Alyson’s story: “You get one chance at life – make informed choices”

Alyson’s story: “You get one chance at life – make informed choices”

When Alyson Thompson talks about living with cancer, she does so calmly, honestly and without self‑pity. She is 60, from Seaham, and has been living with the impact of cancer for much of her adult life.

First diagnosed in 2008, Alyson is now living with treatable, incurable cancer. Her experience has reshaped how she looks at health, risk – and alcohol.

“I was never really told about alcohol and cancer”

“When you’re first diagnosed, everything feels like a blur,” Alyson says.

“You’re trying to take in what cancer means, what treatment you need, and how this is going to affect the people you love. Your head is full all the time.”

Looking back, one thing stands out.

“No one really spoke to me about alcohol and cancer. And even if it was mentioned, it didn’t land. There’s so much coming at you that only the biggest things stick.

“If you’d asked me then, I wouldn’t have known that alcohol causes cancer. Honestly, if someone hadn’t mentioned it to me much more recently, I probably still wouldn’t know.”

It’s something Alyson finds hard to understand now – not out of anger, but frustration.

“There just wasn’t the awareness. We hear so clearly about smoking and cancer, but alcohol didn’t come up in the same way. People deserve that information.”

In 2023, Alyson’s cancer returned as secondary breast cancer, spreading to her bones.

“You look at me and people think I’m fine,” she says, “But living with cancer affects everything – physically and mentally.”

“It isn’t only the treatment. It’s the fatigue, the pain, the appointments, the anxiety and the days spent waiting for results.”

“It’s the uncertainty that gets you. You’re always aware that this is part of your life now.”

Her family has been central to getting through it.

“My husband Alan has been incredible. Our two sons have too. Cancer doesn’t just happen to one person – it happens to everyone around you.”

Living with cancer has changed Alyson, but not in the way people might expect.

“I’m not the same person I was before, I’m much stronger”

Alyson’s relationship with alcohol has changed naturally over time.

“When I was younger, I drank more – that was just normal. There wasn’t much conversation about health risks. Smoking and drinking just went together.”

Now, alcohol rarely features in her life.

“I drink very occasionally, but most of the time I don’t drink at all. I’m on a lot of medication, and some days I already feel like I’ve got a hangover without touching alcohol. So I think, why would I make myself feel worse?”

For Alyson, this hasn’t felt like giving something up.

“It’s about being kind to myself. About not making an already difficult situation harder.”

What still concerns her is how little people are told earlier on.

“When treatment ends, you’re told to go and live your life – but no one really explains how lifestyle factors might affect your future health.”

She believes clearer, earlier information about alcohol and cancer could make a real difference.

“This isn’t about blaming people or telling them what to do. It’s about giving people the facts so they can make informed choices.”

Alcohol causes cancer, including breast cancer – yet many people are still unaware.

“With smoking, the risks are obvious and talked about everywhere. With alcohol, not so much. Even something as simple as clearer labels would make people stop and think.

“People deserve to know.”

Despite everything, Alyson remains focused on living well.

“You can’t change the past, but you can change how you live now. The small things don’t matter anymore – you learn to put life in perspective.

“You get one chance at life. Make the most of it – and make informed choices about your health.”