An inspirational Scots mum in remission from breast cancer has teamed up with scientists to help save lives. Clare Lappin, 54, discovered swelling under her right arm earlier this year.
After a visit to the doctor, she was referred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley but after tests – including a mammogram and ultrasound – the consultant explained they thought Clare may actually have cancer in her left breast. She was diagnosed with the disease on April 8. Thankfully, doctors confirmed the cancer had been caught early.
The mum from Neilston, East Renfrewshire, had lumpectomy surgery on April 17 followed by five days of radiotherapy treatment at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, with her final session on June 3. Following the successful surgeries, she has since been prescribed with the hormone therapy drug Tamoxifen.
Cancer Research UK funded scientists shaped the way Tamoxifen is used to treat breast cancer today. Their work helped prove the benefits of taking Tamoxifen after surgery for women with the most common type of breast cancer.
Claire said: “I’m proud to support life-saving research, to reach out to everyone this Christmas going through cancer and let them know they’re not alone. Cancer touches almost all of us in some way, either we’ve lived it ourselves or helped a loved one, family member, friend or colleague.
“Cancer has changed me. It forced me to slow down. I’ve faced anxious moments this year, feelings of uncertainty and tiredness during treatment. I’ve cried. I couldn’t have got through it without my very best friend, my husband Robert and my mum Irene.
“I’ve had stellar support from my son Thomas. He never ceases to amaze me. He kept me smiling and even laughing through the darkest of days.
“Thomas was sitting his Higher exams at school this spring around the time of my cancer treatment. He did well to hold it all together and I was bursting with pride after his results came back and he earned a place at university to study Astrophysics.
“This is a chance to say a big heartfelt thank you to those friends who have been by my side along the way. Flowers, candles, anti-sickness bands, books, treats and more helped me. Their friendship and love is the glue that has kept me together and I want to celebrate them all at Christmas time.”
Dr Saadia Karim is part of Professor Jen Morton’s team developing a better understanding of pancreatic cancer to help identify and test more effective treatments.
She said: “Although the overall survival for people with cancer has doubled in the past 50 years, pancreatic cancer is one of the hard to treat cancers. We need to understand more about the biology of pancreatic cancer so more people survive.
“At the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute we are working hard to improve how we treat cancer. All our researchers are grateful to people across Scotland who give so generously by supporting the CRUK shops and superstores.”
Clare was guest of honour at the launch of Cancer Research UK’s superstore at Forge Retail Park in Glasgow last week. She joined Dr Karim to cut the ribbon at the ceremony on Friday, December 13.
The superstore, which at 4,961sq ft is twice the size of a normal Cancer Research UK shop, is the seventh of its kind in Scotland following the success of the charity’s other superstores at Crown Street Retail Park in the Gorbals as well as in Edinburgh, Paisley, Irvine, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Cancer Research UK superstore manager Michelle Fisher said: “We are incredibly grateful to Clare. We hope her story of courage encourages people to support our new superstore in Glasgow so that we can continue to fund the very best scientists in Scotland and across the UK.
“We’re working towards a world where we can all live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Almost one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but together we can beat it.”
The new Glasgow shop at Forge Retail Park, Gallowgate, Glasgow will be open Monday to Saturday, 9am until 6pm, and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. More volunteers are needed at the store and donations of good-quality clothes, shoes, bags, books and homeware are welcome.
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