A mother from Grimsby has shared the harrowing details of her eight-year battle with cancer, which began with the discovery of a lump no bigger than a frozen pea on her neck.
From a Tiny Lump to a Life-Altering Diagnosis
In December 2015, Clare Davis-Eaton, then 43, found a small, pea-sized lump on her neck. After visiting her GP, she underwent a series of tests including a biopsy throughout January and February 2016. The devastating news came on March 11, 2016: she was diagnosed with metastatic base of tongue cancer, which had already spread to her lymph nodes.
"It broke my whole world," Clare recalled of the moment she heard the words 'it's cancer'. The diagnosis marked the start of a gruelling treatment plan.
A Horrendous Treatment and a Temporary Reprieve
Clare endured a six-week course of daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a process she described as 'horrendous'. The treatment left her drained and sick, and was frightening for her entire family, including her two children. She completed her final session on June 15, 2016, and entered remission on November 23 that year, a feeling she likened to "Christmas coming early".
However, the joy was tempered by ongoing challenges. Her ability to eat and swallow was severely impaired, and she relied on a feeding tube, which was removed just before Christmas. The financial and physical toll meant the festive season was different, but it reinforced a vital lesson for Clare. "It showed me that Christmas is about the people you share it with, not what presents you’re opening," she said.
The Cancer Returns and a Second Brutal Fight
In June 2019, Clare discovered another lump. After three months of tests, she received the crushing news in September that the cancer had returned to her lymph nodes. Surgeons removed the affected nodes, but the operation did not eradicate all the cancerous cells.
Facing a critical choice, Clare was told that without further treatment, she might have just six months. The recommended second round of radiotherapy carried a 20% chance of being fatal. "Where do I sign?" was Clare's immediate response, demonstrating her determination to fight.
During this second six-week bout of treatment, Clare felt "so poorly" and was hospitalised for the final three and a half weeks. Fearing she would not survive until December, she put up her Christmas tree in October 2019, creating a joyful memory with her family despite the circumstances. She finished treatment on December 9, 2019, but the side effects peaked over the Christmas period.
A Priceless Birthday Present and Life After Cancer
After years of uncertainty, Clare received the news she had longed for. On August 23, 2024, her 50th birthday, she was officially declared cancer-free, five years after her recurrence. "It was a present no one could buy," she said.
The fight has left lasting marks. Clare lives with significant side effects, including difficulty swallowing, choking risks, and a loss of taste. She had to leave her decade-long career as a community support officer due to her health. Yet, her perspective is one of gratitude. "I don’t mind having side effects, they’re my free gifts because I’m here to have them," she stated.
Clare credits her family—son Dominic, 31, daughter Georgia, 29, mother Helene, 69, and grandmother Eunice, 97—for playing a "massive part" in her journey. She also reserves profound praise for Macmillan Cancer Support, who she says "kept me afloat" and supported her whole family. She now volunteers for the charity, giving back to the organisation that helped save her life.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Clare's message is clear. "Going through cancer twice has taken me back to the meaning of Christmas and what Christmas is all about. It’s not the presents under the tree, it’s who is around it. You can’t buy happiness, you can’t buy your health – those gifts are priceless."
