When a Fife mum faced the dreadful news she had cancer, little did she think a side effect would see her endure “the loneliest week of my life”.
Kirkcaldy woman Wendy McCormack, 41, was forced to keep at least four metres away from everyone after becoming radioactive due to treatment for thyroid cancer.
Anything Wendy touched was left so toxic it had to be thrown away and not even her husband, Brian, 42, or children Emily, 16, and Samuel, 10, were allowed near her.
But the treatment worked, Wendy is clear of cancer and has been chosen to help launch Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy, a non-competitive 5K obstacle course coming to Beveridge Park for the first time on Saturday June 24.
Wendy has teamed up with pals from the S24 Fitness Gym to urge women to join her at www.raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.
“Cancer has made me a stronger person,” said the 41-year-old.
“I’ll take on any challenge now. There’s no such thing as ‘I can’t do it’ anymore.”
The Race for Life family of events also includes the traditional 5k and 10k courses as well as Family 5K held at Beveridge Park on Sunday June 25.
Wendy, who is a diabetes specialist podiatrist with NHS Fife, was diagnosed in 2009.
She had had her thyroid gland removed after discovering a lump in her neck.
“The doctor told me not to worry and said I was going to be fine. I kept those words in my head through it all,” she said.
Later she was given radioactive iodine treatment, a form of radiotherapy.
Wendy said: “It was the loneliest experience ever. No one was allowed to touch the pill I was given. The pill was at the end of a stick.
“I had to swallow the tablet straight away and couldn’t let it touch the sides of my mouth.
“All I wanted was to hug the people I loved but they couldn’t come near me. It actually felt a lot like I had the plague.”
However, it was worth it – early the following year she was told she was free from cancer.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We hope as many women as possible will join the fight at Pretty Muddy in Fife.
“We’re calling on ladies to pull on their trainers and join like-minded women committed to the cause.”
