Norfolk Woman's Breast Cancer Battle

Many of us have been touched by cancer at some point in our lives and as we head into October, the national month for breast cancer awareness, charities of the disease are splashing out the pink.

Many of us have been touched by cancer at some point in our lives and as we head into October, the national month for breast cancer awareness, charities of the disease are splashing out the pink to promote the event.

One woman from Aylsham in Norfolk, knows first hand about breast cancer and in 2008 had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed.

30-year-old Jenna Evans found out she had the disease in December 2007, after giving birth to her daughter. In January 2008 she had a mastectomy, which was then followed by five months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was offered a breast reconstruction but was told she had to lose at least four stone in a year to have it.

Jenna says: “I just thought I was big and bubbly and happy that way. I think [the surgery] spurred me on to do something about it, which I don’t think I would have done. I’d always yo-yo dieted.”

When she was told by her doctor that she needed to lose the weight she joined Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club, and got down to ten stone in six months.

“I had the ultimate goal of my reconstruction and knew that if I also got a left mastectomy I wouldn’t get the breast cancer again,” she says.

Jenna used to weigh 15st 11lb, but lost 5st 8lb, dropping to 9st 7lb. She now wears size 12, instead of the size 22 she used to be.

“It’s amazing,” she says. “I feel great. I’m just so grateful for the work the surgeons have done, and Mary, my Rosemary Conley instructor, who helped me every step of the way.

The result meant Jenna was able to have the reconstructive surgery she wanted on her right breast, along with a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery on her left breast.