Scottish mum left 'numb' by breast cancer diagnosis despite showing no symptoms
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A Scottish mum has revealed how she was diagnosed with breast cancer despite showing no symptoms.
Sharon Seery was attending a routine appointment after receiving an invitation through the post for a breast screening.
The 52-year-old, from Renfrewshire, said an abnormality was discovered during the test. A few weeks later, the mum-of-one was asked to attend the West Scotland Breast Screening Centre in Glasgow for more tests.
She was later diagnosed with Her 2 positive, ER-negative breast cancer - a common type of breast cancer where cancer cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone, the Daily Record reports.
Recounting the experience, Sharon said: 'It was a major shock. I remember feeling completely numb. I saw my life flash in front of me, the special moments, my girls being born, my wedding day, family times, my joy when my first grandchild Edan arrived. I tried to look to the future but it felt dark.'
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Sharon underwent eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy followed by surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. The brave mum then had ten sessions of radiotherapy at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.
Currently, she is in remission and is recovering well but she will continue to receive the drug Herceptin every three weeks. In April, she celebrated the birth of her first granddaughter, Aila Beth Seery-Hutchinson.
Sharon said: 'I've received excellent treatment which has basically saved my life.
'There are good days and not so good days. I'm beginning to feel better and starting to embrace the new me. I know there are good things ahead.
(Image: Cancer Research UK)
"Without all the people who get out there and raise money for research in to cancer then things may not have turned out this way. What a difference a year makes.'
As Sharon recovered at home last year, she received a surprise video message from her friend, Kate Bain and a 13-strong group from Shevlanes Pub in Springburn had just completed Race for Life Glasgow in Sharon's honour, raising more than £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.
As the countdown is on before this year's Race for Life Glasgow, Sharon is encouraging others to sign up.
Sharon said: 'I cried when I received the video message from Kate and team at Race for Life Glasgow last May.
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'Cancer can feel like a lonely place. I had gone from swimming three times a week and always being outdoors to losing my hair due to the side effects of chemotherapy, feeling unwell and spending most of my time inside.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman in Scotland, said: 'Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime*** but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years.
'We'd love for as many people as possible across Scotland and beyond to join us at Race for Life. There is an event for everyone and we mean everyone. Our events are strictly non-competitive which means everyone can have a go- and love every minute. There's no pressure to finish in a certain time, just give it what you can. Lace up and join in."
To enter, visit raceforlife.org
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