Fran's always proud to support our Tickled Pink campaign

Fran Spencer from our Cambridge store is one of the fantastic Asda colleagues across the country who are proud to support our Tickled Pink breast cancer charity campaign as it celebrates its 25th birthday.

It's a cause that's close to her heart, as Fran was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago after noticing a small lump.

Fifty-seven-year-old Fran, who's worked for Asda for 19 years, has since made a great recovery.

She always backed our campaign, which raises awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!, and wears her pink wig and T-shirt with pride.

Fran said: "I've got a collection of Tickled Pink T-shirts from over the years all with different messages on. Our store here is so supportive of Tickled Pink and our community champion Beryl does a fantastic job.

"Everyone here dresses in pink and what we do really catches the eye. It's so important that we push the Tickled Pink message for both women and men to check themselves regularly.

"I'd check yourself weekly, so you get to know your breasts and if there is anything unusual then see your GP as soon as possible. There are different breast cancers out there with different triggers and can affect people at different times."

Fran, who has two grown-up sons, felt a small painful lump in her left breast after taking her bra off after getting home from work four years ago.

She said: "I contacted my GP immediately and I was asked a few questions then told to go to the surgery with in an hour.

"The GP put me on antibiotics thinking it was a cyst. I had to return in four days to see if it had changed but it had not so I was referred to the breast clinic.

"My appointment arrived very quickly. I was examined, had a biopsy and I was told I had cancer within two-and-a-half hour. My world fell apart. I told my sons and somehow my strength to fight this had appeared.

"Within five days I was in oncology having my chemotherapy planned, then it was back to the breast clinic to meet my consultant. That's where I pointed out I had another lump. That changed the surgery from removing the lump to a mastectomy."

After talking to her consultant, Fran decided not to have reconstruction surgery at the time.

She said: "To this day I do not regret it. Four years on and I'm happy and alive. I've just had my yearly checks and I'm all clear!"