Scots mum diagnosed with terminal cancer faces race against time to fulfil dying wish

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots woman who had to teach herself to walk again after being diagnosed with terminal cancer faces a race against time to fulfil her dying wish of travelling around the UK in a campervan.

Irene Cooper, from Glasgow, was first diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in February 2012. The 57-year-old underwent 'gruelling' chemotherapy and radiotherapy before being given the all clear in 2015.Five years later, in February 2020, the mum-of-two received the devastating news that the cancer had returned, this time in her bones, and she was given just four weeks to live.Although Irene has defied the odds and is still here two years later, her life has changed immeasurably.She has had to give up her beloved job as a paramedic, wear a permanent back brace and even teach herself to walk again after losing nearly all mobility.Battling cancer in the midst of a pandemic was also "hell" for Irene as she was bed-bound, had no access to support services such as counselling or therapy and was "petrified" of leaving the house.Irene, who now lives in Torrance, Aberdeenshire told the Record: "The first time [I got cancer] my daughter was only eight.

We celebrated her 19th birthday yesterday which is something I never thought I'd get to see."I never thought I'd get to see her drive or own her own flat but I have.

I'm still here but I know I've not got long left."Being ill through lockdown was chaos and hell. My husband had to do everything for me and look after a teenage girl at the same time."Everyone was saying what they were looking forward to when they got out of lockdown but I was just thinking, all I have to look forward to is dying."I was petrified because I was high risk so I couldn't do anything or touch anyone.