Two north-east cancer survivors have thanked the charity which helped them through their harrowing battles with the disease.
Gordon Hutcheon only discovered he had myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer – after he kept on falling down on the golf course.
The former businessman was diagnosed in January after the constant spasms started in November last year.
Since then, the 67-year-old has undergone multiple hospital treatments, and with the help of Friends of ANCHOR’s specialist cyclotron machine he is now “as all-clear as possible”.
The machine accelerates protons to an extremely high speed, which produces a beam of high energy.
This is then safely transported to the body of the patient to help fight the disease.
Yesterday, Mr Hutcheon spoke about his experience at a special session hosted by Friends of ANCHOR at the Suttie Centre in Foresterhill, which showcased the advanced work being carried out in the north-east.
Mr Hutcheon said it proved an invaluable chance to thank the charity for its help, as well as telling donors where their money goes.
“It was a real shock when the doctor told me my diagnosis,” he said.
“It’s been really tough. Every Wednesday I had to swallow 40 pills.
“But thanks to the charity I’m fit and well again.
“So much of the charity’s work is done behind the scenes and people don’t know how much their money helps.
“Thank you is just two words and can’t do justice to the gratitude I feel.”
Laura Atkinson was diagnosed with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type more commonly diagnosed in children, in February 2013.
The 32-year-old has just finished her final treatment and is now looking forward to taking up her old hobbies again.
She said: “I used to really enjoy snowboarding but I haven’t been able to do it for three years. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the slopes.
“I hope donors know just how much they have meant to me. I have to give my heart-felt thank you to everyone who has donated.”