Local Man’s Plea: Get Screened for Breast Cancer
A Wake-Up Call for Our Community
Tony Foster’s message resonates deeply across Surrey communities like Guildford, Woking, and Dorking, where residents face the same health challenges as the rest of the region. The local widower, whose wife Sue passed away earlier this year following a breast cancer diagnosis, is now using his grief to potentially save lives. Sue’s cancer was discovered through a mammogram she underwent almost by chance, following a friend’s suggestion—despite having no obvious symptoms. Her subsequent diagnosis in November 2025 led to chemotherapy treatment at nearby Frimley Park Hospital, a facility many of our readers have personal connections with. Foster’s determination to share Sue’s story stems from a hard-learned realisation: cancer doesn’t always announce itself through visible warning signs. For women over 70, particularly those living in commuter towns and villages throughout our area, this message offers crucial perspective on preventive healthcare. The couple’s experience underscores why regular screening matters, even when you feel completely healthy.
Why Early Detection Transforms Everything
Foster emphasises repeatedly that Sue’s asymptomatic presentation nearly cost her family everything. She had no lumps, no pain, no obvious reason to seek medical attention—yet the mammogram revealed something serious. This distinction matters enormously for local residents who may have dismissed screening as unnecessary if they feel fine. Foster’s account paints a stark picture of how quickly cancer can progress and how devastating its impact becomes on families and support networks. He’s been candid about his grief, explaining that sympathy for friends who’ve lost partners never truly prepares you for the reality. The emotional and practical void left behind affects not just the individual, but entire households, workplaces, and community circles. In places like East Horsley and Horsley, where many of us know our neighbours well, Sue’s passing would have rippled through local life. Foster received a British Empire Medal for her voluntary contributions, showing she was deeply embedded in community life. His willingness to discuss his loss publicly, despite its rawness, demonstrates how personal tragedy can fuel meaningful health advocacy.
What Local Women Should Do Now
Foster’s central message is straightforward: don’t wait for symptoms. Women over 70 should actively request mammograms through their GPs, particularly if they haven’t had recent screening. This applies whether you’re in urban Woking, suburban Dorking, or smaller villages throughout the region. NHS guidance typically invites women aged 50-74 for routine screening, but many women over 70 can request continued screening—a right many don’t realise they have. Foster hopes his story motivates even one person to book an appointment who otherwise wouldn’t have done so. That single action could literally change someone’s family’s future. For readers juggling multiple life demands—renovating bathrooms, planning kitchen renovations, managing busy household projects—taking time for health screening might seem like another task to defer. But Foster’s testimony puts priorities in sharp focus. Your health comes first, and early detection genuinely saves lives. Share this article with women in your life over 70. Encourage them to have conversations with their doctors. If you’ve experienced similar losses, consider whether sharing your story might help others in our community make potentially life-saving decisions.
Source: ‘Get a mammogram,’ says man who lost wife to breast cancer
