Councillor Gail McIntosh relieved to be cancer-free

Tauranga City councillor Gail McIntosh

Tauranga City councillor Gail McIntosh says she has been given the all-clear by her doctors.

After three courses of chemotherapy, a CT scan and a MRI scan to see if her lymphoma treatment was successful, Cr McIntosh received the good news last month and recent results had confirmed the prognosis.

"I didn't really believe it until I read the results of a MRI scan I had last Tuesday, which was posted on to the Health 365 website and got my final all-clear on Friday.

"It's a huge relief. You try not to worry, of course, but it's hard not to."

Cr McIntosh (pictured) said she still had to have regular blood tests every two weeks and three monthly check-ups with her haematologist but otherwise was now drug free.

The drugs she had been taking as part of her cancer treatment had meant she struggled to even get around the house, let alone travel into town for meetings.

But Cr McIntosh said it had not prevented her from receiving council briefing papers and talking to fellow councillors to keep herself up-to-date about issues, particularly after her treatment ended.

Cr McIntosh's two months' leave of absence from the council expired on September 3, but she was allowed to Skype into meetings while she waited for news about the outcome of her treatment.

"I'm back attending council meetings and pretty much can do everything but I'm using the lift, not the stairs at the moment and won't be going for a run anytime soon," she said.

"I am a bit tired at the end of the day, but otherwise feel well and I'm looking forward to getting back into my old routines."

Cr McIntosh said she was taking each day in her stride and staying positive.

"Some people have far more severe cancers than I have had, and I take heart from knowing my mother who had breast cancer about 30 years ago lived until she was 83."