A RETIRED New Malden GP has spoken of her family’s battle to “stay positive” after both her and her daughter were diagnosed with cancer just three days apart.

Christine Chapman, 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2013 after hearing the news that her 22-year-old daughter Katherine had contracted bone cancer three days earlier.

This came after Mrs Chapman’s mother Mary had also died aged 87 of breast cancer in March of that year and her father Peter having died of lung cancer in 2012.

Mrs Chapman, of Langley Grove, said: “They were incredibly difficult times. I knew that I had to be positive – we both had to be very positive.

“If you can keep yourself as optimistic as possible it’s better for you.”

Both Mrs Chapman and her daughter, who now lives in America, are recovering after extensive treatment, with Mrs Chapman having to take medication for the next eight to 10 years.

She says the experience, which involving chemotherapy and a breast reduction operation, gave her a new lease of life.

She added: “That was a year where I couldn’t do much at all. You just keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t come back. I’ve got to have fun in life; that’s one of the reasons I retired.

“That’s another reason to just keep going and making the best of your life. I’m really enjoying life, Retirement has been great, going out and seeing people.”

Alongside friend Jane Tatnell, Mrs Chapman has now signed up for the Ride the Night, a women-only 100km overnight bike ride to help raise money towards fighting different forms of cancer.

With more than 3,000 people expected to take part, the ride will take place on Saturday, May 28.

Mrs Chapman added: “I just thought that I needed to have a goal once I’d had my breast reduction done.

“I saw Ride the Night advertised in my gym and me and my friend decided to give it a go. It’s really important.

“[Katherine] was hoping to do the bike ride with us, but unfortunately because she’s got a job abroad she can’t do it.”

“It’s been really enjoyable, but we’ve only had one training ride were we’ve actually had sun, it’s been horrible from that point of view.”

So far Mrs Chapman has raised £430. You can donate at justgiving.com/fundraising