SNP MSP speaks out on her breast cancer treatment and urges Scots to attend screening appointments

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An SNP MSP has spoken about her experience of being treated for breast cancer and urged all Scots to receive screening appointments as soon as they are offered one.Christina McKelvie was given her diagnosis in January last year and had her first operation just weeks later.

The MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse is now preparing to return to work at the Scottish Parliament after completing her treatment.

Speaking to mark World Cancer Day, McKelvie paid tribute to the NHS. "The health service pick you up and carry you through and I could not fault any step in my treatment programme," she told Radio Borders News."Any questions I had, any concerns I had - knowing it was all in safe hands was very helpful at a time in your life when you're facing your mortality, and you're wondering what's going to happen to yourself and your family.""She continued: "My first post-50 mammogram, that picked up this, was December 30.

I got a letter maybe three weeks later to come in the next week, and then my first surgery was March 2."You can see how quickly the process kicks in."It is is incredibly important that if you feel a lump or a bump that you phone up and go for a check-up."I didn't feel anything."McKelvie spent more than a decade as the Wear It Pink champion in the Scottish Parliament.She encouraged First Ministers and other party leaders to dress up in a bid to raise awareness of breast health and the importance of going for a screening when asked.She added: "That's what I would encourage people to do.