A Perth woman who was planning her funeral is now determined to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Caroline Morton, 48, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 after finding a lump.
Tests revealed that it was an aggressive tumour and, in early 2006, the mum of three endured three months of chemotherapy, followed by a mastectomy and two months of radiotherapy.
Then, five years later, the cancer came back. Although her condition is incurable, she described how her outlook has changed.
“One day, when I was planning my funeral, I thought what am I doing?” she said.
“So I started planning my 50th birthday instead. What I have is not curable, but it’s treatable. I thought if I stayed in the house, that would be it for me, so I made myself get up and go out every day.
“I am back at work part-time and the treatment is going well.”
Mrs Morton said that when she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time it was even more of a shock. But she now feels more positive and is looking forward to celebrating her 50th birthday with loved ones.
“I was looking after my mum, who had dementia, so I thought I was just run down and tired,” she said.
“Then in December 2010, when I went for a check-up, doctors found something in the lymph nodes in my neck. The cancer had spread to the soft tissue in my lungs. I think I cried for about six months.”
Mrs Morton’s last scan showed the tumour had shrunk slightly. She is also taking part in an extended clinical trial in Dundee, which is testing a new, more potent form of the cancer drug Herceptin.
And she is lacing up her trainers and is ready to fight back by taking part in Race for Life with her sister Zoe McNab on Sunday at the North Inch, Perth.
“I have had a lot of help through treatment and taking part in trials,” she said.
“And the only way I can help ensure that is available to others is to help raise money for research. I feel, if I don’t help, things can’t keep getting better.
“Taking part in Race for Life is my way of fighting back against cancer. I’m so grateful for the research that has helped me and now I want to help others by supporting Cancer Research UK’s work.”
Last year more than 800 women took part in the Perth Race for Life and raised a fantastic £49,800.
Hamish Moir, Cancer Research UK’s events manager for Perth, explained the importance of the event for the charity’s fundraising efforts.
He said: “We are so grateful to Caroline for signing up for Race for Life and taking on the challenge.
“By raising money through Race for Life, people in Perth are helping Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists make advances in research which will help more men, women and children survive.”
To enter Race for Life visit www.raceforlife.org, or phone 0845 600 6050.