A ROSYTH cancer patient is hoping to "restart her life" as she hopes her chemotherapy treatment is coming to an end.

Jillian McElhinney, 47, of Backmarch Crescent, was told she had ovarian cancer in February and that she would need a major operation to remove her womb, ovaries, cervix and fallopian tubes.

She started chemotherapy treatment in May and has had four treatments at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, so far, and is hoping that the next two are her last.

She told the Press: "I've got two treatments left. The next one will be my fifth – tomorrow – and hopefully the last one will be four weeks after.

"I've been admitted to hospital four times now, all for different reasons related to the chemo such as low platelets, low blood cells, which has put a slight delay on the chemo. 

"It's been very tough. Chemotherapy is a very difficult process to go through. You do need your loved ones around you encouraging you to keep going.

"My husband is there for me 24 hours a day. He's been my absolute rock and you really need that. It's a tough journey. I've been back and forward to hospital four times since my treatment started."

"It would be massive if this was my final couple of treatments. I'd repay my husband for all his hard work. He's had to run a house on his own. We've been rock solid from the start.

"If the treatment ended it really would be the gift of life and I could restart life again. This turns your world upside down. It really does. I'd restart life and get back out there, enjoying every moment."

Jillian's husband, Shaun, added: "It would mean everything to me. I don't really have the words for it. I would be speechless and overjoyed. I'm just so proud of my brave, beautiful wife."

The couple were unable to celebrate their first anniversary together as a result of her diagnosis. The pair are now hoping to be able to look forward to finally celebrating their first year as a married couple together.

She said: "It's the one thing that hurt us both that we weren't able to celebrate our anniversary.

"We did have plans, we had great plans. I think celebrating our first anniversary together, and to be able to relax without worrying about chemo medication, would be magical for the both of us."

The overall cost surrounding the treatment and everyday life means it has been tough for both Jillian and Shaun to make ends meet, with heating bills and travel for treatments proving to be expensive.

Jillian added: "It's a very expensive journey as well. You don't get a lot of help. Shaun doesn't drive, so we have to pay for taxis back and forth to hospital. He gets a carer's allowance and I get a disability allowance. So it's tough.

"A lot of people don't understand that your household bills double when you're going through chemotherapy. Heating is a main one because one of the worst effects of chemotherapy is the chills, the shivering and the shakes you get. You're always cold and freezing. So the heating is on full all the time.

"The second worst cost is the dramatic weight loss, so you're having to buy new clothes as well. It's an ongoing expensive journey. We're finding it very tight."

Jillian and Shaun have now set up a GoFundMe page to help them pay for everyday household costs, such as heating, travel to and from hospital and clothing due to the weight loss Jillian is going through. The page is available online at: www.gofundme.com/2jb9e7kk