Books, Boobs and Bouncing Forward

Pat Allchorne is a breast cancer survivor twice over. Twenty-six years after her first diagnosis, cancer returned — twice, within months — and she chose mastectomies both times. For twenty years she ran The Book Loft in Warrington, a second-hand bookshop where 40,000 books created what locals called an Aladdin's cave of delights. In July 2024, a fall broke her ribs and punctured her lung. In the months that followed, cancer was discovered in both breasts. Now retired, Pat writes book reviews and articles for DWC Magazine, sings with her church choir, and continues to read with the same joy she always has. In this episode, she talks about what it meant to build community inside a bookshop, why her scars might have saved her life, and what bouncing forward actually means — moving toward who you're becoming, not back to who you were. F or anyone facing cancer, grief, health challenges, or the hard work of resilience: this is your conversation. Find Pat's writing and book reviews at DWC Magazine.https://dwcmagazine.com