breast cancer in 2012 at the age of 48 my world spun on its axis. Six months earlier I had completed the trip of a lifetime travelling the world for seven months, and was four months into a new consulting job after leaving my corporate career of 25 years. I had a very successful career doing a job I loved, and my identity was very much wrapped up in Sally-Anne the successful finance professional.

On the day he told me I would be having a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and taking hormone treatment for at least 5 years, my surgeon said I would be putting my life on hold for 12 months. Whilst good advice, this was only partially true. I was fortunate to be able to work during treatment. Putting my wig on; slapping my prosthesis in my bra, and painting on my eyelashes and eyebrows, I continued to deliver month ends and a significant change programme. But when my contract ended 12 months after diagnosis I took the opportunity to take a breath and reassess my life. I’m not massively keen on ‘new normal’, but I was able to rebuild my shattered world differently.