Kirsty Feerick
A JOHNSTONE woman has told how she discovered she had cancer...after driving over a speed bump.
Alarm bells rang for 51-yearold Lynn Graham when she felt a sudden pain in her chest while driving with her partner Roy McLellan.
She then made a doctor’s appointment, which she almost cancelled after the pain dulled.
However, Lynn was shocked when medics confirmed she had breast cancer and would need surgery and treatment.
She is now recovering but is also keen to warn others not to ignore crucial signs that something could be seriously wrong.
Lynn said: “I was driving and felt a big pain come over me when I went over a speed bump. I thought ‘wow, what was that?’
“Thank God I felt that pain and went to the doctor right away.”
Lynn admits her cancer diagnosis came as a huge blow but she is grateful the disease was spotted at that stage, before it had the chance to progress further.
She said: “I couldn’t feel a lump but the doctor did.
“I had almost cancelled my appointment when the pain stopped.
“I am telling everyone now to check themselves out if they think something is wrong.”
Lynn was diagnosed in May last year and underwent major surgery in October before getting radiotherapy treatment.
Doctors believe they have removed all of her cancer but she has to wait for more scans to confirm this.
She now views every day as a gift and celebrated her progress by going to see her hero Lulu perform at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall last week.
Lynn said the 75-year-old superstar’s music really motivated her to get through treatment during her cancer battle.
She also bought herself a motor scooter, having long wanted to own one, and has named it Lulu.
Lynn said: “I was blown away when Roy got me tickets for the show. Lulu is one of my idols and I hadn’t seen her before.
“I am actually in a band called Shout that plays 60s music and recently bought myself a scooter that is called Lulu.
“Music was massive in getting me through my cancer treatment. I really relied on it for inspiration and staying positive.
“The gig was fantastic, the crowd was incredible and everyone was in amazing spirits.”
Roy, 55, who bought the tickets as a present for her birthday, added: “When Lynn had pain that day in the car, I knew something was wrong. I could tell by the look on her face.
“I encouraged her to keep her doctor’s appointment, even when the pain went down. I knew it was worth checking out.
“She has been so brave and positive through the full thing. She is really such a tremendously courageous person.
“It was such a shock and certainly wasn’t an easy process but she came through it and music was a huge part of that.
“When I managed to get us tickets for Lulu, I was so happy. It was very satisfying to see Lynn out enjoying herself again and in her element.”