Gladiators star's pregnant pal shows strength in cancer battle

So when medics in Australia broke the news that Edinburgh-born Dawn, three months pregnant at the time, had a rare form of breast cancer, super-fit "Siren" Ali was floored.

Dawn, who has been friends with Ali since they first met on the high school basketball court, faced the nightmare of hospital appointments, surgery and chemotherapy when she should have been enjoying her first pregnancy – and the fact she was half a world away from her family and Ali made her battle against cancer even tougher.

Today, however, Dawn is on the road to full health after coming through the fight of her life.

Against the odds, she's now planning a remarkable return to Edinburgh to join Ali in helping improve the prospects for other breast cancer patients by running in a series of fundraising races.

It will be an emotional return for the former Broughton High pupil. For accompanying her will be Australian husband Brad, 37, and their toddler Archie – the little boy who ultimately helped save her life.

"I'd had a lump in my breast for years and never thought that much about it," says Dawn, 38, speaking from her home in Melbourne.

"I'd even had it checked out years ago in Edinburgh and was told that it was just a mass of tissue and not to worry about it.

"I was three months pregnant when the obstetrician here noticed it. She felt that because it hadn't been checked out in Australia that it was best to be cautious and get it fully checked. I thought it was a bit over the top, but thank goodness it was checked."

Ali, 38, first met Dawn when the two were 14 years old with a mutual love for playing basketball. Dawn had set up a club at Broughton High and Ali, from Portobello, decided to join in. Later, the pals travelled together to the United States to play basketball there for a year.

Ali recalls the moment in late 2008 when she learned her good friend was desperately ill.

"I couldn't believe it. I remember wondering how on earth that could happen," she says. "When her mum phoned to say she had cancer, I couldn't take it in."

News that Dawn faced major surgery to remove both breasts in the fight to stop the cancer spreading left Ali reeling.

"Dawn was always super fit, she looks after herself and is in amazing shape. She's never smoked, always been active. You just don't think that someone like her could suddenly have cancer."

Twelve thousand miles away, Dawn was equally shell-shocked. Her routine appointment to check the progress of her unborn child had morphed into a full-scale medical emergency.

"It was quite surreal," she recalls. "There was an ultrasound and then I was sent for a biopsy, then a call at work from the doctor saying 'come in and bring your husband'. At that point the alarm bells started to ring."

Medics confirmed triple negative breast cancer – a type that occurs in about 15 out of every 100 breast cancers and a double-edged diagnosis. For while, luckily for the mum-to be, the cancer does not rely on hormones such as oestrogen to grow and multiply which reduced the risks for her and her baby, it is harder to treat and can be particularly aggressive.

"If I'd had 'normal' breast cancer, it would have interacted with the oestrogen," says Dawn, "so the fact that I had triple negative was a kind of bonus because it didn't really matter that I was pregnant.

"But it did mean that the treatment was limited to surgery and chemo."

Dawn, who moved to Australia after meeting Brad during a gap year holiday nine years ago, had to put her pregnancy to one side to focus on her own recovery.

"In less than a week I was in for surgery," she recalls. "I wasn't yet three months pregnant and there they were calculating how much chemotherapy I'd need.

"I was frightened but luckily my baby was past the early development stage, so treatment could go ahead."

Dawn underwent a double mastectomy in June 2008, just days after the diagnosis. Six weeks later she began her chemotherapy.

She says: "I can't say pregnancy and chemotherapy is the best combination, but it had to be done.

"I was lucky because I was strong and fit anyway. But it was at that point that I felt a really long way away from home and, towards the end of the chemo, I was feeling very much worse for wear."

Ali flew to her friend's side in October 2008 and was stunned by how well she was coping. "I saw her at the airport and she looked amazing. Her hair was short because of the chemo, but otherwise she looked really healthy.

"When you see someone go through all that, it makes you think about what's important in life and all the things you could lose."

A month later, Dawn gave birth to a healthy Archie after a six-hour labour. Within months, fitness fan Dawn was already determined to put the experience behind her, and hit the road running to raise money for charity in a 10km race.

She says: "I've had reconstructive surgery and feel pretty much 'normal'. My oncologist says medically I can't really be described as 'cancer free' because that comes down to fate and how long I go without any cancer coming back. But, at this point, I'm healthy.

"I learned a lot about my own type of cancer but I found out that there are so many types, different grades and treatment options, so it seems right to do something to highlight it and raise awareness."

Which is why Dawn has signed herself up to join Ali and a group of friends for the Big 5 Challenge, organised by Breakthrough Breast Cancer Scotland, which involves teams of five running five races over the coming year – from 5km to full marathons.

She'll return home to live in Edinburgh in April. "I'm looking forward to coming back. Everyone gave me so much support, I can't wait to see them all," she says.

"I'll be running with Ali and a group of friends – it'll be special and probably a bit emotional.

"There have been lows and extreme emotions over the past two years but

I'm healthy, I've got my husband and we have Archie. The future looks good."

To support Ali, Dawn and their team, visit www.justgiving.com/ali-paton. To join them on the Big 5 Challenge, register at www. breakthrough.org.uk/big5challenge