Published: Monday, 30th June, 2008 16:00
Cancer and me
By Ann Shankland
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Ann Shankland (40), of Garden Place, Cairneyhill, beat breast cancer last year. Her blog relives her close encounter with the Big C.
When I was asked to do this blog, the hardest thing was knowing where to start. I was tempted to start with the shower scene... but maybe later!
I suppose really it started with my Auntie Margaret. During the summer of 2004 we discovered that she had cancer of the liver.
She lived down at Banbury, so too far for me to visit her, but my mum kept me up to date via Uncle Ian.
The cancer was quite aggressive so she had to have chemo and radiotherapy to try to shrink it before they could operate.
Back then I didn't have a clue what chemo was but my mum explained that it was when they put chemicals into your bloodstream – she was having this on a daily basis so they just left a tube in her vein for easy access.
Anyway, the treatment did the trick, the cancer shrank and they were able to operate. Good news, or so we thought.
They then found that she had three tumours that had gone to her brain. It was a shock to say the least.
My child, Hugh, was starting school after the summer holidays and I was so proud of him in his new uniform.
I took a photo of him and posted it down to Ian for Margaret to see. I was so pleased to hear that she got to see the photo of him before she died.
It was literally weeks after she was told about the tumours that she lost her battle.
I always remember everyone saying how upbeat she was through everything.
However, this was not our family’s first brush with cancer. It’s true what they say – you speak to anyone and they will know someone who has had it.
My grandad had cancer of the bowel. Back in 1989 he was given six months to live. I can remember the year as it was the same year as my first wedding.
I remember my mum working two jobs to get the money together to pay for the wedding and how worried she was as she didn’t know if grandad would live to attend.
Lucky for us he was a stubborn man and didn’t listen to the doctors and lived for a good 12 years after that!
I’ve always had great admiration for my grandad, he was a proud man with strong beliefs and I loved him very much. I miss him dearly.
I also miss my grandma, who died when I was just 16. My mum says that I’m like her in lots of ways – but mostly because I see things very much in black and white.
It is either wrong or right, there is no grey! She was a very clever lady – but I would say that!
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This is only going to end badly