Almost a year to the day since undergoing limb-saving surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from her leg, an East Lothian physiotherapist is preparing to take on the TCS London Marathon.
Catriona Fraser Harris, 38, from Pencaitland, will line up at the start of the iconic race on 26 April – marking a powerful milestone in her recovery from a rare soft tissue cancer.
A keen runner, Catriona was training in July 2024 when she noticed a lump on her leg. After visiting her GP, she was referred for a scan. The scan took place the day before she travelled to Portugal to run the Lisbon Marathon. Initially believed to be a harmless fatty lump, the mass was removed in December 2024.
However, in January 2025, further analysis revealed the diagnosis: myxoid liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer.
‘It was a big shock – very unexpected,’ she said. ‘But I still felt well and was running and active with my family.’
Between February and March 2025, she underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy over five weeks. But even that could not stop her from being active. Throughout treatment, she continued running and working as a self-employed physiotherapist.
‘Movement was so useful for managing side-effects and symptoms,’ she said. ‘Keeping active really helped me physically and mentally.’
It was at the end of April 2025 that Catriona had ‘fairly extensive’ limb-salvaging surgery. Cancer-free since, she has regular follow-up scans with her ‘fantastic’ sarcoma medical team to monitor for recurrence.
The operation impacted her mobility and rehabilitation has been a slow process. ‘I was 31 per cent weaker in my left leg eight months post-op. I had to completely reframe my relationship with running,’ she explained. ‘It stopped being about personal bests and became about simply being able to run. If I had to walk up a hill, I would. That shift in mindset was huge.’ This adversity just gave her more motivation.
Now, almost exactly a year after surgery, Catriona is preparing to complete the London Marathon in support of Sarcoma UK. She praised charity Sarcoma UK for the information on its website about a disease that is a mystery to most people. ‘I’ve found the support and information so useful and important in my own journey. I’m quite a “sciencey” person and like the stats – having access to clear, reliable information made a real difference.’
Catriona, who is married with two children aged seven and nine, will run alongside her friend Ellie Davidson, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – where Catriona received treatment. The pair first met through a mutual friend and fittingly ran the Lisbon Marathon together back in 2024 – Catriona had cancer at the time but was yet to know it!
Ellie said: ‘Cat is an inspirational person. The way she has navigated this journey with determination and positivity is truly humbling.’
As well as running, Catriona enjoys tennis and cycling, and is passionate about encouraging people living with and beyond cancer to stay active. She highlights the growing evidence that exercise can reduce the risk of recurrence while improving both physical and mental wellbeing.
In April, when she crosses the finish line, it will represent far more than 26.2 miles – it will mark resilience, recovery and a remarkable return to the sport she loves.
Sarcoma UK’s Head of Public Fundraising, Louisa Morgan, said: ‘Catriona’s story is really extraordinary. To go from limb-saving surgery to the start line of the London Marathon in the space of a year takes a kind of courage and determination that leaves you lost for words. She is running for every person affected by sarcoma, and we at Sarcoma UK couldn’t be more proud to have her on our team. Every pound she raises will help us support patients like Catriona with the information and resources they need, and fund the research that means more sarcoma patients can go on to live full, active lives after diagnosis.’
To donate to Catriona, go to Sarcoma UK: Catriona’s page
