Tracy Lockley from Newport battles back from oesophageal cancer

Tracy Lockley, 47, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer - throat cancer - in May 2021 after having trouble swallowing.

The mum thought she had acid reflux or an allergy and was "shocked" when it turned out to be a rare and aggressive cancer.

The tumour in Ms Lockley's throat more than doubled in size in the weeks after she was diagnosed - leaving her reliant on a feeding tube.

Further scans revealed the disease had spread to the lymph nodes in her lungs - which is inoperable - and in September 2021 she was given between 12 and 18 months to live.

But after undergoing multiple courses of chemo and radiotherapy, the tumour in Ms Lockley's throat has “vanished” and the spread of disease in her lymph nodes has been halted.

Although she lives with the imminent threat of her cancer returning, Ms Lockley is now training to hike a half marathon in September to raise money for Macmillan, and refuses to let her diagnosis hold her back.

Ms Lockley, from Newport, said: “I was given the worst prognosis in the world and began preparing myself, my friends and family for me not being here anymore.

“It was a massive shock when they said I had a tumour. My doctor said this type of cancer is rare in women my age, it normally affects men who smoke regularly.

Tracy Lockley

"I couldn’t swallow food, drink, or even my own spit, and had to have a tube fitted for feeding.

“After the tumour in my throat disappeared, I decided I needed to find a new purpose and began exercising every day.

"Getting my life back was a phoenix moment.

"In a sense, I’ve been reborn.”

Following her chemotherapy, Ms Lockley went for a scan in September 2021 which showed her the tumour had shrunk by half - meaning she no longer required a feeding tube.

But she was told the cancer remained in her lymph nodes on both sides of her lungs - making it inoperable - and she was given 12 to 18 months to live.

She said: "I'd run out of tears at that point, but seeing everybody else cry was hard enough.

"I went away and I made memory boxes for children and talked to my best friend about what my funeral was going to be like.

"The last thing I wanted was my children having to deal with a funeral on top of losing their mum. Protecting them was the most important thing."

In November 2021, she underwent an intensive five-week course of palliative treatment - which is designed to relieve symptoms and prolong life, rather than targeting the underlying cause of the disease.

Tracy Lockley and son Roman

She had three to four hours of chemotherapy once a week and radiotherapy five times a week.

Ms Lockley was left suffering from extreme fatigue and had a severe impact on her mental health.

But Ms Lockley said son Roman gave her the strength to pull through.

She said: “Having to get up to take him to school, or football training gave me the motivation to keep going.

“If he wasn’t here, I would have stayed in my pyjamas most days feeling sorry for myself. But as a mum, you just can’t do that.”

Ms Lockley received the results of her chemoradiotherapy treatment in March 2022, and to her amazement, the tumour had disappeared.

She said: “The main tumour had vanished - there were no visible signs of it at all.

"That was massive and completely unimaginable.”

The cancer in the lymph nodes to her lungs is still there, but is currently stable and dormant - and she said her fight with cancer had given her a stoic sense of optimism.

She said: “I don't know what's around the corner.

“I know I have to be physically fit and healthy to fight it if it does come back, but I’m going to live my life to the fullest while I still can.”

Ms Lockley quit her job as a nursery manager in October 2022 and is now training to take on a half marathon hike in September.

To get in shape, she plays netball once a week, swims three times a week and walks her dog for up to six miles every day.

She said: “I’m not going to let cancer stop me.

“People talk about their wishes every day. I was probably someone who would make excuses for why I can’t do things, but I don’t want to make excuses anymore.”

Ms Lockley, who also has three grandchildren, has raised £6,200 for Cancer Research UK through completing the Shine A Light for Cancer Research walk in Cardiff in October 2021 along with a group of friends, colleagues and family.

She is now training to hike a half marathon in September to raise money for the charity Macmillan.

She details her cancer journey on her Facebook page - where she documents how her body responds to treatment.

Ms Lockley said: “When I cross the finish line for the hike, I know my friends and family will be proud of me - and that’s what counts."