Cancer survivor to share story on Tesco Mother’s Day card

Suzanne Bell, from Appleton Thorn, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2019 after discovering a golf ball-sized lump.

The mum-of-three had a mastectomy to remove her breast just weeks later, with both her and her unborn baby going under general anaesthetic for the procedure.

Thankfully, the surgery was a success and Suzanne, now 41, is cancer-free. Her son Theo has also recently celebrated his first birthday.

To help raise funds for Cancer Research UK, which has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, her picture and story will be featured on a Mother’s Day card sold in Tesco stores.

And as well as raising vital funding for the charity, she is hoping that her story will connect with and support people affected by the disease.

Suzanne with Sienna, Theo and Grace

Suzanne, who is also mum to Sienna, 9, and Grace, 5, said: “I went into shock when the doctor said it was cancer, and it felt like the world was turning upside down.

“I was nervous about having the mastectomy, but I knew it was the best thing for the baby and my girls.

“I was in complete survival mode, and the last thing I remember saying to the nurse before I was put to sleep was ‘please look after my baby’.”

Throughout her ordeal, Suzanne and her partner Craig decided to be honest about everything with her little girls.

She continued: “I told them that Mummy had found a lump in her boob and the doctors had decided they were going to get rid of it.

“Sienna just looked at me and straight away asked ‘mummy have you got breast cancer?’ I was speechless.

Theo and Suzanne

“We have had friends who have had cancer in the past, but her ‘matter of fact’ approach made it much easier for me to be honest with them.”

Her daughters’ upbeat attitude proved to be just the tonic as Suzanne recovered from her operation, as they ‘jazzed up’ her plaster with lots of Peppa Pig stickers, making her laugh.

“When I removed the plaster, I was anxious at how they would react, but Sienna just said, ‘it doesn’t matter mummy, you’re still our mummy’,” she said.

Following her mastectomy, Suzanne was given the good news that her cancer had not spread and that she would not need chemotherapy.

In October that year, she underwent a caesarean section and little Theo was born healthy and well.

Suzanne knows how vital it is to keep raising funds for life-saving research, and she and her family took part in Race for Life at Tatton Park in 2019, along with around 20 friends and family.

Sienna, Theo and Grace

She added: “It was a lovely event, really quite emotional. I had taken part in Race for Life before, but I never in a million years imagined that I would be the person with the cancer experience.

“Without a doubt the girls have helped me through one of the most challenging times. They are my little heroes, and I feel like the luckiest mummy in the world to have three wonderful, healthy, amazing children and an incredibly supportive partner.

“Being a mum, I had to keep going because of my kids, and that is why I am so proud to support Race for Life and Tesco and be part of this collection of Mother’s Day cards.”

Suzanne is pictured on the card after taking part in the Race for Life, and she will be presented with a special framed version to thank her for sharing her story.

The Mother’s Day cards, which are priced from £1, are on sale in large Tesco stores until March 14.