A brave mum has spoken out over the 'tough' challenges she faced after she lost her leg to cancer.
Chantelle Cox, 25, was previously diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis which causes painful tumours to grow in the nervous system. But in September 2022, her life changed forever when she was told she had a very rare cancer known as Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour.
On January 4, 2023, she had her right leg amputated above the knee on after cancerous tumours were discovered in her calf and ankle. Despite losing her limb, she now says she is embracing her new lease of life while encouraging others to fundraise for Cancer Research UK.
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Just weeks after learning to walk again, the mum-of-one from Dundee has become a Race for Life star alongside a host of famous faces to celebrate 30 years of the iconic event. She took part in a photoshoot with Mr Motivator, TV presenter Anthea Turner, actress Leslie Ash and East17’s Terry Coldwell.
Speaking to the Record, Chantelle, who now hopes to become an oncology nurse said: “There have been some really tough days since I lost my leg in January but I was determined from day one after surgery to get walking again. I wanted to get my freedom back, to chase after my wee boy Harry, to enjoy hill walking and running.
“And I want to do everything I can to help others. I want to support Race for Life not just for me but for everyone out there who is going through cancer today. I had the best, most exciting day of filming in London.
“I wasn’t even born when the first ever Race for Life took place in 1994 but I know all too well today the impact it’s had on helping people with cancer. I never thought I’d get cancer but I’ve lived it, I’ve been there myself.
“My mum and dad couldn’t believe it when I got home and told them I’d met and taken selfies with Mr Motivator. They told me he was never off the TV in the 1990s. He and all the celebrities were fun to meet and there was a lot of laughter.
“I’m just proud to have been a part of it. If we can find a cure to cancer we can save lives. We all need to stand up to cancer and help beat it.”
Now cancer free, Chanetelle said she is grateful to be alive and looking forward to the future with partner Jack George, 25, and son Harry, two. She said: “I couldn’t look at my leg for the first two days after surgery but as I recovered I realised it was the best decision I ever made.
“I was still alive and I was going to see my little boy grow up. Just days after the surgery I was healing well and my dressing was off. I was no longer in constant pain and I knew even then that I wouldn’t now go back to living the way I was before.
“I just can’t put into words how happy I am to not have constant pain anymore. I have wanted to be a nurse all my life and didn’t really care what area of nursing I went into but now I want to do oncology.
“I think I will be able to use my experience to help other cancer patients because I understand what they are going through.”
Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Scotland, Lisa Adams said: “We’d love for as many people as possible across Scotland to join us during our 30th year of Race for Life. Sadly, cancer affects all of us in some way.
“We want to make sure that everyone can join the Race for Life movement. Our participants come from different backgrounds, with different stories, but with one thing in common - the determination to help beat cancer.
“We’ve seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years thanks to the tireless efforts of researchers, but this can only happen with the continued support of fundraisers up and down the country.
“Together we can bring about a future free from the fear of cancer. So we’re asking people across Scotland: Who will you Race for?”
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