EXCLUSIVE: MSP Christina McKelvie shares her breast cancer story ahead of Holyrood return
The Lanarkshire MSP was diagnosed a year ago
Last updated 4th Feb 2022
An SNP MSP who was told she had breast cancer one year ago is telling Tay FM News how she’s feeling about returning to Holyrood, and the importance of an early diagnosis, in her first interview since completing treatment.
On World Cancer Day, Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina McKelvie is urging women to take up their screening appointments.
She told our Political Editor, Alan Smith: "I had my first post-50 mammogram on the 30th December and got a call to come back on the 3rd of February.
“That day they told me they thought I had a breast cancer but would do some biopsies to confirm that. That's the first big shock you get, and then you get the formal diagnosis.
"If it had been a year later it might have been different, but it wasn't.
“It thought: 'It's New Year! Who goes for an appointment at 9am on the Christmas holidays?
"But I got myself up and went to it, because that was the important thing, to take the opportunity and use it."
There's nothing to fear
"Don't be afraid. It's not awkward, it's not sore. It's not anything that will cause you any particular discomfort.
"But knowing you're clear will make you feel really secure. And knowing if they do pick something up, they're picking it up as early as possible, and getting that treatment plan started as early as possible as well.
Ms McKelvie announced in February that she would be stepping aside from her role as minister for equalities and older people for a “short time” for treatment for a then undisclosed medical condition.
Now she’s opening up about the experience of the cancer journey, the nights when she couldn’t sleep because of anxiety and a general loss of confidence.
Help & support
"You're facing your mortality, and you're wondering what's going to happen to yourself and your family,” she says. “It all plays into how you're feeling.
“And to have the treatment and the support mechanisms and the compassion and care from those around you - family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and your health team - is incredibly helpful when you're going through that process.
"Chemo nurses and the breast cancer nurses were wonderful. You could pick the phone up to them any time, and that was a blessing. When you were anxious, upset, worried, coming up to the next appointment or had side effects from the last one. That was very, very important.
"At the end of my treatment, when you see me ringing the bell, and feeling quite euphoric for a few days after that I sat down and thought 'what's just happened to me?' And you then start to contemplate what you've just been through.”
Holyrood hugs
She’s is also sharing her feelings about a return to Holyrood, hopefully in a few weeks time.
"I think I'll focus on the positives of getting back through that door, and knowing there'll be smiles, hugs and tears - usually from me. It's not the worry about stepping back in but the welcome I'll get, and I will give other people, because I'm desperate to see them again.
"I love hugs. And during this whole process that's been difficult because of Covid I've have to protect myself. But I'm now quadruple vaccinated so I will be looking for some proper hugging from some of my pals, because it's been a long time.”