Inverness woman who battled with breast cancer hopes to bring hope ahead of Catwalk for a Cause fundraiser
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An Inverness woman is getting ready to take part to a popular event to support the Highland Hospice and bring hope after her own battle with breast cancer.
Julie Cranston (41), from Inverness, will be among the models at Catwalk for a Cause, a platform for brave individuals from across the Highlands to tell their story about how their life has been affected by cancer or another life-limiting illness.
It was 2021 when Julie first went for a check-up after finding a lump in her breast at her former GP.
"I was told then that it was breast tissue, so I didn't think anything more about it," she said.
After moving to Inverness and to a new GP she was immediately given a urgent referral. After a biopsy, a mammogram and ultrasounds, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I was only 39 at the time," she said. "I was devastated to be told that news and that I'd be starting chemotherapy, and I was going to lose my hair – that was devastating and itself as well.
"My mind went wild, I didn't know whether I was going to live through this."
Julie, who is married to Paul and has a 17-year-old son named Reece, said that having her family and friend around was incredibly helpful at that time.
"I was lucky to have my mum and dad, my sister, my husband my son and a couple of really close friends that were and are all there for me.
"They were heartbroken. A cancer diagnosis affects obviously the person with the cancer but your immediate family and people who care about you are affected too."
Her consultant and breast cancer nurse were also an incredible support to her.
"I really want to thank them – he was quite funny and Rebecca has always been there at the end of the phone. I always felt reassured when I spoke to her."
She has been though six rounds of chemo, surgery, radiotherapy, 10 rounds of radiotherapy and six months on the chemo tablet, the results of her exams in December were promising and she said she hopes to be on the mend.
"I found it really hard going on my body, and I think the hardest part was chemotherapy and losing my hair.
"I found that heartbreaking but at the end of day it's part of the medicine to make you better.
"I'm starting to feel more like me again."
After hearing of Catwalk for a Cause from a friend at a party who had taken part to the event the previous year, she decided to take the leap.
"At first I thought 'I could never do that!'," she explained.
"But then I thought, after all I've been through – it's totally out of my comfort zone to do something like this – so why not?
"I want to show people there is hope after a diagnosis, and to spread positivity while stepping out of my comfort zone."
She said that despite being excited and nervous, as someone who wouldn't normally enjoy being in the spotlight, she hopes to have fun and raise as much money for the hospice.
"I didn't have much to do with the hospice myself – it's more the Maggie's Centre that I have been to, but I wanted to raise awareness and money for a worthwhile cause because you never know when you or a loved one could end up there.
"I know the work that they do is amazing."
Catwalk for a Cause is set to return to the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on February 10. Tickets cost £60 per person or £720 for a table of 12.
