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'I know what the King goes through with cancer'

BBC/James Mountford Ann Coffey, who has short white hair and is wearing a green zip-up jumper, smiles at the camera. In the background is a vase with a bunch of sunflowersBBC/James Mountford
Ann Coffey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010

A cancer survivor has offered advice to King Charles after her charity received the King's Award for Voluntary Services.

Ann Coffey, from Crosby, leads the Sunshine Group for women with breast cancer, which now has about 500 members.

Ms Coffey was herself diagnosed with the disease in 2010 and described the impact of the news.

"I know what it's like to have the initial shock of being told and the first thing you think is, ‘how do I tell my family and friends, what do I do?" she said.

"Our group addresses the social, emotional and psychological side of the disease – that is something which really needed to be developed."

Ms Coffey underwent vigorous treatment for lobular breast cancer at Aintree Hospital, including a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, radiotherapy and a decade of hormonal therapy.

King Charles has been receiving treatment for cancer since February, and Ms Coffey said a group like Sunshine could help.

PA Media King Charles in Royal Navy uniform during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London. He is wearing a white Royal Navy officer hat, and a dark coat, with a poppy on the left lapel.PA Media
King Charles has been receiving cancer treatment since February

'Not about doom and gloom'

"I know what the King is going through," she said.

"I wonder if he’s in a group like ours, because he would benefit from it.

"You do need to be with like-minded people.”

Former head teacher Ms Coffey, also a finalist in the BBC’s Make A Difference Awards, was asked to take over the Sunshine Group in 2013 when it had only six members.

Based in Aintree and the Royal Liverpool Hospitals, it involves monthly meet ups and lays on activities including massages, meals out, Reiki and even lingerie shows.

Sunshine member Nicola Hooton, who has battled with breast cancer on two occasions, said: “The group is not about doom and gloom.

"We don’t get down about our diagnosis.

"We try to encourage people to do activities and our group is about people allowing people to enjoy life as part of their diagnosis."

Ms Coffey, who is also a board member of the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, will attend Buckingham Palace to receive the award.

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