Hi, I’m Cat! I live in Edinburgh and have 3 kids aged 6, 3 and 1.

In November 2024, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (DCIS & Stage 1) and in December, I had a double mastectomy.

Early on, I found it hard to sleep and would just spend hours searching the internet for stories like mine. Other women in their 30’s with breast cancer, double mastectomy, tissue expanders, types of reconstruction, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, impact on young children… the lot! Anything I found, helped. So I feel like I owe it to others to do the same.

This June, I will be going on a 5 day trek in the Isle of Skye, to raise awareness and funds for coppafeel! This will involve me camping with complete strangers, digging holes to go to the toilet and hiking 100km through midges and whatever the Scottish weather brings.

Alongside Giovanna Fletcher and some other famous faces, I am taking this on in a bid to raise funds for CoppaFeel. They are on a mission to stamp out the late diagnosis of breast cancer by making sure that people are regularly checking their chests and getting to know their bodies in order to have the confidence to see their GP if something just doesn't feel normal.

Please, please don’t feel sorry for me. Strangely enough, I feel incredibly lucky. If I hadn’t gone to the GP when I did, or if they hadn’t made that referral, my situation could be very different. It’s crap but because it was caught early, I had more treatment options and although it’s been the hardest thing I have been through, it could have been way tougher. I am highly aware that I am no different from the other women in the same waiting rooms and hospital wards, yet our diagnoses and outcomes can be so different. It’s just so unfair.

If you have made it this far, thank you so much for your donation & support. And remember, if something feels off, make that appointment. It could make all the difference. Xx

…. Better buy a sleeping bag.