‘Every penny raised can help someone’

A GRANDMOTHER who was diagnosed with cancer three days before she retired is encouraging women across Edinburgh and the Lothians to sign up to Race for Life.

Anne Wallace, who lives in Dedridge, Livingston, was given the devastating news that she had breast cancer in June last year following a routine mammogram.

The 61-year-old underwent a mastectomy at St John’s Hospital in July last year followed by 20 sessions of radiotherapy.

Ms Wallace said her background as a nurse helped her to overcome her fears.

“The doctor put his arm around me and said, ‘don’t worry, we will take good care of you’. That was it. I knew they would so I didn’t feel scared. I have a lot of faith in the doctors and nurses in the NHS and I wanted to get on with life.”

“You have to stay positive. We need to get across the message that if it’s caught early enough, breast cancer isn’t a death sentence. You can live life to the full after cancer.”

She added: “Every penny raised can save a life.”