A BALLOCH mum diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nine years ago says she wants to give something back to those who helped her fight the disease.

It was a complete mystery when Julie McBride started to feel unbearably itchy from head to toe in 2009.

Julie, 44, says the itching was so bad that she wanted to scratch her whole body until she bled, and she apologised to work colleagues for her constant scratching.

Her GP was equally puzzled and asked whether she had changed her washing powder. However, the results of a blood test later showed that her liver function was abnormal.

Doctors discovered that a cancerous tumour was blocking her bile duct, and found that her blood was being poisoned with toxins, which explained the itching.

Soon afterwards her skin and the whites of her eyes turned yellow because she had jaundice.

Initially, doctors thought that Julie, who was newly married at the time, had gallstones, but she was later diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, and was admitted for a gruelling ten-hour ‘whipple’ operation.

The tumour was removed, along with her gall bladder, part of her stomach, part of her bowel and bile duct, and the head of her pancreas.

Fortunately, the cancer hadn’t spread, so Julie didn’t need chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

But she had a difficult recovery, and has needed a further eight operations since her diagnosis.

Though she has often felt unwell since, Julie says she feels extremely fortunate because she was diagnosed quickly, thanks to her GP.

As a result, she is now cancer free.

Julie said: “I am one of the lucky ones.

“The main problem is that most people don’t find out until it’s too late.

“The doctors were surprised that I had such an aggressive cancer when I was still so young.

“It was a terrible shock. My husband and I had only been married for four months so this really tested the ‘in sickness and health’ part of our vows.

“He has been an incredible support through everything.

“I feel like I’ve survived for a reason and I want to give something back now.

“If speaking about my experience means that just one more person goes to their GP with symptoms, then it’s been worthwhile.

“I’d encourage people to pay attention to their body and any changes that have taken place, however insignificant they may seem.

“Write it all down and go to see your GP straight away. It could save your life.”

After her operation Julie was told that she wouldn’t be able to have children, but she fell pregnant just 18 months later.

Julie, who lives with her husband Andrew, 51, and daughter Lily, 7, added: “I had been feeling sick, but I thought it was just part of my recovery.

“I felt very blessed, but the doctors told me ‘never again’ - I think my pregnancy was one of the most closely watched.”

Julie, who has been fund-raising for eight years, was forced to retire from her HR job at West Dunbartonshire Council earlier this year due to ill health – but now plans to throw herself into even more fund-raising and educating people about pancreatic cancer.

So far, she’s raised more than £50,000 for Pancreatic Cancer Scotland, Maggie’s Cancer Centres and Cancer Research UK with help from her husband, friends and family.

A coffee and cake event she organised at Balloch Co-op last Thursday also raised more than £1,500 for Pancreatic Cancer Scotland.

Julie, who underwent an emergency operation this time last year for a strangulated bowel, is now waiting for her ninth operation.

This will be a pioneering procedure to remove three hernias caused by repeated deep incisions that weakened her muscles. She really hopes this one will be the last!