When Aimee Carlisle was pregnant she found a lump in her breast and went to see her doctor. Her GP said it was most likely a blocked milk duct but she couldn't shake the feeling that it was something else and told her midwifes.
They referred her to the hospital where she had some tests and a biopsy. When she got the results back she was given the devastating news that she had grade three breast cancer.
At the time she was 29 weeks pregnant. Her family are sharing her story as they get set to hold a charity fashion show fundraiser in Newcastle on Thursday, June 15.
Aimee's sister Kate Beresford told ChronicleLive: "Aimee had a single mastectomy on the breast that had the lump at 32 weeks pregnant. She was then induced and had the baby by C-section on December 28. She started chemotherapy in January which lasted 18 weeks and she finished that at the start of May."
Aimee, aged 26, showed no symptoms before her diagnosis and her family are on a mission to raise awareness. Aimee is now in recovery and has given birth to her son, William, who is a healthy five-month-old.
Kate said: "The type of cancer she had is fed by the hormone oestrogen and the pregnancy meant the tumour had grown rapidly. Aimee had now been put into early menopause at the age of just 26.
"She only got married last June and is coming up to her one-year wedding anniversary. In that time she has had cancer, two surgeries, and a baby. Her whole life has changed. I think a lot of people assume that breast cancer happens at a certain age category but it actually it can affect anybody at any age and men as well."
Kate is also set to take on a 100km trek across the French Alps over five days in September to raise £2,750 for the charity, with the money collected from the Newcastle event going towards the overall total. The 'Tour du Mont Blanc' trek will be led by celebrities including Giovanna Fletcher.
Tickets for the charity event held at the Purple Peacock on June 15 at 6pm can be purchased here. You can also donate directly to Kate's Just Giving Page here.
