A ‘cheerful’ midwife diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer is raising awareness of the condition, which affects 6,000 people in the UK each year.
In July 2025, Anna Temke, 59, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer after a biopsy revealed she had the cancer in her lungs.
Neuroendocrine cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops in hormone-producing neuroendocrine cells, which are found throughout the body and help regulate a range of important bodily functions.
For Anna, this was a moment of utter disbelief as just a month before the diagnosis, she underwent surgery to remove tongue cancer, which was successful.
Anna said: “When I received the second diagnosis, you would think that maybe I’d be expecting it but to be honest, it was just as devastating as the first one.
“I was feeling healthier than ever and to be told I had cancer – again – turned my world upside down.”
Following her diagnosis, she has been receiving care at The James Cook University Hospital and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.
Anna, who has been working in the NHS since she was 17, said:
This cancer can affect any organs – your lungs, bowel, liver, pancreas, appendix, to name a few. This cancer is often missed, misdiagnosed, and misunderstood, with more than 50% of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage.
“Unfortunately, in my journey, I have lost count of the number of times I have had to explain what neuroendocrine cancer is to people and that includes healthcare professionals.”
Ahead of World Neuroendocrine Cancer Day on 10 November, Anna is raising awareness of the condition. She is also an ambassador for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, a charity supporting people affected by the disease and working to raise awareness. Anna will also be hosting an awareness stand in the atrium at James Cook Hospital on the day.
She said: “I am on a mission to ensure that as many people as possible know about this cancer, from GPs, medical teams and nurses to the public. This will help ensure that lives are saved while reducing the time to diagnosis and ensuring treatment is started earlier.”
The devastating diagnosis has not stopped Anna from being a midwife, a role she’s been in for 21 years. The Guisborough resident has praised her amazing colleagues for always checking in while she was away for treatment.
She added:
I have been able to alter my shifts to attend hospital appointments and have the support of my immediate manager, whom I can talk to if I have any issues with work and my health. I was offered the option to change my working patterns like not working night shifts. However, for the time being, I am happy to continue as normal. I must give a massive shout-out to my best friend, who is also a work colleague and is always there to listen when I need to share anything.
“I am a midwife through and through, and I am not sure what I would do if I was not able to work.”
Group chief nursing officer Emma Nunez said: “Anna’s determination and resilient nature to keep raising awareness of neuroendocrine cancer while living with the condition herself are truly commendable.
“It is particularly inspiring that Anna continues to work as a midwife, providing compassionate care to our patients despite the challenges she is facing.
“I would like to thank Anna for her courage in sharing her story and hope her journey raises some much-needed awareness about the condition.”