Kim Matthews had initially thought she would be exempt from charges

Three weeks later I attended an appointment at the breast clinic. Within three days I was diagnosed with cancer and told I'd have to have a mastectomy.

After the operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I started hormone therapy and was told I'd have to take Tamoxifen for the next 10 years to prevent it from coming back.

I assumed I wouldn't have to pay for the medication, with something as serious as cancer. My friend is a diabetic and she'd always got her prescription for free.

I was pretty gutted when I realised I'd be paying for 10 years. As a single mum, it was a real blow. It was like being penalised for having a life-threatening condition.

I was working full-time when I got the diagnosis and I had to give up. But I was bored sitting at home so I went back to part-time work in the middle of my chemotherapy.

It was hard trying to cope with the cancer as well as living on a reduced income. The additional burden of having to pay for the cancer drugs caused even more stress.

There are other conditions which are self-inflicted, such as heroin addiction and those people still get their methadone for free. But I don't have a choice, I have to take the medication.

Other expenses

I believe cancer patients should be exempt from prescription charges. But even if only the cancer drugs were free, that would be a step in the right direction.

I don't hold out much hope that the Scottish Executive will do something about prescription charges for cancer drugs. They might prove me wrong but I can't see it. If anything was going to be done, it would've been done before now.

There are other expenses related to having cancer. I had to travel to Clydebank for my radiotherapy and Lanarkshire Cancer Care took me there every day, which was a godsend.