‘Wow – this wasn’t supposed to happen to me’

14 August 2024

Returning to work after treatment for breast cancer West Midlands Police Federation equality lead Julie Fleming has now had a chance to reflect on the journey she has been on.

We asked Julie, who has 22 years’ service with the Force, if she was happy to talk about her experience and she found herself writing a very personal, and moving, testimony about finding a lump, seeking medical advice, undergoing treatment and finally her recovery. 

Admitting it was therapeutic, we have left Julie’s story in her own words, but one of her comments within her story is something that others who have had a similar diagnosis will probably relate to:

“Wow – this wasn’t meant to happen to me.”

Julie Fleming during her treatment.

She also has a message for anyone who faces cancer treatment in the future: “It’s important people realise that the journey is long and hard. It’s not about being brave. It’s just about getting through it. You have to carry on. You owe it to yourself and those you love.”

Julie says her own policing career was born out of a desire to help the law-abiding majority and bring offenders to justice.

“I just wanted to be part of that,” she explains.

That commitment to helping others, led her to become a workplace Federation representative around six years ago and she took on the full-time equality role – which she shares with Jon Nott – in 2020.

“I want to help ensure the workplace is a safe, supportive and fair environment,” she says.

Read about Julie’s cancer journey.