YOU don't have to suffer alone – that's the message from a breast cancer survivor who wants to help others living with or beyond the disease.

Last October, 52-year-old Melanie Whatley from Cerne Abbas was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now, one year on for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Melanie is hoping to help others by setting up a local support group.

Melanie said: “It’s waiting for results, seeing specialists and fearing what they might tell you that gets you, you can feel like you’re breaking out of your own skin with fear. The enormity that you’ve had cancer can hit you at any time and can turn what starts as a normal day into an emotional nightmare.

"It can seem so unreal sometimes even though you’ve had all the treatment. Physically I was not too bad, but I did feel quite fatigued going from Dorchester to Poole every day for my radiotherapy – though the radiotherapy department was fantastic and I couldn’t fault them.

“Everyone just expects you to bounce back after that, but you’re still healing both physically and mentally and some days you just cannot function and want to shut the world out. You get lots of twinges and things like that and are unsure if this is normal, but you don’t want to bother people, so you tend to keep it yourself and try to just get on with things. Nobody tells you completely what to expect - they can’t tell you every little thing as everyone is different. All those little things can chip away at your confidence.

“Whilst there are plenty of leaflets, that can give you guidance, there is nothing that makes up for speaking to a person who knows what you are going through and has experience the same emotions and fears. If you contact your breast cancer nurse, they may be able to help or put you in touch with a support group. Talking really does make a difference and having counselling has been a massive help. It helps you to re-set your mind frame.”

Now, with support from the Living Tree and Macmillan, Melanie is looking to set up a new support group in her area for anyone who has recently had cancer.

She says; “If I can help one person to not feel like I did then it’s worth it. I felt completely alone, sad and frightened –it was almost like you’re the only person in the world that had it, although of course you’re not.

“I don’t want to sit in my house and be a victim and worry about it 24/7 - you’ve got a life and have to do something. It makes me feel so much stronger when being pro- active and then I can cope. Talking to people who have been in the same position or professionals who understand can really boost your confidence.”

More women are surviving breast cancer than ever before, thanks to improvements in treatment and earlier diagnosis. In the 1970s only around five out of 10 women with breast cancer survived the disease beyond five years, now it is more than eight out of 10.

If you have any worries or questions about breast cancer, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call Macmillan free on 0808 808 00 00.