Sisters and aunt recover from breast cancer together

By Athena Stavrou via SWNS

Two sisters and their auntie all received breast cancer diagnoses within eight months of each other.

Barbara-Ann Mackay, 43, her sister, Sarah-Jane Shellard, 47, and their auntie, Audrey Anderson, 56, were all diagnosed with the disease between March and November 2018.

Mom-of-two Barbara said the trio "couldn't have made it through without each other" and are now taking on a charity walk to raise money and awareness for their cause.

Barbara, a teacher from Arbroath, Scotland, who was diagnosed in August 2018, said: "We're a very close family and have always been there to support one another.

"It would have been a lot more difficult going through it by yourself.

"All of our treatments have been very different, but we've all been there for each other on the tough days.

"If you had a bad day, it was nice to know they were there and going through it too.

"We want to make sure people know that cancer doesn't discriminate."

"I was young to be getting chemotherapy but there was also a 21-year-old in the chair next to me sometimes.

"You know your body so if you feel something is wrong get it looked at."

Barbara-Ann first had a lump in her left breast examined in 2015 but was told it was a blocked milk duct.

When mom-of-two Audrey was diagnosed in March 2018 after finding a lump, Barbara-Ann decided to get her lump looked at again.

As she was only 38, she claims she wasn't considered a priority and had to wait five weeks for an appointment.

She was given an ultrasound and then told she would be having a biopsy.

Barbara was then diagnosed with breast cancer in August and began treatment later that month.

Only three months later, her sister, Sarah-Jane, found a lump in her left breast while lying in bed and was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2018.

They all underwent treatment at the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and attended each other's chemotherapy appointments when they could.

Barbara said: "After you're diagnosed you're bombarded with so much stuff from the people around you."

"When I was first diagnosed, I didn't cry for 10 weeks.

"I had an operation and was clear but then when I was told I would be starting chemotherapy it hit me properly.

"We all had different treatments. Sarah-Jane actually had two different types of cancer.

"She started on tri-weekly chemo treatment but her body wouldn't accept one of the chemos so she had to change to weekly treatments.

"She went into respiratory failure and into intensive care at one point.

"We all had chemo and double mastectomies but we're all clear now and doing well."

Five years after their diagnoses, the trio are now taking on this year's Edinburgh MoonWalk on Sept. 9 to raise vital funds for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

Barbara-Ann has done the challenge in 2006 and 2007 prior to her diagnosis.

People taking part in the annual challenge will walk a marathon through the streets at midnight wearing decorated bras.

Barbara-Ann will be joined by her sister and Auntie, who will be doing the Half MoonWalk.

Barbara-Ann said: "We've got a team of 12 raising funds for the walk and three people volunteering. It's nice that five years on we're able to give back to the research.

"The MoonWalk is something that we've always wanted to do, and we always wanted to do it as a team."

The trio's treatments were as follows:

Audrey Anderson, 56, was diagnosed in March 2018
Treatment: Had chemotherapy and double mastectomy in August 2018, given clear in September 2018.

Barbara-Ann Mackay, 43, was diagnosed in August 2018.
Treatment: double mastectomy in October 2018 and officially cancer-free in October 2018. Had chemotherapy from October until March 2019.

Sarah-Jane Shellard, 47, was diagnosed in November 2018,
Treatment: Had chemotherapy and double mastectomy in January 2019, given clear in February.

You can donate to their fundraiser here.