KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

Sarah Millington, 46, from Houghton-leSpring, found her inner strength after getting a shock diagnosis...

- KEZIA REYNOLDS

Stretching out in bed one Saturday morning, I felt relaxed. With myself, my husband Paul, 47, and daughters Ella, then nine, and Hannah, seven, heading to Florida in a couple days during Easter 2017, I was making the most of the peace before a week at Disney World.

But itching my breast, I froze – there was a lump.

What on earth is that? I thought, prodding it. ‘I’ve found a lump,’ I told Paul straight away. ‘I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but I’m going to the walk-in clinic.’

I wasn’t particularly concerned, but I thought that I should get a medical opinion.

But they didn’t provide any answers and I decided to book another appointment when I got home.

In the meantime, I pushed my worries to the back of my mind and focused on giving the girls the best time on holiday.

And a couple weeks later, I had my appointment

‘Just come back for your biopsy results next week,’ the consultant told me, after my mammogram came back clear. ‘It’s just a formality.’

Heading back in at the end of April on my own, I felt confident – I was impatient to get it over with.

Only when I headed into the consultation room, I saw a nurse with the consultant.

‘We have your biopsy back,’ the consultant said, no longer smiling. ‘I’m so sorry, but it’s breast cancer.’

I was knocked for six – I was young and fit, I never smoked, and I exercised regularly.