Woman thought she was having heart attack at TRNSMT but it was cancer

Errin Shaw was attending TRNSMT when she was gripped by crippling pain that led her to believe she was suffering a cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to hospital and just four hours later was told that she had grey zone lymphoma, a rare form of the disease that affects the immune system.

Errin said: “I was at the gig on Glasgow Green and I remember standing enjoying Snow Patrol when I became aware of this sudden, severe pain. I was in agony, and I thought that I might be having a heart attack.  

“Then I turned to my husband Graeme and asked, ‘have I been stabbed?’

“He said I hadn’t and we called for my mum to come and pick us up. She took me straight to the Glasgow Royal and within a few hours I was diagnosed with cancer.

“I was there for three or four nights then I went straight to the Beatson. I left my house in the morning to go to TRNSMT and never went back for a month.

“In total I had 606 hours of dose-adjusted e-poch chemo, which is quite a complicated treatment. I was hooked up for five days in a row to a drip and I went through that same regime five times.

“Dose-adjusted e-poch chemotherapy is a chemotherapy combination used to treat certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Because of the type of cancer I had, it was quite difficult to decide on the right way forward, but thankfully I had the very best people looking after me.”

Now Errin, who also experienced months of itchy skin before her diagnosis last September, is supporting the Beatson Cancer Charity’s Christmas Bauble Appeal to ensure more patients and their families across the west of Scotland can be supported by its services. 

The charity is using the festive season to share positive stories of those who have been helped during the last 12 months and boost its annual fundraising drive.

Errin, from Paisley, has since held her own charity event called the ‘Gingie Ball’ to celebrate her being in remission, raising £5375 for the cause.

She also plans to visit the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in the grounds of Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow's West End on Christmas Day to hand out gifts to patients, after herself being on its wards last Christmas. 

Errin said: “There aren’t words to explain the importance of the Beatson, quite simply I wouldn’t be here without it.  

“I was delighted to be able to raise money for the charity because being in there you experience first-hand just how amazing the staff and doctors are. They’re phenomenal. 

“I can’t speak highly enough about them - from the auxiliaries to the porters to the cafe ladies. When you ring the bell and the whole team cheer, it is a wonderful feeling.

“It is like one great big family.”

David Ross, from Stepps, is saying a thank you to staff at the hospital following his treatment for testicular cancer. 

The 36-year old, his wife Paula and daughters Emily, four, and two-year old Sophie, are also backing the appeal.

David, communications director for ScotRail, said: “We were just a normal family whose life was dominated by our family and work - and then my diagnosis came. From finding the lump to having the operation to remove my testicle was less than three weeks. 

“Life changed completely and changed even further once the chemotherapy started. I had about three months of treatment, which I struggled with.

“The Beatson also offered lots of additional support, such as massages and counselling. The staff did everything they possibly could, not just from a medical perspective but from an emotional, psychological and social one to make the process as easy as possible for our whole family.

“The Beatson saved my life, without them I would be dead. I want to give something back so the staff can save other people’s lives in the way they saved mine.”

Everyone who donates to the Beatson’s festive appeal will receive two baubles in the post - one to hang on their own tree at home and one to send back to be hung at the compassionate place of care.

Rachel Mullin, campaigns officer at the Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We are delighted to be launching our Bauble Appeal with the support of some patients and family members who have been kind enough to share their story. 

“They all have first-hand experience of the Beatson and the difference our charity’s services make to patients. 

“We would be grateful for any support you can offer us this Christmas so we can continue to be there for patients and families across the west of Scotland.” 

Please join in supporting Beatson Cancer Charity’s Bauble Appeal and hang a Beatson Bauble via beatsoncancercharity.org/bauble.

You can also donate by texting BEATSON to 70460 to donate £10 or you can call 0141 212 0505.