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Having cancer alone can be devastating, but being pregnant with cancer can be catastrophic. This happened to Anne Lane, 35 in June 2008 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She is still fighting the disease today. This is her journey and why she needs your help.

Mission Unaccomplished:

When diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 weeks pregnant with my second child, I was devastated. The decisions I had to make were not easy as the invasive drug therapy could not be undertaken without severe risk to my unborn child so surgery and treatment was delayed until Millie could be born 6-weeks prematurely; the best option for both of us to survive.

Because of the chemical cocktail involved I was unable to breastfeed and pass on the benefits that Millie's older sister Annabelle had enjoyed. I desperately wanted my baby to receive breastmilk, so I was determined to find some. What at times seemed a mission impossible eventually succeeded as, mercifully, some wonderful mothers donated their milk and Millie is now, at eight months, reaching the end of the supply and is a beautiful, healthy baby. That, at least, was one mission accomplished.

Now I have embarked on an even greater mission - to save my life. This mission does not sit well with me: asking assistance for my unborn child was one thing; seeking it for myself is entirely another. I am proud of the fact that, through working hard, I've always been able to look after myself. My husband Michael has exactly the same ethos and we are a strong unit, but this time we really need help.

In my battle against cancer the decisions I have had to make have been agonising - always questioning if my next choice will be the fatal one, but I will never know although I am still here. I have to have faith in myself, in my strength, in my gut and I instinctively knew chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not right for me, but announcing this to my dear family was torture. I felt so sorry for them. All my life I have wanted nothing but happiness for them and now I was the cause of their pain. I was angry with cancer. I have an idyllic life with Michael who loves me dearly and would do anything for me and our two girls. Now he is helpless; a bystander. I witness his pain every day, his fear of losing me and it crushes me. I can't make it better for him.

Our girls, Annabelle only 2 years and Millie just 8 months old, both beautiful and happy - they have no idea how refreshing it is to be around them when all I feel is scared, for them and for me. Will I live? Will I die?



I can't imagine how it would have been growing up without my Mum. This thing has tried to come and destroy my life, but I won't let it. I won't. I cannot accept that I will not be here for my children, to guide and protect them.

A nurse at Epsom General Hospital told me a story about another mother who had cancer. All she wanted was to see her children go through school, on to university and then graduate. This she did and died very soon after. I cried for her and wish more for myself. I want to live to be a Grandmother and be blessed enough to be a Great Grandmother.

My baby girls are so young; they need their Mother. I pray to see my children grow up, help them through their education and careers, celebrate their weddings and laugh and cry with them. I'm afraid because I don't know if I'll be able to do this. My future, their future without their mother is uncertain.

I have moments of sheer panic thinking I'm going to die and knowing, if I do, there is not a damn thing I can do about it. I turn to my Mum and Dad for reassurance and they can't bring themselves to mention the 'D' word because it's too painful for them to even consider. No parent in their lifetime should have to endure the death of their child, but what can I do? I know I can not do nothing. I have to do something. I feel alone, lost and vulnerable because no one has the answer for me - only me.

Then by chance, I came across a medical doctor who switched to unconventional methods when he was seriously ill and found it freed him of ill health. He specialises in integrated cancer treatment and is praised in his industry for his successes, so now I have hope, real hope and feel more confident than ever. I truly believe I can survive, but his treatment plan comes at a price because it is not available on the NHS. Since January 2009, I have been undergoing his rigorous prescription and for the first time in months I feel so much stronger, but my cancer is still there - biding its time, waiting to strike again. My blood test is proof of that. It will take much more than wishing and hoping to rid me of this cancer. It's in my body and it's on my mind.

My treatment regime takes up all my time, all my energy and all my discipline to do everything everyday. I have no idea if this is tougher than chemotherapy, but my blood test suggests chemo would not have worked for me, so I must stick with it. On the days I don't want to swallow my daily dose of prescribed tablets or drink my medication I tell myself I may die if I don't. So I do it like clockwork to keep going forward for me as well as my family. If I'm lucky I have a small window of spare time and I will use it to nourish my children with love: I can't cuddle them enough. In the future I may not be able to do that. This treatment plan has cost me my time, my energy and my absence from my children's daily lives, but it is worth it. My life is worth it. I am worth the trouble after all.

I want to live and I know I may not if my treatment stops. This regime costs £4200 per month. We have managed to sustain it for 3 months and now we are financially crippled, so I have a choice - swallow my pride and ask for help or suffer the consequences. So I choose to swallow my pride. I choose to ask for help. I ask you to help me raise the funds to continue my treatment. The charity Yes To Life is supporting me the best it can with a small donation, but its not enough. I need more funds - much more. Mission so far, unaccomplished!!

Yes To Life have opened a sponsorship account for me where people can donate to my cause. I can't sell my story. It's a tough journey, but it isn't tragic. All I have is hope and faith in you - that you will help me, so please, please help me and give generously - as much as you can.

I desperately want back the life we had before cancer struck, so please help me recover for my sake and that of my family. Thank you.

Your Help is Needed:

If you would like to support Anne in her appeal to continue her cancer treatment you can donate by logging on to: www.justgiving.com/annelane

Thank you for your support...