Susan’s Cancer story

Back in 2003 Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a partial mastectomy and chemo and, at the time, we thought it was over. Sadly, we were not that lucky. During the next 20 or so years her cancer would come back several times. Sometimes it was in the same place, sometimes somewhere else, and each time we would start another journey with cancer. During those years, the Edinburgh Cancer Centre at the Western General Hospital became somewhere we visited more often than anyone should ever have to.

After 23 years of fighting, Susan sadly lost her battle with cancer. Throughout her many visits to the cancer centre, she was always treated with such respect, dignity, and compassion. As a family, we will be forever grateful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff who cared for Susan and supported us through some incredibly difficult times.

Centres, like the one at the Western General, play such an important role in many people's journey with cancer. Susan’s own experience with the cancer centre was mostly positive despite complaints that the room was cold and the food was ’rubbish’.

For Susan’s funeral we have decided to have immediate family flowers only. If you were thinking of sending flowers, we would be very grateful if you would instead consider making a donation to the Edinburgh Cancer Centre to help people like Susan who are benefiting from the amazing work the centre does.

The Edinburgh Cancer Centre helps to support 1.4 million people across the Southeast of Scotland offering many services including breast cancer surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, palliative care, phase 1 and 2 clinical trials alongside many other services. The Doctors, Nurses and everyone who works there do an incredible job in very difficult and demanding circumstances. The Edinburgh Cancer Centre also helps to provide support for people and families who are fighting their own battles with cancer and a donation in memory of Susan will go to making other peoples experience a little bit easier.

Thank you for remembering Susan, for supporting us and for helping to give something back to the people who cared for her.