A beloved, caring Monklands resident celebrated four years of being cancer free on her 59th birthday.
Asda Coatbridge Community Champion Ann Binks is a strong advocate for the supermarket's Tickled Pink campaign, which supports leading charities Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel!
Ann, from Salsburgh, was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram appointment four years ago.
Following her mammogram, she was asked to attend the West Scotland Breast Screening Centre in Glasgow, where Ann was told that calcification flakes had been identified in her breast.
This meant she needed to have her right breast removed and she attended surgery on her 55th birthday.
Fortunately, Ann’s treatment was a success, and she has now been cancer free for the past four years.
As part of a campaign to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Asda Tickled Pink is on a mission to make checking your boobs, pecs and chests as normal as your Asda shop.
The aim is to raise funds for breast cancer treatments, education and support.
The annual campaign is the longest running UK charity partnership and over the past 26 years has raised more than £77 million.
A recent survey amongst Asda female customers showed that nine per cent have never checked their breasts and of those that have breast checked before but not on a regular basis, only 24 per cent are forgetting to check regularly compared to the UK average of 41 per cent.
Ann told Lanarkshire Live : "One thing I would say to all men and women is to keep checking yourself regularly, know your normal and don’t miss any routine mammograms.
"If I hadn’t of attended my mammogram appointment I would never have known.
“I have always supported the Tickled Pink campaign but after my diagnosis it meant so much more.
"I was very lucky that my cancer was picked up early. It could have been much worse, and I am so grateful to everyone in the NHS who looked after me.”
Ann was shocked when she received her diagnosis, but her treatment was swift and within seven weeks she had her surgery.
She said: "I was terrified when they told me I would need surgery. I didn't know what to think but I got through it and I’m so grateful to be cancer free four years later.
“I am now on a nightly hormone tablet every day for the next 10 years, which has led to some negative effects on my mood.
"The journey has not been easy but it’s a small price to pay and I’m so appreciative of the support from my husband Barrie and son Ben”
Ann’s colleagues at Asda were there throughout her journey and she is grateful for the support she received.
She said: "Tickled Pink is such a worthwhile cause. Anything that raises awareness and fundraises for more research into breast cancer is vital.
"Asda were such a great support throughout my diagnosis, and I am proud to be part of a team that has such a passion for breast cancer awareness.
“My colleagues have been brilliant; they were there for me the whole way through my journey and that support is still ongoing four years later.”
Kevin McPhee, store manager at Asda Coatbridge, is proud of Ann’s courage and determination to raise breast cancer awareness after her own experience.
He said: "Everyone at Asda Coatbridge is so proud of Ann.
"She is relentless in her campaigning for Tickled Pink, and we are all behind her.
"Ann is the heart and soul of not just the store but the whole community.
"Tickled Pink is a vital campaign, and we are with Ann every step of the way to get the message out there.”
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