A cancer survivor from Chessington is planning the wedding she thought she might not live to see.

Natasha Brown, 23, was diagnosed with stage two skin cancer almost a year ago in February 2017.

Everything she took for granted, especially her own life, was thrown into question.

Natasha said: “I was shocked and very confused. I didn’t feel like myself any more. I just couldn’t believe I had cancer.

Surrey Comet:

“It was particularly scary that I’d had no other signs and I felt well, but inside, I was fighting for my life.

“I found myself wondering what the future held. I wondered if I would actually make getting married and be able to have children, something I’d always wanted.”

Now Natasha is clear of cancer she will marry fiancé, Nick Illingworth, 31, in Hampshire in October.

Natasha had no family history of cancer and wasn’t a sun-worshipper. But in May 2015, she noticed a change in a mole.

“A mole on my left shoulder, which I believe I'd had all my life, suddenly appeared darker and much more raised."

After a referral to a dermatologist Natasha was told it was normal, although it was likely to grow – which it did.

However, the mole also continued to darken and started to itch so Natasha got it checked again.

During her second referral in February, Natasha’s worst fears were confirmed. She was told the mole should to be removed immediately.

Natasha was told the melanoma was stage two, meaning she had to undergo a further procedure and a biopsy on lymph nodes in her back, armpit and neck.

Surrey Comet:

The biopsy revealed the cancer had spread, increasing her level of skin cancer to stage three.

She said: “I had no idea how melanoma could spread - I thought skin cancer was just in the skin. When there was a mention of a lymph node biopsy to see if it’d spread further, I felt numb.”

It took Natasha a while to recover from the operation, but she is now back at work. She has three-monthly check-ups and regular CT scans, which have all been clear.

She believes she was simply unlucky to have been diagnosed with melanoma and now is raising awareness and helping Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign which shows how real cancer patients are getting on with their lives post treatment.

Natasha said: “Melanoma taught me what a bad day really is and how the things I used to worry about were so insignificant and trivial.

“The ‘Right Now’ campaign captures the experience of so many families like mine. Cancer affects us all - not just the person diagnosed, but also their loved ones."

For more information on how to help beat cancer sooner, visit Cancer Research UK