A mum has described her gruelling orderafter finding a lump in her neck. Clare Davis-Eaton, 51, from Grimsby, North-East Lincolnshire, discovered a lump on her neck 'the size of a frozen pea' in December 2015 and, following additional tests, was diagnosed with metastatic base of tongue cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes, in March 2016.

The diagnosis 'broke (her) whole world', and Clare endured a 'horrendous' six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment before entering remission in November 2016 – describing it as though 'Christmas had come early'. Unfortunately, Clare detected another lump on her neck in June 2019 and was told three months later that the cancer had returned to her lymph nodes, which were subsequently removed during surgery.

The operation did not eliminate the disease completely, and she underwent further chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. However, she was uncertain whether she would survive until Christmas, so she chose to put up her tree in October that year instead.

Nevertheless, Clare stayed 'determined' and 'positive' throughout her fight and, in August 2024, on her 50th birthday, she received the news that she was now officially cancer-free. Whilst she continues to experience mental and physical side effects, she has gained a renewed appreciation for life.

Clare said that her family, including her son Dominic, 31, her daughter Georgia, 29, her mother Helene, 69, and her grandmother Eunice, 97, 'played a massive part' in her cancer journey. She also praised Macmillan Cancer Support for keeping her 'afloat'.

"I’m so appreciative to be able to have Christmas with my family because, in 2019, I didn’t think I was going to see it," Clare told PA Real Life. "Going through cancer twice has taken me back to the meaning of Christmas and what Christmas is all about.

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"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."

Clare's initial diagnosis came in 2016 when she discovered base of tongue cancer after finding a lump 'the size of a frozen pea' on her neck. After visiting her GP in December 2015, she was sent for additional tests, including a biopsy, during January and February 2016.

When she heard the words 'it's cancer' on March 11 2016, Clare said it 'broke (her) whole world'. The cancer had also metastasised, having already spread to her lymph nodes by the time of diagnosis, Clare explained.

She embarked on a gruelling six-week course of daily radiotherapy from Monday to Friday, with chemotherapy sessions throughout – a process she described as 'horrendous'. "It wasn’t just scary for me, it was scary for my kids," she said.

"It takes everything out of you, the chemo made me feel sick, I was drained." Clare completed her final treatment session on June 15 2016, and entered remission on November 23 2016, describing it as feeling like 'Christmas had come early'.

"It wasn't an easy journey and I had to keep going back for more checks – but it was amazing, I felt on top of the world," she said. Her feeding tube, which she'd relied upon throughout treatment, was taken out just before Christmas that year – though her capacity to eat and swallow hadn't yet recovered, she added.

"Christmas wasn’t the same – I couldn’t eat meat, I couldn’t do the dinners, I had no finance to do Christmas because of all the knock-on effects," she said. "But it showed me that Christmas is about the people you share it with, not what presents you’re opening."

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In June 2019, Clare described feeling 'knackered' constantly and noticed another lump on her neck. Following a GP consultation, Clare was referred for additional scans and tests over a period of roughly three months. In September 2019, she learned the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

Clare subsequently had surgery to remove the impacted lymph nodes on the right side of her neck. Regrettably, the operation didn't eliminate all the cancerous cells, Clare explained, though she noted her oncologist advocated strongly for her to receive additional treatment.

"They don’t normally do a second round of radiotherapy on the same place, so I was so privileged," she said. When considering her treatment options, Clare was informed that there was a '20% chance' the radiotherapy could prove fatal.

"I asked what would happen if I didn’t undergo any treatment and I was told, 'six months'," Clare said. "I didn’t want the rest of that sentence – it could have been six months until I started to feel unwell – but I just said, 'Where do I sign?'"

During her second round of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which spanned another six weeks, Clare admitted she felt 'so poorly' and 'so bad'. "At the time, I felt like I couldn’t do it, I was just ready to give up," she said.

"I didn’t think I was going to see that Christmas, to be totally honest. If I saw it, I felt it would be my last." She added that she put up her Christmas tree in October that year.

"It was a real fancy one that snowed from the top – we had a real daft day playing Christmas music full blast and watching movies," she said. Clare said she tried to remain 'positive' and she was hospitalised for the last three-and-a-half weeks of her treatment.

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"I was determined to fight and get home for Christmas no matter what," she said. Clare finished her treatment on December 9 2019 and she rang the bell in hospital to mark the occasion – but she said her treatment side effects 'peaked all over Christmas'.

On Clare’s 50th birthday, on August 23 2024, she was told she was officially cancer-free, five years after its occurrence. "It was a present no one could buy," she said.

"After spending eight years fighting, in one way or another, it was a very bizarre feeling." Clare now lives with some side effects from her treatment, and she struggles to swallow food, she can have choking risks and she 'can’t enjoy' flavours.

"I don’t mind having side effects, they’re my free gifts because I’m here to have them," she said. Due to her health, Clare said she had to leave her job as a community support officer for those with learning disabilities, where she worked for 10 years.

She said she misses the job 'massively', but she equally enjoys working at a local pub. She also now volunteers for Macmillan Cancer Support, praising the charity for the help and advice it provided to her throughout both diagnoses.

"Macmillan came into my life when I was at my lowest, they kept me afloat and they’re still in my life now," Clare said. "They were also there for my family and no one was forgotten about – what they do is amazing and I just can’t say enough about them."

Macmillan is there to provide essential support to people living with cancer across the UK through its Support Line (0808 808 00 00), chat service, online community and Macmillan centres.

For more information and support, visit: community.macmillan.org.uk