A mum who gave birth to her first child a month before the due date can't have anymore children after a shock cervical cancer diagnosis.
Charlotte Hutchinson was pregnant with her daughter Ariella Burns when she began suffering from minor bleeding and went for a maternity assessment.
The 29-year-old, who lives in Bearsden, was referred to a gynaecologist who suspected she might have cervical cancer. But it took five months for her to be formally diagnosed with the disease due to inconclusive biopsies.
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Ariella, now 11-months-old, was born four weeks early last March - and Charlotte got the shock diagnosis five months later, in August.
She told Glasgow Live: "She had to come early so that they could try and get to the bottom of what it was. Ariella spent a week in intensive care because of how early she was, but she is good and a character.
"It came as a big shock when I found out that I’ve got cancer. You don’t think it will happen to you.
"My main focus was to keep strong and I never let it get the better of me and tried to stay positive.
"I did a lot of research myself in terms of the things I can do to help like exercise and diet. I did everything I could to make sure I could fight it."
Charlotte underwent five weeks of radiotherapy for five days a week as well as five weeks of chemotherapy. She also had internal radiotherapy treatment and was bed-bound for 24-hours following that treatment.
She added: "It was really difficult but I live with my parents and they were there to support and help because I was really tired and it was mentally draining.
"We all stayed strong for the new baby and for each other. She did help me get through it.
"My body has been put into early menopause because of the treatment which means no more children so it makes you appreciate her more as well."
Charlotte and her loved ones were overjoyed when she was given the all-clear in January. The mum now wants to raise awareness of the importance of smear tests and is encouraging girls and women to have one.
She has also started a fundraising appeal supporting the Beatson cancer charity which helped her during her diagnosis and treatment.
Charlotte said: "The care at the Beatson is unbelievable. Every staff member was so caring.
"My scan has come back clear and it was amazing, I can’t get my head around it.
"I’m still in shock that the treatment worked because there’s that fear that it won’t so to have that news was amazing. Everything has been challenging but we are on the other side now."
Support the fundraiser here.
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