Leanne was diagnosed with Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) in her chest and breast in March

 2021 aged 37 and with a nine month old baby at the time.

Following treatment and care at Colchester hospital, Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford and Guys hospital in London, Leanne has been cancer free since July 2021.

Leanne wanted to become a research grant lay reviewer to give something back to Sarcoma UK and help others like her diagnosed with this type of cancer. Working for Bowel Cancer UK as Head of Marketing and Communications has given Leanne an insight into how medical research is funded by a charity. Research is key to providing hope for the future, discovering new and better treatments and improving early diagnosis. Leanne believes it’s vital that the views, needs and experiences of people affected by sarcoma are included in the funding and review process so she has found it an honour to help shape the research that is funded by Sarcoma UK.