A brave Perth breast cancer survivor has called for action from MSPs to stop 10,000 women dying from the disease by 2050.
Mental health nurse Sylvia Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just 42.
She had a mastectomy after doctors discovered she had a 9cm tumour.
Charity Breast Cancer Now has released shocking figures revealing that almost 10,000 lives are predicted to be lost to the disease in Scotland over the next 10 years.
And Sylvia, who had breast reconstruction surgery just weeks ago, is urging politicians to act now to save lives.
She said: “Before I was diagnosed, I was a happy, healthy mum, wife and nurse. That life was shattered when I found out I had breast cancer.
“The hardest part was telling my two sons. I’ll never forget my youngest son turning to me and asking ‘are you going to die?’ I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment.
“No mother should have to see their sons in that much shock and distress all I wanted to do was protect my family but I couldn’t.”
A YouGov survey carried out by Breast Cancer Now, in August, revealed that over half of Scottish women (57%) don’t regularly check their breasts for signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
For over half (54%) of these women who don’t check regularly, the main reason was that they forgot.
She continued: “I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones I’m still alive and have a wonderful, supportive family. But breast cancer will always be a part of my life and my family’s life.
“I want to see the day when no mother will have to go through what I’ve been through. I want to see the day when no one will die from breast cancer. To do that, we all need to act now.”
Breast Cancer Now’s campaign is calling for MSPs and the Scottish Government to support measures such as improving access to life-extending medicines and continuing to catch breast cancer earlier by protecting the Detect Cancer Early Programme.
Breast Cancer Now director for Scotland Mary Allison said: “Our MSPs have the power to help save lives. At Breast Cancer Now, we believe that by 2050 we can stop deaths from breast cancer but only if we all work together.
“With the Scottish Parliament elections coming up in just a few months, now is the time for politicians to take action and commit to joining the 2050 Challenge.”