An Asda employee from Ayrshire who recently battled cancer is bravely sharing her story in a bid to raise awareness of breast checking.
Clare Andrews, who works at the Ayr store, ‘rang the bell’ at Ayr Hospital in June to signal the end of her breast cancer chemotherapy treatment.
Now, with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clare and her colleagues are on a mission to make checking your boobs, pecs and chests as normal as your Asda shop.
Clare, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago following a routine mammogram.
She was called back for a biopsy after doctors found some dense tissue that they weren’t happy about.
Clare said: “I was kind of gobsmacked to be honest when they told me it was breast cancer. I didn’t know what to think."
Clare underwent courses of chemotherapy and radiation and also had her left breast removed.
“Since then I’ve had mammograms and blood tests and everything has been fine,” she said.
“I’m feeling fine now.
“I rang the bell at Ayr Hospital in June after I’d finished my chemotherapy, which was a great feeling.”
Clare is a strong advocate of Asda’s Tickled Pink breast cancer charity appeal, now in its 26th year, which supports leading cancer charities, Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel!
This year the focus is to disrupt customers doing their shopping with important reminders that all men and women should become Real Self-Checkers – this includes pink till receipts, point of sale with real case studies, sign and symptoms leaflets and a large car park banner.
A range of exclusive pink products are also available for purchase, with a minimum of 10 per cent split 70/30 to Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! respectively.
Mum-of-one Clare, who has been married to husband John for 22 years and is mum to 20-year-old son, Ian, says Tickled Pink’s message - stressing the importance of men and women regularly checking themselves - is so important.
She said: “Tickled Pink is such a worthwhile cause. Anything that raises awareness and fundraises for more research into breast cancer is a good thing.
“Just keep checking yourselves regularly and keep going for mammograms. If I hadn’t of gone to my mammogram I wouldn’t have known. It was just sheer luck.
“If you do find anything unusual when you are checking, no matter how small, please go to your doctor straight away.
“The sooner it’s looked at the better.”
Karen Fulton, the store’s community champion who regularly holds events in store for Tickled Pink, said Clare’s story proved how vital raising awareness of breast cancer was, adding: “Everyone here at Asda Ayr all want Clare to know how proud they are of her.”
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