DARLINGTON mother-of-two Kerry Heaney was 29-weeks pregnant with son Logan when she found a lump in her breast.

On Valentine’s Day last year, doctors confirmed the 33-year-old had stage two breast cancer and would have to deliver her baby prematurely in order to begin gruelling treatment.

Now in recovery, artist Kerry – also mother to three-year-old Dexter – underwent a mastectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a bid to beat the disease.

“You must be aware of your own body and if there are changes, no matter how small, you have got to get them checked," she says. "Even if it’s just for peace of mind, go and get it sorted.

“People think cancer’s not going to happen to them but if I can make one person wake up and become aware of their body, then sharing my story will be worth it.”

Kerry says she turned over in bed one night and found a lump in her breast.

"I went straight to my doctor and he said the likelihood of it being cancer at my age was slim and it was probably related to pregnancy.

“I was convinced it was nothing to do with it and in fact, rates of breast cancer at my age are pretty high, especially during pregnancy.”

Kerry’s speed in getting to her doctor and her insistence on being referred meant her cancer, once found, was treatable.

Many people are not so fortunate, with recent figures showing that - out of the 55,000 people diagnosed every year - more than 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK annually.

For those who must live with the disease, cancer wreaks havoc in numerous ways, taking its toll not just on health but on relationships and self-esteem, as Kerry knows only too well.

As her young children play at her feet, Kerry shares the effect the disease had on her family. From moving in with her parents to being unable to breastfeed her newborn, the impact on the whole family was significant.

The unwavering support of husband Tommy, brother Craig, mum Barbara and stepdad Dave throughout Kerry’s illness proved immeasurable but could not compensate for Kerry’s losses and concerns as a mother.

“When I was diagnosed all I could think about was my baby and if the cancer was affecting him – it was the worst feeling ever, though I was relieved he could live at all.

“I had to have him early and he needed resuscitating but other than that he was perfect.

“He was nine-weeks-old when I had a single mastectomy and until then I’d managed to breastfeed him but I had to stop and I was gutted as I’d breastfed Dexter until he was 15-months.

“The cancer affected my bonding with him at first as my mum and Tommy had to bring him up and I couldn’t even carry him.

“I bought a baby sling and I couldn’t use it. I tried to stay positive through everything and nothing else made me cry but not being able to carry him really got to me.”

Another tough moment came when Kerry decided to face her treatment head on and had her hair cut off prior to chemotherapy.

“When I knew I was going to lose my hair to chemo, I went and got it all cut off and that devastated me.

“My sister-in-law came and she got hers cut off too. We drank a bottle of champagne and tried to make the best of things but when I looked in the mirror, I absolutely hated it.

“I’d always had long hair. I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes and cancer definitely took its toll on my self esteem. When you’ve just had a baby you don’t feel amazing anyway and getting used to the image changes was really strange.”

Throughout physical exhaustion and frequent lows, Kerry remained determined to stay positive and managed to find threads of silver lining throughout her journey.

“I wanted to control the cancer and not let it control me. None of it’s been nice but I’ve just had to get on with it and stay stoic.

“It brought us closer as a family and made me determined to live and experience as much as possible. I was a teenage goth, full of doom and gloom – that attitude seems silly now cancer has made me realise how much there is to live for.

“Everyone’s experience is different but if I could give advice to anyone with cancer it’s to take control of it as much as you can, get up, get on with it and never, ever give up.”

Kerry is supporting the charity Mummy’s Star, which helps families coping with pregnancy and cancer. For more information on their work or to make a donation, visit mummysstar.org