A mum who noticed "little bits" in her eyes as she typed was later given a devastating diagnosis.
Kaleigh Bold, from Mossley Hill, fought off one bout of aggressive breast cancer, which caused her to undergo intense chemotherapy and a double mastectomy a few years ago. She finished treatment for this in 2020.
However, earlier this year Kaleigh said she started to notice something was wrong with her eyes. The 34-year-old was told to visit the opticians by medics who gave her glasses for when she used the computer and watched television.
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Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "In December or January, I started a new job working from home and I have always worked on computers and when I was typing there was little bits in my eyes and my eyes were going a little bit weird. Like the tail on the [letter] d or on a p."
Following this, Kaleigh started suffering pains in her legs and hips and the mum-of-one's body started rejecting the implants she'd had put in after the double mastectomy. After various tests Kaleigh received a letter to say doctors had found nodules on her lung, however it was "common" and "nothing to worry about".
The mum said a week before her hen do she asked her breast cancer team what was going on and she was told she needed a multi-disciplinary team meeting, she said "at that point I knew there was something wrong". The 34-year-old went on her hen do with her 22-strong party to Barcelona, but struggled with sickness and not feeling well.
Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "When I was on my hen do I just wasn't myself. I just didn't feel well and I was being sick but I was trying to hide it from everybody. I think my mum knew that there was something up.
"I think quite a few people knew to be honest because I am not the type of person to have a few drinks and go home I am always the last one out."
On August 2, the day after Kaleigh returned from her hen do, doctors confirmed the cancer had returned and spread to the mum's bones, lungs, liver, area above her neck and her brain. The mum-of-one is sharing her story with the ECHO as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - which runs from October 1 to October 31 - and hopes to help others by raising awareness.
Kaleigh married the love her life Ant on September 2 in front of all their loved ones and said it was a "lovely" day. She said she is determined to keep positive for her five-year-old son Harry and her family.
She said: "I always think you can either go one way or another and going one way you are going to go down a downward spiral and I think what is the point in that? So I think there is only one way to go and that is the positive way because I have a little boy who is five, so I can't be moping around the house crying.
"I think this time round because it is never going to go and it is always going to be here, I think I can either sit down and cry about it or get up and do stuff and I have a kind of bucket list now.
"I think also I am the kind of person who always has to have something to look forward to. I can't be the type of person that like 'what you doing next week and I say oh I don't know'.
"I am planning loads of things ahead to keep my mind busy, especially because I have gone from working full time and living such a busy lifestyle with Harry, I need to stay busy otherwise I will lose the plot."
Kaleigh is currently receiving chemotherapy every Wednesday. She will also receive radiotherapy to help her with the pain and after this hopes will be able to come off some of the medication she is on.
The mum-of-one also wants to raise awareness of the importance of checking your breasts for any abnormalities.
She said: "Before I even got cancer the first time, I never checked my boobs. Because I have the BRCA gene I probably would have got it at some point, but I think you're in the shower everyday and you're washing yourself. It literally takes a minute - if that - just to check around, just have a good little feel."
Kaleigh also said for people not to be afraid to visit their doctor if they do find anything out of fear of being "dramatic" as it is important to get it checked.
She added: "I would literally go round to every person and say 'go get checked'. If I won the lottery I would buy a mammogram and do my own."
The 34-year-old also urged for people battling cancer to be "kind" to themselves and talk to loved ones and their medical team. She said: "I do think talking and being kind to yourself is the main thing. Don't be too harsh on yourself."
To follow Kaleigh's journey and any fundraising, please follow her Instagram @kaybold_1 here. Kaleigh's loved ones have also set up a GoFundMe page - to donate, please click here.
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