BREAST cancer signs include skin irritation, pain in the breast or nipple and nipple retraction.
Rebecca, of Blunham, Bedfordshire, was forced to have a double mastectomy, as well as undergoing chemo and radiotherapy.
Told she would be infertile after the treatment, now Rebecca is encouraging other women to learn to know their bodies, so they, too, can spot anything unusual.
Rebecca and her plumber and heating electrician partner Andrew Llewellyn, 34, first dated when they were 14, but rekindled their relationship four years ago, after both their marriages broke down.
“I’d always wanted to have a baby and, as I was reaching 30 when we got together, I told Andrew that getting pregnant was a deal-breaker for me,” she said.
Breast cancer signs: Mum Rebecca Larter found a cancerous lump while breastfeeding daughter Tavia
Signs and symptoms of Breast cancer
Feeling like she was born to be a mum, Rebecca happily breastfed her little one.
But in March 2013, just six months after Tavia was born, Rebecca noticed a pea-size lump on the edge of her left nipple.
Breast cancer signs: Rebecca underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy
When doctors said it was stage 3, aggressive breast cancer, all I could think of was ‘who’s going to look after our girl’
Still, though, the lump didn’t go down, so Rebecca returned to her GP and was referred to a specialist.
A few weeks later, Rebecca was seen and sent for a biopsy, an MRI scan and a mammogram – going to Tenerife on a family holiday for a week, while awaiting the results.
Two days after returning home, Rebecca and Andrew were told she had cancer at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Herts.
“When doctors said it was stage 3, aggressive breast cancer, all I could think of was ‘who’s going to look after our girl’” she recalled.
“We had an eight month old daughter who needed her mum. I wasn’t thinking ‘I’m going to die’- it was all about her.”
Medics said Rebecca would need chemotherapy, radiotherapy and recommended a mastectomy, in case the cancer came back.
“We hadn’t talked about having more kids, but what I was really worried about was the changes in the way I’d look,” she said.
“I felt like I was losing my femininity, as my hair was falling out and my breasts were going to be removed. It felt so scary.”
By June 2013, Rebecca had started four months of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.
“During treatment, I had to look at my daughter and deal with not being able to pick her up, as I was unable to lift after surgery and I was weak from chemo,” she said.
But exercise has been a huge part of Rebecca’s recovery. She kept going to the gym, played netball and competed in 10k races during her treatment.
“I continued to exercise during my chemotherapy treatment and found it helped to take my mind off things and keep me fit,” she said.
Breast cancer signs: Rebecca took part in a 10k race for the cancer charity Macmillan during chemo
She now wants other women to make sure they check their breasts.
She said “I never thought that after giving birth to my beautiful daughter, I would find myself back at the hospital and this time with cancer. But I am just so happy that we had Tavia.
“I want to tell other women to make sure they check their breasts and know their bodies, too.”
Rebecca ran the Virgin Money London Marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support last year to raise money to help thousands of people living with cancer.
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