By JADE DONNELY

THE owner of a West End hair salon has told of her determination to live life to the full after a shock cancer diagnosis months before she turned 30.

Melissa McNaughton, owner of MACS hair studio, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) six months before the milestone birthday.

The business owner had been complaining of tiredness but put it down to low iron and running a busy hair salon.

However, a routine blood test showed she was suffering from the blood cancer, which affects the white blood cells and is most common in older adults around 60-65 years of age.

TV presenter Laura Boyd has spoken about her diagnosis in her late twenties and celebrating her five-year ‘cancerversary.’ Although, a ‘cure’ for the disease has not yet been found, treatments can keep CML under control if taken for life.

Melissa said: “It was all a blur. The only word I heard was leukaemia. And then the doctors said “we need to check your bone marrow and we can arrange that for as soon as possible, get an appointment for next week.

“And then I just snapped back from my daydream and said can you do it now? I want to start whatever treatment straight away. Everything rushes through your head, so many questions and so many emotions.”

“Life has changed quite a bit. Especially at the beginning I could hardly get out of bed never mind apply set after set of hair extensions.

“My mind is all here and I’m still the same me but my body has become much weaker. Every day is different.

“I try not to let it take over my life as I still have so much I want to achieve. So in the morning I try my best to fix my hair and make-up and get on with my day as much as I can.”

Now almost a year on since her shock diagnosis, Melissa said that treatment is all going well but does not admit that she has her good and bad days with the side effects from the medication and treatment.

She said: “The side effects can be awful. For a week I couldn’t walk without assistance. I am sometimes covered head to toe in a rash.

“I have extreme fatigue, dizziness, muscle and bone pain. This won’t last forever. I know this will pass as the treatment works away.”

Melissa’s mum, Ann Currie who is an award winning hypnotherapist, will be taking part in the Rob Roy hiking challenge in Callander, along with her husband Stephen to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Ann said: “We have always been involved with and organised charity events close to our hearts but this one is even closer as our only daughter was diagnosed with CML last year and we wanted to give something back to them as they have been amazing for our family.”