Two old friends from school found themselves battling cancer at the same time

(L-R): Linda Thirlwell and Joy Wilson, best friends, who went to school together, and who have both had to battle cancer, but have supported each other through it (Andrew Cawley/ Sunday Post)

IN the 1970s, Linda Thirlwell and Joy Wilson bonded over boys and Barbie dolls.

Fast forward 40 years and the friends, now grandmas, once again have common ground. Only this time, it’s not as much fun. In fact, it’s cancer.

The pair met while pupils at Milngavie’s Douglas Academy. Although a year apart, they chummed each other to youth club and shared their hopes and dreams all the way through school.

After that, house moves, jobs and families meant they drifted in and out of each other’s lives.

But Linda and Joy have always kept in touch, and, in recent years, rekindled their friendship.

And two years ago, the girls who used to do everything together found themselves battling cancer simultaneously.

Mum-of-three Linda, 53, was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2013. Three years on, two operations, one hope of remission and two recurrences – and she’s still fighting.

Joy discovered she had bowel cancer the following year. She visited her GP after suffering exhaustion and was stunned to learn she had a tumour. A gruelling two surgeries and six months of chemo and it’s looking like she’s in the clear.

But the 54-year-old admits she couldn’t have got through it without Linda.

“Linda has been my rock,” the mum-of-two said. “When she told me she had been diagnosed with cancer, I was just devastated.

“I said to her, ‘I will always be here for you and I’ll help in any way I can.’

“Little did I know that Linda would end up repaying the favour.”

Chef Linda was used to being tired. Her job meant she was on her feet all day. But when she felt utterly exhausted, her gut feeling was something wasn’t right.

“The doctor did some tests and scans, and eventually came back to tell me I had kidney cancer,” she said.

The surgery saw Linda’s whole kidney removed. Afterwards she was told she was “cancer free” – but, as it was an extremely aggressive cancer, there was a high risk it could return.

Linda faced six-monthly scans to check she was still in remission.

The first scan showed some positive results, but the second highlighted cancer cells in her adrenal glands. The solution was further surgery – and steroids every day for the rest of her life.

And six months later came worse news when something was spotted on her ovary.

It turned out to be cancer, which had also spread to Linda’s liver and bowel.

Months later, an MRI carried out after a simple fall, revealed it was also in her brain.

For now, radiotherapy seems to be shrinking the tumours, but sadly there’s no cure.

Linda, who was once so active, has had to accept that her life will change.

But in the meantime, she’s grateful to have Joy to confide in, and the pair also enjoy raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support together.

“You wouldn’t believe how great it is to have someone to talk to who knows exactly how you’re feeling. Sometimes we don’t even need words. We just cry and have a cuddle!”

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