A Hamilton mum, who was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer whilst pregnant, is set to do a 10k-sponsored walk for a Lanarkshire cancer charity.
In April 2018, it was discovered that Julie Clark had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
The diagnosis was particularly shocking – especially since the 36-year-old was pregnant at the time, with her second son, Michael, and she was worried that she might not be able to have cancer treatment during her pregnancy.
Fortunately, Julie’s consultant discussed with her that she would be able to have the treatment during her pregnancy, and she would need to have a lengthy course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with the treatment frequently monitored to ensure the health of the baby.
The medical team coached Julie through the terrifying ordeal step by step until baby Michael was born at 37 weeks.
Julie said: “Finding out I had cancer at 26 weeks pregnant was horrifying. I just thought I had a bit of a cold or flu at first or that my pregnancy hormones were making me feel awful.
"I had itchy skin and night sweats as well, but as symptoms persisted and got worse to the point where eventually I couldn’t breathe, I knew something was very wrong. It then became an emergency situation.
"That’s when the doctors found out that I had a large mass in the middle of my chest, and we found out that it was Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Fortunately for me, it was one of the cancers that can be treated during pregnancy.
“My medical team were great for my physical health and for that of the baby, but Maggie’s picked up the pieces for me mentally and emotionally. The staff at Maggie’s coached me through and helped me to keep my head above water until the baby finally came.
“They helped me to get my head around losing my hair. My oldest son Iain was only five at the time, and he liked to play with my hair, and I was worried about this, but Maggie’s helped me with how to speak with Iain and explain things in a gentle way that wouldn’t frighten him.
“His wee brother, Michael, is now nearly five, but Maggie’s have been there for me every step of the way to guide me through the uncertainty of having cancer, and the fear of it coming back.
“For a long, long time, I was acutely aware of every tiny change in my body, but the psychologist at Maggie’s has helped me to find my new normal and enabled me to get on with my life and to go back to work.
"They’ve helped me to process what happened, and also process having to shield after treatment with my new baby through the pandemic as well, because my immune system was low.
“They have helped with everything from how to speak with my employer and handle certain situations because even although cancer treatment stops, you don’t just bounce back to how you were before. Cancer is very shocking, but Maggie’s helps you to live through it, and life goes on.”
Julie is now set to complete the Culture Crawl for Maggie’s - a 10K sponsored walk taking in iconic and cultural highlights of Glasgow – on June 2.
This will be the second year in a row in which she has taken part in the walk.
She added: “Culture Crawl is great fun, and it’s a good laugh, but the best bit is that you can help raise money to make sure people with cancer get the support they need.
“It’s important for me to be able to do something to give back to Maggie’s and help other people like me. I’m doing it again this year with my sisters and my friend Becky.”
Maggie’s Lanarkshire, Centre Head, Lorrie Cameron, said: “Cancer is possibly the most difficult experience of a person’s life, and for many people the cost of living crisis has made living with cancer even harder, meaning our professional support is needed now more than ever before.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who takes part.”
* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
