Karin Miller is one of the 38,000 women in Britain diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Six years ago, when she was just 30, she discovered a lump in her breast as she was getting into the bath.

"I'm a nurse and I had read all the leaflets. I knew the lump had all the signs of being malignant," she says. "I went to see my GP at once. He said it was nothing at first, but I insisted on a referral."

Karin's instincts proved right when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Five weeks later, she was undergoing a mastectomy at Sunderland Royal Infirmary, followed by a course of chemotherapy.

"I had thought it was breast cancer all along but I was still quite shocked by the diagnosis," she says. "In one sense it was a relief and it meant I could just go and get it sorted out, but the surgery was traumatic and the recovery was very painful and very slow. The chemotherapy left me feeling really tired and wreaked havoc with my hormones but I kept thinking that, if it was doing me good, I had to keep going with it."

Karin is one of the lucky ones. She spotted the signs at an early stage and has gone on to make an excellent recovery. And just nine weeks ago, against the odds, she gave birth to her first child, Cameron.

"I didn't realise chemotherapy could affect your fertility," she says. "My husband Richard and I hadn't really thought about having children before I had cancer but we couldn't believe it when we found out about the effects of chemo. We were devastated."

The medical team at Sunderland Royal Infirmary looked into alternative treatments which would help preserve Karin's chances of conceiving, but none was considered effective enough and she decided to go ahead with the chemotherapy. The couple were then advised to wait two years after the completion of the treatment before they thought about having a family.

Karin says: "I had no idea whether I would be able to have a baby, so when I did find out I was pregnant it was fantastic. Cameron is like a little miracle. Not everybody has the happy ending we have had and I count my blessings every day."

Karin now works as a volunteer for Breast Cancer Care, offering support and advice to people concerned about the disease. She is also taking part in The Northern Echo's fashion show next week with eight other women who have had breast cancer. She hopes their appearance on the catwalk will serve as an inspiration to other women who are undergoing treatment.

"Obviously a lot of women with breast cancer will have a problem with their body image. Hopefully, the show will prove to them you can still look good," she says. "It's only five years since I finished the treatment and there's a long way to go, but I can now just get on with my life. I have been very lucky and I know there is life after breast cancer."

Although the latest research shows the number of breast cancer deaths has fallen by almost 30 per cent during the last decade, the disease still claims the lives of 13,000 women each year.

Eighty per cent of breast cancers occur in post-menopausal women but, as Karin's experience shows, younger women are also at risk. In one case, the disease was diagnosed in a 17-year-old. On rare occasions, it can occur in men and around 250 are diagnosed each year.

Since 1994, cancer charities have been taking part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aimed at raising both awareness and funds for research, it has the backing of a number of high-profile celebrities, including Geri Halliwell and Cherie Booth.

"Around 2,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in this region alone every year," says Jane Walker, Breast Cancer Care's co-ordinator for the Northern and Yorkshire region.

"It is absolutely vital we do all we can to raise awareness of the disease and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important part of that. There are still a lot of people who are not breast aware and who are frightened. We must work hard to remove that fear."

Her advice to all women is to check their breasts regularly and go straight to their GP if they notice any changes. For older women, it is also essential to attend breast screening appointments.

"An early diagnosis and treatment is still the best chance of recovery," she says. "The sooner people go to their GP, if they think there is a problem, the better their chances of recovery will be. With the right treatment and the right support, people can go on to live a long and happy life. Karin's story proves that."