A Worthing mother who underwent a double mastectomy when her youngest son was just nine years old has vowed to continue battling after the cancer returned for the third time.

Jackie Palmer was only 46 when she was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer and secondary bone cancer in 2012 and feared she would not see her sons grow up.

Now despite successive treatments, the cancer has returned once again and Jackie faces yet another course of chemotherapy - this time indefinitely.

Her younger son, Harrison, now 19, has just started a Masters' Degree in Aeronautical and Aerodynamic Engineering at the University of Leeds, after taking a Gap Year to help care for his mum.

During this harrowing time, Jackie’s older son, Lewis, aged 23, successfully completed a First-Class Masters' Degree in Civil Engineering, at the University of Birmingham.

To help raise awareness during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jackie is telling her story for the first time and organising an Afternoon Tea event this Saturday (October 22) at her Worthing home, to help thank everyone who has rallied around.

 She decided to hold a low-key Girls' Pink Fizz afternoon tea to thank friends and family for their help over the last 18 months and ask them for their continued long-term support as she once again starts gruelling treatment.

·The Afternoon Tea has snowballed and is a registered Breast Cancer Now charity event. The 50 or so female guests will be wearing pink and the men will be serving them in pink aprons and tiaras.  There will be a raffle, quiz, numerous games and lots of pink fizz!

Jackie said: “People can and do live with cancer. 

“I accept that it will never go away but that I have to give it a go to try and prolong my life so the boys have their Mum as long as possible, and I can live my life to the full.

“It’s been incredibly tough but my sons have given me the strength to carry on.  I cannot thank my family and friends enough for their love and loyalty during these incredibly dark and difficult times.”

When the cancer was first detected in 2012, Jackie was juggling the demands of her busy life as a single mother, alongside her successful and challenging career as a member of EDF’s Nuclear Development Team in London.

She then underwent a significant double mastectomy operation to remove the cancer and diseased lymph nodes.  She had six cycles of chemotherapy and three weeks of intensive radiotherapy - losing all her hair.

Numerous re-constructive operations have followed but the cancer has caused persistent, recurring and serious complications.

Jackie added, “Removal of the lymph nodes has caused severe lymphoedema (swelling) in the right arm so wearing normal High Street clothes can be quite restrictive and the arm requires weekly treatment and the wearing of uncomfortable compression garments

“Bone cancer medication had a very unexpected effect in that it fractured both my femurs which has meant rods being inserted from my hip to the knee and yet more major surgery.”

In another cruel twist, Jackie and her family were dealt a further major blow last year.  An MRI scan after an accidental fall at home revealed that the breast cancer had spread to her cervix.  This is extremely rare.

She said, “I had six cycles of chemotherapy at the Montefiore Hospital in Hove last winter and I was looked after by Harrison and friends at home.  I was really poorly after each session of chemotherapy

“Scans showed earlier this year that we had reduced the size of the tumour and things were looking stable, so I was looking forward to getting back to work and some sort of normality."

“But a scan in the late summer showed that the cancer had started to grow again, and I needed more chemotherapy - this time on an indefinite basis.

“Fortunately, I have received great medical support from oncologist Dr Adrian Moss and breast surgeon Mr Riccardo Bonomi at Goring Hall Hospital. I have now started taking a new breast cancer treatment drug that has shown good results

“I have no idea yet whether I will lose my hair again as the drug is so new and there are no studies. But there is no choice - I have to keep going for my boys and family."