Latest news with #Gloucester
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
As 2025 kicked off my life was perfect - then everything spiralled out of control. Now I'm dealing with unimaginable grief and a stage three cancer diagnosis at just 27 years old
At the start of 2025 Chloe Haynes ' future felt busy in the best possible way. The special-education teacher and her partner Tom were saving for their first home, mapping a long-awaited trip to Japan, and quietly hoping to start a family by Christmas. Then, during a summer swim, Chloe brushed her hand beneath her left arm. 'I was fixing my swimmers and I felt a small little lump, the size of a pea,' Chloe, from Newcastle, told FEMAIL. Her mum and sister, who is a nurse, reassured her it was just a lymph node, so Chloe agreed and pushed the worry aside. Everything changed in March. Her 21-year-old brother died in a sudden traumatic accident and Chloe rushed home to Gloucester, taking six weeks off work to help plan the funeral and spend time with her grieving family. 'I was very stressed. I noticed the lump had grown, but I thought, my lymph nodes are probably flaring up because I'm grieving,' the 27-year-old said. By the end of May the bulge under her arm was unmistakable. When her sister finally saw it, she 'panicked' and ordered Chloe straight to a GP. Soon after, an ultrasound technician fell silent, ushered in colleagues, and sent Chloe for an emergency mammogram and biopsy. The call came the next afternoon as she shepherded students back from an excursion. 'The doctor said, "Chloe, I've got the results… is now a good time?" But I told him if he was ringing me in the middle of my work day, I knew it wasn't good.' He confirmed stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer that had 'already spread excessively' to her lymph nodes. Chloe has no family history of cancer and couldn't even get a referral for a mammogram at first because she was considered 'too young' for the killer disease. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers. It differs from other types in that it tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options and usually has a worse prognosis. This type of breast cancer has an average 77 percent five-year survival rate, but depending on the stage of the cancer, that rate can be as low as 12 percent. Triple negative cancers do not respond to hormone therapy or to the targeted therapy drugs used for other cancers. 'I just went completely numb,' Chloe said, recalling how she crumpled in the school office and sobbed in the principal's arms. 'I haven't been back to work since.' Only 24 hours earlier, Chloe and Tom had signed off on their first mortgage approval. 'We had actually been approved for a home loan the day before my diagnosis,' she said. 'We went back to the broker and said no. I'll be out of work for 12 months.' 'We thought we were going to have the house, the babies… all the fun, exciting things you're hoping for when you're 27. Now it's all pushed back by cancer.' Their Japan itinerary is cancelled; a visit to her best friend in England postponed. The travel fund now pays for petrol, parking, and hospital bills. Because chemotherapy could leave her infertile, Chloe was rushed into egg retrieval last week. 'It was really important for me to have one shot at saving that chance. If this round doesn't work, I don't have time for another,' she said. The moment doctors finish collecting her eggs, she begins six months of 'intense' weekly chemotherapy - sometimes three infusions a week - alongside year-long immunotherapy. Surgery will follow, perhaps a mastectomy; radiation may come after that. Chloe's parents, still raw from losing their son, drive two hours from Gloucester for every appointment. 'I don't know how Mum and Dad are doing it, but they drop everything for me,' she said. Tom takes unpaid days off to sit beside her in waiting rooms; the Gloucester Soccer Club raised $5,000 in a single weekend; an online appeal organised by friend Ella grows daily. Yet Chloe lies awake wondering how to cover rent and groceries. 'I've got no leave left - I used it all when my brother died,' she admitted. 'I hate that I'm stressing about money when I should be focusing on surviving.' Life that once raced from classroom to dinners, soccer matches and weekend getaways has slammed to a halt. 'I used to be go, go, go. Now I'm waiting between medical appointments. It's very different - and I'm scared.' She forces herself to find tiny joys: sunrise at the beach, craft videos on YouTube, lunch with a friend before her strength fades. 'I'm trying to flip it: these are terrible cards, but maybe I'll discover something that helps me relax.' Chloe is clinging to the dream that next year, when the IV drips are gone and her hair begins to grow back, she and Tom can restart the life they mapped out: a modest house, a Japan rail pass, a baby's first kicks. For now, Chloe takes each day as it comes. 'I'm trying to stay as positive as I can,' she said 'Everything is on hold - but I have to believe it's not gone forever.' What are the common symptoms of breast cancer? Breast lumps Changes in size or shape of breasts Changes to the skin including dimpling, a rash or puckering of the breast Changes to a nipple such as turning in or just feeling different to usual Abnormal nipple discharge Inflamed breast where your breast may look red or swollen Hard breasts A red, scaly rash on the breast Breast pain
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales international blasts Louis Rees-Zammit treatment and poses telling question
Wales international blasts Louis Rees-Zammit treatment and poses telling question Louis Rees-Zammit is forging a path in the NFL now Louis Rees-Zammit appeared on the Stock to Rugby podcast (Image: Stick to Rugby/YouTube ) Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin has criticised the treatment of Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit during the early days of his career. Former Wales wing Rees-Zammit was told he would never play for Wales by former Cardiff defence coach Richard Hodges when he was in the club's academy. The rest is history, with Rees-Zammit moving to England where he took the Gallagher Premiership by storm with Gloucester before winning 32 caps for Wales and touring South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in 2021. Rees-Zammit sensationally quit rugby union for a shot at the NFL early last year but things could have been very different for the 24-year-old. Baldwin, who is now head coach of Super Rygbi Cymru club Bridgend, took to Instagram to criticise Cardiff's approach to Rees-Zammit in those formative years. "Happens too much, another example is Leigh Halfpenny," said Baldwin. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "No coach at any age has the right to try and kill someone's dream! Article continues below "Imagine Louis Rees-Zammit and Pence (Halfpenny) had listened to those coaches! "I also got told by a coach while at Ospreys a similar thing, luckily he left before he could get rid of me." Rees-Zammit reposted Baldwin's post on his own Instagram reel. Former Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Halfpenny was not offered a contract by the Ospreys at a young age but luckily got picked up by Cardiff. If Rees-Zammit had listened to Hodges' opinion a successful career would have been flushed down the toilet before it had even began. The Jacksonville Jaguars star appeared as a guest of the latest episode of The Overlap's Stick To Rugby podcast, where he spoke about the period prior to him receiving his first international cap. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Rees-Zammit was asked about how he signed for Gloucester's academy from Cardiff Blues (as they were known at the time, now Cardiff Rugby). The winger explained that having gone through the system at Cardiff Schools and Cardiff Blues under-16s, he came to the realisation he wanted to attend Hartpury College in Gloucester. However, the former Wales star claimed that Cardiff Blues gave him a stark ultimatum: "If you go across the bridge, you're not allowed to play for Cardiff." "I ended up just making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues," explained Rees-Zammit. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I went over to Hartpury College, and then within two weeks I had a trial at Gloucester, their academy. "Before that, when they ended up making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues and go to Hartpury, it was a tough decision, because there is one person that told me that I would never play for Wales." "That one person who told you that you would never play for Wales, have you seen them recently? Do you want to name and shame him now or not?" asked England legend Lawrence Dallaglio. Article continues below "It's Richard Hodges," answered Rees-Zammit. "He was obviously the Cardiff Blues head of academy at the time." "100% they were trying to scare me," he added. "They said it to me and my dad. I went to watch a Cardiff Blues game as a fan and he said that to me and my dad after. It kind of actually just put me off it, (I thought) I'm definitely going over there now now."
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Sports hub has 'dramatic effect' on young people in Gloucester
A new community and sports hub in one of England's most health-deprived areas is having a "dramatic effect" on the lives of young people, according to youth Community and Sports Hub in Podsmead, Gloucester, includes a fitness gym, studio spaces for dance, yoga and Pilates classes, a sports pitch, and a social space for community activities.A youth team offering support has also moved in and will host an open day and celebration later."We wouldn't have been able to do any of this in the previous locations where we were, it just wasn't feasible in the hall we hired," said head of youth provision Debbie Etheridge. Podsmead is within one of the most health-deprived areas nationally for people aged 16 to 64, according to the latest government data, which is from Blackbridge Youth Work Team is offering regular youth activities and has a packed programme of summer holiday events. "We're going to have a new session called Fit Fridays, so they'll be learning about healthy options, healthy foods, healthy lifestyles, which we do anyway for the over-14s," Ms Etheridge 16, is one of the teenagers enjoying the larger premises."When we were back in the old youth club, we weren't able to do things like cooking," she explained. "We just had a TV, but this is a massive place." Bentley, 14, enjoys meeting friends at the hub."There are quite a few more things to do now we've got a bigger space," he said. "We've got a pool table now, table tennis, and I enjoy the baking." Ms Etheridge said the centre has had a "dramatic effect" on young people, but was also a great resource for all said: "We're offering employment skills and training, and creating resident-led opportunities that empower people to shape what happens here."
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Greasy pole contestant nabs the flag in Friday's competition
Gloucester's greasy pole competition returned Friday as part of St. Peter's Fiesta. After the flag was accidentally knocked into the water, it was replaced on the pole and, eventually, nabbed by the night's champion.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Additional Gloucestershire Police patrols to tackle night crime
Extra patrols will take place in a city centre over the weekend, a police force has Police will supply additional officers in Gloucester city centre as part of Operation Comet, which aims to help keep people safe on a night out while also identifying offenders who target the night-time operation, which has been running monthly since earlier this year, has previously resulted in multiple arrests for drug offences and drink driving. Insp Ash Gardner, from Gloucester Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Since starting Operation Comet, we have already seen the huge impact it is having on deterring criminals from coming to our city." He added: "Gloucester is rightly recognised as a safe place for people to enjoy a night out."We want to ensure that this continues and will aim to stop anyone who comes to the city looking to commit crime."While on patrol, the officers will be looking to prevent youth crime, anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls and the sale of force will work alongside Night Angels, Street Pastors, Night Safe officers, street medics and licensed premises.
