'I couldn't believe it had struck again'
New UK|November 06, 2024
Nikki and Michelle lost their sister Tracey to breast cancer. Here, they tell new about the days they too were diagnosed with the disease
LUCY ROBINSON
'I couldn't believe it had struck again'

As she glanced at her phone, Nikki Ratcliffe saw her brother-in-law was desperately trying to call her.

While it wasn't unusual for him to ring to see how her day was going, this phone call felt different. As soon as she said, "Hello," her whole world turned upside down.

"It all happened really quickly," she tells us.

"After my sister, Tracey, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years before, she'd often spend time in hospital, but she'd always say that it would all be fine, they were just going to stabilise her and then she'd be back home." "Then I got that devastating call from my brother-in-law to say she had just hours left to live.

She wanted to die at home, but they didn't get her there in time. Even though I knew it was going to happen, I got angry and broke down. She was 49 with two young children."

Despite Tracey living in New Zealand with her husband and 10 and nine-year-old daughters, she and her younger sister Nikki, now 52, had remained close. With their shared love of clothes, the pair could spend hours in London shopping until they dropped and even managed to rope in their "tomboy" sister Michelle Blackburn, 55, occasionally.

But when Tracey found a pea-sized lump in her breast while having a shower and was subsequently diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2014, the trio became even closer.

"As soon as we found out it had spread, we dropped everything and went to New Zealand to be with her," explains Michelle.

MORE DEVASTATING NEWS

"Tracey never spoke about her diagnosis so we didn't really know the full extent of it. She was in denial almost. She wanted to protect her children as she didn't want them to see their mum dying. It was really, really hard," adds Nikki. It was Tracey's husband who revealed her diagnosis was terminal.

This story is from the November 06, 2024 edition of New UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 06, 2024 edition of New UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW UKView All
A STICKY SITUATION
New UK

A STICKY SITUATION

Actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Guillaume Cyr bond with Margo Martindale and get beaten up by Jamie Lee Curtis in a riotous new comedy drama series

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
THIS IS CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY
New UK

THIS IS CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY

Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis gifts the world a new festive film this year

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
New UK

LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF

The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for peoplepleasers who struggle to put their own needs first

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Caught on dashcam injecting her ex with fatal dose of 'poison"
New UK

Caught on dashcam injecting her ex with fatal dose of 'poison"

Amanda Hovanec enlisted her lover and her mother in her cold-blooded plot

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
'I looked better getting married at 53 than I did at 23!'
New UK

'I looked better getting married at 53 than I did at 23!'

Wellbeing coach Sarah-Jane Clark, from Swindon, shares how she achieved her dream of wearing a size 10 wedding dress after losing 12st

time-read
5 mins  |
December 02, 2024
'I am so looking forward to Christmas'
New UK

'I am so looking forward to Christmas'

Helen Flanagan shares her plans for the holidays with her new boyfriend Robbie Talbot and her kids

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
I'm turning the anger into positive energy
New UK

I'm turning the anger into positive energy

His best friend's death has made Gok Wan rethink life

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
‘I'm careful with who I allow in my inner circle
New UK

‘I'm careful with who I allow in my inner circle

Actress and presenter Kéllé Bryan on managing fame and fronting a new fashion initiative

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
'There were rats..it is a real jungle
New UK

'There were rats..it is a real jungle

Marvin Humes on his I'm A Celebrity experience, backing his buddies and the importance of kindness

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
'It's not going to be sexy Maura on I'm A Celeb'
New UK

'It's not going to be sexy Maura on I'm A Celeb'

Model Caprice Bourret tells new about her festive traditions and starring in and producing a Christmas film

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024