Latest news with #BeatsonCancerCharity
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Woman fighting ovarian cancer had 10 organs removed after symptoms dismissed as IBS
Scots woman fighting ovarian cancer had 10 organs removed A woman battling a rare ovarian cancer had 10 organs removed months after being told her symptoms were IBS. Danielle Quinn, 40, from Glasgow, underwent complex surgery to tackle a tumour in December 2022. But what started as a two hour full hysterectomy turned into seven hours under the knife as medics opted to remove more organs and cells after an MRI revealed anomalies around her abdomen. She woke up in intensive care after being told multiple organs had been removed from her body. Surgeons had removed her womb, cervix, both her fallopian tubes, both her ovaries, spleen, part of her bowel, part of her diaphragm and omentum. Doctors diagnosed her with stage 3 low-grade serous carcinoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer. Danielle, a Finance Manager who also runs a social media content creation business said: 'At 39, being told I would never have children and waking up from surgery having lost 10 organs was devastating. 'I had always been fit and healthy – I'd never even been in hospital before.' Danielle began to suffer severe abdominal pain and bloating that wouldn't go away. Despite multiple visits to her GP, her symptoms were initially diagnosed as IBS and gastroenteritis 'I knew something wasn't right – I couldn't eat or sleep, and I was in constant pain,' she said. 'Eventually I saw a doctor who recognised the seriousness of my symptoms and sent me for further tests.' Danielle was rushed into hospital where doctors drained six litres of fluid from her abdomen. She then underwent a painstaking run of tests, scans and hospital days as puzzled medics tried to work out what was going on. After her diagnosis Danielle opted for hormone therapy over chemotherapy but devastatingly, her cancer returned in October 2024. Aged just 40, Danielle started to go through the menopause after her surgery but is unable to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) due to her cancer. She is now raising awareness of the challenges of ovarian cancer on World Ovarian Cancer Day, as she praised the Beatson Cancer Charity for helping her throughout her gruelling treatment. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She said: 'Going through sudden menopause after surgery has its own set of difficulties,' Danielle explained. 'You're thrown into it with no warning, and because of my cancer, I can't take HRT to help manage the symptoms. It's something we don't talk about enough – I want to change that.' 'The Beatson means everything to me. Hospitals can be overwhelming, but the care and compassion from everyone at The Beatson makes it feel like home. They go above and beyond to make you feel supported, no matter what you're facing.' A spokesperson from Beatson Cancer Charity said: 'At Beatson Cancer Charity, we're committed to supporting everyone affected by cancer, including those facing less common diagnoses like ovarian cancer. "We fund vital services, therapies and research that help improve treatment and care for patients across Scotland. Stories like Danielle's highlight just how important it is to raise awareness and ensure people know support is available. On World Ovarian Cancer Day, we're proud to stand alongside patients and families, working to make sure no one faces cancer alone.' Danielle continues to share her experience on social media to support and connect with others going through similar challenges.
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Coatbridge man set to take on triathlon challenge after cancer
Michael Gallacher, originally from Coatbridge, was diagnosed with the disease in October 2023. The 38-year-old, who now lives in Chapelhall, underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy and a total gastrectomy, which is the complete removal of his stomach, before being given the all-clear in May 2024. Michael was given the all clear in May 2024(Image: Supplied) Read more: Cambuslang woman to trek Himalayas for charity Now, he is set to take on the Highlander Triathlon to raise funds for Beatson Cancer Charity. The challenge will see him take on a four-mile kayak, a 51-mile cycle, and a climb of Buachaille Etive Mòr in Glencoe on Saturday, May 3. Michael said: "When I was first diagnosed, I was terrified – but determined. "I had an incredible medical team around me, from surgeons and oncologists to the nurses and physios, and they got me through the hardest moments. "The team at the Beatson were amazing. "From the moment I walked through the doors, fear became hope. "It never felt like a hospital – it felt human. "The staff are upbeat, kind, and always make you feel like you're more than just a patient. "I knew I wanted to give something back." Every year, Michael and a group of friends embark on a physical challenge to raise money for charity. Michael and his team embark on a charity challenge every year (Image: Supplied) Together they've raised more than £40,000. Michael said: "Last year I couldn't take part because I was going through treatment. "So this year, the guys let me choose the charity, and I didn't hesitate. "Beatson Cancer Charity made a huge difference to me – and to so many others." So far, Michael and his team have raised more than £6,900 for Beatson Cancer Charity – and hope to raise even more. The team have created an online fundraising page ahead of the triathlon which is available at Though training for the Highlander has been intense, Michael hopes his recovery story can show that life after a cancer diagnosis is possible. Michael and team will take on the Highlander Triathlon this year (Image: Supplied) Read more: Asda apologises to customers as 'do not eat' warning issued over chicken He said: "The day after my first chemo session, I did a 45-minute YouTube workout in my living room. "I needed to prove to myself that I could still move. "I kept walking, stayed active through chemo, and even got back into the gym before surgery. "The physio team had me on my feet the day after my operation. "It was tough – but I knew staying strong would help me get through it. 'I had a total gastrectomy and I honestly didn't know what recovery would look like. "But I'm back training, I'm feeling strong, and I'm doing things I never thought I'd be able to do again. "It's not easy, but it's possible.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Widow halfway through 5,000-mile charity challenge
A widow walking 5,000 miles (8,047km) around the British coastline in memory of her late wife has reached the halfway mark in Kent. Tracey Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, started her challenge from her home city in November and plans to finish there on 31 October. Ms Howe, who is currently walking through Kent, hopes to raise £100,000 to be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel. "It's easy to live for tomorrow, but we need to make the most of each day," she said. The mother-of-two, who lost her wife Angela to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition had been an opportunity for her to process her grief. Ms Howe, 61, added: "When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief. "I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time. "Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill." Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles (32km) a day, six days a week, has already raised more than £30,000. Additional reporting from PA Media. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Cancer survivor to run 120-mile ultramarathon Man who played guitar during surgery raises funds Paddleboarder in 300km cancer fundraising venture Beatson Cancer Charity Marie Curie Braintrust Breast Cancer Now CoppaFeel
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Widow Tracey Howe hits halfway mark in charity challenge in Kent
A widow walking 5,000 miles (8,047km) around the British coastline in memory of her late wife has reached the halfway mark in Howe, a retired professor from Glasgow, started her challenge from her home city in November and plans to finish there on 31 Howe, who is currently walking through Kent, hopes to raise £100,000 to be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel."It's easy to live for tomorrow, but we need to make the most of each day," she said. The mother-of-two, who lost her wife Angela to blood cancer in September 2023, said the walking expedition had been an opportunity for her to process her Howe, 61, added: "When I started, it was just a year since Angela had died, and I was really immersed in my grief."I was crying a lot every day and shouting at the weather and battling the elements, because it was winter time."Sometimes I would call on Angela to give me a hand, to give me a push up the hill." Ms Howe, who is walking an average of 20 miles (32km) a day, six days a week, has already raised more than £30,000. Additional reporting from PA Media.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scots author Dr Gillian Shirreffs shares breast cancer journey in new book Elephant
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Scots debut author Gillian Shirreffs raised over £16,834 for Beatson Cancer Charity with her debut novel Brodie—a darkly funny, sharply observed story inspired by her love of Muriel Spark, and which raised over. Now, she returns with Elephant, a strikingly honest and intimate exploration of illness, grief and the things we struggle to say out loud. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Elephant centres on a writer facing a breast cancer diagnosis, but it's not a traditional cancer memoir. Told through messages, emails, tweets, and interior thoughts, it captures the chaos, loneliness, absurdity and clarity that come when life tilts suddenly and irrevocably. Part modern epistolary, part personal reckoning, it's written with the same dry humour and emotional precision that made Brodie such a standout. 'Elephant is a book that found me. I'm glad that you have now found it. The book that found me is about mortality. My own mortality.' — Gillian Shirreffs Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Shirreffs has been writing about illness for nearly two decades. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, she began writing while on bedrest, when her body had shut down and the only thing she could move freely was her mind. What began as a coping mechanism grew into something more—an urgent, unsentimental body of work about what it means to live in a body that won't behave. Elephant A former HR director and English teacher, she holds a Doctor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Her thesis examined the relationship between object and illness—an idea that runs through all her writing, and especially through Elephant. The book is already receiving powerful praise: ''Elephant' is about Shirreffs waiting. To be seen, to be told, to be treated, to be scared, to be relieved, to be healed, to be again. Her contemporary notes share the twin burdens of illness and treatment but also care as communion. A masterpiece.' — Professor Victor Montori M.D. Elephant is a book for anyone who's sat in a waiting room, felt the weight of silence, or tried to find the right words in the wrong moment. It doesn't ask for pity. It's about friendship, memory, rage, humour, and how people keep going when they don't know how. Elephant is available in June and available now to pre-order from and Waterstones.
