In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, taking place each October, Kara Wallis RVN has kindly provided us with this two-part blog series to share with the veterinary nursing community. She shares her own experiences of diagnosis, treatment, and her new motto of “one day at a time” as she navigates returning to work and life after cancer.

We’d like to thank Kara for being so open and willing to share her experiences with us. In Kara’s own words, “Please check yourself. Know your body. Don’t ignore changes. Speak to your doctor if something doesn’t feel right. You never know – it might just save your life.”

“You have cancer.” The most terrifying words anyone can hear. Or so I thought.

At 35, I was living a very normal life. I loved being an RVN, caring for my patients while balancing work and home. Taking my son to the park, enjoying date nights with my partner, snuggling my cats. We had finally bought a house and were renovating it, building our future together.

Then 12th August 2025 changed everything.

I will never forget that day. After my initial reaction of, “Oh, bleep,” I went into fight mode.

How do I beat this? The following two weeks were filled with tests and uncertainty. Being in limbo was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. Would I make it to 40? Would I watch my son grow up? How would my cats cope without me?

I continued working, although I wasn’t myself. We often put our emotions aside, smile for clients and carry on, but that doesn’t mean the impact on mental health disappears.

We speak about pet insurance to our clients daily, educating them on its importance, but do we remember to do this for ourselves? The financial strain is tough and very real.

Thankfully, my cancer had not metastasised, although it had spread to my axillary lymph nodes. A treatment plan was put in place, and my surgery was booked.

What I hadn’t considered was how my diagnosis would change the way I had to nurse.

I had spent nine years putting others first. Suddenly, I had to put myself first. I couldn’t safely restrain patients or monitor anaesthetics because of treatment-related fatigue.

After my first two of eight chemotherapy sessions, I realised I needed to focus on myself.

What does my patient need? That was when I realised I was also a patient who needed care.

Rest and nutrition became incredibly important. Although I wasn’t physically in practice, I was never really absent. My team never stopped supporting me.

One RVN told me, “Just because cancer treatment is finished, doesn’t mean that it’s over.” That stayed with me. I have recovered from my mastectomy, finished chemotherapy and completed radiotherapy. I rang that bell, but I knew it wasn’t really over. I’m still having treatment in tablet form, with side effects that are no less real. I have slowly started integrating back into work – and I really did miss it.

I’ve learned not to think too far ahead. “One day at a time” is my new motto. My family, friends and work family have been incredible. Cancer hasn’t been the end of my story. It has been the beginning of a new chapter. If anything positive can come from my experience, I hope it is raising awareness.

Please check yourself. Know your body. Don’t ignore changes. Speak to your doctor if something doesn’t feel right. You never know – it might just save your life.

More resources and support, including more personal stories, can be found on BVNA’s Chronic Illness Toolkit here; https://bvna.org.uk/project/chronic-illness-and-conditions-among-veterinary-nurses/

BVNA members can also access a 25% discount on income protection with PG Mutual – Find out more here; https://bvna.org.uk/membership/