When Jackie Davidson found out that the cancer she had was incurable, she was completely devastated.
The mother-of-two was the first person in her family to ever be diagnosed with the disease, and she had no idea what was ahead of her.
But the 49-year-old, who lives in Aberdeen, quickly picked herself up – and vowed that she would not let it stop her living her life.
And last night, she said she wanted to show other women that a cancer diagnoses does not mean the end.
Mrs Davidson will even run Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at Aberdeen Beach this weekend to raise money for the charity – and to prove that she still has everything to give.
“The diagnoses was totally out of the blue. I was devastated,” she said.
“Then I decided that was enough – I am not going to let it beat me. I am determined.”
Doctors discovered Mrs Davidson had cancer by complete chance in February after she fell out of her bed and started treatment for a frozen shoulder.
They found a lump in her neck and tests revealed she had breast cancer with liver metastasis, which had spread through her lymph nodes.
Mrs Davidson said finding out she had cancer was the last thing she ever expected as everything else in her life was going so well.
She had just started a new job as an office manager, her 21-year-old daughter Caitlin got engaged in September and her son Chris, a 17-year-old budding football star, had been signed by Cove Rangers.
She celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with husband Alistair last year, and was looking forward to her 50th birthday later this year.
Following three months of treatment, doctors advised Mrs Davidson that her cancer was not curable, but that what they are doing is working and the tumours in her breast and liver have shrunk.
“I am treating it like a chronic disease. Lots of people deal with it and they just get on with life,” said Mrs Davidson
“I think I have always been an upbeat person. This is just another one of life’s tests.
“The only thing that has changed is how much I think about family. It’s amazing. You find that people surprise you with their support and kindness.”
Last night, Mrs Davidson encouraged woman from across the north-east to join her in signing up for Race for Life this weekend.
The Cancer Research UK-organised event – which takes place at the Kings Links – welcomes women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes to either walk, jog or run 5k.
Every penny raised helps the charity’s doctors, nurses and scientists make advances in research to help more men, women and children survive.
Mrs Davidson said: “There’s no cancer in my immediate family so when I was diagnosed I ended up doing lots of research into it.
“I like to know what I am up against and I was totally amazed at all the treatments available.
“It opened my eyes, and it needs to be supported. That’s why I am dong Race for Life.”
Mrs Davidson is getting ready to tackle the race with her daughter, Caitlin, and sister, Kelly, along with her three children.
Her admin team are even doing the race with her as the TWMA Pink Ladies.
Cara Inglis, Cancer Research’s event manager in Aberdeen, said Mrs Davidson was an inspiration.
“She is a remarkable and brave woman. I hope women will be touched by her story and join the fight at Race for Life,” she said.
“Aberdeen is always so supportive and Cancer Research UK would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that takes part in Race for Life.
“There are more than 200 cancers and we won’t give up until we find cures for them all. It’s fighting talk and we mean every word we say.”