Three-Time Cancer Survivor Finds Purpose Saving Lives with the NHS
A London Ambulance Service emergency medical technician who has survived cancer three times says her experience has driven her to give back to the NHS that saved her life.
Katherine Murrell, 27, has shared how her journey through three separate cancer battles over 11 years inspired her to join the NHS.
Katherine returned to work in early 2024 after undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstruction in September 2023 following a breast cancer diagnosis. She has been cancer-free since the end of 2023.
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Her first cancer diagnosis came at age 16, disrupting her school years and leaving her uncertain about a career path. Originally misdiagnosed with a trapped nerve, she was later found to have stage four lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, after dramatic weight loss and other symptoms.
She underwent six months of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital, where the Princess of Wales has also received cancer treatment.
Seven years later, while working and training at the London Ambulance Service, she found a swollen lymph node. A biopsy – with results arriving the day before her EMT passing out ceremony – confirmed her thyroid and lymph nodes were cancerous and needed removal. Though she recovered again, further surgery was needed a year later for pre-cancerous lymph nodes.
Due to her early radiotherapy, she was at increased risk of secondary cancers, including breast cancer. While preparing for preventative surgery, doctors discovered a tiny tumour, confirming cancer for a third time.
Despite these challenges, Katherine remains deeply positive and passionate about her work: “I’ve now spent 11 years going to regular hospital appointments time and time again, and when you get that used to it, you want to give something back – that’s my mentality I suppose.”
Her interest in paramedicine began in her teens, after being rushed to hospital by South East Coast Ambulance Service.
“The staff were so incredible. They got to me really quickly and gave me exactly what I needed. The care they gave has really stuck with me.”
Now thriving in her role, Katherine has big plans for the future:
“I’ve probably got 30 years of my career left. That’s a long time to explore different avenues. The great thing about London Ambulance Service is how many different paths there are—you’re never stuck.”
She says her experience has given her a deeper understanding of patients and a new appreciation for her own strength.
“When I was training, I was petrified because I suspected I had thyroid cancer and wondered if I could still work. Then the breast cancer came along and that really tested me. But months on, it has not impacted my career. If anything, it’s enhanced it.”
Katherine sees her past as an unexpected advantage: “I use it as a superpower. I’d advise anyone going through something similar to try to do the same. For instance, many would assume time spent in hospital was horrible, but I gained so much exposure to medicine and clinical care—it enriches my work every day.”
She added: “Now, any time I go to a cancer patient at work, I just get it. I understand the hair loss, the treatment, everything. When I walk away from those calls, I feel this wave of happiness—I know I’m in the right place, where I belong.”
