Extra special Christmas for cancer-battling mum

STUART PIKE

CHRISTMAS promises to be extra special this year for an Accrington mum who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 - just months after becoming a mum for the second time.

Rebecca Burns, 38, was diagnosed with an uncommon type of cancer in February, when son Jack was five months old.

After eight months of treatment, she is excited about celebrating Christmas with her partner Steven and their young children and is highlighting Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign.

The charity’s powerful TV ads show real patients undergoing cancer treatment, followed up by current home video showing them getting back to enjoying life with their loved ones.

Rebecca, whose mum and aunt have suffered from the condition, was revealed to have triple negative breast cancer after finding a lump.

She said: “Last December - when Jack was about three months old - I was breastfeeding him and felt a small lump in my right breast but I thought it was a blocked milk duct so I just put it out of my head.

“But in February this year I was checking myself and I found it again. I went to my GP on the Friday and by the Monday, because of my family history, I was at hospital.”

She added: “In my head I had decided it was benign but then they turned round and said ‘we’re so sorry, it’s cancer’. It took me a bit of time to be able to process it.

“I couldn’t say I had cancer to anyone or even say the word for a couple of weeks.”

Rebecca’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in 2011 and her aunt Nicola died from it in August 2015.

Rebecca, who had the tumour in her right breast removed in April, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy, has made a photo diary to help her explain her condition to Jack and daughter Emily.

She said: “One day I’m going to have to sit down with Emily and Jack and explain they may have this faulty gene and I’ll use the photos. I don’t want them to be scared about it.”

Rebecca now faces transformative surgery to rebuild her breast in the New Year as well as preventative surgery to remove her ovaries and left breast. But first she is looking forward to having a family Christmas at home.

She said: “We started the Christmas songs in November because it’s been a rough year and it is nice to celebrate. We are quite a positive family and we remained as positive as we could.”