‘I beat cancer to go backpacking at 50 and stay in hostels with 21-year-olds – I’ve got a new lease of life’

A mum has set off on a backpacking adventure with her daughter after beating breast cancer.

Martine Berry, 50, had a mastectomy on her right breast followed by gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

She lost her hair and spent months feeling sick, exhausted and frightened.

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But the mum-of-two says the “dreadful” experience has given her a new lease of life.

And now she’s ready to take life by horns and go travelling with her 21-year-old daughter Charlotte for two epic months.

The pair booked a £370 one-way flight to Jakarta, Indonesia, and set off on 24 June.

They haven’t made any other plans, other than to stay in budget hostels and with local families and see where their adventures take them.

“I feel honoured, proud and buzzing to be able to do this mega trip with my daughter,” Martine, from Manchester, told Need To Know.

“We’re having such a good laugh and time together.

“When you’ve looked down the barrel of a cancer gun, nothing can scare you.

“I did the backpacking thing when I was in my twenties with my husband Ian around Europe, Australia, America and Asia, so I know I love life on the road.

“Doing it at 50 makes it even more special, with only a few more aches and pains – but Charlotte is here to help carry the bags this time.

“We’re staying in youth hostels, home-stays where locals open up their beautiful homes, and bungalows.

“As we are so remote, there aren’t many tourists around, just lots of local and friendly Indonesians, young and old.

“I’m happy to meet and chat to everyone, every backpacker wants the same thing and there are a lot of us oldies out on the road.

“You don’t have to have a gap year at 18 – you just need a thirst for new experiences.”

That thirst was emphasised when Martine was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in September 2023.

She was given the all clear in July last year.

She added: “It feels strange – your life is on hold with appointments and then you’re cast out into the world and told to get on with your life.

“I didn’t know if I’d fall off a cliff mentally, but I’m so happy to be here.

“My cancer journey has been an eye-opener.

“It’s made me realise that you need to say yes to life.

“I’ve tried to instil in the kids that they should say yes to things and if they don’t like it, they don’t do it again.

“I feel wicked.”

Her daughter Charlotte said, “Mum is an inspiration.

“She has shown that you can do anything.

“If you can see the world, do it.

“You don’t have to be rich or 18 and on a gap year.

“We’re having such a nice time. We’re loving it.”

The duo are currently staying in beach bungalows in Indonesia before continuing their travels – whether that be by bus, train, plane, boat or foot.

Charlotte added: “I’m always keeping an eye on mum getting tired, but it isn’t stopping her at all.”

The two are travelling light with one hold backpack and one cabin-sized rucksack.

Martine’s husband Ian, 50, and son Oliver, 19, plan to join them in a month.

Martine, who works in events management, said: “All I’ve packed are some sarongs and flip flops.

“None of my friends or family were surprised when we told them we’re going backpacking because they know I want to see the world.”

Charlotte had always planned to go backpacking, but, after watching her mum’s struggle, felt she couldn’t leave her behind.

Now, they are on a mission to prove there is life after cancer – and it can be brilliant.

She said: “Mum’s always told us to live each day as best you can, even before the diagnosis.

“It’s just me and mum for a month. How cool is that?”

Martine’s cancer journey started back in September 2023, when she found a lump in her right breast.

She said: “I was putting my nightie on and I saw a puckering just above my nipple.

“It was like a dent or a pull rather than a lump.

“I thought it was weird, so I went to the GP two days later and got referred for a mammogram and biopsy.

“It was a whirlwind.

“When I was diagnosed, it was surreal. I was devastated.

“Telling the children was so hard.

“I told them we’d get through it. It was horrible beyond words.

“I just wanted the kids to have normal lives.”

Charlotte felt “sick” when she heard about the diagnosis, but says her mum has “smashed it” after undergoing a lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – as well as losing all of her hair.

Martine said, “The treatment was difficult.

“Charlotte had to hold my hair back while I was being sick, and I was crying, thinking my daughter shouldn’t have to look after me.

“Losing my hair was devastating.

“I shaved my head off on a Zoom with about 20 people, so I didn’t have to keep explaining it to different people when they saw me with my bald head.

“I wanted to get it over with.”

Martine’s treatment ended in July 2024, and she immediately started planning for the future.

Martine said: “I wanted Charlotte to live her dream.

“As nice as our village is, there’s so much more of the world to see.

“I honestly really don’t see myself as any kind of inspiration at all.

“I just wanted to stay alive for my family but if I can be a little chink of light for anyone going through that horrible, dark, scary tunnel of diagnosis and treatment, I’m happy to be at the end of that tunnel cheering everyone on to keep going, keep positive.

“You will one day too be off making more happy memories, big and small moments, they’re all brilliant.”

Charlotte added: “Mum has faced really serious things where no one knew what was around the corner, and now she wants to see the back end of Indonesia.

“She’s had the scare, done the treatment and got a second chance at life.

“We all look at mum and know she’s a superstar and wants to live every day and see every part of the world.”

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