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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Keiran Fleming & Kaitlin Easton

Scots woman who found tennis ball sized lump in neck diagnosed with stage 4 cancer

A Scots woman was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma after noticing a tennis ball sized lump on her neck.

Lee-Ann Simpson, 40, had been feeling rundown at the end of 2020 and her symptoms continued to worsen as she soon discovered a large bump on her neck.

Lee-Ann previously had cancerous moles removed and in February 2021, she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma - a form of skin cancer.

Husband Jamie, 40, has now opened up on the harrowing diagnosis as he continues to fundraise for a cancer charity supporting Lee-Ann, Glasgow Live reports.

Jamie, who was been running every single day for over three years, said: "A big lump had appeared on her neck over Christmas and into January, it was the size of the tennis ball.

"At that time people were speaking about super Covid, so we'd always joke that it was super coronavirus.

Lee-Ann visits the Beatson at Gartnavel to receive treatment (Glasgow Live)

"Five years before this she had a few moles removed because they were deemed to be cancerous. When she went to the doctors they asked if a mole was removed from the area on her neck and it was.

"We went to the hospital and she was told that she had cancer, which was devastating for her.

"Then she told me and it was just a shock. All of her appointments seemed to be in a Friday for the first few months and it seemed to get worse.

"It got to the point where we just couldn't take anymore bad news, we just hated Fridays.

"Every single time she went in the prognosis got worse."

Jamie has ran for 1323 consecutively (Glasgow Live)

Jamie considering giving up running after discovering Lee-Ann had cancer but his wife continued to encourage him to pursue his passion.

The offshore worker said: "At the time of her being diagnosed I had been running for a year and a bit.

"The last thing I wanted to do was run but she didn't want me to stop because of her.

"At that time Covid was destroying the planet and she was going through her treatment, it felt like the 30 minute run was just for me.

"I find running to be my meditation. I go for a run to switch off.

"99 times out of 100 I will leave the house and after a run I'll feel better. It has been nice to have the runs to focus on.

"My wife says that it helps her when she sees me stick on my gear even after some of the worst days."

Jamie has been running for 1232 days consecutively and has now began a mammoth challenge to raise funds for a charity that is close to his heart.

Jamie is taking on a mammoth running feat (Glasgow Live)

The runner said: "I got to the end of last year and thought I should put the running to good use because we'd been going to the Beatson for two and a half years.

"We are now very familiar with what they provide because up until the diagnosis I knew the name but I didn't know that all the services they provide is funded by charity.

"We'd been going every month so I couldn't think of a better charity to raise money for. I spoke to the Beatson and set myself of doing at least 5k a day for them.

"They are the name we associate with help.

"Everytime we've looked for advice we've spoken to the Beatson nurses.

"The Beatson is a massive thing in the West of Scotland so it seemed natural to raise cash for them. Once you start going there you are so thankful they exist."

As part of the epic feat, he ran the Glen Lyon Loop of four Munros in three hours and 20 minutes last Thursday.

He has so far raised £3,658 for the charity that has helped care for his wife.

Jamie said: "It comes in ebbs and flows. I can't go hell for leather everyday.

"But I throw a personal best attempt out there every now and then out of curiosity. I also have months where I have to slow down because my legs feel horrific.

"My wife says I'm the most stubborn person she has ever met so I'll keep going."

To visit the JustGiving page click here. Keep up with Jamie's fundraising efforts here.

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