Breast cancer cured me of toxic lifestyle

Getting the all-clear was inspiration Alex needed

- BY SUE LEE

ALEX Simms says her world fell apart when she was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 46.

The mum-of-three feared the worst and needed surgery and radiotherapy to remove the tumour.

Luckily, the mammogram had caught the cancer early enough and she was given the all-clear.

And she says since ringing the bell, the experience has helped her change her life for the better.

"It sounds crazy but cancer cured me," she says. "It was the catalyst that changed my life."

Alex, who goes by La, adds: "I know it may sound strange but I would 100% go through the hell of it all again, because it's brought me where I am today."

Offered an early mammogram as part of a local trial targeting younger women, La, who worked in corporate events, was blindsided by the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma.

Now 54, she says: "There was no cancer in the family, I breastfed the kids - I wasn't worried. I didn't even ask when I'd get the results."