Cancer patient turned author backs Maggie's ahead of Edinburgh talk

Sophie Sabbage will discuss her book, The Cancer Whisperer, which she wrote after being diagnosed with incurable cancer aged just 48.

It was in October 2014 that Sophie, now aged 50, was dealt the shock news that she had stage-four lung cancer and that it had already spread to her lymph nodes, bones and brain.

But rather than crumble in fear Sophie decided to put pen to paper to share her experiences – and now she’s hoping her words will help others change the way they approach the disease.

Sophie, who lives in Kent, is visiting Edinburgh as part of a tour of four Maggie’s centres across the UK but admits it was only around a year ago that she first came across them.

She said: “I wish I’d found Maggie’s when I was first diagnosed – there aren’t enough around. I love them because they are offering emotional support. I wrote my book because I felt that was very profoundly missing.

“My book is very much about how you navigate the emotional and physical challenges.”

It will be the first time that Sophie has visited the Edinburgh centre, with her talk coinciding with the Evening News’ ongoing Buy A Brick for Maggie’s campaign.

The campaign, which Sophie backed, aims to bring in £750,000 towards a much-needed extension to the centre in a bid to help it see an additional 5000 patients a year.

Sophie said: “I’ve only been to the London centre – it’s very beautifully designed, it’s an incredibly nurturing space.

“I love how relaxed it is and how informal it is and how when you come in it’s like my place, help myself to whatever I want and a cup of tea, it seems very empowering.”

Sophie’s talk will get under way at 6.30pm tomorrow at the Edinburgh Maggie’s centre at the Western General. It will be followed by a Q&A session.

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