A Scots nurse with incurable cervical cancer has vowed to defy expectations and fight on for her two young children.
Sarah McCann, 35, works as a lead advanced nurse practitioner for active oncology at the Beatson, and has dedicated her life to helping others battle the disease.
But the mum says that despite being well aware of her prognosis, she is confident she will defy expectations in her fight to see her kids grow up.
Speaking to the Record, Sarah said: "I understand what terminal means but for me I can't lie about and think 'this is my life ending'.
"I am very strong willed and I am stubborn. I've got two kids. I still need to be a mum and I've got a lot to do.
"I am not going anywhere until I'm confident my kids will be able to deal with life. I'm teaching them how because life can be s**t and it is hard but it is also beautiful.
"I might have cancer but I'm not sick - I'm up and active.
"There are people out there who live well beyond their prognosis.
"My life will be on my terms, not cancers terms."
Mum to Marc, 10, and Emily, 4, Sarah was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018 and has since had a radical hysterectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat the disease.
But despite having been in remission and regular checkups coming back clear, the Paisley mum discovered a new lump in her neck in March.
Her fears that the cancer had returned were confirmed following several tests.
Sarah, who also lost her mum to cancer in 2019, has changed her lifestyle dramatically since her diagnosis and is weight training at the gym as well as cutting out sugar, dairy, alcohol and red meat from her diet while she undergoes life-prolonging chemotherapy and takes a biologically targeted drug.
She has also told how she has been inspired by author Jane McLelland's book How to Starve Cancer says she is focusing on the beauty of living through every day.
Determined to remain positive, Sarah added: "You will do all the crying and feeling sorry for yourself.
"Nobody can ever prepare you for the emotional rollercoaster of having cancer. The highs are high but the setbacks floor you.
"But I don't show people when I'm feeling down because I know it affects them and I don't like that."
Sarah will now be documenting her journey on Instagram and hopes she will be able to inspire people recently diagnosed with cancer.
Her journey can be followed on @sadieican.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ MORE:
