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Young woman with terminal cancer makes most of time left

A hormone in Mandy's cancer treatment, tamoxifen, means her body mimics the menopause (Andrew Cawley/ DC Thomson)
A hormone in Mandy's cancer treatment, tamoxifen, means her body mimics the menopause (Andrew Cawley/ DC Thomson)

She immediately vowed she wasn’t going to let the news derail her plans to cram as much joy as possible into the time she has left.

She’s already bought herself a Mini Cooper, complete with go-faster stripes, booked an amazing holiday to Australia and is planning to do a parachute jump.

“It’s not easy cramming a lifetime into what time I may have left,” the finance worker told the Sunday Post. “But just watch me.

“We are all just passing through.

“I am telling my story to help others given a terminal diagnosis and to show them I’m on a mission to survive for as long as possible.”

Single Mandie was given the devastating news shortly after she got a small lump checked out last September, two weeks after her 26th birthday.

The news was broken to her just a week after her Aunt Ann was told she had the same cancer.

Her doctors told her she was the youngest terminal breast cancer patient they had seen “in a while”.

Mandie struggled to tell her dad about her terminal condition (L-R), sister Nicola, father John, Mandie, brother Gary, and mother Pauline (Andrew Cawley / DC Thomson)
Mandie struggled to tell her dad about her terminal condition (L-R), sister Nicola, father John, Mandie, brother Gary, and mother Pauline (Andrew Cawley / DC Thomson)

The hardest part of her journey so far came when she had to tell her dad, John, 50.

“I will never forget calling dad and hearing him break down on the phone,” said Mandie.

“It was heartbreaking because I had never heard him cry before.

“It really brought home to me how painful this was going to be for my parents.

“I was with mum Pauline at the time. The doctors had scan results and had asked if I wanted to bring her into the room with me.

“It was then I knew it wasn’t good news. The cancer was in my liver.

“Until then I didn’t think it was cancer. The lump was small and you hear how many are harmless.

“Mum was stunned too, but managed to stay positive for me. I now realise how hard it is to be a parent.”

When the Forth Valley Hospital specialist explained there was nothing they could do to cure it, Mandie felt her “life had ended at that point”.

“No one expects to be told this when they are just 26,” she said.

“But to be honest, I am glad it’s me who has a diagnosis of terminal cancer.

“I couldn’t bear it happening to anyone else in my family.”

At the time, her family were so worried, they did not mention Mandie’s mum’s sister Ann, had also been diagnosed with breast cancer just a week before.

On being told of the fight she faces, incredible Mandie Stevenson’s first selfless thought was, “I’m glad it’s me and not someone else in my family” who has the killer condition.

Little did Mandie know her aunt Ann has also been diagnosed with the condition.

It’s feared both women share a “genetic mutation” making them prone to the illness.

“I only found out afterwards about Aunt Ann.

“It has to be some genetic mutation in the family … something that has happened in the past generation or two.

“Ann’s cancer is not secondary and she has not been told it is terminal.

“My family knew about her but kept it from me while until after I got my results.

“They were only trying to protect me.”

The avalanche of love and care she has had from her family and friends has been overwhelming.

Her twin brother Gary was devastated as was younger sister Nicola, 22.

Mandie at hospital undergoing chemotherapy (Andrew Cawley/DC Thomson)
Mandie at hospital undergoing chemotherapy (Andrew Cawley/DC Thomson)

She moved back into the family home in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, while she underwent six gruelling sessions of chemotherapy.

The exhausting regime robbed her of her beautiful long dark hair and energy.

Continuous doses of the anti-hormone drug tamoxifen have also lowered her oestrogen levels, making her body mimic the signs of an early menopause.

It’s a vital treatment step, however, and one that will lengthen the time she has with her tight-knit family and friends.

The hormone is believed to be a driver for breast cancer.

But that has plunged her into an early menopause vital to help prolong what time she has left.

“The chemotherapy was heavy going and I had to get used to being bald but I felt confident enough to go to work without a wig,” she said.

“People thought I had shaved it for a charity fundraiser.

“When I told them I had breast cancer they were stunned.

“No one expects it in someone so young, they all say.

“My boss and colleagues at my workplace – IFDS in Stirling – were very understanding.

“I was told I could take all the time off I needed but I was determined to work through the chemo.

“Life has to go on as normal as possible.”

Last night heartbroken mum Pauline, who works part-time with adults with Alzheimer’s and the rest of the time as a children’s sports coach, said: described her heartbreak at hearing the diagnosis.

“I was with Mandie when she was diagnosed and again when the scan results came through.

“They were the worst days of my life. I was there when she called her dad and knew exactly what he was going through on hearing the words.

“We just have to take a day at a time and are determined not to waste a  minute of our happiness crying or worrying.

“Mandie has shown us how to cope. We are amazed by her courage.

“I believe that positive thoughts can only give Mandie the extra time she wants.”

Since getting the terminal diagnosis Mandie has vowed to live life in the fast lane.

“I am not lying down to this,” Mandie vowed. “I know I will probably not be here in 10 years. There’s a lot to be done in what time I have left.”


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