How a breast cancer diagnosis led Anja Webster to transform fear into purpose – supporting women through life after treatment.
When Anja Webster was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2022, it came completely out of the blue.
A primary school teacher and mother of two, Anja had been feeling run down for months – something she attributed to the lingering impact of COVID, the pressures of teaching, and life slowly returning to normal after lockdowns. Cancer was the last thing on her mind.
“I hadn’t found a lump,” she explains. “I just wanted a full health check – an MOT. When the mammogram picked something up, it was a total shock.”
What followed was a moment many patients know well: the sudden collision of fear, responsibility and unanswered questions.
“My very first thoughts were about my children,” Anja says. “They were seven and eleven at the time. You immediately go to, ‘Will they be okay? Will they grow up without me?’ Then there’s work, family, how to tell people – and this overwhelming need to start treatment straight away. You just want it gone.”
A network of care
Anja’s treatment journey began with surgery, before she was referred for oncology and radiotherapy care – a path that ultimately led her to Cancer Centre London in Wimbledon, where she was treated by Professor Anna Kirby.
“What struck me straight away was the calm,” Anja recalls. “You arrive at this beautiful white building and everything just feels gentler. From the moment you walk in, you feel looked after.”
Alongside expert clinical care, it was the atmosphere – and the people – that stayed with her.
“The radiotherapy team were incredibly kind. There were days when I found it emotionally overwhelming – learning the breathing techniques, turning up every day – and I remember one session where I just cried. They stopped everything, came in, and were so warm and reassuring.”
She also found comfort in the complementary therapies available alongside treatment.
“I hadn’t experienced that elsewhere – things like massage and reflexology. It made such a difference. It felt holistic. Like they were treating me, not just the cancer.”
Even small moments left a lasting impression.
“I remember chatting to one of the receptionists – she’d been through breast cancer herself and said, ‘You’re going to be fine.’ Those human connections matter more than you realise at the time.”
When treatment ends and the real work begins
When Anja completed treatment, she expected relief. Instead, she felt something many patients describe – a sudden loss of safety.
“During treatment, you’re protected. You’re moving from appointment to appointment. Then suddenly it stops, and you’re just… on your own again.”
She found that difficult.
“I remember finishing chemotherapy and my mum crying with happiness. I was happy too – but also nervous. It felt like the safety net was being pulled away.”
As her body adjusted to the effects of treatment and medically induced menopause, Anja found herself longing for guidance.
“I just wanted someone to say, ‘Come this way. This is the next phase. Let us help you piece things back together.’”
It was during this quieter, more uncertain period that fear of recurrence began to surface – not loudly, but persistently.
“That’s when the processing really starts,” she says. “You ask yourself what you did wrong. Was it stress? Work? Lifestyle? There’s a lot of guilt if you’re not careful.”
From survivor to supporter
Rather than returning to the classroom, Anja made a different decision – one that would become a pivotal part of her healing.
“I realised I didn’t want to go back to teaching – but I didn’t want to lose that part of myself either. I started thinking about how I could transfer my skills into something meaningful.”
With the support of her family, Anja took a year to reflect and retrain, completing a diploma in life coaching and beginning to design what would become her six-week breast cancer coaching programme.
“It actually felt a lot like lesson planning,” she smiles. “Structure, reflection, goal-setting – it all came naturally.”
Today, Anja works as The Breast Cancer Coach, supporting women as they navigate survivorship and life after treatment – particularly the fear of recurrence.
“So many women come to me feeling lost,” she says. “They know they’ve been through something huge, but they don’t know where to start rebuilding.”
Her approach is gentle, holistic and deeply human.
“We talk about identity, confidence, menopause, returning to work – or changing direction completely. We acknowledge that cancer is a trauma, and we look forward, not just back.”
Reclaiming calm
Through her work with clients, Anja noticed recurring themes – questions that came up again and again. That insight led her to write Reclaim Your Calm, a practical, compassionate guide for easing fear of recurrence after breast cancer.
“It’s really a workbook,” she explains. “A toolbox of strategies – journalling, mindfulness, movement, reframing thoughts – things women can return to when anxiety shows up.”
Her philosophy is grounded in acceptance rather than avoidance.
“Anxiety is there to protect us. Instead of fighting it, we can learn to engage with it – to say, ‘I see you, but I’m safe right now.’”
It’s an approach shaped not just by professional training but lived experience.
Looking ahead with hope
Anja is now expanding her work – growing an online community, collaborating with breast cancer charities, and continuing to support women at one of the most emotionally complex stages of recovery.
At the heart of everything she does is a message of hope.
“Life after cancer might not look like before – but it can still be beautiful,” she says. “Growth can come from adversity. You don’t have to give up. With support, you can move forward – maybe even into a stronger, more grounded version of yourself.”
For Anja, that belief continues to guide her journey – from patient, to survivor, to someone helping others reclaim calm, confidence and possibility after cancer.
Discover more about Anja’s story at thebreastcancercoach.co.uk, or follow on Instagram @the.breastcancer.coach and Facebook.