You automatically think the worst. I asked the question ‘Am I going to die?’

Scotland star Jen Beattie has told how she is determined to play on after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 29.

Jen was told she had ­cancer in October after finding a lump but could not travel home to Scotland to be with her family because of coronavirus restrictions.

Instead, she played for Arsenal three days after her diagnosis and, when she scored, the celebrations summed up the support of her teammates. “They’ve just been ­amazing and so positive,” she said.

Jen, who played for Scotland at the Women’s Euro 2022 qualifiers, said the backing of her club and teammates had helped her come to terms with her diagnosis. She said: “It’s times like these where you realise why you play sport. It really is like being part of a family, away from family. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

Jen, whose dad is BBC Scotland broadcaster John Beattie, had surgery to remove the tumour and will have a course of radiotherapy.

But she said she was ­terrified when she received her diagnosis. The defender, from Glasgow, said: “I’ll be honest, you automatically think the worst. I asked the question: ‘Am I going to die?’

“It was complete panic and disbelief and I was scared. You never think anything like that is going to happen to you.”

Jen played for Arsenal last weekend when they beat Birmingham City 3-0 but will now take time off for radiotherapy treatment.

Scotland women’s manager Shelley Kerr yesterday said she was looking forward to welcoming Jen back into the squad. She said: “She is an incredible player and a brilliant role model. At the Scotland National Team we are all behind her and wish her well. It was brilliant to see her back on the pitch and we look forward to seeing her pull on the national team jersey for years to come.”