Last year, Shona MacLaren and her husband William were both diagnosed with cancer within a few months of one another. Shona, from Stevenston in North Ayrshire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer, while William was afflicted with colon cancer, which ultimately proved fatal.
William, a director of information technology and basketball coach, had ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel illness that can raise the chance of getting colon cancer, for several years. After being brought to the hospital for acute abdominal pain, the couple was informed 24 hours later that he had advanced cancer that was deadly. Two weeks before, he had accompanied Thea to her first day of school.
The pair, who fell in love as youngsters and grew up together, welcomed their second child, Mason, in June of 2021. Around the same month, Shona began suffering bleeding issues, and a smear test in February of the following year yielded equivocal results. She was sent for more testing, which confirmed that she had cancer.
Shona says she is battling with’survivor’s guilt’ because she has survived cancer and William has not, despite the fact that they both maintained a healthy lifestyle. She also stated that what should have been one of their happiest days as a young family turned out to be the stuff of nightmares.
Shona completed her cancer treatment in November of last year and is now focusing on promoting cancer awareness. In May, she will participate in Race for Life in Scotland to help fund research into the 200 different varieties of cancer. This is the 30th year that Cancer Research UK has organised this event. Lisa Adams, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, thanked Shona for her support and stated, “Everyone has a reason to Race for Life, whether they are living with cancer, participating in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, or signing up to protect the future of their own children.”
This May is a bittersweet landmark for Shona MacLaren. Having survived cervical cancer and lost her husband to bowel cancer within months of each other last year, she will participate in the 30th anniversary Race for Life on May 21 to raise cancer awareness.
Shona hopes that her tale will encourage everyone to receive cervical cancer screenings and the HPV vaccine, which is available to children aged 11 to 13 and protects against cervical cancer. She stated, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate… Knowing that my children will grow up without their father is extraordinarily difficult.”
Shona MacLaren and her husband William were a young couple from Stevenston, North Ayrshire, who had grown up together after falling in love as youngsters. In June 2021, they had their second child, Mason. Tragically, they were both diagnosed with cancer within a few months of one another.
Shona was identified with cervical cancer after an inconclusive smear test, whereas William had suffered from ulcerative colitis for years, which produced inflammation and ulcers within the colon, which can raise the chance of bowel cancer. After experiencing terrible abdominal pain, William was brought to the hospital, and just 24 hours later, his family was informed that he had advanced, terminal colon cancer.
William passed away on September 1 of last year in the Ayrshire Hospice, and Shona completed her cancer treatment in November. Today she is focusing on cancer awareness by participating in Race for Life in Scotland in May, which is organised by Cancer Research UK.
Shona believes that by sharing her story, she might urge others to receive cervical cancer screenings and the HPV vaccination, which is available to children aged 11 to 13 and protects against cervical cancer. She stated, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate… Knowing that my children will grow up without their father is extraordinarily difficult.”
Shona MacLaren hopes that by participating in Race for Life in May, she will be able to raise awareness and cash for research into the 200 different varieties of cancer. This is the 30th year that Cancer Research UK has organised this event. Lisa Adams, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, expressed gratitude to Shona for her support and said: “whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, or signing up to protect their own children’s future, everyone has a reason to Race for Life”.
