“YOU immediately think the very worst. You think it is going to kill you,” says Helen Lynch.

The discovery of cancer on her tongue in December 2016 was, she recalls ‘a huge shock.’ Before the diagnosis Helen was fit and active, never smoked and wasn’t a heavy drinker.

Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include a painless swelling or lump in the neck; a sore throat or tongue; earache; difficulty swallowing or moving mouth and jaw; voice changes; bad breath and unexplained weight loss.

Helen initially sought medical advice after suffering with a sore throat, earache and headache. “Generally I was feeling quite unwell but I’m not an ill person, I’m not someone who has had to keep going to the doctor,” she explains.

Tests revealed a potentially cancerous cyst which was initially thought to be on her tonsil. It was while undergoing a tonsillectomy at Bradford Royal Infirmary in November 2016 that the cyst was discovered to be on her tongue and not her tonsil.

“They did some biopsies which confirmed it was cancerous,” recalls Helen.

From then on the 52-year-old from Bradford was embraced by her ‘incredible’ support network - the medical team who guided her through her treatment including seven weeks of radiotherapy and two sessions of chemotherapy.

“I couldn’t praise the team enough, they were absolutely incredible,” recalls Helen.

During her treatment Helen’s sustenance came through a liquid diet fed through a feeding tube.

“The recovery felt very slow and long. But the swelling and soreness started to get under control with the amazing drugs and support of my cancer team who were truly incredible.”

Eventually her speech recovered and the ability to swallow enabled her to eat normally again, although Helen says she cannot eat as she used to due to the damage to her saliva glands resulting in a dry mouth and difficulty swallowing.

As well as support from the medical teams in her home city of Bradford and at the Bexley Wing at St James’ Hospital, Leeds, Helen was supported by her family - her husband Matthew and two sons - her friends and the team at Cancer Support Yorkshire where Helen benefitted from some of the therapies and practical support the independent charity, with branches in Bradford and Skipton, offers to patients and those affected by cancer.

Six months following her treatment Helen was given the all clear, but she says her cancer experience has changed her attitude to life.

“You see life very differently, I think I always will. I think I will always live my life differently. I don’t worry about the things I used to worry about because they are so unimportant. You wake up and see things for what they are.”

Helen is now embracing feeling well again - “I feel better than I have felt - possibly ever,” she says.

Fundraising has also given her a focus in her recovery. Helen was keen to Cancer Support Yorkshire - which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary - for supporting her through her experience.

“Chatting with some friends one of them suggested a fashion show,’” explains Helen.

The event, showcasing clothing by H&L Fashions boutique, Haworth, took place at Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club, Bingley, and was compered by professional dance teacher, Deana Morgan.

Match funding from Barclays Bank helped Helen raise £7,100 for Cancer Support Yorkshire. “It was an absolutely amazing event,” says Helen.

“After I finished my treatment I accessed the services of Cancer Support Yorkshire and this proved invaluable to me, hence me wanting to give something back,” says Helen, referring to the fashion show.

“I loved every aspect of it, from all the organisation, to the evening itself. And the support and help I received from so very many people was overwhelming.”

Linda Enderby, Cancer Support Yorkshire’s community engagement officer, says: “We were delighted when Helen chose to organise the fashion show in aid of the charity. Helen knows only too well of how our services can help people and how much we rely on donations to provide them. I can honestly say that we were staggered by the amount she raised, the money will go directly to help people with the practical and emotional issues that come with a diagnosis. In actual fact it will provide a counselling or complementary therapy session for 225 people which is amazing.”

Visit macmillan.org.uk; call Cancer Support Yorkshire on 01274 776688 or visit cancersupportyorkshire.org.uk.