Headteacher handed in retirement forms weeks before devastating diagnosis

A former headteacher was in “complete shock” after being given a devastating diagnosis just weeks after handing in her retirement forms.

Ann Coffey, ex-headteacher of St Michael and All Angels Primary School, Kirkby, had a “weird feeling that something wasn’t right” with her body. The mum, from Crosby, took herself to the doctors who referred her to the Aintree Breast Clinic. There, she was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer just a fortnight after she began her plans to retire.

Ann, who is in her 60s, had never met anyone before who had cancer and so it “never entered her mind” that she might have the disease. She believed cancer was something that happened to others, so when she got the news she didn’t know what to think.

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Over a decade after her diagnosis, Ann now works to support others who have found themselves in a similar situation, by running a North West-based charity that helps women facing breast cancer, from diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond.

The cancer therapist told the ECHO: “I never gave any thought to cancer before but I just felt like something was wrong with me. I knew I needed to get it checked out. It was just a weird feeling I had. I went to my doctor who referred me to Aintree Breast Clinic and that’s where I was told I had cancer. I felt alone because I didn’t know anyone else who had cancer.”

What followed next for Ann was three weeks of radiotherapy and two operations – a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. Two years into her treatment, Ann’s husband died and as a result, she sought support from a breast cancer charity, Sunshine.

After attending the group for several months, Ann was asked to step up and run it – since then it has grown to 400 members.

Ann said: “I had to be pragmatic when I got diagnosed and knew I needed to listen to the doctors, they are the professionals. I got support from Sunshine and soon took it over and ran it using my organisational skills as a headteacher.

“The support group is all about enjoying ourselves. Life doesn’t stop because you get cancer. It’s important to get to know others who are going through the same thing because everyone understands the feelings you go through as a cancer patient.

“I’m so privileged to be in this position to be able to give back. It’s heartwarming to see how well the group is working and having others around the country reach out and ask how they can create something of their own in their own cities”.

Ann’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed as she is currently in the running to be crowned Merseyside Woman of The Year 2023.

Asked what it would mean for her to win, she said: “For me, it will mean the group has won, not just me. We all support each other and winning would be an honour to all of us. I never started this for recognition, I started this to find others who were going through cancer just like me.”

You can find out more about the nineteen Merseyside Woman of The Year finalists here.

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