Mum given horror cancer diagnosis at routine screening despite displaying no symptoms
Sharon Seery, 52, from Renfrewshire, received an invitation to attend a routine breast screening appointment in the post last year - and was diagnosed with cancer days later
A mum has described the moment her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine screening - even though she hadn't experienced any symptoms.
Sharon Seery, from Linwood in Renfrewshire, Scotland got a letter inviting her to a routine breast screening last year. The 52 year old went for the check-up - and was "shocked" to learn that an anomaly had been found in her results. Weeks later, mother-of-one Sharon was called back to the West Scotland Breast Screening Centre in Glasgow for further examination. Not long after, she was diagnosed with Her 2 positive, ER-negative breast cancer – a common type where the cancer cells bind to oestrogen and progesterone hormones.
Reflecting on the impact of her diagnosis, she told the Daily Record: "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."
Sharon battled through eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. She then had ten sessions of radiotherapy at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.
The mum is currently in remission and is recovering well, but will need to take 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.
"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.
Sharon is now encouraging others to sign up to this year's Race for Life in aid of the charity, with a number of dates announced in towns and cities across the UK over the next few months.
Sharon said: 'I cried when I received the video message from Kate and team at Race for Life Glasgow last May.
'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.
'Receiving that message and knowing there were people out there right behind me felt like a massive hug. It was kind and I felt honoured. It still makes me emotional just thinking about it."
Lisa Adams from Cancer Research UK 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."
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