It’s always breast to check yourself

Joy of daughter’s birth shattered by cancer diagnosis

Fiona Picken will feel like a million dollars when she takes to the catwalk in Glasgow later this month.

Just months after the joy of giving birth to baby daughter Aila, Fiona Picken was given the horrifying news that she had breast cancer.

The 38-year-old will be one of 24 courageous women who have battled through breast cancer and will model later this month at Breast Cancer Care Scotland Fashion Show at the Hilton Hotel.

The fashion show is one of the biggest events in the country during Breast Cancer Awareness Month which runs throughout October.

Fiona is keen to highlight that women of any age can develop breast cancer as there’s misperception that it’s only older women.

“No one ever imagines they will be diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant or when their children are so young but cancer doesn’t discriminate by age,” she said.

“It’s so important that even younger women, and women who are pregnant or just had babies, are aware.”

Fiona, 38, had a persistent problem with her breast in the months before the arrival of her second child and thought she had a blocked milk duct.

During the third trimester of her pregnancy Fiona, who lives in

Motherwell, noticed her breasts were sore and her nipples were inverted.

An only child, her world was rocked just weeks later when her dad died. His death came three years after her mum’s and worries about her breast were put to the back of her mind.

Despite her grief Fiona and her husband Douglas’s spirits were lifted by the arrival of baby Aila, a sister for daughter Olivia who is now aged eight.

Aila was struggling to feed however and Fiona asked her GP is she could check her breast.

She was referred to the breast clinic where she was given a mammogram and an ultrasound, and just 10 weeks after Aila’s birth was told she had breast cancer.

Fiona said: “The ultrasound showed something up but the women who was doing it said it could be pregnancy related, but could also be cancer.”

An anxious week followed for the family before Fiona returned to hear the news she had been dreading

She returned to the Wishaw hospital but instead of a post-natal visit hers was to undergo sessions of chemotherapy.

The chemo was followed by a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and radiotherapy.

The shock diagnosis came in November 2015 and four years on she is encouraging women to check their breasts, especially if they’re pregnant or have just given birth.

The mum of two is thankful for the support she had from family and friends during her illness.

“I think having such young children helped me deal with what was happening,” she admitted.

“It made me so determined to survive.”

She is also grateful for the help the charity provided and is looking forward to appearing in this month’s fashion show to help raise awareness for others.

“Breast Cancer Now is such an amazing charity that offers so much support,” Fiona added.

“They can put you in touch with other people going through exactly the same thing.”

The fashion show takes place on Thursday, October 24.

For tickets call 0345 077 1892 or visit: breastcancercare.org.uk/ theshowscotland

It made me so determined to survive