She’s a survivor: Man shares wife’s tale of beating cancer to support campaign

Husband looking forward to family Christmas at end of difficult year

A Dundee husband has spoken of how he and his family are looking forward to a very different Christmas this year following his wife’s successful breast cancer treatment.

Graeme Dolan, 51, shared his gratitude that wife Katrina’s cancer was found at an early stage and he has backed a campaign encouraging people to visit their doctor if they have concerns.

Katrina, a nurse, 51, went straight to her GP after noticing discharge from her left nipple and was diagnosed in May 2018 following a mammogram and biopsy.

She underwent a lumpectomy in July 2018 followed by chemotherapy in August and radiotherapy in December, finishing treatment in February 2019.

Graeme said: “When the doctors confirmed it was cancer, it was hard. I remember it being such a shock, I wasn’t expecting it at all.

“But once we sat down and talked everything through, there was a clear path in terms of next steps, and we were told the cancer had been caught early and was treatable.

“We told the kids straight away to make sure nothing came as a surprise, and they coped really well.”

Although Katrina was scheduled to have six rounds of chemotherapy, treatment had to be halted at five as she was repeatedly hospitalised due to the side effects.

Graeme said: “Katrina sailed through the surgery, and I took time off work to be there for her. But her reaction to the chemotherapy was really hard to watch.

“She was violently ill and I just felt a bit helpless.

“Eventually things did get better, but then she was back into radiotherapy which took its toll. Me and the kids just wanted her well again.

“My wife is definitely stronger than me. It was such a huge relief when we knew the treatment was coming to an end. Because she’s a nurse, she knew what was going on and actually helped reassure me at times.

“I’m so glad Katrina went to the GP, and her cancer was caught at the stage when it was treatable.

“Hearing that at that first appointment helped get our heads around everything. If you have a concern, just go and get it checked.”

The Scottish Government’s early cancer detection campaign, Survivors, highlights the role early diagnosis can have on improving cancer survival.

Individuals have been encouraged to join in by sharing what a loved one’s cancer survival has meant to them using #MySurvivor on social media.

Katrina said: “I hadn’t had a routine screening and thought I had been checking my breasts satisfactorily but I missed the tumour and my GP didn’t feel it on that first appointment.

“If people have any signs, I’d encourage them to get checked and make sure they attend screening invitations. It’s been a year out of my life, but that’s it done and I’m just looking forward now.”