2 sisters and aunt diagnosed with cancer within months: ‘There for each other’

August 29, 2023

Barbara-Ann MacKay was inspired to get a lump examined after her aunt, Audrey Anderson, 56, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was August 2018, and MacKay, 43, had already been told three years prior that the lump was a blocked milk duct and was forced to wait five weeks for an appointment due to her age.

But an ultrasound and biopsy revealed unexpected news: she, in fact, had breast cancer, too.

Her diagnosis came mere months before her sister, Sarah-Jane Shellard, 47, was also shockingly diagnosed with the same disease in November that year.

MacKay said the trio “couldn’t have made it through without each other” as they endured chemotherapy sessions and underwent surgeries simultaneously.

“It would have been a lot more difficult going through it by yourself,” the mom-of-two told South West News Service.

Barbara-Ann MacKay, Audrey Anderson and, Sarah-Jane Shellard are now in remission, the trio are fundraising for breast cancer research. — Barbara-Ann MacKay, Audrey Anderson and Sarah-Jane Shellard are now in remission and fundraising for breast cancer research.

Audrey and Barbara-Ann — If they could, the trio would visit each other during treatment. Shown together are Audrey Anderson and her niece, Barbara-Ann MacKay.

Her family, she said, is “very close” and supportive of one another.

“All of our treatments have been very different, but we’ve all been there for each other on the tough days,” she continued. “If you had a bad day, it was nice to know they were there and going through it too.”

They all received care at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Scotland.

Two sisters and aunt who had breast cancer — The three are very grateful to have had each other during treatment.

Shellard, who was at one point admitted into the intensive care unit for respiratory failure, was diagnosed with two kinds of cancer and underwent weekly chemotherapy treatments.

She was declared cancer-free in February 2019, while Anderson was given the “all clear” in September 2018.

“We all had chemo and double mastectomies, but we’re all clear now and doing well,” said MacKay, who entered remission in March 2019 after surgery and chemo.

Barbara-Ann post-surgery — “We want to make sure people know that cancer doesn’t discriminate,” said MacKay.

Five years after their initial diagnoses, the women are participating in the Edinburgh MoonWalk on Sept. 9 to fundraise for breast cancer research.

“The MoonWalk is something that we’ve always wanted to do, and we always wanted to do it as a team,” said MacKay.

Ahead of the walk, they have exceeded their goal and raised nearly $3,000.

Barbara-Ann, her husband, children — They are now “doing well” five years after their initial diagnoses and are planning to participate in the MoonWalk next month. Barbara-Ann MacKay poses with her husband Kenny and sons Kaleb and Cairn

“We want to make sure people know that cancer doesn’t discriminate,” added MacKay, who recalled sitting in chemotherapy with a 21-year-old receiving cancer care in the chair next to her.

“You know your body, so if you feel something is wrong, get it looked at.”