A brave mum says she is finding the strength to fight cancer thanks to her two young daughters.
Emma Mawdsley, who was diagnosed with breast and lymph node cancer earlier this year, will be having gruelling treatment in the coming months. And the 29-year-old decided to shave off her hair before it falls out.
On Saturday, her daughters Lillie, 10, and Daisy, eight, helped to cut off her long locks as her family and loved ones gathered to support Emma.
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She said her daughters had been "absolutely amazing" after they were told about her diagnosis and were helping her to stay positive.
Emma, of Pelton, County Durham, said: "I want to remain positive all the way through this rather than sitting and crying."
The mum-of-two found out she had cancer in February. She had no symptoms or health problems but, after a bath one day, she noticed a patch of skin on one breast looking like an orange peel. Tests revealed she had breast cancer and the disease had also spread to the lymph nodes.
"When I was told I had cancer, I was numb. My first thought was my kids," said Emma. "I was a healthy person and had not had any health issues. It was a shock. I had to go for an operation and they removed a 28mm lump from my breast and eight lymph nodes."
She is due to start chemotherapy within the next week, followed by radiotherapy, and Emma decided to have a fun day with her family before starting the treatment. During the event, at her mum's home in Chester-le-Street, her daughters helped to shave her hair off. There was also a bouncy castle and face painting for the young ones.
Emma, who says she is a "fighter", said: "I was going to lose my hair with the treatment but I didn't want it coming out in clumps. I wanted to just take it all off. And I wanted it to be a fun day with my children - I wanted it to be positive.
"They know about my cancer diagnosis, I've not hidden anything from them. I told them I had cancer and what I was going through.
"They started crying but they are being so brave. When I had my operation and I couldn't move my arm, the girls were helping me get dressed.
"They have been absolutely fantastic. They help me stay positive. I've been so proud of them."
