When Kerrianne Duffy was diagnosed with breast cancer, it seemed as if her world would fall apart.
Just weeks before she was due to marry her long-time partner Shaun at a romantic ceremony in Las Vegas, she was hit with the shocking news.
Doctors told her she was suffering from a form of the disease so aggressive it killed two-fifths of those diagnosed.
Doctors told her she was suffering from a form of the disease so aggressive it killed two-fifths of those diagnosed.
The city hairdresser was just 27 at the time and often wondered how she would cope as she fought the disease.
Today, she has put the trauma firmly behind her and is joining a host of big names in a massive fund-raising and awareness campaign.
She is one of the “faces” in Breast Cancer Care’s new 41,000 Faces campaign, which highlights the massive number of people diagnosed every year.
Celebrities such as Zoe Ball, Lorraine Kelly, Cherie Blair and Michelle Collins are among others taking part. Mrs Duffy, now 34, who works at the Ruby Rouge hair salon on Clerk Street, Edinburgh, said: “I was absolutely devastated. You think it’s something that is never going to happen to you. I was about to be married and was looking forward to my future.”
On doctors orders, she rescheduled her wedding to take place at the registry office in India Buildings and cancelled her Californian honeymoon.
“You go through so many emotions. I became angry, and thought: ‘Why me, what have I done?’ But that was very quickly replaced by the feeling that I had to beat this,” she said.
At the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, based at the Western General Hospital, Mrs Duffy endured a mastectomy, as well as intensive courses of chemo and radiotherapy.
She also suffered the trauma of her hair falling out, but was eventually given the all-clear two years later.
Mrs Duffy, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, added: “As I was diagnosed at such a young age, I felt scared and isolated.
“After all, younger women don’t get breast cancer - or so I thought - as age is still the biggest risk factor. As a younger woman who has had the disease, I wanted to help show that anyone can be affected.
“I want people to know that it’s not just women over 50 who are affected. A lot of young women also get this, and they need to be more aware of the symptoms.”
Mrs Duffy is one of 41,000 people in the UK who are diagnosed with the disease every year and charity Breast Cancer Care is urging people who have been affected by the disease to send in their photographs.
Every photograph will be displayed online and will become part of a record-breaking gallery exhibition to be launched in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Former Radio One DJ Zoe Ball decided to support the campaign, because her friend was diagnosed with the disease.
She said: “If, like me, you have been touched by breast cancer, please join me in supporting this campaign and send in your photo and help others to understand the scale of the disease.”
“This powerful campaign has received thousands of photos, but we still need plenty more.”
To find out more about breast cancer or how to include a photograph in 41,000 Faces, visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0808 800 6000.
Source: Scotsman News
