Pontefract mum-of-five making memories for her young children after third devastating cancer diagnosis

Joanne Bradley was aged just 27 - and 28 weeks pregnant with her fifth son - when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
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Baby Jayden was delivered by cesarean section at 33 weeks, followed by an operation and hysterectomy for Joanne.

After 10 days in hospital, radiotherapy and four months of treatment, Joanne was given the all-clear.

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But in 2018, pain in her leg lead Joanne to see doctors again, which was followed by a scan revealing the cancer had returned between her bladder and bowel.

Joanne Bradley was aged just 27 - and 28 weeks pregnant with her fifth son - when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.Joanne Bradley was aged just 27 - and 28 weeks pregnant with her fifth son - when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Joanne Bradley was aged just 27 - and 28 weeks pregnant with her fifth son - when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

More radiotherapy and chemo followed and again, Joanne was given the all-clear.

But in February last year, the pain in her leg came back, which became unbearable.

After contacting her Macmillan nurse, Joanne was sent for a scan and the devastating news came - the cancer was back for a third time. Joanne also had a blood clot.

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Joanne's sister Samantha Cook, said: "She started chemo again, but was this time told it couldn't save her life, just extend it for a few more years. But this course of treatment also made her so ill she lost her hair.

"We had days where she cried down the phone and I was unable to console her."

Sam said that the course of treatment meant she was having to spend more time in bed, unable to spend it with her five boys.

"She decided she didn't want to lose the time she has by being ill and not being able to be a mum," Sam said. "She wanted to make good memories - and so, after many talks, she decided to put the chemo on hold."

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But then Covid hit, making any treatment hard and so much more scary not having contact with family and friends to support.

Sam said: "She looked into natural remedies and found someone who had been given the all clear with antioxidant products - something Joanne wanted to try and give herself more time to see and watch her boys grow up."

Joanne started the course of treatment, but is now finding it difficult to fund.

A Gofundme page has now been set up to help Joanne fund that treatment, with dozens of people donating, raising more than £1,000 raised so far.

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"We made the decision to try help her fund some, or all of her treatment and hopefully buy a new wig to give her confidence back."

If you would like to make a donation, visit Joanne's Gofundme page here.

Samantha said as well as fundraising for Joanne, they also want to raise awareness of cervical cancer, which often has no symptoms in its early stages.

If you symptoms do appear, the most common is abnormal vaginal bleeding, which canc occur during or after sex, in between periods, or new bleeding after you have been through the menopause.

Abnormal bleeding does not mean you have cervical cancer, but you should see a GP as soon as possible to get it checked out.

For more information, visit the NHS website.

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