A DORSET single mum with an aggressive form of breast cancer is using one of the most challenging periods of her life to create a community to support other women.

Dawn Eccles, 49, from Dorchester, was diagnosed with grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer on 27 March 2026, following investigations into a large tumour in her left breast.

On 15 May she began 12 weekly sessions of Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and immunotherapy, followed by four further cycles of chemotherapy at Dorset County Hospital's Fortuneswell Ward.

Dawn has battled fatigue, nausea, hair loss, and the negative effects of steroids, but rather than waiting until treatment ended to think about the future, she began developing Her Turn, a community initiative inspired by her experiences and her desire to bring women with breast cancer together.

She explained: "After seven years of lone-parenting two sons - one of whom has complex needs - alongside running my own business providing support and respite care for children with disabilities, my cancer diagnosis came as a devastating shock.

"My loved ones have been very supportive, but what I discovered very quickly on was a burning wish to speak to people who really knew what I was going through, so we could find strength from each other.

"Over the years I have gained huge satisfaction from running support groups for other parents with children with complex needs and I realised that I wanted to do something similar for women with breast cancer."

She continued: "I began putting the idea for Her Turn together while going through chemotherapy because I wanted something positive to focus on.

"The community aims to remind women that they deserve and need some time for themselves. I hope to organise social meetups and activities where they can connect, build confidence, learn about support available to them and enjoy new experiences."

Dawn was forced to stop working after her diagnosis, creating additional worries. She received financial assistance from Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF), a local charity supporting people affected by cancer.

She said: "I applied online, and DCCF helped towards some of my bills and food costs. It was an incredible weight off my mind.

"When you're going through cancer treatment, the last thing you need is to be worrying about how you're going to manage financially. Their support really did make a difference, and I now hope to hold Her Turn gatherings at some of the DCCF's new community hubs."

On Friday, 9 October Dawn completed her final chemotherapy session, with both sons there to share the emotional occasion.

"Finishing chemo is a massive milestone, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped me get this far.

"I'm not out of the woods yet; I have a partial mastectomy on November 11^th at Dorset County Hospital, and I know there may be more challenges to face. But cancer has taught me that we can't keep waiting for the perfect time to enjoy life, because none of us knows what's around the corner.

"If Her Turn helps even one woman feel less alone, make a new friend or find the confidence to start doing something for herself, then that would mean the world to me."

To find out more, search for Her Turn Community on Facebook or email:[email protected]

Dorset families seeking financial help because of a cancer diagnosis can apply for a DCCF grant at: www.dccf.co.uk